A roundup of the latest news from Metal Blade Records including updates from Primordial, Whitechapel and Rivers Of Nihil.
Irish Pagan Metal Gods Primordial will release their new album, Exile Amongst The Ruins, March 30th through Metal Blade Records. Teaming with producer Ola Ersfjord, who worked on Primordial’s 2016 live album, Gods To The Godless, the record was tracked at Dublin’s Camelot Studios, located adjacent to their rehearsal room.
Primordial has now released the 2nd single from the album. Watch the video for “To Hell or the Hangman” (directed by Costin Chioreanu)
Comments Primordial singer A.A. Nemtheanga: “In 1493 Walter Lynch was hanged by his own father James Lynch, Mayor of Galwayon on the West coast of Ireland for the murder of a young Spanish noblemen who was visiting the family home. He had fallen in love with a young woman by the name of Agnes in the Lynch of household and in a fit of jealous rage one night Walter took the young Spaniard’s life. The story goes that an angry ‘lynch mob’ took to the streets and barred the way to the usual execution spot so James took his son Walter and hung him with his bare hands from the open window into the street…He was lynched from the hanging sill. ‘To Hell or the Hangman’ is this story through Walter’s eyes, a tale of unrequited love with a murderous end. Enough drama for you? A curious and strange song for single number two from the new album, dark romanticism! so get on the dancefloor…”
Once again building upon their signature sound, the follow up to 2014’s Where Greater Men Have Fallen is a more raw, “old school sounding” record than its predecessor. Hitting home with what vocalist A.A. Nemtheanga describes as “a direct energy” and wielding an urgency that is undeniable, the Irish quintet once again effortlessly blend elements of tragedy and might like no one else. Likewise, the evolution in their sound continues to be organic and unforced, ensuring that Exile Amongst The Ruins is essential listening for both their long term faithful and those only now drawn into their world.
Exile Amongst The Ruins track listing:
1. Nail Their Tongues
2. To Hell or the Hangman
3. Where Lie the Gods
4. Exile Amongst the Ruins
5. Upon Our Spiritual Deathbed
6. Stolen Years
7. Sunken Lungs
8. Last Call
Pre orders coming soon
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On March 16th, Rivers of Nihil will release their third full-length, Where Owls Know My Name, via Metal Blade Records.
Whereas The Conscious Seed of Light (2013) and Monarchy (2015) were thematically centered around spring and summer, respectively, Where Owls Know My Name represents the fall.
And although that season is usually associated with death, for Rivers of Nihil, the autumn serves as a rebirth.
For a preview of Where Owls Know My Name, the album track “A Home” can be streamed below:
Where Owls Know My Name reunites Rivers of Nihil with Monarchy producer Carson Slovak (August Burns Red, The Last Ten Seconds of Life) and Dan Seagrave, the storied artist behind such celebrated album covers as Entombed’s Left Hand Path and Suffocation’s Effigy of the Forgotten. The result is the Reading, PA quintet’s most visceral, accomplished, and satisfying offering to-date.
Pre orders coming soon
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On June 1st, Metal Blade Records will re-issue Whitechapel‘s classic This Is Exile album on vinyl, as a special 10-year anniversary collector’s piece.
Guitarist Alex Wade comments: “In celebration of the 10-year anniversary of our career-defining record ‘This Is Exile’, we will be releasing it in full vinyl format with sleeves and complete artwork. The original vinyl release in 2008 was a picture disc so this will be a true collector’s item for the die-hard Chapel fan. ‘The Somatic Defilement’ vinyl re-issues went fast last year so be sure to grab one quick!”
Stay tuned for more Whitechapel news coming soon!
