Thanks to all our fans and friends. We cannot wait to celebrate with you all when the world resumes...
Angry Metal Guy
On third album, Curse of Autumn all this talent is on vivid display as the band rips through wild, adventurous prog-power anthems tailor-made for fans of Symphony X and Nevermore.
Sonic Perspectives If you're not already following this band, start yesterday, because it's clear that they're going places.
MetalSucks
Their brand of progressive power metal has a granite-hard edge to it - more Amerithrash than Eurocheese. The emotional core remains intact even as the runtime pushes the hour mark.
Metal Injection
This is a band with the technical proficiency of Dream Theater but the aggression and bombast of 3 Inches of Blood.
GhostCult
Back with their third full-length release, Californian act Witherfall return with prog guns blazing... excess and pomposity are all part of the majesty of prog so just sit back and enjoy the ride.
The moon, an autumnal atmosphere, fog in the woods, vampires and a wicked storyteller – as an 80s horror fan you’ll get everything you desired by watching the cinematic new video clip for WITHERFALL’s “As I Lie Awake”. The video was directed by the renown director Zev Deans who didn’t just do spectacular videos for the likes of Ghost, Behemoth or Chelsea Wolfe, but also Denzel Curry and St. Vincent.
WITHERFALL comments: “’As I Lie Awake’ is the catchiest WITHERFALL song to date. It was created with much arguing and loud drunken chicanery. Early on the band and producer Jon Schaffer agreed that this should be the lead single. Director Zev Deans who had directed Ghost’s ‘Dance Macabre’ was enlisted for the job and the video for ‘As I Lie Awake’ features a great ‘Lost Boys’ styled treatment. Thanks again to Duffs in Brooklyn, we didn’t mean to spill blood and wine on your carpet…”
Director Zev Deans about the video: “When Joseph sent me the song, it immediately transported me to an era when both heavy metal and horror movies were all about sex, blood and ultimately, a good time! Movies like ‘The Lost Boys’ were in the movie theaters and long-format music videos like ‘Thriller’ were on MTV.”
“As I Lie Awake” is the second single taken from “Curse Of Autumn”, the upcoming album from L.A.’s finest WITHERFALL that is scheduled for a worldwide street date on March 5th, 2021 with the US vinyl being available April 2nd, 2021. Preorders will be launched shortly.
What could possibly be a better time of the year to dive headfirst into dark melodic metal? While the shadows of winter are creeping up upon us and the nights get longer it is the perfect time for “Curse Of Autumn” to unfold.
The album art is once again another hand painted masterpiece by the legendary Kristian Wåhlin, the fourth painting in the WITHERFALL series.
“Curse Of Autumn” was produced by Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth, Demons & Wizards) for Ravencraft Productions, Joseph Michael (vocals, keyboards, also in Sanctuary) and Jake Dreyer (guitar, also in Iced Earth, Demons & Wizards). For the recording and mix they teamed up with Jim Morris (Savatage, Iced Earth, Kamelot, Death) while Tom Morris took over mastering duties. After most WITHERFALL songs were written with just an acoustic guitar, pen and paper and copious amounts of red wine, it was the group effort of the full production team that made a difference. “Jon Schaffer and Jim Morris really brought a lot of energy to these sessions”, Michael comments.
(photo by Stephanie Cabral)
WITHERFALL are:
Joseph Michael - Vocals/Keyboards (also in Sanctuary)
Jake Dreyer - Acoustic and Electric Guitars (also in Iced Earth/Demons & Wizards)
Anthony Crawford - Bass (Chon, Shalmor, Allan Holdsworth, Justin Timberlake, Kirk Whalum…)
Marco Minnemann - Drums (The Aristocrats, Joe Satriani, Steven Wilson, Tony Levin, Jordan Rudess, Necrophagist…)
Today US dark melodic metal masters WITHERFALL have released “A Prelude to Sorrow”, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2017’s “Nocturnes and Requiems”. Listen to the album in its entirety HERE.
Watch an unboxing video of “A Prelude To Sorrow” HERE.
The media reaction to the album has been nothing short of extraordinary:
"A Prelude To Sorrow" provides the listener a cathartic release through some of the most mesmerizing music I have ever heard. The savage brilliance of this album is stunning
-9.5/10 -Metal Wani-
One of the most talented acts in metal; check this out and be impressed
-Angry Metal Guy-
The turmoil of WITHERFALL‘s chaotic, highly technical and dramatic performance is as impressive as ever.
-Distorted Sound Magazine-
-5/5 Metal Hammer.de-
I implore you listen to ‘A Prelude to Sorrow’ so that you too can share in an album that is as moving as it is memorable, as emotional as it is engaging, as intelligent as it is intimate and that is as heavy lyrically as it is musically. In short, it’s a sonic tour-de-force.
- 9.8/10 Man of Much Metal-
A Prelude To Sorrow" is one of the recordings of the year.
-Rock Hard Greece-
‘We are Nothing’ and ‘Vintage’ being the shining stars. Both songs are 11 minute compositions reminding of the best, progressive metal offered till today.
-9/10 Markusheavymusicblog-
WITHERFALL understand how to package perfectly negative emotions in such a way that a large whole emerges. Despite the blows of fate (or maybe just because of that), the band grows beyond itself. Actually, it cannot get better.
- 9/10 Hell-fire magazine-
8.5 / 10 Joseph Michael’s powerful voice belongs to the best of the genre.
-ROCK HARD (Ger) Soundcheck #9-
-AARDSCHOK (NL) Soundcheck #3-
90 / 100 A blasting album where technique and vibe fit perfectly together!
-LORDSOFMETAL.NL-
9 / 10 – WITHERFALL have delivered an impressive follow-up
-BURNYOUREARS.DE-
Magnificent!
-9/10 Rock Tribune (B)-
‘A Prelude To Sorrow’ overwhelmed me upon first listen and has enough interesting details to keep surprising me"
-Gitarist (NL)-
Bolstered by a clear, crisp recording, this album is an essential listen for any heavy/power/progressive metal fan.
-Wonder Box Metal-
On “A Prelude to Sorrow”, main songwriters Joseph Michael (vocals, Sanctuary – live) and Jake Dreyer (Iced Earth) succeeded in perfectly combining the group’s technical proficiency with an appropriate eerie and somber atmosphere, manifesting also in Kristian Wåhlin’s majestic cover painting. “A Prelude to Sorrow” was mixed and mastered by Chris “Zeuss” Harris. (Sanctuary, Queensryche, Iced Earth)
The album is available as a Limited Edition Digipak, jewel case CD (US only), gatefold 2LP plus poster and etching on Side D as well as digital album.
US dark melodic metal masters WITHERFALL will release the highly anticipated follow-up to 2017’s “Nocturnes and Requiems” on November 2nd, 2018. The band reveals more details about this stunning new offering:
“A Prelude To Sorrow is a concept record, though not in the sense that most people have come to know the form. Ours is not a story where each song acts as a chapter. The inspiration lays in the supremely dark reality that was the passing of our drummer and one of our best friends Adam Sagan. These songs are raw emotional reflections, composed in the witching hours under the influence of wine and sorrow, while watching and helping our friend fight and ultimately lose his battle with Lymphoma. Nocturnes and Requiems was dedicated to Adam after the fact. A Prelude to Sorrow is written specifically about his and our personal tragedy. Like Nocturnes and Requiems the songs have been arranged to still have the peaks and valleys that any great record should. With “Prelude” these peaks just might be a little steeper and the valleys might be a little deeper, alternating between violence and beauty. The titles initials are an acronym for “Adam Paul Sagan”, He came up with Nocturnes and Requiems so we suppose it is kind of fitting that he also inspired this title. Hope he doesn’t come knocking on our door for royalties. We hope that this will be a fitting requiem for our friend and talented musician.”
Given its tragic background, main songwriters Joseph Michael (vocals, Sanctuary – live) and Jake Dreyer (guitars, Iced Earth) succeeded in perfectly combining the group’s technical proficiency with an appropriate eerie and somber atmosphere, manifesting also in Kristian Wåhlin’s majestic cover painting. For mix and mastering, WITHERFALL again worked with Chris “Zeuss” Harris (Sanctuary, Queensryche, Iced Earth).
An album artwork trailer can be seen here: https://youtu.be/-P18I1viXGA
The “A Prelude To Sorrow” track list can be viewed below:
WITHERFALL – A Prelude To Sorrow
1. A Prelude To Sorrow (1:21)
2. We Are Nothing (11:15)
3. Moment Of Silence (6:50)
4. Communion Of The Wicked (6:35)
5. Maridian’s Visitation (3:30)
6. Shadows (7:03)
7. Ode To Despair (3:51)
8. The Call (3:52)
9. Vintage (11:06)
10. Epilogue (2:53)
The album will be released as Limited Edition Digipak, jewelcase CD (US only), gatefold 2LP plus poster and etching on Side D as well as digital album.
The following limited vinyl colours are available:
Hey guys JM here. Jake and i have been working on new music and as usual it is pretty twisted and dark while still remaining melodic and meticulously composed. For now we have some Killer Witherfall - Nocturnes and Requiems album artwork stickers available. Paypal .50 cents for shipping to info@witherfall.com and i will send you a couple. Stay tuned for updates!
A few weeks ago i was in Utica, New York (my hometown) and got some tattoo work done with the lovely and talented Jessica Poczatek of Nevermore Tattoo Collective... The sheet music in the artwork includes music from the song in the Video Clip released a few days ago...
Here is a small video clip of the festivities along with a new snippet of another song. It has an onslaught of #alternatepickedsextuplets from Jake Dreyer... If you listen closely you can hear Bassist Anthony Crawford tapping one of the arpeggios in unison.
In my hometown Utica NY there are few places that i actually miss... but one of them is the STANLEY THEATER.... Look!
A longtime friend, Business Owner and all around supporter of the arts Robin Raabe will be collecting for and supporting a Fundraising Event for this AWESOME Venue and i have donated a few items to be auctioned off as well. Click on the linkto make a contribution and if you are in the Upstate NY Area be sure to check out here place TRAMONTANE CAFE!
Read here...
Make plans to be at The Stanley on Saturday, May 21st from 3:00pm-7:00pm for the ‘Support Our Stanley’ basket raffle and silent auction. This event is being organized by The Stanley Theater Volunteers and will feature, food, and a wide variety of raffle basket items and themes plus theater memorabilia! There will also be live music by Mike Peek and Jim Roberts from Sound Barrier, and Vinyl Vibe!
Some of our fabulous raffle items include an autographed over-sized wooden guitar stage prop from the cast of the Queen production ‘We Will Rock You’, an autographed Marshall Tucker Band acoustic guitar, autographed posters from REO Speedwagon, two season passes to Broadway Utica, an Irish Night basket including a signed poster and CD from the Elders, jewelry from Lennons- W.B. Wilcox, items from The Utica Comets, The Baseball Hall of Fame, artwork, local dinner certificates, an Adirondack chair... and MUCH MORE!
There will be beer and wine sampling, a wine-pull, a pizza contest, live music and food! Tickets are $5.00 in advance at The Stanley Box Office ($7.00 at the door). All proceeds will benefit The Stanley Theater, celebrating its 88th anniversary this year!
*For more information call The Stanley at 315.724.4000, or visit TheStanley.org.