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.
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, here is an interview i did a few years back after releasing the Midnight Reign Album NEver Look BAck. It details my somewhat unorthodox writing style and how i put myself into precarious situations to provoke different emotional states. Enjoy. Taken from Crawlspace Radio Show.
Debut Album "Nocturnes And Requiems" Out February 10th
Pre-orders Available Now!
Based out of Los Angeles, Calif., WITHERFALL is the collective brainchild of guitarist Jake Dreyer (Iced Earth, Kobra And The Lotus, White Wizzard), singer Joseph Michael (White Wizzard) and the late Adam Sagan (Circle II Circle, Into Eternity). WITHERFALL are set to release their debut "Nocturnes And Requiems" on February 10th! Pre-orders are available HERE.
Today Metal Sucks has partnered with the band to premiere the second single from “Nocturnes And Requiems” entitled “Nobody Sleeps Here”. Get an exclusive first listen HERE.
The album’s first single “End of Time” is available for streaming via lyric video HERE. "End of Time" presents a unique approach to the idea of a modern metal song with memorable melodic hooks, big choruses and dynamically aggressive vocals combined with virtuosic guitar playing reminiscent of the legends of the neoclassical shred guitar scene and a progressive rhythm section featuring modern extreme drumming techniques and fusion influenced bass lines.
WITHERFALL headed to Phoenix, Ariz. to self-produce their debut album, "Nocturnes And Requiems", with engineer Ralph Patlan (Megadeth, Brian "Head" Welch, MSG) in late 2014. The album was then sent on to New York City for mixing and mastering by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (Rob Zombie, Queensrÿche, Hatebreed) at Planet Z. Resulting in eight masterfully executed tracks featuring the group's dynamic blend of darkened melodic and progressive metal.
"Nocturnes And Requiems" is dedicated to the life of Adam Sagan who passed on December 7, 2016 during the final stages of production. The band collectively commented, "This, as we know, is the last piece of work that Adam contributed and played on. Adam’s talent, passion and personality is woven throughout every part of this record as he was easily 1/3 of the creative force. "Nocturnes and Requiems" was a name that Adam eerily came up with one evening when we were figuring out album titles would not have sounded the way it does now without his immense contribution on and off the drums. Adam, we love you and it's a tragedy that you were not able to see this release. You will always and forever be a member of WITHERFALL. Rest In Peace man."
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.
Just a quick email from us here at HRX Records wishing you all a very happy and wonderful Christmas, New Years, Qwanza(is that spelled right?) and hannukah... ;)
"Tempest" an instrumental composition featuring Strings and Piano Written by Joseph Michael and Featuring Violin stylings by Alma Cielo can be streamed on youtube and Purchased HERE:
Check out this song from my 2011 release "The Ellipsis Sessions"... It's Kinda Prog-oriented and features a "High D" in Chest voice Pavarotti style at the end...