Whitechapel Launches Video For New Single “Hickory Creek”, Cult Of Luna signs worldwide deal with Metal Blade Records, Fractal Universe launches new single, “Masterpiece’s Parallelism”, Exumer launches new single, “King’s End”
On March 29th, Whitechapel will release their 7th full-length, The Valley, via Metal Blade Records.
Mixed by David Castillo, mastered by Ted Jensen, and produced once again by Mark Lewis (Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder), The Valley is a reference to the part of Hardin Valley (west of Knoxville, Tennessee) where vocalist Phil Bozeman grew up.
Set against this backdrop, he approaches his subject matter unflinchingly, building upon everything that came before, making it clear that he has survived that which he was forced to endure and is not afraid to confront it. “Phil has been upfront in his lyrics in the past about hardships he endured in his life as a child, and I believe with this record we tried to paint a better picture of that,” says guitarist Alex Wade, who alongside his bandmates, stands 100% behind everything their vocalist has to say. “I feel our music is Phil’s release from his past, being able to get it out and speak about it, and hopefully anyone who hears it that may have gone through similar experiences can find some release in it as well.”
Watch “Hickory Creek” (directed by Mathis Arnell) NOW!
Anyone throwing The Valley on for the first time will immediately recognize it as the work of Whitechapel, yet as has been the case with each release, there is also evolution in play.
“Sound-wise, it’s all over the place,” Bozeman states plainly. “There’s aggression, and then you’re hit with ominous and emotional guitar riffs. It’s mean, but then transfers to soft and inviting. It’s a whirlwind of emotions throughout.”
Metal Blade Records is proud to welcome Cult Of Luna to its worldwide roster!
For almost 20 years, Cult Of Luna have imposed themselves as one of the world’s leading post-metal lights. Constantly evolving, the band pushes the genre’s boundaries from album to album so as to explore the darkest and mistiest, as well as the driest and most abrupt, landscapes.
Cult Of Luna comments: “We’re thrilled to announce our collaboration with Metal Blade and the creation of our new home: Red Creek, that will handle Cult Of Luna’s future productions. This is a dawn to an exciting journey to come.”
Cult Of Luna hasn’t debuted any new material under their sole name since Vertikal 1&2 (2013). In 2016, the Mariner album – which was made in collaboration with Julie Christmas (Battle Of Mice, Made Out Of Babies) – was released, and praised by both fans and critics. A DVD, entitled Years In A Day, followed in April 2017, which also saw much success.
Stay tuned for more news about Cult Of Luna’s first album in several years – and their Metal Blade Records debut – coming soon!
www.facebook.com/cultoflunamusic
On April 19th, Fractal Universe will release their new album, Rhizomes of Insanity, via Metal Blade Records.
In anticipation of this release, the band has launched a new single, “Masterpiece’s Parallelism”, which can be heard at: metalblade.com/fractaluniverse
Watch the video for “Oneiric Realisations” here
Fractal Universe’s sophomore full-length, Rhizomes of Insanity, hits as hard intellectually as it does sonically, affirming the French quartet’s place on the progressive death metal map. “‘Rhizomes of Insanity’ is a concept album based on a thought experiment around the concept of insanity,” asserts vocalist/guitarist Vince Wilquin. “It questions the origins of it, and tries to define where we set its boundaries with ‘reason’. It eventually questions its place in our modern society and surmises that it has turned into an intrinsic, unavoidable but also necessary part of it and of every human being, which we’re trying to repress at all costs.” From start to finish, the album is an immersive, complex yet wholly accessible collection rich in melody, invention, and packed with decimating riffs – wielding ten tracks, all of which hit their mark.
On April 5th, legendary multinational thrash metallers Exumer will release their fifth full-length, Hostile Defiance, via Metal Blade Records.
Hostile Defiance is exactly what its title suggests. A 42-minute full on attack, the thrash faction hold nothing back as they unleash hell as only they can, yet with more variety and dynamics than ever before. “We wanted to sonically progress, incorporating more melodic elements in the music as well as more rhythmic variety,” states vocalist Mem Von Stein. “We are a lot braver trying to create an up to date and relevant sound that can easily stand alone in today’s thrash landscape without sounding trite or a throwback, and we’re challenging the listener not to get too comfortable with one specific feel, tempo or pace.”
For a preview of the album, the new single, “King’s End”, can be heard HERE.
Vocalist Mem V. Stein comments: “‘King’s End’ is a perfect example for what we set out to accomplish with this album. Keep the fury, speed and aggression of our previous albums but infuse melody with the vocals and guitars in order to expand the musical scope of our sound.
Still no compromises and full on thrash but with more variety and vigor.”
