Chicago’s BURNED IN EFFIGY announces they will be unleashing their new album “Rex Mortem” on January 28, 2022 to follow their debut EP “Terrestrial”. Unlike their debut recording, which was all instrumental, this first full-length from the band will see not only new guitarists Mike Hisson and Steve Bacakos on the lineup, but also witness vocalist Mark “Smedy” Smedbron (Vocals) unleash his earworm fury unto the masses. The three new members join co-founding members Eddie Dec (drums), Matt Watkins (bass)
Fans can expect diverse high energy on “Rex Mortem”. The album takes elements from multiple subgenres within metal, mainly melodic death and progressive metal while infusing neoclassical elements into each track. No two tracks sound the same. The quintet skillfully and tastefully changes keys and time signatures throughout, so the feel of the music is constantly shifting, but also smoothly flowing between each section.
“We are psyched to present our debut album, Rex Mortem, a catalog of the first chapter of the band. This has been in the works for a long time and we couldn’t be more pleased with how it has turned out. The songs vary in complexity and intensity and demonstrate our growth as a band since its inception. Listeners will hear influences such as The Black Dahlia Murder and The Human Abstract, combining our love for death metal and progressive/neo-classical metal. The vocals are gritty and tense and the lyrics emphasize this with dark tales inspired by mythology, history, and classic literature. Many of the songs follow the story of a tyrannical king aiming to expand his power and influence, who ends up being brought down by his closest allies. We believe our album has something for all metal fans, regardless of preferred subgenre.” adds the band.
In lead up to the release of “Rex Mortem”, Burned In Effigy is unveiling their lead single “Nightfall”, a track that incorporates multiple clean sections to outline the main musical themes that then appear in the riffs, including fast-paced tremolo picking sections with blast beats. Bassist Matt Watkins explains further:
“Nightfall is a song we’ve been playing since the inception of the band and we felt it needed to be re-recorded for this album with vocals. Though we’ve progressed our songwriting and technicality since writing it and first recording it in 2017, this song has been a cornerstone of our sound. We experimented with multiple different styles with some songs that were written after Nightfall, but kept coming back to that neo-classical, dark sound. The lyrical themes of Dracula along with Smedy’s vocals fit right in with the mood of the song and inspired us to do a lyric video incorporating scenes from Nosferatu.”
Watch and listen to “Nightfall” via its lyric video at https://youtu.be/gqe2919mDJ4
Spotify
Album pre-order available at Burnedineffigy.bandcamp.com
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