Mark “Smedy” Smedbron (Vocals), Matt Watkins (Bass), Eddie Dec (Drums), Steve Bacakos (Guitar), Mike Hisson (Guitar)
Photo Credit - Emily Fuschen - Dark Trix Photography
Chicago's BURNED IN EFFIGY 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 discharge his earworm fury unto the masses. The three new members join co-founding members Eddie Dec (Drums) and 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 preview to the release of "Rex Mortem", Burned In Effigy is revealing their second single "Doomsayer", which is the opening track that is fast-paced and the perfect technical introduction to the album. The guitar progressions alternate between tight and muted and open and harmonized, building to a crushing pre-chorus and open, melodic chorus. The lyrical themes deal with the world burning while a tyrannical king watches from on high with contempt. Bassist Matt Watkins explains further:
“Doomsayer was a song we wrote not long after our debut EP and really became the core of our sound moving forward. It incorporated more themes from death metal while retaining its balance with melody, allowing for more aggression to come through in the music. The alternation between tight muted riffing and open, harmonized melodies felt natural once we incorporated it into our repertoire. Smedy’s vocals fit right in and the lyrics illustrated the apocalyptic feel of the song and tied into the ongoing lyrical story we told through the rest of the album.”
Listen to "Doomsayer" via its stream premiere on TheCirclePit at https://youtu.be/pnx6WGfFxFA
Album pre-order available at Burnedineffigy.bandcamp.com
Lyric Video - Nightfall - https://youtu.be/gqe2919mDJ4
Track Listing:
1. Doomsayer (3:28)
2. Artorias (5:08)
3. Nightfall (3:20)
4. The Empiricist (4:05)
5. Hades (4:26)
6. Atlas (4:23)
7. Treachery (3:25)
8. Vendetta (3:55)
Album Length: 32:12
Album Recording Lineup:
- Mark “Smedy” Smedbron - Vocals
- Matt Watkins - Bass
- Eddie Dec - Drums
- Vito Bellino - Guitar
- Brad Dose - Guitar
Live Band Line Up:
- Mark “Smedy” Smedbron - Vocals
- Matt Watkins - Bass
- Eddie Dec - Drums
- Steve Bacakos - Guitar
- Mike Hisson - Guitar
About:
Burned in Effigy is a neoclassical melodic death metal band from Chicago, IL. Formed in late 2016 by founding members Brad Dose (guitar), Vito Belino (guitar), Eddie Dec (drums), and Matt Watkins (bass). Starting as an instrumental melodic metal band, the four were brought together by their love of complex, melodic, and heavy music and sought to bring more of that to the Chicago extreme music scene.
Burned in Effigy released their debut EP, Terrestrial, in April 2017. The band focused on playing shows after and building an audience through top-notch live performances while opening for prominent bands such as Scale the Summit, Angel Vivaldi, Oh, Sleeper, and Mushroomhead. While supporting this EP, Burned in Effigy worked with a couple of different vocalists and eventually recruited vocalist Mark "Smedy" Smedbron in December 2019 while in the early demo stages for their first full length.
Instrumental recordings for the band's masterpiece, Rex Mortem, were finished in early 2020. Shortly after, the band parted ways with guitarist Brad Dose. Vocal recording, mixing, and mastering was finished in mid 2021, after which guitarist Vito Bellino left in order to focus on music school. Shortly after, the remaining three members Eddie Dec (drums), Matt Watkins (bass), and Mark "Smedy" Smedbron (vocals) rallied and recruited guitarists Mike Hisson and Steve Bacakos, who naturally fit with and complemented the band's signature sound.
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