Ceremony Of Fire

2 Ending

http://www.witherfall.com
"Witherfall – 2023 Biography “Sounds Of The Forgotten"" DeathWave Records
Los Angeles-based dark melodic metal outfit Witherfall proudly presents their fourth full-length, “Sounds Of The Forgotten”, via DeathWave Records. With predecessor Curse of Autumn garnering high praise in Metal Insider, Deaf Forever, and KNAC.com, as well as admirable positions on Germany’s Top 20 Albums chart and Billboard’s Top New Artist Albums and Billboard 100 chart, “Sounds Of The Forgotten"" advances Witherfall to legendary status with its epic, foreboding expanse. The album is supported by an ambitious schedule of seven singles, each with an official video linking the album’s story of heartbreak, anger, and tenacity. This is genuinely Witherfall, always willing to go the extra mile to outclass the past.
“We found ourselves writing really depressing, melancholy songs about how just disappointed we were with all the work we put into Curse of Autumn and then going through the pandemic,” says frontman/songwriter Joseph Michael. “Before that, we thought nothing was going to stop us. Then, something did. We felt a bit defeated. So, that’s how “Sounds Of The Forgotten""started. But we got out of that quickly. The songs we ended up writing were empowering. We have songs with negative emotions, but the overarching theme is moving forward and perseverance. That’s the epitome of “Sounds Of The Forgotten"".”
Witherfall was formed in Los Angeles in 2013. Joseph Michael (also of Sanctuary fame) and Jake Dreyer (ex-Iced Earth/Demons & Wizards) built their new band around drummer Adam Sagan (RIP) and accomplished bassist Anthony Crawford (Allan Holdsworth, CHON). Since then, the group have released three highly regarded albums: Nocturnes and Requiems (2017), A Prelude to Sorrow (2018), and Curse of Autumn (2021) and an ep Vintage (2019). Not one to cut corners, Witherfall enlisted famed drummer Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, Steven Wilson, Jordan Rudess) on Curse of Autumn, ensuring the foundations of singles “As I Lie Awake,” “The Other Side of Fear,” and “The River” were second to none. On “Sounds Of The Forgotten”, Minnemann returns to the fold with an album-only appearance, while drummer Chris Tsaganeas (Wax Owls) and multi-instrumentalist Gerry Hirschfeld (Willie Nelson) Witherfall’s newest permanent members.
“Marco is a legend,” guitarist/songwriter Jake Dreyer offers. “He knows exactly what we want without question. Chris, however, is our full-time drummer. He played a lot of percussion
on “Sounds Of The Forgotten"". He’s so professional—he helped out tremendously. I’ll say it’s"

"because of Chris that we got Gerry, and for that, we’re grateful. Gerry plays keyboards, sings, and all that. He’s a total professional. We finally had another set of talented ears and a killer keyboardist. This is our most impressive lineup to date.”
“Sounds Of The Forgotten""s strengths are manifold. The punctuating, aggressive rhythms, and impressive multi-ranged vocals of opener “They Will Let You Down” recall thrash metal greats while the chorus, replete with church organ, hooks incessantly. Follow-up “Ceremony of Fire’’ and its end-of-album peer, “What Have You Done,” are just as volcanic and cleverly arranged. When Witherfall step off the gas, they conjure all their external bitterness and internal passion in power ballad form. “When It All Falls Away,” when coupled with the atmospheric vistas of “Opulent” and “A Lonely Path,” is genuinely cinematic. The soundtracks of ‘70s/’80s horror movies often had great theme songs, but none are as wickedly beautiful as “Sounds Of The Forgotten""'s midpoint. Hostility returns in “Insidious,” a track rife with razor-sharp vocals/growls, wild drumming (blastbeats), and a [Pyotr Ilyich] Tchaikovsky coda. Witherfall have always tried to prove a point—they’re only as good as their last album. “Sounds Of The Forgotten""  is superlative from start to finish. The unreal cover of Aerosmith’s “Kings and Queens” is another surprise jewel on the album’s impressive crown.
“The song, ‘What Have You Done,’ which is one of the singles, summarizes everything the record was going to be,” says Dreyer. “As for ‘Insidious,’ it came together very quickly. I think it was 4 a.m. when we wrote that song. There’s actually some Pink Floyd in there. It’s the heaviest song we’ve ever done, almost borderline death metal. To me, ‘When It All Falls Away’ feels like a [Led] Zepplin song—very classic rock. I was messing around with Steely Dan-like chords as well. I flipped around some of the chords and made them our own. The songs are wild.”
Many factors influenced and inspired Witherfall’s approach to “Sounds Of The Forgotten"". The initial writing sessions—about three of them—occurred during the pandemic, after an ill-fated tour cancellation, and were fueled by Michael and Dreyer’s intensifying dismay with the state of the world. Yet, the album color theme conveys another side to Witherfall’s fourth-album distress. Often associated with ambition, power, and regality, the Blake Armstrong (In Flames, Megadeth, Kataklysm, Harry Potter, Wednesday) cover art provide a view into and a visual counter to the music on “Sounds Of The Forgotten"" as well as Michael’s unapologetically forthright lyrics.
“The lyrics on the album are all individualized to the songs,” says Michael. “If there’s a common thread, it’s dealing with not letting external pressures, people, or situations affect your path. For example, ‘They Will Let You Down’ is about doing things better on your own than letting
people who pretend to want to help you get involved. The title of the album is fitting because the"

"music is so disparate. All of the songs could be from different eras of music, regardless of genre. ‘Ceremony of Fire’ is very King Diamond in feel. The title track is almost from the Type O Negative era, while ‘When It All Falls Away’ is very paisley-shirt, twin-neck Gibson SG rock. What am I getting at? The remnants of your life echo in the “Sounds Of The Forgotten"".
Witherfall recorded “Sounds Of The Forgotten"" at The Doghouse Studios in West Hills, CA, Big Blue North Studios in Utica, NY, and Planet Z Studios in Hadley, MA. Dreyer and Michael again tapped producer/studio wizard Chris “Zeuss” Harris (Rob Zombie, Queensrÿche, Shadows Fall) to engineer/co-produce, as well as mix and master, with Jeff Aderman (Suit Of Lights) assisting as an engineer. The recording sessions required about three continuous months of tracking, mixing, and mastering. Logistically, “Sounds Of The Forgotten"" was likely  Witherfall’s most complicated, but the result is vicious yet musical. The sonic inclusions imbued by the team throughout the album’s hour-long journey resonate deeper with each listen.
“It’s a bit of serendipity that I found Big Blue North Studios,” Michael says. “I couldn’t believe a big format studio was in my hometown. They have a Neve board that Rupert Neve installed before he passed. John Storyk, who designed Electric Lady Studios, where Jimi Hendrix recorded, did the sound design build-out. There was gear for days—including an old Hammond and a  Bösendorfer piano. The studio had an apartment where we could all crash. It was all in budget, too. Recording there just made sense to us. Big Blue North had everything we could imagine to make an epic record. We even went back with our film crew (Bradford L Cooper, Alex Velasco and Don Adams) to document the endeavor and film all of the videos.”
Every Witherfall album is a defining moment. From the moment Nocturnes and Requiems thundered across metaldom to the group’s wine endeavors (Tempest Red Blend) with Charlie & Echo Winery, their video collaboration with Cig Neutron (Devil’s Workshop) on “The Other Side of Fear,” a beer partnership with Adroit Theory Brewing Company (Shadows Black IPA), and custom Funko Pop set, Michael and Dreyer have made Witherfall their mission. The journey to this point hasn’t been without toil and upheaval. Determination, however, is the key. Today, Witherfall brings “Sounds Of The Forgotten"" to the masses. Experience it all with them.
Witherfall are guitarist/songwriter Jake Dreyer, vocalist/songwriter Joseph Michael, bassist Anthony Crawford, drummer Marco Minnemann (recording only), drummer/percussionist Chris Tsaganeas, and keyboardist Gerry Hirschfeld."

"DeathWave Records was created by Witherfall headmen Joseph Michael and Jake Dreyer as a vehicle for their music and other projects. Look for more exciting and trailblazing releases from DeathWave Records in the future.
By Chris Dick"

Ceremony Of Fire

Witherfall

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