US-based death/black metal band CAST THE STONE, comprising original members Mark Kloeppel (Misery Index, Scour), Derek Engemann (ex-Cattle Decapitation, Scour), Jesse Schobel (Legend, ex-Scour) and vocalist Andy Huskey, will re-emerge on August 31st with their new EP on Agonia Records. The band's new EP, titled 'Empyrean Atrophy', is pictured below, and features cover artwork by Gary Ronaldson of Bite Radius Designs (Primordial, Kreator, Napalm Death).
First formations of CAST THE STONE began in 2002, long before its protagonists departed for their better known metal-scene mainstays, including death metal bands Misery Index, Cattle Decapitation, and Scour with Phil Anselmo on vocals. While such ties leave a clear mark, CAST THE STONE emerge not as some metal supergroup, but as a project of the original and purest intent of its membership.
Each of CAST THE STONE members is involved in writing music, and each has varying tastes. But they all seem to have one acquired taste in common: an appetite for American and Swedish death metal. On "Empyrean Atrophy", one can distinctly hear sounds similar to Dismember, Grave, At The Gates, and other proponents of the genre. There are also artisan elements one could liken to more dark and progressive Swedish acts such as Opeth, Edge Of Sanity and Dissection. Perhaps this reason alone, Dan Swanö was a clear choice for production (having produced or had been a member of some of the aforementioned bands).
Hybridizing the dark ferocity of Swedish death metal through a lens of American brutality, CAST THE STONE hits a creative stride with "Empyrean Atrophy". Guitarist Mark Kloeppel commented, "The band's sound is a testament to an enduring spirit that’s driven us to return to our most organic influences, merge them together, incorporate disparate elements, and forge our own sound. Each person has a distinct sound unto themselves, so it's really cool how smooth and cohesive this stuff comes across. You can immediately hear how different this is from the other things we've been involved in, yet it's still very true to our individual styles. Our bassist Derek progressively weaves my guitars and Jesse's uber-creative drumming style together in a way that only he can. This is all crowned off by Andy Huskey's crazy death metal vocals which are... well, just listen".
Tracklist:
1. As the Dead Lie
2. The Burning Horizon
3. Standing in the Shadows
4. A Plague of Light
5. Empyrean Atrophy
6. Jesusatan
"Empyrean Atrophy" will be available in:
- Digipack CD.
- Black LP.
- White LP (Bandcamp exclusive).
- Purple Splatter LP (Agonia Records Webshop exclusive).
- Digital files.
Pre-orders and the first single are scheduled to be released on June 7th.
ONLINE
LINEUP
Andrew Huskey– vocals.
Mark Kloeppel– guitars.
Derek Engemann– bass.
Jesse Schobel– drums.
BIOGRAPHY
CAST THE STONE first began in 2002 as the original project between guitarist Mark Kloeppel of Misery Index, bassist Derek Engemann of Scour and Cattle Decapitation and drummer Jesse Schobel of Legend/ex-Scour, prior to their departure into their current metal-scene mainstays. Rounded out by vocalist Andrew Huskey, the band will release new music in their original line-up in 2018.
Through years of successful touring and record creation within the membership's other very well known projects, an attitude was fostered of "how would we do this now"? CAST THE STONE returns not as some metal supergroup, but as a project of the original and purest intent of its membership. To be blunt, without CAST THE STONE, the vast majority of the Misery Index discography, Cattle Decapitation's seminal "Monolith of Inhumanity" and "The Anthropocene Extinction" albums, and Scour with Philip H. Anselmo, would not exist. Therefore, CAST THE STONE has re-emerged to claim its rightful place in music history, as well as the future.
Teaming up with Agonia Records, the quartet has fully hit their creative stride with masterpieces of sonic devastation that honor their roots and original intent alongside their prowess of experience. Metal maniacs weaned on the dark ferocity of Norwegian black metal, the punishingly surreal assault of Edge of Sanity, or the demonstrative brutality of death metal, will find something evocative and provoking within CAST THE STONE. These savage elements collide with combustible energy against the near psychedelic, progressive, and technical excursions, all intermingled with atmospheric groove. Combined, it’s a testament to an enduring spirit that’s driven the band to take their own organic influences, merge them together, incorporate disparate elements, and forge their own sound.
DISCOGRAPHY
Dark Winds Descending - 2005
Empyrean Atrophy (EP) - 2018