[Photo by Samantha Wallschlaeger]
First Light Of The Last Dawn, the new EP from Los Angeles-based atmospheric doomsayers QAALM, is out on Hypaethral Records.
The follow-up to the band’s critically lauded Resilience & Despair debut, First Light Of The Last Dawn ushers in a new era of QAALM, introducing influence from black metal and progressive rock and ultimately pushing their new material beyond the boundaries set by their earlier work. Even the production, graced by the skillful engineering of Paul Fig and expert mixing and mastering of Zeuss, two powerhouses who have collectively worked with the likes of Slipknot, Hatebreed, and Municipal Waste, displays evolution, elevation, and growth.
Comparisons to the likes of Agalloch and the “Peaceville Three” only scratch the surface of QAALM‘s sonic tapestry. As bands like Paradise Lost, Neurosis, and Mastodon have continued to reinvent themselves between albums, so too has QAALM, maintaining the spirit of their earlier work while composing new material that is even more dynamic and engaging.
Stream QAALM’s First Light Of The Last Dawn EP
Watch QAALM’s previously released lyric video for ‘First Light Of The Last Dawn’
First Light Of The Last Dawn EP is available digitally as well as CD and cassette (limited to 100 copies each).
Order at the Hypaethral Records webshop or Bandcamp
First Light Of The Last Dawn EP Tracklisting:
- First Light Of The Last Dawn
- Ward 81
- Heaven And Hell (Black Sabbath cover – physical releases only)
“…a fitting next step in their progression as a band. Where their debut full-length Resilience & Despair seemed to rely on bone crushing heaviness, this new offering brings in touches of black metal and prog rock to turn heads. Of course – rounding out the release with a cover of the Black Sabbath classic ‘Heaven And Hell’ only adds to the magic of QAALM are doing here…a potent release, one that leans into the influence of bands like Neurosis and Agalloch, but finds a way to make it their own.” – Two Guys Metal Reviews
“The opening track is a filthy and lengthy post-black metal stomper. It goes in several directions over nine minutes but keeps interest thanks to the clever arrangement. After a brief but becoming instrumental track, we are treated to a powerful Black Sabbath cover of ‘Heaven And Hell’… I eagerly await the next full-length from QAALM.” – Metal Digest
QAALM:
Henry Derek Elis – vocals, lead/rhythm guitars
Minsu Dylan Kim – lead/rhythm guitars
Dave Ferrara – drums