International technical modern melodic death metal outfit ANCIENT SETTLERS were founded in 2020 by Carlos Chiesa-Estomba & Herman Riera (Ex- Haboryn), Rene González (Ex- Aesthesis), Emmy Reyes (Blackbeer, Ex- Gamalyel), and Antony Hämäläinen (Meridian Dawn, Ex- Nightrage & Armageddon), a group of musicians with more than fifteen-years of experience in the European and American metal circuit.
In 2021 the band signed to Crusader Records/Golden Robot records and set out on the trail to produce their monumental debut album Our Last Eclipse, which will be released Digitally and on CD on April 1st,
Available for pre-order here: https://smarturl.it/AC--OurLastEclipse
ANCIENT SETTLERS have delivered three powerhouse singles in the lead up to their full-length gem; with ‘Library of Tears’ and ‘Cast in Gold’ both backed with animated Sci-Fi short film videos and ‘Into the Depths I Ride’, featuring a cracking live and behind the scenes video clip.
ABOUT ANCIENT SETTLERS
The band started their journey with the intention to explore the frontiers of modern melodic death metal, including catchy guitar riffs, the use of synths & keyboards, and a variety of different sounds and rhythms, trying to develop their own music personality.
From a lyrical point, the band gets inspired by the recent tragedies that affect the earth and human race. They try to spread their message over all those who want to listen.
Despite this, the band needed to modify their starting plans, due to the pandemic outbreak. They pushed ahead and in January of 2021, the band released their first digital single 'Diamond Eyes', along-side a limited edition 7" vinyl. The following February, the band released their debut album Autumnus. Both were recorded in Portugal, France, Spain and the USA, and requested the service of Daniel Cardoso (Anathema, Anneke Van Grisbergen) to mix & master the album, as well as Gus "Perkele" Sazes (Angra, Kamelot, Gus G, Firewind, Arch Enemy) to design the artworks.
In April 2021, Miguel Herrera joined the band as a full-time bass player. The band started to develop a live-session tour, including venues throughout Portugal, France and Spain. Ancient Settlers have just signed to Crusader Records to release their killer 10–song album, produced by worldwide Grammy awarded Fredrik Nordstrom.
Track breakdown:
Into the depths I ride
To start the album, the powerful and melodic Into the depths...it is a fast-paced song with a complex riff in the verse. In contrast, a catchy chorus section, very synthesizer-driven, and powerful guitar melody. It is a strong song to introduce our first album.
Cast in Gold
A very elaborate and frankly hard to accomplish intro (synths wise, it took days to create the sounds). The song has this nostalgic Gothenburg influence, with very melodic guitars.
A rich bridge with only a string quartet, vocals and very fuzz distorted guitars to set the mood of the song.With an epic chorus with heavily layered synth sections, multiple arpegiators in the background, alongside the lead guitars marking the main melody of the song.
Our Last Eclipse
The anthem, slow-paced song, became our title track. Deeply guitar oriented, eminently cold, that makes the listener think they are watching stars collide in outer space in slow motion. The chorus is uplifting, yet defeating at the same time Massively surrounding low-end in the whole song and a powerful drum beat Highly technical solo section between the synthesizer and guitars.
Cerements
We started the song with a different mood from the previous ones, implementing clean-fuzzy guitars, and driving bass lines to set a pop-oriented pace, with a nice synth section to drive the song into a faster, powerful verse with a very memorable pre-chorus to introduce the melancholic and nostalgic chorus with high gain guitars, layered with clean toned melodies. Synth lines are inspired by "film score" productions, with many layers of sound designed noises. The lyrics on this track are very sentimental; compelling the sadness, we all have felt for departed ones. An expressive and fast solo section to invite the listener feel the emotions implied in the song.
Jotnar Magick
We wanted to pay homage to ancient lore by inspiring us in an Old Norse Mythology passage; it is a story about a Jotnar (giant) that does the ultimate effort and entraps an Aesir goddess into its will, causing her death at the end. A potent, fast drum-oriented song, that means to catch the rapid pace of the tale implanted in the song. The contrasting rhythms of the ending of the song symbolizes the death of a goddess.
Library of Tears
It is the first released single from the album. We went back to basics strong, in your face metal sound, certainly haunting background sound effects, to remind the listener the despair of being in a planet that lives no more, exactly what we wanted to portray in the music video. An almost seven minutes long epic track. The song itself has many contrasting guitar-driven melodies and powerful and skillful solo sections, and a very modern metal-oriented chorus, with solid 4/4 bars drums to mark a heavy rhythm.
Silent December
This track starts with an 80's synthwave vibe. We got inspiration from the cult film "Blade Runner". Right after, it kicks off with an eerie vocal passage; to take the listener to what comes right after, a straightforward song with drums that lead the song dynamics, and very melodic lines. With vast elements of not so metal genres, such as EDM, it has a retro guitar solo that means to take the listener into a journey to the past.
From a lyrical standpoint, the song talk us through a path of vengeance that finally comes to its fruition.
Memories
As its name title, Memories is a song about all the experiences of people that are forced to leave their motherland to face the odds of the unknown in a different soil; an ode to all the outcasts, the broken, but hopeful ones. Starting directly into the grit of a fast, energetic 90's death metal drum groove, yet melodic instrumentals. The track introduces for the first time in the album, group shout sections, symbolizing despite the adversities, we are walking this path together. We had the pleasure of collaborating with a longtime friend in one of the guitar solos. He also shares the pain of being in exile (Cesar Diaz, you rock!)
Black Rainbow
Coming to the second to last title of the album, it is a down tempo, melancholic song.
Starting with an acoustic guitar section, it emphasizes the emotion that this track conveys; the never-ending mystery of what death is, and what, if anything, comes next.
With harsh and heavy drum lines, and pounding bass, supporting a melodic and expressive guitar section all along the track, it prints the death-like feeling of being on the other side.
Peregrination
In difference with the previous song, this one closes the album, and we decided to do it with a statement; starting this one with a punch, going "All guns blazing" from the get go.
We unleashed all the power that Ancient Settlers has to offer on this title alone, melodic guitars, powerful and striking drums, deep and complex synths, and pounding bass to blend it all. However, there is a twist; coming to the end of the song, a transformation in the track's cadence, to roll credits and sink in the journey this album has been, this Peregrination.
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