THE BEAST

“…a natural progression from where they left off, combining the core elements of what fans loved with a mature songwriting sensibility that sees power and intensity caught in a tug of war with a melodically induced atmosphere of blasphemous reverence…” – Team Rock

New York City sludge/doom/drone trio UNEARTHLY TRANCE reemerges from the shadows with Stalking The Ghost, their sixth full-length recording and first album in over seven years.

Decibel Magazine calls Stalking The Ghost, “relevant, powerful, and most welcome,” while Stereogum champions, “an excellent return to their fighting form.” In a near-perfect 9.5/10 review, Metal Assault observes, “UNEARTHLY TRANCE presents a dark journey through occultism, matching the concept of the album to the musical atmosphere to an almost perfect ratio.” Last Rites notes, “There may be no one out there making a better version of this particular sort of racket. Find the riffs you thought were only a distant memory, and let them succor you.” Adds Hellbound in an 8/10 verdict, “This might be their most diverse, dynamic recording to date, but as tunes like ‘Invisible Butchery’ show, they’re still no strangers to slow ‘n’ heavy death/doom.”

Elsewhere the sentiment echoes. Team Rock writes, “Stalking The Ghost… feels like a natural progression from where they left off, combining the core elements of what fans loved with a mature songwriting sensibility that sees power and intensity caught in a tug of war with a melodically induced atmosphere of blasphemous reverence.” The Sludgelord gushes, “There are few bands to which the phrase ‘criminally underrated’ is as aptly applied as UNEARTHLY TRANCE. Arguably spawning the ‘blackened sludge/blackened doom’ genres, they remain a hidden gem in extreme heavy music that only certain individuals appreciate.” Pop Matters observes, “UNEARTHLY TRANCE’s appeal is that (like classic NYC band Unsane) they always have sounded dangerous underneath the distortion, not really concerned if they harsh your buzz or remind you the world can be painful.” Adds Skulls ‘N’ Bones, “One can imagine hearing these tunes played deep in the bowels beneath Manhattan, their thunderous notes bouncing off the stone walls as CHUD’s form mosh pits in the darkness feasting on Cocker Spaniel sized rats.”

An esoteric ritual of seismic doom, Stalking The Ghost taps into the darkest realms of the occult over the course of seven tracks that reek of utter despair. Forming a balance between slow-churning maelstrom and spine-chilling harmony, wrapped beneath a blackened cloud of rumbling feedback, UNEARTHLY TRANCE sounds more powerful and exploratory than ever before. Recorded at Menegroth/The Thousand Caves Studios by Colin Marston (Krallice, Gorguts, Panopticon) and featuring cover art by Orion Landau (Yob, Red Fang, Graves At Sea), Stalking The Ghost restores misery to a gentrifying city.

UNEARTHLY TRANCE will embark on a short European tour surrounding their appearance at this year’s prestigious Roadburn Festival with additional dates to be announced in the coming weeks.

UNEARTHLY TRANCE w/ Suma:
4/17/2017 KB18 – Copenhagen, DK
4/18/2017 Hafenklang – Hamburg, DE
4/19/2017 Magasin4 – Brussels, BE
4/20/2017 Roadburn – Tilburg, NL
4/21/2017 Doom Over Leipzig – Leipzig, DE
4/23/2017 JAZ – Rostock, DE

Hailing from Long Island/Brooklyn, New York, UNEARTHLY TRANCE was forged in 2000 by Ryan Lipynsky (guitar, vocals) and Jay Newman (bass), with Darren Verni (drums) joining the following year. Over the past fifteen-plus years, the trio has been creating the loudest, most harrowing blackened doom/sludge in the region. UNEARTHLY TRANCE established their early defining sound with the release of their first two full-lengths (2003’s Season Of Séance, Science Of Silence and 2004’s In The Red) released on Lee Dorrian’s Rise Above Records.

In 2006, UNEARTHLY TRANCE signed with Relapse Records and released three more critically acclaimed full-lengths (2006’s The Trident, 2008’s Electrocution, and 2010’s V) exposing the world to a palpable growth in their doom/sludge foundation and well-crafted songwriting. Over the years, the band has brought their crushing live show across North America, the UK, and Europe with legendary and acclaimed acts such as Electric Wizard, The Melvins, High On Fire, Grief, Sunn O))), Pelican, Sleep, Morbid Angel, Floor, Autopsy, Crowbar, and more.

Recommended if you like:
Neurosis, YOB, Electric Wizard, Inter Arma, Thou, Melvins

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http://www.relapserecords.bandcamp.com
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Listen to the interview here