Los Angeles-based dark melodic metal outfit, Witherfall, have released “Ceremony of Fire” this week, their newest single and accompanying video. The track is taken from their upcoming fourth full-length, Sounds Of The Forgotten. The album is due out May 31st 2024 via DeathWave Records. Head into the article below to catch the video and find out more about Witherfall.
Pre-Order Sounds Of The Forgotten (CD & Vinyl) here.
Merch & Streaming/Digital here.
“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.”
““Ceremony of Fire” is quintessential Witherfall,” comments the band. “This song features elements that are cornerstones of the Witherfall sonic landscape from dark haunting hooks, to eclectic musical twist and turns. For the fans of our debut album Nocturnes And Requiems you will be very pleased with this. The Video is a great representation of the lyrical theme. Filmed in part inside the ritual chamber at The Crooked Path in Burbank California, the video represents the harsh realities of the artists path.”
Many factors influenced and inspired Witherfall’s approach to Sounds Of The Forgotten. 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 provides a view into and a visual counter to the music on Sounds Of The Forgotten.
Sounds Of The Forgotten tracklisting:
01 They Will Let You Down
02 Where Do I Begin
03 A Lonely Path
04 Insidious
05 Ceremony Of Fire
06 Sounds Of The Forgotten
07 Aftermath
08 When It All Falls Away
09 Opulent
10 What Have You Done
Sounds Of The Forgotten is available in different vinyl colors:
-Black forgotten purple (limited edition 250 copies)
-Insidious grey (limited edition 250 copies)
More from Witherfall:
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) 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 the upcoming album, Minnemann returns to the fold with an album-only appearance, while drummer Chris Tsaganeas (Wax Owls) and multi-instrumentalist Gerry Hirschfeld (Willie Nelson) are Witherfall’s newest permanent members.
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.
DeathWave Records was created by Witherfall headmen Joseph Michael and Jake Dreyer as a vehicle for their music and other projects.
Witherfall are:
Guitarist/songwriter Jake Dreyer,
Vocalist/songwriter Joseph Michael
Bassist Anthony Crawford
Drummer Marco Minnemann (recording only)
Drummer/percussionist Chris Tsaganeas
Keyboardist Gerry Hirschfeld.
Follow Witherfall:
https://www.witherfall.com/
https://www.instagram.com/witherfallofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/witherfall
https://www.tiktok.com/@witherfall