Official press release:
Profound Lore Records unveils On the Promise of the Moon, the writhing second album from atmospheric death metal collective Reeking Aura, formed by current/former members of Grey Skies Fallen, Buckshot Facelift, Thætas, Afterbirth, Trog, Artificial Brain, and many others.
While its members are all longtime veterans of the New York City/New Jersey underground, Reeking Aura is far from a side project. This group’s encompassing sound is equal parts captivatingly immersive and utterly devastating, infusing technicality with infectious melodies and curious tones into their thundering foundation of East Coast brutal death metal. The band began in 2019 and promptly recorded their debut EP, Beneath the Canopy of Compost, and debut album, Blood and Bonemeal, both with Colin Marston in Queens, NYC, followed by the succinctly savage Fires In Deep Frost EP in February of 2025. In addition to playing gigs around the greater New York City/North New Jersey area supporting Malevolent Creation, Horrendous, Crypt Sermon, and Mortician, they have toured the Northeast and Southeast US with Replicant, Atoll, Pyrexia, Hath, Animals Killing People, False Gods, and Carrion Vael.
With their formidable presence now well-known far beyond their hometown region, Reeking Aura now arrives with their monstrous second album On the Promise of the Moon. Returning from the first album are guitarists Terrell Grannum (Thaetas), and Rick Habeeb (Grey Skies Fallen, Buckshot Facelift) as well as vocalist William Smith (Afterbirth, Buckshot Facelift, ex-Artificial Brain). Drummer Hudson Barth (Trog) and bassist TJ Coon (Trog, Sentient Horror) round-out the lineup, and bring fresh blood to the band, with all members having contributed to the writing process of the new record.
Tracked at OK Recording Studios in Kinderhook, New York, mixed and mastered by the legendary Dan Swanö (Bloodbath, Edge of Sanity, Grey Skies Fallen), and completed with cover art by premier Moldova painter Ion Carchelan, On the Promise of the Moon builds on the Reeking Aura sound with an ominous, melodic atmosphere that does not compromise their brutal, guttural New York death metal roots. The album also features contributions from guest vocalists Eston Browne (Vulnificus) and Jon Berg (The Path), as well as string arrangements by Ben Karas (Slaughtersun).
With the album’s lead single, vocalist Will Smith reveals:
“Lyrically, ‘What Only Worms Witness’ is a contrasting depiction of both the ugliness of physical death and the melancholy optimism of enduring legacy. Like many songs on the album, it reflects on grudges, the passing of time and paying homage to the deceased. Writing for this song was spearheaded by bassist TJ Coon, showcasing Reeking Aura‘s dedication to brutal New York death metal combined with dark melodies and atmosphere.”
Reeking Aura’s “What Only Worms Witness” visualizer is now playing on YouTube below and the song streaming on Bandcamp and all other digital platforms HERE.
On the Promise of the Moon will be released on LP, CD, and digital formats on April 17th via Profound Lore Records. Preorders, pre-saves, merch, and more can all be acquired HERE.
Additional previews of the album are to be expected over the weeks ahead.
With more widespread tour plans coming together for later this year, Reeking Aura has several shows lined up for the coming months, playing Staten Island on Friday, March 13th with, Tombstoner, Festergore, Atomic Witch, and Inoculation, and a weed/death metal all-day event dubbed Rage Of Metaljuana in Brooklyn on May 9th with Sathanas, Sickbay, vendors, food, and more.
On the Promise of the Moon track listing:
- “Concrete Basin Bath”
- “A Forlorn And Frozen Vapor”
- “Gorged Beyond Grudges”
- “Manure Like Magma”
- “Lunar Rumination”
- “What Only Worms Witness”
- “The Cathedral’s Calculation”
- “Sifting for Fungal Inheritance (A Mildewy, Acrid Mulch)”
- “On The Promise Of The Moon”
3/13 Staten Island, NY – Mother Pugs Saloon w/ Tombstoner, Festergore, Atomic Witch, Inoculation
5/09 Brooklyn, NY – Rage Of Metaljuana @ The Meadows w/ Sathanas, Sickbay