L to R: Aaron Weinczak, guitar; Paul Tiseo, lead vocals, bass; Bill Bogue, guitars. Not pictured: Matt Voss, drums
(Photo credit: Brian Rozman)
Traditional/progressive metal band Theandric will self-release their sophomore EP Flight Among the Tombs on February 11, 2022. Metalheads hungry for majesty, melody and massive riffing will find much to love on this strong four song collection, which touches on elements of thrash, prog, doom and traditional metal throughout its ambitious twenty-seven-minute running time.
The first single, "Condemned to Death," is available to stream/purchase at:
Concerning the new single, vocalist/bassist Paul Tiseo had this to say:
"Early on in rehearsals we all recognized ‘Condemned to Death’ song as being one of our most powerful songs, both musically and lyrically. The riff hits like a ton of bricks to the head, while the theme of the song is just as heavy. The lyrics paint the picture of an innocent man subjected to torture and abuse, who is brutally victimized by a corrupt and unjust system of people in power. A lot of my songs come from a place of spiritual contemplation, but also from an authentic human consternation when confronting what is ugly and evil in the world. I put all my passion and power in singing this song in the studio, and we were all blown away when we heard the final mix.
While the song is a traditional doom metal song, attentive listeners will also note the subtle yet ominous presence of a gothic organ, adding a solemn liturgical atmosphere to the song. This song goes over really well live, as it turns out that people love to sing 'Condemned to death and doomed to die' over and over!"
Flight Among the Tombs is a collection of four epic and powerful songs that will call to mind the historical high drama of Iron Maiden, the desperate doom of Candlemass, and the musical and intellectual depth of bands like Queensryche and Fates Warning. A twin guitar attack, thunderous drums, doom-laden bass and the soaring Dickinsonian vocals of Paul Tiseo characterize their sound.
This brief but engaging collection of songs will impress metal fans with its high level of musicianship, profound lyrical depth, and passionate performances. In short, Flight Among the Tombs is an epic, powerful, and passionate heavy metal release that reveals an up-and-coming band quickly coming into their powers.
Pre-order:
Track Listing:
1. Flight Among The Tombs
2. The Battle of Sherramuir
3. Condemned to Death
4. Ozymandias
BIO:
Theandric is a Detroit area heavy metal band whose four members' musical bond grew out of a shared love for legendary heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Metallica, but also the epic progressive rock of bands such as Yes, Genesis and Rush. Their original music explores a range of heavy genres from doom to thrash to progressive metal. Lead vocalist and bassist Paul Tiseo had been writing songs under the name Theandric since 2011, having previously released a successful EP called Up the Irons, yet he always held aspirations that Theandric would become a full-fledged band. It turned out that the right musicians were living right in his backyard. Guitarist Bill Bogue and drummer Matt Voss had been playing together in a successful 80’s tribute band and needed a bass player to fill in for some dates. During rehearsals, the trio discovered a mutual love for NWOBHM, the Big Four of Thrash, and seventies progressive rock. Meanwhile, Tiseo happened to read a Craigslist ad posted by guitarist Aaron Wienczak, who indicated that he was looking for a new project to sink his teeth into. With a full lineup in place, the group started out jamming some classic Maiden tunes, but soon thereafter commenced work on a host of original songs.
"When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, we were in the middle of developing an assortment of songs with plans to hit local stages as soon as possible. When the state went into lockdown, we decided to put our energies full bore into songwriting and rehearsing," says Tiseo. After a few months, the band picked out four of their strongest songs and started recording at the Loft Studios in Saline, Michigan, with Tim Patalan of alternative rockers Sponge at the controls. "The pandemic became a blessing in disguise for us creatively, because we suddenly had all this downtime at home to work on our craft. I personally found myself overflowing with musical and lyrical ideas, and three out of four of the songs were written in those first few months."
With so many ideas flowing, why not record a full-length record? Tiseo responds: "As the band leader and main songwriter, I tend to be ambitious to a fault when songwriting. I love concept albums and working on several songs at once around a particular story or theme, but I knew that I wasn't ready for that kind of massive undertaking just yet. It was liberating to simply develop each song individually without feeling compelled to fit into any one particular subgenre. Nevertheless, I think the high-level production and performances on this EP demonstrate a cohesion that full length releases often lack. We are really excited to share these songs with the world, and our long-term goals are to play as much as possible, grow our worldwide fan base, and continue writing for a future full-length release."
EP Credits:
All songs performed by: Theandric
All songs written by: Tiseo except “Flight Among the Tombs” by Wienczak/Tiseo
Produced by: Tim Patalan at the Loft Studios
Mixed by: Tim Patalan
Mastered by: Andy Patalan of ATP Productions
Album Artwork by: Sean Simmons
Member of ASCAP: Theandric Music
EP Line-Up:
Paul Tiseo – Vocals, Bass, Keys, Guitars
Bill Bogue – Guitars
Aaron Wienczak – Guitars
Matt Voss - Drums
