Release Date: 19 January 2024
Label: Century Media / Century Media Records
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 196588411625
Genres: Hard Rock & Metal Metal
Release Date: 19 January 2024
Label: Century Media / Century Media Records
Packaging Type: Slip Sleeve (CD or Vinyl)
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 196588411717
Genres: Hard Rock & Metal Metal
Description
Few bands can embrace their influences with the passion and intensity that UPON STONE
does. With their Century Media debut, Dead Mother Moon, the San Fernando Valley, CA
quartet tackle early 90's influenced Melodic Death Metal (AKA "Melodeath") with a rawness
and intensity that not only matches the influence of the early Scandinavian scene but
exceeds it. UPON STONE delivers with a ferocity that could only come from a band fueled by
the scene-spanning influence of At The Gates' landmark Slaughter of the Soul while growing
up in the shadow of fellow Californians, Nails. For Melodic Death Metal, this isn't a revival.
It's a rebirth.
The roots of UPON STONE twist back to its members' teenage years. Vocalist and bassist
Xavier Wahlberg, drummer Wyatt Bentley and guitarist Ronny Marks began playing together
in various Valley bedroom-bred outfits, "When you're 18 you're still stabbing in the dark,"
says Wyatt of UPON STONE's members' early endeavors in demo days outfits fueled on the
likes of Children of Bodom, In Flames and Dissection. "Those bands were the gold standard,"
the drummer adds. "We could not love anything more than those classic Gothenburg and
Finnish bands."
The opportunity to revisit that love of early Melodeath came years later during the global
pandemic and worldwide shutdown when UPON STONE, joined by guitarist Gage Goss, first
truly came together. While the individual members were ensconced in different projects
and different scenes, the pull of their early Scandinavian-influenced inclinations couldn't
have been stronger. "The minute we first picked up guitars and started playing together, we
knew there was something magic about this," says Xavier. "It was obvious this was
supposed to happen." UPON STONE's first recording session with producer Taylor Young
(Nails, Drain), a fours song EP, Where Wild Sorrows Grow was released on the Creator
Destructor label and became a mission statement for the long-gestating band.
"From the start, there weren't any bad ideas," says Wyatt of UPON STONE's early writing
and recording days. "For instance, we want to put an acoustic interlude on a demo - yeah,
let's do it! Or we wanted to add synths to a part - do it! Everything was so seamless. When
we brought it to Taylor, he was surprised and told us 'I wasn't expecting it to be this
technical or this fast. Or this dark.' It was really cool to get that feedback from someone we
had so much respect for as a producer and a musician."
UPON STONE made its live debut on a short run of dates with Japan's Kruelty in the barely
post-pandemic January 2021. "Once we started playing live, we realized that this is the band
we've always wanted to do," states Xavier. UPON STONE began gigging relentlessly, finding
their audience between Los Angeles' hardcore and metal sects. Area gigs with the likes of
Judiciary or Bewitcher as well as early tours with Creeping Death and Vomit Forth cemented
UPON STONE as a ferocious live proposition.
Not surprising gi
Description
Few bands can embrace their influences with the passion and intensity that UPON STONE
does. With their Century Media debut, Dead Mother Moon, the San Fernando Valley, CA
quartet tackle early 90's influenced Melodic Death Metal (AKA "Melodeath") with a rawness
and intensity that not only matches the influence of the early Scandinavian scene but
exceeds it. UPON STONE delivers with a ferocity that could only come from a band fueled by
the scene-spanning influence of At The Gates' landmark Slaughter of the Soul while growing
up in the shadow of fellow Californians, Nails. For Melodic Death Metal, this isn't a revival.
It's a rebirth.
The roots of UPON STONE twist back to its members' teenage years. Vocalist and bassist
Xavier Wahlberg, drummer Wyatt Bentley and guitarist Ronny Marks began playing together
in various Valley bedroom-bred outfits, "When you're 18 you're still stabbing in the dark,"
says Wyatt of UPON STONE's members' early endeavors in demo days outfits fueled on the
likes of Children of Bodom, In Flames and Dissection. "Those bands were the gold standard,"
the drummer adds. "We could not love anything more than those classic Gothenburg and
Finnish bands."
The opportunity to revisit that love of early Melodeath came years later during the global
pandemic and worldwide shutdown when UPON STONE, joined by guitarist Gage Goss, first
truly came together. While the individual members were ensconced in different projects
and different scenes, the pull of their early Scandinavian-influenced inclinations couldn't
have been stronger. "The minute we first picked up guitars and started playing together, we
knew there was something magic about this," says Xavier. "It was obvious this was
supposed to happen." UPON STONE's first recording session with producer Taylor Young
(Nails, Drain), a fours song EP, Where Wild Sorrows Grow was released on the Creator
Destructor label and became a mission statement for the long-gestating band.
"From the start, there weren't any bad ideas," says Wyatt of UPON STONE's early writing
and recording days. "For instance, we want to put an acoustic interlude on a demo - yeah,
let's do it! Or we wanted to add synths to a part - do it! Everything was so seamless. When
we brought it to Taylor, he was surprised and told us 'I wasn't expecting it to be this
technical or this fast. Or this dark.' It was really cool to get that feedback from someone we
had so much respect for as a producer and a musician."
UPON STONE made its live debut on a short run of dates with Japan's Kruelty in the barely
post-pandemic January 2021. "Once we started playing live, we realized that this is the band
we've always wanted to do," states Xavier. UPON STONE began gigging relentlessly, finding
their audience between Los Angeles' hardcore and metal sects. Area gigs with the likes of
Judiciary or Bewitcher as well as early tours with Creeping Death and Vomit Forth cemented
UPON STONE as a ferocious live proposition.
Not surprising gi
Tracklisting
Tracklisting
Kaipa
Nightingale
Nightingale
Edge of Sanity
Devin Townsend
Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Psychotic Waltz
As December Falls
As December Falls
Exhumed
Kaipa
Nightingale
Devin Townsend
Powerwolf
Candy
