PHARAOH Hard At Work On Fifth Full-Length Album

Comments Johnsen: “We’re doing this one a bit differently, in that before we always completed the full complement of songs and then hit the studio, but this time, we’re recording tunes a couple at a time as we finish writing. Because we’re not a rehearsing band and because we all live in different cities, recording as we write makes it possible to get more done in less time; while Chris Black is tracking drums for one song, I can be tracking guitars for any songs he’s already recorded, and then when I’m ready to move onto the next set of rhythm guitars, Tim can start tracking vocals. We’re still early in the process, though; Chris only just started tracking the first tune.

Melodic metal veterans PHARAOH – featuring vocalist Tim Aymar, guitarist Matt Johnsen, bassist Chris Kerns and drummer Chris Black – are currently hard at work on their fifth full-length album, which is tentatively due in mid-2018 via Italy’s Cruz Del Sur Music. The album will be the band’s first 2012’s “Bury The Light”.

Comments Johnsen: “We’re doing this one a bit differently, in that before we always completed the full complement of songs and then hit the studio, but this time, we’re recording tunes a couple at a time as we finish writing. Because we’re not a rehearsing band and because we all live in different cities, recording as we write makes it possible to get more done in less time; while Chris Black is tracking drums for one song, I can be tracking guitars for any songs he’s already recorded, and then when I’m ready to move onto the next set of rhythm guitars, Tim can start tracking vocals. We’re still early in the process, though; Chris only just started tracking the first tune.

“We have four songs completed as far as instrumentation goes, and three more at about seventy-five percent. Then there are three to five more which are no more than fifty percent finished. In the past, the riffs to most songs were more or less written by one guy, and then fleshed out collaboratively with vocals and lyrics at the end, but this time, the majority of songs have been put together from the beginning with riff contributions from two or more members, and we expect to do more tinkering with the riffs than we usually do once the vocal lines are introduced.  Then again, maybe we won’t!”

Johnsen promises PHARAOH’s forthcoming new LP will continue in the same vein of their previous efforts; however, some new wrinkles are being thrown into the mix, namely from the technical thrash world with bands such as CORONER, HOLY TERROR, REALM and FORBIDDEN serving as inspiration.

“My arrangements involve much less repetition of riffs than is customary from a power metal band,” he says. “Lots of ‘one-and-done’ riffs, and a lot of left-field bridges and codas. At the same time, I’ve also started a couple tunes which are almost doom metal, assuming a definition of doom metal that encompasses MEMENTO MORI and early TYR. We’ll see how those pan out, but I expect at least one of them to make the album.”

PHARAOH has released all four of its studio albums with Cruz Del Sur Music, starting with 2003’s “After The Fire”, which was followed by 2006’s “The Longest Night”, 2008’s “Be Gone” and 2012’s “Bury The Light”.

Related links:

https://www.facebook.com/PharaohOfficial

https://pharaohmetal.bandcamp.com/music

16 September to 16 October Cruz del Sur VINYL SALE


Cruz del Sur Music is offering a special Autumn sale running from the 16th of September to the 16th of October 2013 ONLY on a bunch of selected vinyl releases. Please visit our store to place your orders and enjoy this unique 50%discount on some of our best releases of the past year!! Do not hesitate to order as this offer won’t be replicated for quite a while, folks!! Grab this unique chance to own some of the greatest, most critically acclaimed Cruz del Sur vinyl releases to stock up your record collections!!

Some of the titles on sales are:

PHARAOH “Be Gone” Gatefold LP + 7″ at 8.50 Euros Only

PHARAOH “Bury the Light” Gatefold White or Clear LP at 6.50 Euros Only

WHILE HEAVEN WEPT “Triumph:Tragedy:Transcendence” Gatefold Orange Vinyl LP with Poster at 6 Euros Only

TWISTED TOWER DIRE “Make It Dark” LP with 12 page luxury booklet at 7.50 Euros only

DARK FOREST “Dawn of Infinity” LP at 6.50 Euros Only


THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG “s/t” Gatefold Black Vinyl LP at 6.50 Euros Only


VISIGOTH “Final Spell” Red Vinyl MLP at 6.00 Euros Only


MAGISTER TEMPLI “Lucifer Leviathan Logos” Gatefold SILVER or BLACK Vinyl LP at 8.50/7.00 Euros Only


VOID MOON “On the Blackest of Nights” Gatefold Blue or Black Vinyl LP at 8.00/6.50 Euros Only

NPR Radio loves PHARAOH: Top 10 Heavy Metal Releases of Year 2012

It is with a clear feeling of accomplishment that we are about to close off this hardworking year 2012 with a great new: PHARAOH’s “Bury the Light” album on Cruz del Sur Music has appeared in the 2012 Top Ten  Heavy Metal albums chart of NPR according to writer Lars Gotrich!! Check it out here.

This is what NPR had to say about Bury the Light:”Chris Black is one of metal’s most tireless musicians, typically working in the denim-shredded realm handed down by Iron Maiden and Jag Panzer. In 2012, the drummer and songwriter appeared on three albums that span the early spirit of metal: Superchrist‘s tallboy-downin’ Holy S—, Dawnbringer‘s heartfelt, but no less hair-raising concept album Into the Lair of the Sun God (Black’s baby, so to speak), and Pharaoh‘s Bury the Light. I loved all three for different reasons, but few records this year felt as epic as Bury the Light. Not “epic” in the way that metal journos typically overuse the word, but in the way that vocalist Tim Aymar might as well be wailing an epic poem handed down generations.” Read more “NPR Radio loves PHARAOH: Top 10 Heavy Metal Releases of Year 2012”