DEATH DEALER UNION is: Lena Scissorhands – Vocals CC McKenna – Percussion Doug Weiand – Lead Guitars Hunter Havokk – Rhythm & Lead Guitars Jonny Heinz – Bass
DEATH DEALER UNION Premieres Third Single, “ILL FATED” + Eye-Catching Music Video | Watch HERE
Debut Album, Initiation, out now! via Napalm Records | Pre-Order HERE
Find the power within you! Get initiated into the DEATH DEALER UNION!
West coast-based metal unit DEATH DEALER UNION – featuring frontwoman Lena Scissorhands of modern metal leaders INFECTED RAIN – released their debut album, entitled Initiation via Napalm Records!
Following searing recent singles “The Vow of Silence“ and “The Integument“, today, the band has released a third single – the dynamic “ILL FATED”. The track juxtaposes 80s-influenced clean guitars and sinister metallic riffs as Lena displays her soaring trademark vocal delivery and introspective wordplay. The video features eye-catching imagery, sets and costumes, making for a striking viewing experience!
DEATH DEALER UNION says about the video: “We wanted to present something a little different with this video – everything from the fantastic Cherry Bombs dance troupe to the actors involved. We sought to do something not usually done in heavy metal videos. Enjoy!”
In 2019, metal musicians CC McKenna (drums) and Doug Weiand (lead guitars) set forth on a dark musical path – aligning diverse metal influences with otherworldly channelings of alchemy, the occult and all things esoteric. Little did they know, the final ingredient of their impending amalgamation was on the horizon, set to emerge as DEATH DEALER UNION.
After meeting acclaimed frontwoman Lena Scissorhands, a musical pact was instantly formed – propelling the band into the studio with producer Valentin Voluta (also recognized for his work with Infected Rain). Now, with two new members – Hunter Havok (rhythm and lead guitars) and Jonny Heinz (bass) – in tow, the band is set to unleash their very first sacrificial offering to the masses, Initiation. The album brings forth the huge sound and exciting visuals fans experienced with the band’s debut offerings, plus an entire new trove of musical and lyrical elements. While no track is the replicant of another, they all weave a common thread of compelling essence that will have listeners clamoring to heed the word of DEATH DEALER UNION.
Initiation track listing: 1. Initiation 2. The Vow of Silence 3. ILL FATED 4. Ekphrasis 5. The Integument 6. Mythos 7. The Big Blue 8. Back To Me 9. The Downfall 10. Love Me When I’m Ugly 11. Anew 12. Beyond Heaven
Initiation kicks off with its instrumental title track, droning deeply into electronic flourishes and spine-tingling organs. The track flows into first album single “The Vow of Silence” – a fast-paced burner featuring aggressive verses and a catchy chorus that fully showcases the album’s immense production, once again helmed by Valentin Voluta. “ILL FATED” juxtaposes 80s-influenced clean guitars and sinister metallic riffs as Lena Scissorhands displays her dynamic trademark vocal delivery and introspective wordplay. Tracks such as “Ekphrasis” and “Mythos” – the latter boasting one of the album’s most heart-stopping guitar solos – are rife with chunky 90s heavy metal and even nu-metal-inspired riffage. “The Big Blue”, “Back To Me”, “The Downfall” and “Anew” dance with metal styles ranging from symphonic power to progressive, showcasing the band’s diverse macrocosm of musical skill, before potent, heavy ballad “Love Me When I’m Ugly” provides heartfelt lyrics and melodies. Initiation ends with “Beyond Heaven”, an opus of expansive harmonies and eerie embellishments, closing the album with its most theatrical cut.
Find your own power within DEATH DEALER UNION – your Initiation is only the beginning!
Initiation will be available in the following formats: -1CD Digipak -2LP Gatefold Purple – available only via Napalm Records Mail Order and DEATH DEALER UNION, limited to 300 -Digital Album
OBSCURA recently announced their highly anticipated live album, A Celebration I – Live in North America, which will be released on October 27 th via Nuclear Blast Records.
Today, the band presents a stunning live video for the track ´Emergent Evolution´, captured during their electrifying Mexico tour. This video promises to deliver a sensory experience like no other, showcasing the band’s unmatched talent and captivating stage presence.
Steffen Kummerer comments: “´Emergent Evolution´ quickly became the most popular track of our 2018 record Diluvium. The song has been part of our live shows ever since, and combined with a loud and wild audience as in Mexico back in 2022, it’s just pure joy to perform live on stage.”
A Celebration I – Live in North Americatakes you on a mesmerizing journey through their iconic discography, featuring fan favorites from albums like Cosmogenesis, Omnivium, Akroasis, Diluviumand the chart-breaking A Valediction.
The album has been mixed & mastered at Studio Fredman by award-winning producer and engineer Fredrik Nordström (Arch Enemy, In Flames, At The Gates), in Gothenburg, Sweden, in collaboration with OBSCURAs architect Steffen Kummerer. Vincent Grundke, who has been working alongside the band as a videographer and photographer since 2021, provided the visual accompaniments for the record.
A Celebraion I – Live In North America – Tracklist: 1. Forsaken 2. Emergent Evolution 3. Ode To The Sun 4. The Anticosmic Overload 5. Septuagint 6. A Valediction 7. Ocean Gateways 8. Akroasis 9. Orbital Elements II 10. Incarnated
Catch OBSCURA live, as they embark on an extensive Latin America tour, followed by another extensive run across UK with label mates DECAPITATED.
Latin America tour 28.10. ARG Buenos Aires – Uniclub 29.10. BR Sao Paulo – Carioca Club 31.10. CHL Santiago – Teatro Cariola 02.11. PER Lima – Teatro Cantaro 04.11. COL Bogota – Ace Of Spades 05.11. HND Tegucigalpa – Radio house Casa Campo 07.11. GTM Guatemala City – Rock ´ol Vuh 08.11. SLV San Salvador – Café Catedral 09.11. CRI San José – Pepper´s 11.11. MX Monterrey – Mexico Metal Fest
With Decapitated & Inferi 29.11. UK Bristol – The Fleece 30.11. UK Milton Keynes – MK 11 01.12. UK Bournemouth – The Old Fire Station 02.12. UK Torquay – The Foundry 03.12. UK Merthyr Tydfil – Redhouse Cymru 04.12. UK Liverpool – O2 Academy 2 06.12. IRE Limerick – Dolan´s Warehouse 07.12. UK Dublin – Opium 08.12. UK Belfast – Limelight 2 09.12. UK Glasgow – Slay 10.12. UK Newcastle – The Grove 11.12. UK Leeds – The Key Club 12.12. UK Norwich – The Waterfront 13.12. UK Southend-on-Sea – Chinneys 14.12. UK London – 229 15.12. UK Manchester – Club Academy 16.12. UK Birmingham – Asylum
CANNIBAL CORPSE: George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher – vocals Erik Rutan – guitar Rob Barrett – guitar Alex Webster – bass Paul Mazurkiewicz – drums
Cannibal Corpse, a revered name in death metal, unleashes their sixteenth studio album, “Chaos Horrific,” via Metal Blade Records. This band needs no introduction, but what about their latest offering? Well, it’s exactly what you’d expect from these veterans of brutality.
“Chaos Horrific” delivers the classic Cannibal Corpse experience, with unrelenting speed, brutality, and the unmistakable growls of George ‘Corpsegrinder’ Fisher. The album kicks off with the thunderous “Overlords of Violence,” setting the tone for a fast-paced, riff-packed onslaught that rarely lets up. Clocking in at a tight 39 minutes, it’s refreshingly concise in an era of overstuffed albums.
Erik Rutan’s influence on guitar, alongside Rob Barrett, injects new life into the band’s sound. The solos add melodic nuance to the chaos, as seen in tracks like “Frenzied Feeding” and “Summoned for Sacrifice.” There are moments of monotony, but the album finishes strong with “Pestilential Rictus” and “Drain You Empty.”
The production packs a punch, although the mastering is a bit loud, but death metal is supposed to be experienced loud. George ‘Corpsegrinder’ Fisher’s vocals remain a force to be reckoned with, and drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz provides a rock-solid foundation.
“Chaos Horrific” doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s a testament to Cannibal Corpse’s consistency and vitality. For long-time fans, it’s a solid addition to their discography, while newcomers will find it a brutal introduction to the band’s world.
Vince Locke’s gruesome artwork perfectly complements the carnage within. When Cannibal Corpse releases an album, you know you’re in for a blood-soaked ride. “Chaos Horrific” lives up to the legacy, proving that these death metal pioneers still reign supreme. Don’t miss their upcoming tour with The True Mayhem, where these songs are bound to ignite mosh pits and headbanging galore. “Chaos Horrific” is out now, so prepare for a relentless onslaught of death metal fury.
Chaos Horrific track listing: 1. Overlords Of Violence 2. Frenzied Feeding 3. Summoned For Sacrifice 4. Blood Blind 5. Vengeful Invasion 6. Chaos Horrific 7. Fracture And Refracture 8. Pitchfork Impalement 9. Pestilential Rictus 10. Drain You Empty
Coinciding with the release of Chaos Horrific, CANNIBAL CORPSE will embark on a month-long North American co-headlining tour with Mayhem. The journey begins September 22nd in Nashville, Tennessee and runs through October 21st in Louisville, Kentucky. Support will be provided by special guests, Gorguts and Blood Incantation! See all confirmed dates below. CANNIBAL CORPSE w/ Mayhem, Gorguts, Blood Incantation: 9/22/2023 Marathon Music Hall – Nashville, TN 9/23/2023 The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC 9/24/2023 The Mill & Mine – Knoxville, TN 9/26/2023 Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA 9/27/2023 Rebel – Toronto, ON 9/28/2023 L’Olympia – Montreal, QC 9/29/2023 The Palladium – Worcester, MA 9/30/2023 Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY 10/02/2023 The Royal Oak – Detroit, MI 10/03/2023 Hard Rock Live – Gary, IN 10/04/2023 The Fillmore – Minneapolis, MN 10/06/2023 Mission Ballroom – Denver, CO 10/07/2023 The Depot – Lake City, UT 10/09/2023 Temple Theatre – Tacoma, WA 10/10/2023 Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA 10/11/2023 Knitting Factory – Boise, ID 10/13/2023 The Warfield – San Francisco, CA 10/14/2023 SOMA – San Diego, CA 10/17/2023 The Aztec Theatre – San Antonio, TX 10/18/2023 The Factory – Dallas, TX 10/20/2023 The Eastern – Atlanta, GA 10/21/2023 Paristown Hall – Louisville, KY
Peter Tägtgren comments, “We wrote this song together, me and my son Sebastian. He wrote all the music and I did the lyrics. And it turned out great. We are very proud of this song. The lyrics are about false information on social media and news, and for a normal person, it’s hard to understand what is right and what is wrong.”
PAIN also confirmed their set for Wacken Open Air next year.
PAIN, known for high-energy live performances, are thrilled to announce their “I AM” European/UK Tour. With 17 countries and 33 cities on the itinerary, this tour promises an unforgettable experience for fans throughout Europe and UK. Prepare to be captivated by the raw energy and intensity of PAIN’s performances as they take the stage. Don’t miss out on this epic metal adventure!
PHOTO CREDIT: Alibi Assylkhanov
ABOUT PAIN:
PAIN is an industrial metal project created by Peter Tägtgren, a Swedish musician, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. If you want to hear this story from him, it would be short and straight to the point: “PAIN was just me f*cking around in the studio, and it grew into becoming a band.”
Started as a one-man project with all the vocals, instruments parts, and production made by one person… Well, it still is, but not only. It also became a prominent touring group that today consists of, apart from Peter, his son Sebastian Tägtgren (drums), Jonathan Olsson (bass), and Sebastian Svalland (guitar).
Nevertheless, a long time ago, in 1997, when the debut album of the project was released, there was nobody but Peter. By this time, he already had four successful albums with HYPOCRISY — and also had some ideas that wouldn’t go with the band’s style.
That’s how the story of PAIN began — the story where eight albums are known and loved for such smashing hits as “End Of The Line,” “Shut Your Mouth,” “Same Old Song,” “Follow Me,” “Coming Home,” and many more. This story also contains strong lyrics, rich arrangements, solid melodies, unflagging energy, killing live shows, and big plans for the future.
VEXED is: Megan Targett – Vocals Jay Bacon – Guitar Willem Mason-Geraghty – Drums
UK Alt-Metal Act VEXED Drops Visualizer Video for “Lay down your flowers”, feat. Lochie Keogh/Alpha Wolf | Watch HERE!
Get Your Copy of The New Album, Negative Energy, NOW!
UK Tour Dates Announced!
After releasing their second beast of an album, Negative Energy, earlier this year, UK alt-metal outfit VEXED grace their fans with a new highlight, taken from their critically acclaimed offering. Today the band presents a visualizer video for the furious song “Lay down your flowers“. The track features special guest and Alpha Wolf vocalist Lochie Keogh and impresses with extreme vocals and bombarding drums.
As one of the hottest newcomers in alternative metal, VEXED have received great attention with recent Negative Energy and singles like “Anti-Fetish”. Amongst others, the track was aired on BBC’s Radio 1 Rock Show. On top of that, VEXED will bring Negative Energy to six intimate headline shows in the United Kingdom, starting October 10 in Glasgow this fall.
VEXED add: “This tour is so special to us because it is proof that no matter how dark things may get, there are always better days ahead. We invite you to join us in our healing process, a cathartic and brutal celebration of how hitting rock bottom has saved us.”
Check out the visualizer video for “Lay down your flowers” HERE:
Megan Targett on “Lay down your flowers”: “‘The boy who cried wolf’ is a story that we are all familiar with. ‘Lay down your flowers’ is based on the vindication of the people who have had to endure living their lives in constant fear and threat of tragedy. Finding the courage to stand up to those who use your emotions and good nature to take advantage, and claiming back your sanity which was so manipulatively taken from you.”
Negative Energy Tracklisting: 1. PTSD 2. Anti-Fetish 3. We don’t talk about it 4. X my <3 (Hope to die) 5. Panic attack 6. Lay down your flowers 7. There’s no place like home 8. Extremist 9. Default 10. Trauma Euphoria 11. It’s not the end 12. DMT 13. Nepotism
Negative Energy achieves pinnacle musicianship and gripping, profound and brave lyricism. Instead of opting for forced positivity like many of their contemporaries, the Hertfordshire three-piece channel every ounce of their current album into these 13 tracks – recharging themselves for an uphill battle. Negative Energy proves itself as a stunning, devastating musical conduit – ventilating the band’s pain-stricken burdens and breathing life into their fresh approach, delivered with a vengeance.
VEXED UK Headline Tour 2023: 10.10.2023 – Glasgow / Audio (𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦) 11.10.2023 – Leeds / The Key Club (𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦) 12.10.2023 – Cardiff / Fuel Rock Club (𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦) 13.10.2023 – Birmingham / Devils Dog (𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗢𝗨𝗧) 14.10.2023 – Southampton / Suburbia (𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦) 15.10.2023– Cambridge / The Six Six (𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗢𝗨𝗧)
BRUJERIA is: Juan Brujo | Vocals Sangron | Vocals Fantasma | Vocals Pinche Peach | Vocals La Encabronada | Vocals El Criminal | Guitars El Embrujado | Guitars Hongo | Bass El Cynico | Bass Hongo Jr. | Drums
Mexican death grind band BRUJERIA put the world of cartels and ritualistic murder on wax with a brutal power equivalent to when Compton arrived in pop culture via NWA. Today, the band unleashes their fifth full-length album Esto Es Brujeria onto the world via Nuclear Blast Records.
‘El Patrón Del Reventón‘ is the latest offering from the record. The music video was produced by Ceasar “Chorro” Padilla& Juan Brujo.
Esto Es Brujeria was recorded worldwide at the following studios: Dog Run Studio in Riverside, CA; Total Annihilation Studios in East Los Angeles, CA; Robanna‘sin Birmingham, UK; and Audiocustom in Santiago, Chile. Production of the record was handled by the band while engineering was a joint effort between Eddie Casillas, Eddie Rivas, and Miguel Seco. The mixing and mastering of the album was completed by Seba Puente who was also a part of the engineering team. The album artwork was created by Gary Ronaldson. Esto Es Brujeria saw the return of their metal mascot Coco Loco who is emblazoned on the ferocious cover.
Esto Es Brujeria – Tracklisting: 01. Esto Es Brujeria 02. El Patrón Del Reventón 03. Estado Profundo 04. Bruja Encabronada 05. G-A-K 06. Tu Vida Loca 07. Mexorcista 08. Bestia De La Muerte 09. Políticamente Correctos 10. Mochado 11. Perdido En El Espacio 12. Odio Que Amo 13. Testamento 3.0 14. Covid-666 15. Lord Nazi Ruso 16. Cocaína
On November 2nd, BRUJERIA will kick off their ‘Esto Es Tour 2023‘ in Yuma, Arizona. The 29-date trek will make stops in Dallas, Boston, and Seattle before ending in Pomona on December 10th. Joining them on the run are PIÑATA PROTEST and NO/MÁS.
Confirmed dates for BRUJERIA’s ‘Esto Es tour 2023‘ with PIÑATA PROTEST and NO/MÁS are: 11.02. US Yuma, AZ – Red Moon Ale House 11.03. US Tucson, AZ – The Rock 11.04. US Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad 11.06. US Dallas, TX – Granada Theater 11.07. US Lubbock, TX – Jakes Sports Cafe 11.08. US Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street Collective 11.09. US Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live 11.10. US Houston, TX – Houston Vert Ramp 11.11. US Brownsville, TX – Outdoors at The Kraken Lounge 11.14. US Orlando, FL – Conduit 11.15. US Atlanta, GA – The Loft at Center Stage 11.16. US Asheville, NC – Asheville Music Hall 11.17. US Virginia Beach, VA – Elevation 27 11.18. US Mechanicsburg, PA – Lovedrafts 11.19. US Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall 11.21. US Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus 11.22. US Pittsburgh, PA – Preserving Underground 11.24. US Cleveland Heights, OH – Grog Shop 11.25. US Chicago, IL – Reggie’s 11.28. US Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater 11.29. US Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall 12.01. US Seattle, WA – Substation 12.02. US Portland, OR – Bossanova Ballroom 12.05. US San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall 12.06. US Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post 12.07. US San Jose, CA – The Ritz 12.08. US Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom 12.09. US Las Vegas, NV – The Usual Place 12.10. US Pomona, CA – The Glass House Concert Hall
Line-up Morean – guitars, vocals Christian Münzner – guitars Linus Klausenitzer – bass Hannes Grossmann – drums
Alkaloid are metal’s maddest scientists. The Bavarian band have crafted songs about what lies beneath the Arctic crust, on top of an ongoing, multi-part saga about a galactic civilization that ascends to god-like levels of domination.
‘Numen’ is their most intricate, thought-provoking and batshit insane album yet. Alkaloid are still bonded together by their love of extreme metal. After all, they are a super group that’s assembled from foundational members of Obscura, Dark Fortress, Triptykon and other genre heavyweights. The fiery, finger-tapped solo that squiggles loose halfway through lead single “Clusterfuck” is crushed like an ant between colliding moons. But their new album finds the band playing around with all kinds of experiments. “The Cambrian Explosion” flips death metal on its horned head with seductive flurries of jazz and flamenco, while the title track is a dizzying seven-minute yarn of how a supermassive black hole came to burp up an unheard-of cosmic artifact that gives both the song – and the album – its name.
“We proudly present our third album ‘Numen’, says Alkaloid. “Where ‘The Malkuth Grimoire’ dealt with the rearrangement of existing particles into new forms, and ‘Liquid Anatomy’ with the creation of new particles, this album looks at the universe from the perspective of imaginary deities detached altogether from the cycle of life and death of incarnated organisms. This hypothetical viewpoint is reflected on the scales of both biological and cosmological processes. If one could shape and manipulate life and the cosmos itself, how would one go about it, and what would it mean for everything in that cosmos?
Tracklist
Disc 1 1. Qliphosis (7:48) 2. The Cambrian Explosion (3:58) 3. Clusterfuck (6:00) 4. Shades of Shub-Niggurath (6:11) 5. A Fool’s Desire (8:10) 6. The Fungi From Yuggoth (6:06)
Disc2 1. The Black Siren (Instrumental) (1:39) 2. Numen (Dyson VII) (7:03) 3. Recursion (Dyson VIII) (3:29) 4. The Folding (Dyson IX) (6:54) 5. Alpha Aur (13:23)
Progressive extreme metallers Alkaloid prepare to unfurl their new many-tentacled full-length, Numen via Season of Mist. Featuring members of Triptykon, Obscura, Dark Fortress, and Obsidious, the Germany-based quartet of Morean (vocals, guitars, concepts), Hannes Grossmann (drums), Christian Münzner (guitars), and Linus Klausenitzer (bass) construct upon, expand away from, and journey between previous full-lengths The Malkuth Grimoire (2015) and Liquid Anatomy (2018) on Numen. In every respect, Alkaloid recommence the purposeful warp of various metallic genres they dimensionally blur. Tracks like the video single for “Clusterfuck,” “The Cambrian Explosion,” and “Numen” posit heavy cosmological/Lovecraftian theoretic themes on top of musically-adept songs that are accessible yet undeniably intricate.
“We’ve all been around the block a few times by now as metal musicians,” says songsmith Morean. “The feeling that we’ve outgrown the narrow niche of pure extreme metal was a main motivator to start this band in the first place, ten years ago. The ‘prog’ tag is handy for us because, per definition, it already encompasses a wider range of possible styles and influences we can get away with than any one specific metal genre. This means we could ensure from the beginning that we’ll always be able to write whatever we want, no matter how crazy our ideas become. The heart of this band is always the songwriting, and we all like complex and virtuosic music in all its diverse manifestations. However, we do share a love for death metal as the smallest common denominator in the band, and we wanted to make sure no one thinks that just because we include melodies, clean guitars, and influences from other genres, we’d automatically sacrifice the brutality and relentless esthetic of extreme metal.”
Alkaloid formed in Bavaria in 2013. While the members, starting with Morean, were already ensconced or had partaken in activities with Necrophagist, Dark Fortress, and Obscura, they saw the band as an outlet of limitless expression, a vehicle for traversing miasmal worlds host to ancient squamous things residing in Cyclopean architecture. Indeed, Morean’s lyrical hard sci-fi subjects are as critical to the totality of Alkaloid as the music. Tracks like “Cthulhu” and “Carbon Phrases” (both from The Malkuth Grimoire), as well as video single “Azagthoth” and “Kernel Panic” (both from Liquid Anatomy), found critical acclaim not just with extreme metal enthusiasts the world over, but also the press, with Metal Hammer Germany calling Liquid Anatomy a “work of art” and Metal Injection enthusiastically stating the album was a “phenomenal juggernaut.” New album, Numen, will undoubtedly rise above its predecessors with its ubiquitous, thought-provoking sophistication.
“Every new Alkaloid album builds on the previous ones,” Morean says. “As we have different songwriters, we also have different stories and styles on every album, which develop in parallel and are picked up again on the next album. We didn’t know this yet back when we started out, but three albums in, we see different song cycles being created across albums; apparently, many of the stories we tell don’t want to end but lead us to new chapters that want to be written. Examples are: the sequence of ‘Funeral for a Continent’ from the first album, which asks the question of what’s under the Antarctic ice sheet, leading in a direct line to Cephalopods becoming the next dominant species on the planet on the second album, and turning into a space-faring race in this installment; the growing ‘portrait’ gallery of the Lovecraftian pantheon, where each of his deities is linked to real-world phenomena in cosmology and biology; and of course, the ever-growing Dyson saga that sketches a path how a galactic civilization is born and climbs to god-like levels.”
Numen was written during the pandemic, but it was planned long before the scourge of disease wracked humanity. As a result, the songwriting sessions were predictably not “in the room” but over the Internet after the band members had isolated and worked on their constituent parts. Demos flew back and forth. Then, Tunker left amicably for personal reasons. Alkaloid could’ve folded, but the close-knit group soldiered on. They intensely relied on the professionalism and dependability of the collective to drive Numen to completion. The complications of the two years it took to sonically inscribe the album into aeonic vastness didn’t fragment the end result. Instead, the process accelerated Alkaloid’s lambent, eldritch explorations. “Clusterfuck,” “The Cambrian Explosion,” “Numen,” and “A Fool’s Desire” expertly bridge the past to the future, where Alkaloid’s originative, daedal storytelling captures (and holds hostage) the imagination.
“‘Clusterfuck’ is a rather moderate track for us,” says Morean. “It’s mid-tempo, not too long, pretty straightforward, has its brutal moments and a catchy chorus, and is the one track where the lyric is more philosophical and less based on imagery. ‘The Cambrian Explosion’ is a nod to tech death, even if we always work hard to escape that niche. Danny conceived it as a less cheerful cousin to ‘Alter Magnitudes,’ another hyper-condensed grenade of excessive shredding; Hannes and I then added elements you’d never find in tech death. ‘Numen’ then shines a light on how the ever-growing Dyson saga continues. Musically, it explores polyrhythms, extended sound design for the guitars, and a unique combination of ingredients that tell a gargantuan story of galactic architecture that needed to be reflected in the many complex layers of the music. ‘A Fool’s Desire’ offers yet another of our personalities, starting as a ballad that becomes an epic rock song before being inevitably ground up in blastbeats towards the end. It’s a perfect example of how Hannes’ songwriting focus these days is happy to sacrifice instrumental virtuosity in favor of an epic character, unashamedly embracing traditional metal without becoming banal in it or denying the other aspects of this band.”
The title, Numen, got its start at the dawning of Alkaloid. It’s a word that Morean fell in love with immediately, and he knew it had a place in his creative endeavors. Whereas The Malkuth Grimoire talked about combining existing elements into new structures, and Liquid Anatomy dealt with the creation of new elements, Numen tries to look at the universe from a kind of meta-perspective from an imaginary god, as if the space that everything happens in was given a voice and a role as observer and shaper of everything that happens. In it, sentient panspermic mycelia are swathed in Lovecraftian nastiness—like Shub-Niggurath and the Fungi from Yuggoth—while the new Dyson chapters interpret the aspiration to reach divinity rather literally, reshaping the entire galaxy by manipulating spacetime itself. Desperate to escape their doom, the Cephalopods from previous songs have returned, too. Numen is dense but not impenetrable. In fact, from the first moments of opener, “Qliphosis,” to the final contemplation of closer “Alpha Aur,” Alkaloid prove to be more charismatic than ever.
“I’m always most interested in the big picture,” Morean says. “Considering the size and depth of our universe, it is preposterous for dumb little ape-descendants like us to really get there, but I prefer to fail spectacularly in the attempt than to not try at all. You have to reach for the stars to reach the branches. I’d also presume that the only division between the physical and the spiritual world is in our knowledge and perception of it since I’m convinced it’s all part of the same world. Where science offers a wealth of objective understanding of the physical world, we’re still in the dark as far as the mind and soul are concerned. As an artist, I take my poetic license to fill in the blank spots at the edges of both domains and connect them in hopefully original and unexpected futuristic analogies. One development in the album concept is that I’m starting to be able to connect all those different story strands (which I started without much consideration for the future on the first album) with each other on this album, so finally, it’s all coming together in the same universe. And I see a plethora of grand new stories to be told in the future.”
Alkaloid technically recorded Numen individually, each member tracking their songs/parts at their respective homes. Getting everyone into Grossmann’s Mordor Sounds (Eternity’s End, Hannes Grossmann) simultaneously was logistically (and sometimes legally) impossible. So, the able-bodied drummer/producer took the pieces of Numen, stitching them together to form a cohesive, tenebrous whole. Grossman then invited Morean between government-mandated lockdowns to track his vocals. Numen was mixed at Mordor Sounds. What ostensibly started in 2021 finally concluded on the eve of 2022, with American mastering cognoscente Alan Douches (Cannibal Corpse, Death) reprising his Liquid Anatomy role. “Clusterfuck,” “The Cambrian Explosion,” “Numen,” and “The Fungi from Yuggoth” not only sound intense and pyramided but also dynamically awesome.
“How it goes is you wake up, have a coffee, stand before the mike, and scream your guts out for sometimes 8-10 hours in a row until you forget even your name,” says Morean. “Make no mistake, though: we love the absolute concentration of the task at hand, and if we didn’t push ourselves to the absolute limit in everything we do with almost monk-like dedication, we wouldn’t feel we did our job. And we live for this, of course, so I hope we’ll still be doing this when we’re senile in wheelchairs wearing diapers and losing our dentures between takes. No money in the world can buy you the satisfaction of hearing an awesome finished mix of something you worked on for years in the privacy of your own head.”
Alkaloid’s next steps are to release Numen to an eagerly-anticipating world. From there, the Germans aim for traditional tours and unorthodox venues alike. In fact, Alkaloid are already booked to play at a science conference in Germany, as well as the Netherlands Bach Society, which orchestrates a weekend of festivals celebrating the work of Johann Sebastian Bach. The latter might come as a surprise, but not for Morean, whose off-Alkaloid profession is a classical composer for the likes of Netherlands Public Broadcasting (NPO), the Ricciotti Ensemble, the DoelenEnsemble, and others. He won the Paul Jacobs Memorial Award (2002) and was nominated for the Unesco International Rostrum of Composers (2010). Clearly, the backdrop of Alkaloid’s accomplished membership translates to the piquant, transformative qualities of Numen.
Cult heavy metal outfit CIRITH UNGOL will unleash their sixth full-length, Dark Parade, on October 20th via Metal Blade Records today unveiling the record’s cover art, track listing, and first single!
Few bands in the history of the heavy metal underground have a story as remarkable, improbable, or uplifting as that of CIRITH UNGOL. Formed in Ventura, California in the early 1970s, CIRITH UNGOL created a sound the world had never experienced before. Rather than passively channeling their influences, the band was driven to forge an altogether heavier, darker, more apocalyptic sound. It was obscure and arcane, mysterious and eccentric, epic and expansive, but most of all, unfailingly, bone-crushingly heavy, dark, and doom-filled.
Wasting no time to ride their molten wave they started with their 2020 studio comeback Forever Black, CIRITH UNGOL started writing songs for Dark Parade as soon as Forever Black was released. Then, like everyone else, CIRITH UNGOL were hamstrung by the global pandemic, struggling through illness, seclusion, grief, and depression in their quest to create dark, vibrant art. And like the greatest warriors, they persevered, working on one song at a time – distractions be damned. The first track composed was the crushing “Relentless,” which reinforced their confidence and clarity of vision. The rest of the album came naturally, fueled by personal misery and the tragedy of worldwide collapse.
“Band members lost close relatives and we struggled as best we could through the pandemic which ravaged the earth’s population and economies,” drummer Rob Garven notes. “As horrifying as it was, it was the perfect backdrop for our doom-laden message of a world on the edge of destruction.”
With all eight demos finished — which are included on the expanded edition of the album — CIRITH UNGOL started recording Dark Parade in October 2022. The end result is an unrelenting triumph of pessimism and pain; a charred vista rooted in the crunch-and-crash templates of classic doom metal and NWOBHM but delivered with contemporary production and perspective. The album is propulsive and insistent, reflecting the band’s love for metal, instinct to destroy, and disgust for mankind.
From the majestic eight-minute-long “Sailor On The Seas Of Fate,” which starts with a reflective arpeggio and builds into a pounding, near-tribal volley before segueing into a bleak, slow burn of retribution and agony, to the final three movements of the “Dark Parade” saga (comprised of “Dark Parade,” “Distant Shadows,” and “Down Below“), CIRITH UNGOL‘s latest album offers a metallic soundtrack of societal decay and environmental collapse that foreshadows nothing less than total extinction.
The first single from Dark Parade is opening track “Velocity (S.E.P.),” a compact, mid-paced blast of crunching riffs and deft hooks that act as a microcosm for much of the doom-laden album. “While talking with [vocalist] Tim [Baker] and Rob about what kind of song was needed, a decision was made to stop doing the galloping chugs, as done many times on previous albums, and start doing down-picking chugs while keeping some sort of tie to the CIRITH UNGOL sound,” reveals guitarist Jimmy Barraza. “Straying toward a Sabbath or Priest vibe is not far off and happens subconsciously.“
The track is about promises made and debts paid. Faust and Robert Johnson both knew what to expect on their visit to the Crossroads – great rewards and great loss. A bit of suffering in Dante’s Inferno will always remind us that the earthly pleasures we seek always come at a price. Sell your soul, take the deal, suffer the consequences.
“It’s about what happens when we sell that which we hold dear,” Baker notes. “Our soul — if such a thing exists — our dignity, pride, and whatever else we have that will help seal the deal in an endless pursuit of money, power, glory and dominion over others.”
Watch CIRITH UNGOL’s “Velocity (S.E.P.)” visualizer at THIS LOCATION.
Dark Parade Track Listing: 01. Velocity (S.E.P.) 02. Relentless 03. Sailor on the Seas of Fate 04. Sacrifice 05. Looking Glass 06. Dark Parade 07. Distant Shadows 08. Down Below
Dark Parade will be available on digipak-CD, digitally, and LP in the following color variants:
• Special edition LP (slipcase w/ hot-foil embossing, 2xLP incl. demos of the entire album, 12″ booklet, 2 posters, art print, tote bag – ltd. 1000) • 180g Black vinyl (EU excl.) • Olive Green Marbled vinyl (EU excl. – ltd. 700) • Charcoal Marbled vinyl (EU excl. – ltd. 500) • Pale Grey W/ Black Smoke vinyl (EU excl. – ltd. 500) • Gold “Black Dust” vinyl (Metal Blade Store EU excl. – ltd. 300) • Fog Marbled vinyl (US excl.) • Grey / Black Marbled vinyl (US excl.)
CIRITH UNGOL will play a special record release show on October 20th at The Roxy in West Hollywood, marking the band’s first Los Angeles live appearance in thirty-five years. The performance will commemorate The Roxy’s 50th anniversary and find the band playing Dark Parade in its entirety followed by a full set of classic material. Additionally, the set will be filmed and recorded for a future live release.
CIRITH UNGOL Live: 10/20/2023 The Roxy – West Hollywood, CA * Record Release Show [Tickets]
New York death metal legends SUFFOCATION unleash their ninth full-length album Hymns From The Apocrypha on November 3rd via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to …of the Dark Light (2017) and the first release featuring the new vocalist Ricky Meyers, pushes the band to the very edges of extremity and is arguably the group’s strongest-sounding, most sonically punishing album yet. SUFFOCATION have achieved death metal perfection.
Today, the band offers fans the first taste of the album with the ferocious track ‘Seraphim Enslavement’. The menacing music video was directed and edited by Tom Flynn with character design by Kyle Monroe and is the perfect visual pairing to Ricky Myers‘s monstrous vocals.
Derek Boyer comments,“This is my fifth full-length studio album with SUFFOCATION and this album came out SICK! It features all of the brutal, technical, chaotic twists and turns everyone would expect from SUFFOCATION, plus new elements that are out of the normal realm one might expect. This is the sophomore effort of working with Christian Donaldson (who mixed and mastered Live In North America) and he absolutely KILLED IT on this one!!! We can’t wait to bring these songs to the stage and crush everything in our path!”
Ricky Myers states, “We are thrilled to unveil our 11th full-length album, Hymns From The Apocrypha, a creatively composed piece that blends our style of music with lyrical depth and intricate artwork. This album is a testament to our devotion to brutal music, which we display in the video of our single, ‘Seraphim Enslavement‘, a visual journey that complements the album’s concept.“
Hymns From The Apocrypha – Tracklisting: 1. Hymns From The Apocrypha 2. Perpetual Deception 3. Dim Veil Of Obscurity 4. Immortal Execration 5. Seraphim Enslavement 6. Descendants 7. Embrace The Suffering 8. Delusions Of Mortality 9. Ignorant Deprivation
SUFFOCATION took about a month and a half to record Hymns from the Apocrypha. They holed up at Hobbs and Boyer’s InLine Studio in Long Island. The duo engineered and co-produced with Christian Donaldson (BENEATH THE MASSACRE, INGESTED), who was also re-enlisted to mix and master, with Dominic Grimard (CRYPTOPSY, SHADOW OF INTENT) assisting.With stunning cover art by Greek illustrator Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design (VOMITORY, THE CROWN), Hymns from the Apocrypha is characteristically SUFFOCATION. It’s uncompromisingly brutal, artistically gutsy, and aurally heavy. Clearly, SUFFOCATION, as they head into their 35th Anniversary, are at the peak of their potential. Death metal or die!
Hymns from the Apocrypha will be available digitally and in the following formats:
CD Jewel
Vinyl
Brown w/ White Splatter
White w/ Brown Corona (Mailorder exclusive, limited to 600)
SUFFOCATION are staying busy this fall with their 6-date ‘Darkness Within Mexico Tour 2023’ followed by their ‘Ancient Unholy Rising Tour 2023‘ with co-headlinerslegendary death metal band INCANTATION. The 26-date trek will kick off on November 7th in Baltimore and makes its way across North America with performances in Montreal, Seattle, and Houston before its conclusion in Greensboro on December 4th. Joining the bands as openers are SKELETAL REMAINS and STABBING.
‘Darkness Within Mexico Tour 2023’ 10.14.2023 MX Aguascalientes – Korobba 10.15.2023 MX Queretaro – Chihuahuas Bar 10.18.2023 MX Merida 10.19.2023 MX Monterrey – Cafe Iguana 10.21.2023 MX Hermosillo 10.22.2023 MX Mexico City
‘Ancient Unholy Uprising’ Tour 2023 with co-headliners INCANTATION and support SKELETAL REMAINS and STABBING
11.07.2023 US Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage 11.08.2023 US Reading, PA – Reverb 11.09.2023 US Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw 11.10.2023 US Providence, RI – Alchemy 11.11.2023 CA Trois-Rivières, QC – Amphithéâtre Cogeco 11.12.2023 CA Montreal, QC – Studio TO 11.13.2023 CA Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace 11.14.2023 US Detroit, MI – The Sanctuary 11.15.2023 US Chicago, IL – Reggies 11.16.2023 US Madison, WI – The Annex 11.17.2023 US Lawrence, KS – The Granada 11.18.2023 US Denver, CO – HQ 11.20.2023 US Richland, WA – Ray’s Golden Lion 11.21.2023 US Seattle, WA – El Corazon 11.22.2023 US Portland, OR – Bossanova Ballroom 11.24.2023 US San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge 11.25.2023 US San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick 11.26.2023 US Los Angeles, CA – 1720 11.27.2023 US Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge 11.28.2023 US Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad 11.29.2023 US Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street Collective 11.30.2023 US Dallas, TX – Granada Theater 12.01.2023 US Houston, TX – Scout Bar 12.02.2023 US San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger 12.03.2023 US New Orleans, LA – Southport Music Hall 12.04.2023 US Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
Carolina Bertelegni – vocals Alessandro Tuvo – guitar Alex Pedrotti – guitar Cristiano Trappoli – bass Matteo Malchiodi – batteria
Never Obey Again has released an official audio stream for ‘9:45’, fourth single taken from the debut album ‘The End of an Era’ to be released on September 22nd.
The Beginning of A New Metal Era
‘The End of an Era’ combines dramatic and introspective melodies, heavy precise riffs and layers of electronic landscapes which create the perfect scenario to welcome the powerful voice of charismatic frontwoman Carolina.
The Never Obey Again debut album represents the purest and deepest needing of an artistic expression of 5 experienced musicians who found their own space in this piece of work; the record felt like it was created by itself as every little idea fell perfectly into place at first attempt.
The main goal of ‘The End of an Era’ is dragging the listeners into experiencing the song and allowing them to wear the lyrics and the atmosphere of every single track on their own skin.
– debut album for the up’n’coming Italian modern metal band
– recorded at Never Obey Again Studio, Voghera (Italy)
– artwork by Alessandro Tuvo and Alex Pedrotti
– first edition will be released in a4-panel digipack
– for fans of Evanescence, Halestorm, Linkin Park, In This Moment, Spiritbox, Paramore
SIX GOING ON SEVEN’S SELF-MADE MESS OUT OCTOBER 27 VIA IODINE RECORDINGS
BAND SHARES “SEXY LIKE THE TITANIC” VIDEO — WATCH [[ADD LINK]]
Self-Made Mess is the debut album from Boston’s indie rock/emo band Six Going On Seven. Out of print for over 25 years, this highly influential album helped define a genre that bridged the gap between hardcore influenced emo and indie-rock, with its complex bass and guitar harmonies and sincere vocals. Often referred to as a “band’s band,” Six Going on Seven came up alongside many of the household names we still discuss from the era: Jimmy Eat World, Hot Water Music, and The Get Up Kids, sharing the stage with them and many others.
Originally released on Some Records in 1997 and produced by Brian McTernan at Salad Days Studio, Self-Made Mess is being presented on a limited-edition vinyl pressing with all new artwork and remastered by Jack Shirley (Quicksand, Joyce Manor) at The Atomic Garden.
It arrives via Iodine Recordings on October 27. Get it here.
Today, the band has shared the video for “Sexy Like The Titanic.” Watch it here.
“Self-Made Mess was our first full-length, the culmination of three friends woodshedding/gigging around Boston in early days,” the band says. “Follow me here: I drove to Boston in fall of 1994, we played our first show in January of ’95, released a 7” the following year, and made Self-Made Mess in the summer of ’96 — this one was recorded by our friend Brian McTernan after demoing over nine songs the year prior with another great engineer, who abruptly moved to Los Angeles to make a record with The Rolling Sones — true story. Faithful to our live sound, Youth (lost on the young) recorded on a shoestring budget in a small new jersey town (that, a story for another day) — 10 songs remastered for your listening pleasure, enjoy.”
SELF-MADE MESS TRACK LISTING: “Sexy Like The Titanic” “Endurance” “Getaway Car” “Flu Season” “Sincerely” “Deadpan Cool” “Lampwick” “New Faith in Loss” “Method Actor” “Everybody’s Got a Hobby”
A MILE IN COLD WATER TRACK LISTING: “After the Fight” “Selective Hearing Loss” “Is That a Threat?” “Squirrel Bait” “There’s Only So Much Coffee” “Our Mild Scoliosis” “Always Be Closing” “Fuel” “The Dumbest Angel” “Penelope” “Favorite Goodbye Fuck” “Reprise”
GARRISON TO RE-RELEASE A MILE IN COLD WATER VIA IODINE RECORIDNGS ON OCTOBER 27
SEMINAL ALBUM HAS BEEN OUT OF PRINT FOR 20 YEARS
ORIGINAL LINEUP PLAYING THE MIDDLE EAST DOWNSTAIRS ON OCTOBER 6 WITH ORANGE ISLAND
BAND ALSO SET TO APPEAR AT THE FEST IN FLORIDA
Garrison were born in Boston during the heyday of the prolific late ’90s post-hardcore scene.
Their cohort featured heavy hitters like Piebald, Cave In, and Converge. Following in the footsteps of bands like Quicksand, Drive Like Jehu, and Texas is the Reason, Garrison drew from many influences to create a hyper-melodic sound that ranged from hardcore to emo — all without fitting neatly into any genre. They executed a complex and unique sound, seamlessly combining technical guitar riffs, melodic vocals, and heavy breakdowns in a way that few bands were able to achieve.
Garrison toured relentlessly, playing regularly alongside iconic bands of the era such as The Get Up Kids, Hot Water Music, Taking Back Sunday, and New Found Glory. Shortly after forming, the band found themselves signed to Revelation Records where they released their debut LP A Mile in Cold Water. The record was well received among fans and critics and made a place for itself as a notable release for the post-hardcore movement. The album opens with “After the Fight,” which immediately hooks you with its melody, fast tempo, and emotional breakdowns, highlighting the band’s hardcore roots and complex style. The LP rises with heavier post-hardcore moments, such as “The Dumbest Angel,” and falls with several softer emo ballads, most notably on the somber closer “Favorite Goodbye Fuck.”
Though Garrison went on to release numerous albums on Revelation Records and Iodine Recordings, A Mile in Cold Water remained their most significant and important release. While Garrison never broke in the same way that many of their peers did, this record clearly paved the way forward for many bands that followed in the post-hardcore and emo scenes.
Produced by Kurt Ballou (Converge) at God City Studio in 2001, Ballou returned in 2023 to completely remix the album to really make these songs shine the way they always intended to sound. Remastered by Jack Shirley (Quicksand, Joyce Manor) at The Atomic Garden. The album is being presented in a special gatefold jacket and features elements of the original art, and new artwork from Dan McCarthy.
The album is available for the first time in 20 years via Iodine Recordings on October 27. Get it here.
Garrison’s original lineup will appear at The Middle East Downstairs in Boston on October 6 with Orange Island. They are also slated to play The Fest in Florida, as well.
FUMING MOUTH is: Mark Whelan – Guitar, Vocals Andrew Budwey – Guitar Pat Merson – Bass James Davis – Drums
The musical ensemble known as Fuming Mouth, hailing from the New England has cultivated a auditory panorama that resides at the nebulous crossroads between the realms of death metal and hardcore. Their inaugural offering, “The Grand Descent,” unleashed upon the world in 2019, stood as a monolithic behemoth, followed swiftly by the 2020 EP, “Beyond The Tomb.”
In the annals of time, Fuming Mouth graced the stage of the America’s Hardcore festival last year, and now, they stand on the precipice of releasing their eagerly anticipated sophomore album. Aptly titled “Last Day Of Sun,” this album was meticulously crafted in collaboration with Converge’s own Kurt Ballou. A concept album that delves headfirst into the enigma of mortality, the inspiration for this was birthed during the trials of battling cancer. In a poignant statement, Whelan, reflects, “What started as a fictional concept album became incredibly real. I was facing certain death, but as I kept writing the album it’s theme became clear. You could die tomorrow.The album’s thematic essence crystallized with uncanny clarity: Tomorrow is not guaranteed, so seize today.”
The offering from this forthcoming masterpiece, titled “The Silence Beyond Life,” resounds with an ethos distinct from Fuming Mouth’s prior compositions. The guitar riffs, dense and weighty as an anchor in the abyss, envelop the listener in an atmosphere shrouded with foreboding. Within the shadows, hints of triumphant melodies emerge, evoking memories of the nineties’ golden age of Swedish death metal. It is a marvel, an embodiment of the profound significance woven into its creation—an anthem that resonates with the fragility of existence.
FUMING MOUTH is back! After years of uncertainty and dire circumstances, the revered and critically praised New England death metal perpetrators have overcome overwhelming obstacles to return this fall for the long-awaited release of their second, full-length album, Last Day of Sun, that’s due out November 3rd from Nuclear Blast.
Following a devastating diagnosis of leukemia in late 2021, vocalist/guitarist Mark Whelan spent nearly a year battling cancer through chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, and emerged in remission in 2022. Now cancer free, the beloved frontman returns rejuvenated with renewed determination, perspective and creativity in a new lease on life and the band’s most crucial and ferocious record yet. Commenting on the incoming record, Whelan says:
“What started as a fictional concept album became incredibly real. I was facing certain death, but as I kept writing the album it’s theme became clear. You could die tomorrow. Seize the day.“
Today, FUMING MOUTH has revealed the record’s first single, ‘The Silence Beyond Life,’ and coinciding video. Adding about the song, Whelan states:
“‘The Silence Beyond Life’ is our most melodic and heaviest song to date drawing influence from God Macabre, Gorement, and other melodic Swedish death metal acts of the time like Therion and Cemetary. It’s a song about trying to live while longing to die and overcoming that.“
Last Day of Sun Track List: 1. Out of Time 2. Respect and Blasphemy 3. The Silence Beyond Life 4. The Sign of Pain 5. Leaving Euphoria 6. I’ll Find You 7. Disgusterlude 8. Kill the Disease 9. Last Day of Sun 10. R.I.P. (Rest in Piss) 11. Burial Practices 12. Postfigurement
About FUMING MOUTH:
A fiery, resurrected rage barrels its way out of hell’s erupting chasms with blistering fury; Fuming Mouth has returned. Lead singer, guitarist, and founder Mark Whelan emerges triumphant after a life-threatening battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, rekindling the inferno of their music with Fuming Mouth’s second full-length album, Last Day of Sun.
What initially began as a full-on, fictional concept album underwent a profound transformation into a concept-reality hybrid, largely influenced by Whelan’s harrowing conflict with his health and anear brush with death. Just three weeks away from recording the album, Whelan was struck with a devastating cancer diagnosis. While bravely fighting the illness, he rewrote melodies, drum sections, and lyrics, infusing the music with his personal journey of struggle and hope.
The recording sessions began in October 2022, with Grammy Award winning Kurt Ballou of Converge at his studio, God City, inSalem, Massachusetts. Ballou reached out to Whelan after his battle with cancer and encouraged him to get back to their previously scheduled recording session.Working closely with Ballou in both engineering and production, the band found a wonderful and collaborative experience, as Ballou invested himself wholeheartedly in shaping their sound and vision. Salem itself also helped shape the album, as the Halloween Season had begun. Droves of tourists and residents mixing with people in costume made the streets of Salem seem like Last Day of Sun had come to life. The city where the Witch Trials took place presented the perfect setting for the album to be recorded.
At the genesis of this record, there was no other artist that could have captured the album’s essence better than Mariusz Lewandowski, with whom the band had already established a creative relationship through his work on the cover art of The Grand Descent. Tragically, Mariusz passed away while working on the album artwork, presenting the band with an immense obstacle to overcome. In tribute to his spirit and legacy, they joined forces with the talented artist Stefan Todorovic who crafted an evocative album cover depicting a Faustian city crumbling amidst the gray and sandy storms of the apocalypse. A colossal monster blocks the sun and hovers above the city as it burns, smoky buildings topple to the ground; all a visual representation of the chaos and darkness that permeates the album.
Fuming Mouth stands resilient, a testament to the indomitable human spirit. Amidst the carnage and depression lies a flicker of hope – a beacon of light that emanates from within. But as the last rays of the sun cast their shadow, the question remains. Will the people in Last Day of Sun survive? Will their worst inhibitions play out, will they rip each other to shreds, will they give up? Will everything they’ve built have been for not? Will they find a way to overcome, or will their panic lead to failure?
