It is time! Norwegian metal titans ABBATH are now streaming their brand-new album ‘Dread Reaver’ in advance of its release this Friday, March 25! Listen to the record in its entirety at THIS LOCATION.
Moreover, ABBATH has recently landed the cover of Outburn Magazine’s 96th issue! The issue features an exclusive, in-depth interview as well as a limited edition bundle that features autographed prints and other ABBATHmemorabilia.
The cover image was taken by Jeremy Saffer while the signed, limited edition prints were taken by Ester Segarra.
The issue is out NOW. Limited edition bundles can be ordered exclusively via Outburn HERE.
ABBATH has recently announced a co-headlining European tour this September along with WATAIN, in which the bands will be supported by TRIBULATION and BÖLZER. The full run of dates can be found below!
Pre-orders for ‘Dread Reaver’ are available in the Season of Mist shop HERE. Pre-save the album on streaming services HERE.
The album artwork for ‘Dread Reaver,’ which was created by Bjørn Stian Bjoarvik, can be found below along with the tracklist.
Tracklist:
1. Acid Haze (04:51)
2. Scarred Core (03:29)
3. Dream Cull (04:15) WATCH HERE
4. Myrmidon (04:33)
5. The Deep Unbound (04:05)
6. Septentrion (04:30)
7. Trapped Under Ice (03:59)
8. The Book of Breath (04:35) LISTEN HERE
9. Dread Reaver (04:43) LISTEN HERE
10. Make my day (04:16)
ABBATH European Tour Dates
(co-headlining w/ WATAIN w/ support from TRIBULATION + BÖLZER)
09/15: Paris (FR) @ Elysee Montmartre
09/16: Oberhausen (DE) @ Turbinenhalle
09/17: Munich (DE) @ Backstage
09/18: Milan (IT) @ Live Club
09/20: Toulouse (FR) @ Le Bikini
09/22: Lisbon (PT) @ Lisboa Ao Vivo
09/23: Madrid (ES) @ La Riviera
09/24: Barcelona (ES) @ Apolo
09/25: Lyon (FR) @ Transbordeur
09/27: Zurich (CH) @ Komplex 457
09/28: Filderstadt (DE) @ Filharmonie
09/29: Tilburg (NL) @ 013
09/30: London (UK) @ Earth
10/02: Antwerp (BE) @ Trix
10/04: Hamburg (DE) @ Markthalle
10/05: Copenhagen (DK) @ Amager Bio
10/06: Oslo (NO) @ Rockefeller
10/07: Stockholm (SE) @ Fallan
10/09: Helsinki (FI) @ Vanha
The ravens gaze ominously from above. The seas roar in anticipation. The mountains creak yet again. Abbath’s remarkable new album, Dread Reaver, is upon us all. Two years in the making, Abbath’s third full-length is the culmination of everything before it. A fusion of debut Abbath (2016) and follow-up Outstrider (2019), the aptly titled Dread Reaver extends its fantastical fangs outward and drives its cloven hooves onward. Indeed, there’s nothing like an Abbath record. This is the darkest metal for epic journeys and ancient battles. Comprised of eight riveting tracks and a red-hot cover of Metallica’s “Trapped Under Ice,” Dread Reaver shows Abbath triumphing over all trials and tribulations, riding hard into merciless glory as the one and only “Lemmy of black metal.”
Abbath was formed by Olve Eikemo (aka Abbath) in Bergen, Norway, in 2015. After splitting with vaunted extreme metallers Immortal, the beguiling frontman and storied songwriter only had one path: Abbath. Years before, he had proven that venturing out of the Immortal constellation was not only plausible but doable with the I project, a short-lived, one-album (Between Two Worlds) band featuring notable musicians from Immortal, Enslaved, and Gorgoroth. Indeed, once Eikemo was free of Immortal’s shackles, he was able to assemble a cadre of like-minded conspirators for his solo debut album, Abbath. So crucial was Abbath that the Norwegian Embassy in the UK ran a music/culture piece, while in Norway, the album was nominated for a Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy). Metal Hammer Germany even gonged Abbath with its Best Debut award. Follow-up album, Outstrider, was equally lauded. Billboard’s coverage sent shockwaves through the rock/metal scenes, while Kerrang! labeled it “dominating and creative,” awarding it 4Ks. Decibel also heaped praise on Outstrider, giving it the Best New Noise trophy. New album Dread Reaver will yet again lionize Abbath as leader of the frost-bitten pack.
Powered by Abbath’s creative musical imagination, Dread Reaver runs riotously out of the gate. The album’s edifice affords tracks like “Acid Haze,” “Scarred Core,” “The Deep Unbound,” and the album’s closing title track ample room to champion the extremes of black metal, heavy metal, and hard rock. While there are nods to NWOBHM greats, thrash metal’s luminaries, and black metal icons, Dread Reaver is unmistakably Abbath. There is no other fingerprint. Paired with thought-provoking lyrics based on the historical figure of Othryades, Abbath’s new album not only shouts exultant but reads like an ancient pyrrhic tale steeped in violence, sorrow, and grit. The idea of a Dread Reaver—a fearless duelist—can also be read as a metaphor for life’s actions and subsequent struggles. Be warned: Dread Reaver is Abbath at his most menacing and accomplished.
Dread Reaver was produced by Endre Kirkesola, Abbath, and Dag Erik Nygaard at Dub Studio in Kristiansand and Bergen Lydstudio, respectively. Kirkesola and Nygaard also engineered. Mixing was performed by Abbath and Kirkesola, while the mastering was done by maestro Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Rob Halford) at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in Los Angeles. The goal was to field a storming production that sat firmly at the crossroads of Abbath’s heroes Kiss, Motörhead, Manowar, and Bathory. From the anthemic thrust of opener “Acid Haze” and the epic pound of “Dream Cull” to the rampaging “The Book of Breath” and the wicked cover of Metallica’s “Trapped Under Ice,” Dread Reaver sounds as massive as Norwegian mountain and as fiery as the depths of Hell. Truly, the recording lineup of Abbath (guitar, bass, vocals), Ukri Suvilehto (drums), Ole André Farstad (guitars), and Mia Wallace (bass) found their sonic muse.
Abbath and Season of Mist will release Dread Reaver on February 25th, 2022. The album features a Bjørn Stian Bjoarvik (Immortal) cover and will be supported by singles “Dream Cull”, “Dread Reaver” and “The Book of Breath.” Of course, it’ll all be powered by Abbath’s wry, larger-than-life persona. If “Ace of Spades” catapulted Motörhead to fame and notoriety, then Dread Reaver will find Abbath atop extreme metal’s gigantic heap, the spoils of icy blood, scorching sweat, and steely tears at his feet. As “Myrmidon” states, “Die with a smile, stare glassy-eyed up / At boiling skies! / Valkyries descend to gore-caked fen / Fallen warriors arise!” Lightning strikes thrice with Abbath’s incredible Dread Reaver!
Recording line-up:
Abbath – Guitar, bass & vocals
Ukri Suvilehto – Drums
Ole André Farstad – Lead & acoustic guitars
Mia Wallace – Bass on Acid Haze, Scarred Core, The Deep Unbound & Dread Reaver
Simon Dancaster – Lyrics
Recording studio: Recorded in Dub Studio / Additional recordings: Bergen LydstudioProducer / sound engineer: Endre Kirkesola / Dag Erik Nygaard
Mixing studio and engineer: Abbath and Endre Kirkesola
Mastering studio / engineer: Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering – California – U.S.A
Biography: Chris Dick
Cover art: Bjørn Stian Bjoarvik / Photos by Francisco Munoz
Links:
www.facebook.com/abbathband
www.abbath.net
www.instagram.com/abbath_official
Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/AbbathDreadReaver
Available formats: Digital, CD digipak, CD digibox, vinyl black and coloured
