Official press release:
Virginia Beach, VA’s Arsis, a standout in the technical, melodic death metal genre, has signed a worldwide record deal with Agonia Records, excluding North, South and Central America, in which the band will be released by Nuclear Blast Records. Arsis entered Audio Hammer Studio in Florida in late 2017 with producer Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, Devildriver, Cannibal Corpse) to begin work on their 6th studio album, follow-up to Unwelcome (2013).
Arsis co-founder James Malone commented:
“We are really excited to have found a label partner outside of the Americas. Agonia works with some great bands and we are pleased to be working with them moving forward. We look forward to reaching some new ground with a new record in 2018. Stay tuned for details.”
Arsis, which derived its name from the musical term “arsis and thesis” meaning: unstressed (up-) and stressed (down-), makes death metal music that is righteously tinged with black & thrash influences, but is completely dedicated to expanding the reaches of melodicism and technicality in the genre. Brought together through a mutual respect for King Diamond in 2000 by Berklee College of Music students, said James Malone (an already skilled violinist and a composition major) and double-bass connoisseur, currently ex-member Mike Van Dyne, the duo recorded demo material simply to amuse themselves. But thanks to the favourable feedback they received, Arsis became a live and full-time endeavour.
Following the release of their debut album A Celebration Of Guilt (2004), Arsis has taken the metal scene by surprise, being praised by Revolver Magazine for creating “the best [album] in the genre since At The Gates’ legendary swan song [Slaughter Of The Soul]”. Thus, relatively unknown musicians were suddenly awarded the status of saviours to a waning genre. Since then, things have moved a long way. Arsis released four studio albums, moved from Willowtip to Nuclear Blast Records, and has taken the stage in support of artists like Necrophagist, All Shall Perish, Napalm Death, Enslaved, Goatwhore, The Faceless, Sepultura, Keep Of Kalessin, Morbid Angel and Decapitated, actively touring both in the USA and abroad. Along the way, they gained praise from fans and critics alike, including kudos from New York’s Village Voice for being “American death metal at its best”.
Arsis return in 2018 with their strongest line-up to date (feat. The Black Dahlia Murder guitarist Brandon Ellis), which saw the release of their acclaimed fifth album Unwelcome nearly five years ago. The album landed on Billboard Heatseekers Chart at #19 in its first week of release. Presently, Arsis is intensely working on a new album, set to be released at a date yet to be revealed.
Arsis is:
James Malone – vocals, guitars
Noah Martin – bass
Brandon Ellis – guitars
Shawn Priest – drums