Warbringer - IV Empires Collapse (2013) [Gorgatz]

Warbringer - IV Empires Collapse (2013) [Gorgatz]



- I N F O -

Los Angeles based WARBRINGER are back with their 4th studio album effort, programmatically entitled, “IV: Empires Collapse” and have now confirmed a new/corrected street date for the release on October 28th, 2013 in Europe and October 29th, 2013 in North America via Century Media Records.

“IV: Empires Collapse”, the studio recording debut for former Mantic Ritual members Jeff Potts (Guitar) and Ben Mottsman (Bass) rounding off WARBRINGER’s five-piece line-up, was recorded with producer Steve Evetts (Sepultura, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Suicide Silence), mixed by Brett Eliason (Pearl Jam, Heart, BoySetsFire) and mastered by Alan Douches / West West Side Music (Cannibal Corpse, Hatebreed, Converge). The album’s cover artwork was designed by Adrienne Rozzi.

The band checked in to comment about the artwork as follows: “The artwork for “Empires Collapse” came about from wanting to take a much more focused and simplistic approach. Previous WARBRINGER album covers are extremely detailed, busy works, so it was a conscious decision to have art that was the antithesis of what we had done before. John Laux came up with the concept, so we had our friend Adrienne Rozzi make up a sketch, which led to us having her follow through with the final piece. It’s incredibly different from what most fans would expect for a WARBRINGER album cover, but we wanted the art to visually reflect the music. The piece reminds me of a Tarot Card illustration and sets a very cryptic, somber vibe which associates well with the music that ties into the album’s title.”

Started in 2004 by High School fellow metal heads, the members of Los Angeles’ own WARBRINGER are about to release their fourth studio album, programmatically entitled “IV: Empires Collapse”. After three releases on Century Media and an endless succession of tours with the likes of Arch Enemy, Exodus, Suicide Silence, Megadeth, Napalm Death, Suffocation, Hatebreed, Testament, Nile, Iced Earth, Symphony X, Obituary, Overkill, Kreator, Destruction, Nevermore to name a few, WARBRINGER looks forward to unleashing a new, fourth chapter in their fast rising career, which has already doubtlessly established this hard-working five-piece as worldwide leaders of a new generation of Thrash Metal.

Following an intense string of successful tours around the globe for their acclaimed 2011 album “Worlds Torn Asunder”, WARBRINGER once again locked themselves in the studio in the summer of 2013 with producer Steve Evetts (Sepultura, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Suicide Silence) and dedicated themselves to their craft, pushing their musical abilities beyond previous limits in order to assemble the new album. “While some of the material is more direct and some more technically demanding, Steve paid just as much attention to detail on simple hooks as he did on complex arrangements”, said drummer Carlos Cruz about the new recording process. “IV: Empires Collapse” is a collective work and the band’s most diverse so far, also marking the first recording session for recently added members Jeff Potts (Guitar) and Ben Mottsman (Bass), both formerly of Mantic Ritual, who have been touring with WARBRINGER for the longest part of the previous album campaign.

On this newest effort, which was mixed by Brett Eliason (Pearl Jam, Heart, BoySetsFire) at Trailmix Studio and mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (Cannibal Corpse, Hatebreed, Converge), WARBRINGER’s trademarked furious and relentless Thrash Metal attitude and merciless sound remains unbroken and clearly distinguishable, but several new elements like a solid amount of traditional Heavy Metal feel, some grim and epic Black Metal riffing, a Punk / Hardcore edge to things as well as a some surprising songwriting turns make “IV: Empires Collapse” a vicious, highly entertaining and never one-dimensioned affair.

“Musically, all five of us brought something for the rest of the group to work off of and we were all a part of chiseling away at the ideas”, explained Cruz. “Having five band members with eclectic tastes in music from Crust Punk to Progressive music and everything in between brought about new musical directions for the material.” Guitarist and main songwriter John Laux added: “This was an exciting project, I am proud of the contributions from everyone involved. Ben Mottsman and Jeff Potts are highly skilled musicians. It's no secret, in WARBRINGER we are no strangers to fresh blood. I couldn't have found myself in stronger creative company. Steve and Brett did a killer job capturing all of our individual voices and channeling them down into a compelling record.”

Vocalist John Kevill commented the material on “IV: Empires Collapse” as follows: “The songs themselves are what stands out the most to me. We have the rollercoaster prog-thrash opener "Horizon", the industrial/dystopian "The Turning Of The Gears", the punky "One Dimension", the ripping thrasher "Hunter-Seeker” and the just fucking rockin' "Iron City", among all the rest! I think the closer, "Towers Of The Serpent", is probably my favorite song WARBRINGER has written to date, with a truly epic ending.” And the band closes off by adding: “We can confidently say each song has an identity of its own and will make for an exceptional album with no filler material.I hope everyone enjoys listening to the record as much as we enjoyed making it. And we'll see you out somewhere beyond the highway!"

In terms of upcoming touring, WARBRINGER already have extensive runs lined up to kickstart the support work for the release of “IV: Empires Collapse”. In North America, WARBRINGER will support Thrash legends Kreator and Overkill throughout October and November 2013. In Europe on the other hand, WARBRINGER will be heading out as main support for Metal veterans ICED EARTH between January and February 2014. Don’t miss out on catching WARBRINGER on the road somewhere nearby you, showcasing the fury of their newest effort “IV: Empires Collapse”…

- T R A C K L I S T -

1. Horizon 03:57
2. The Turning of the Gears 02:54
3. One Dimension 04:09
4. Hunter-Seeker 03:54
5. Black Sun, Black Moon 03:10
6. Scars Remain 04:27
7. Dying Light 04:47
8. Iron City 03:28
9. Leviathan 04:41
10. Off with Their Heads!01:36
11. Towers of the Serpent 04:25

Bitrate: 320 k
Genre: Thrash
Subgenre: Thrash Metal
Size: 96.73 MB