Canada’s Unleash The Archers have just announced the upcoming release of their sixth studio full-length. The AI-inspired concept album Phantoma, is due out May 10th, 2024, via Napalm Records. It is the follow up to the band’s JUNO Award winning 2020 album, Abyss. This news also sees the release of the long-player’s first single, “Green & Glass.” Its video was created using AI, while still supporting traditional artists with character models trained on work licensed from Bo Bradshaw. Check out the new video and read more below.
Pre-order Phantoma here.
Unleash The Archers says about “Green & Glass”:
“We struggled for a while to decide which song would lead the way for this record, and in the end chose “Green & Glass” because it is the song that inspired the cover artwork, but also because it doesn’t give too much away about the concept behind the album. We wanted nothing more than to be able to create a fully cinematic retelling of the story through our music videos, and were so stoked when the boys at RuneGate Studio expressed an interest in learning how to use Stable Diffusion to make our dreams come true! They trained the model on the work of Bo Bradshaw, which gives it a beautifully unique animation style; we got to bring his magnificent t-shirt artwork to life!”
Frontwoman and lyricist Brittney Slayes conjured Phantoma’s concept in 2021; before the swarm of pressing commentary surrounding AI began to reach an all-time high. Led by the album’s protagonist Phantoma, a Phase 4 / Network Tier 0 unit – model A, the story recounts the trials of AI gaining sentience on a dystopian, near-future planet Earth. With the band’s one-of-a-kind blend of power metal, traditional heavy metal, modern prog, and pop sensibilities, Unleash The Archers spin a web of sharp musicality, high sci-fi concept, and important social commentary about discovering the brutal truths behind the manufactured sheen of social media posturing.
Following 2020’s triumph, Abyss, which was dubbed by Bandcamp as “a mandatory listen,” Unleash The Archers ascend with Phantoma. Defying controversy and bringing their imagination to life, Unleash The Archers utilized AI during the writing, filming, and production process on Phantoma, and weaved electronic and synth-wave elements throughout the album’s 10 colossal anthems, which – in line with its theme – prove much darker and heavier in comparison to the bright positivity of Abyss.
Album opener “Human Era” sets the tone with imagery of a bleak, windswept futurescape that crescendos headlong into the breakneck pace of power metal bastion “Ph4/NT0mA.” Trad-metal influenced “Buried In Code” lights the way with pummeling rhythms before the album’s path turns dark on heavy metal hardened “The Collective”, with Brittney Slayes’ warm tones inviting the listener to ‘join or stand aside’! Hair-raising first single “Green & Glass” unveils the truth before the upbeat 80s flavored “Gods In Decay” and the extraordinary balladic anthem “Give It Up Or Give It All” showcase the varied songwriting prowess of Unleash The Archers’ modern era. A trifecta of concept closers begins with the moody “Ghosts In The Mist”, leading into the soaring yet menacing “Seeking Vengeance” before closing with the bittersweet tale of “Blood Empress”.
Mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen, and with lead guitarist Andrew Kingsley at the helm as both principal songwriter and producer, Phantoma is an exciting advancement in Unleash The Archers’ songwriting and storytelling mastery, and a giant leap forward in their musical trajectory.
Phantoma Track List:
01 Human Era
02 Ph4/NT0mA
03 Buried In Code
04 The Collective
05 Green & Glass
06 Gods In Decay
07 Give It Up Or Give It All
08 Ghosts In The Mist
09 Seeking Vengeance
10 Blood Empress
Phantoma will be available in the following formats:
=> Earbook Edition with 2CD (2 Bonus Tracks and instrumental version of the album),
7″ Single (2 bonus tracks on Black vinyl), 60 pp booklet
(Napalm Mail Order only – limited to 1000)
=> 2LP Gatefold in Marbled Orange Red with 24-page vinyl booklet
and art print (Napalm Mail Order only – limited to 300)
=> 2LP Gatefold in Glow In the Dark (Napalm Mail Order only – limited to 300)
=> 2LP Gatefold in Splatter Aquamarine Orange
(Napalm International Mail Order only – limited to 300)
=> 2LP Gatefold in Transparent Lime Green
(Napalm North American Mail Order only – limited to 300)
=> 2LP Gatefold in Silver (North American indie retail only – limited to 700)
=> 2LP Gatefold in Black
=> Cassette Tape Edition in Fluorescent Green with White Print
(Napalm Mail Order only – limited to 200)
=> Jewel Case CD Edition
=> Digital Album
Unleash The Archers will tour across the globe in 2024, with dates already announced in North America, Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. See below for all currently booked tour dates!
Unleash The Archers on tour:
Legions of Metal Festival:
5/03 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies
Australia and New Zealand Headliners:
6/05 – Canberra, AU @ Basement
6/06 – Sydney, AU @ Manning
6/07 – Melbourne, AU @ Croxton
6/08 – Brisbane, AU @ The Zoo
6/09 – Adelaide, AU @ Lion Arts
6/13 – Auckland, NZ @ Galatos
6/14 – Wellington, NZ @ Valhalla
European Festivals:
7/05 – Ballenstedt, DE @ Rock Harz
7/06 – Knislinge, SE @ Time To Rock
7/12 – Visovice, CZ @ Masters Of Rock
7/19 – Laukaa, FI @ John Smith Fest
7/21 – Baile Figa, RO @ Celtic Transylvania
8/02 – Wacken, DE @ Wacken Open Air
8/09 – Villena, ES @ Leyendas Del Rock
8/10 – Walton-On-Trent, UK @ Bloodstock
Supporting Powerwolf in North America:
8/29 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Hollywood Palladium
8/31 – Denver, CO @ The Ogden Theatre
9/03 – Chicago, IL @ The Riviera Theatre
9/04 – Cleveland, OH @ The Agora Theatre
9/05 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
9/07 – Tampa, FL @ Jannus Landing
9/08 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
9/09 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
9/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
9/13 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
9/14 – New York City, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
9/15 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell
Unleash The Archers are:
Brittney Slayes – Vocals
Scott Buchanan – Drums
Grant Truesdell – Guitar, Vocals
Andrew Kingsley – Guitar, Vocals
Nick Miller – Bass
Follow Unleash The Archers:
https://www.facebook.com/UnleashTheArchers
https://www.instagram.com/unleashthearchers/
https://unleashthearchers.com/
https://twitter.com/unleasharchers