EPK – Day of Departure – Self-Titled (2022)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
For fans of Lacuna Coil, Tool, Hammock, God is an Astronaut, If These Trees Could Talk
Album Title: Day of Departure
Release Date: March 25, 2022
Label: Bravemusic
Distribution: Bravemusic
Bravemusic.com/day-of-departure | Facebook.com/dayofdeparturedc | YouTube | Instagram.com/day_of_departure
DayofDeparture.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music
“The album is intended to take the listener on a journey from utter destruction and despair to a place where there is a new consciousness and reality that will break this unending cycle. The music is intended to provide a wide range of dynamics and atmospheres to elicit an understanding and a vibe for where the listener is within the narrative. The music aims to juxtapose intense sonic blasting with lush and serene atmospheres” – Day of Departure
“I found this album to be exactly how it was advertised. Several styles are reflected here, with about as many different emotions as the human being can go through. It’s very personal journey, with thoughtful ponderings around every turn. Let yourself get swept away into their world, full of dark visions and figures, but with just enough light that you will go forward and not turn back. Embrace your future, for it is the only one you have. 9/10” – Metal Temple
“Welcome to the world of Matt Kozar and Day of Departure. Buckle up, as he takes you on an eventful journey of wonder and fascination, with his expansive, ambitious new album.” – V13
“Led by guitarist Matt Kozar (Brave) and singer Michelle Schrotz, Day Of Departure is an expansive, almost cinematic experience, with songs ranging from rockers (“Pierce the Sky (Conflict)”) to ambient tracks (“The Future Has No Form”). Schrotz’s voice adds an ethereal quality to some of the songs.. Overall this is a very interesting debut, fun to listen to, and a great first step for Day Of Departure.” – Heavy Music Headquarters
“A beautiful opus” – Rock n Force
“Undoubtedly a complex album full of quality in all aspects, highly recommended.” – Dark Metal Divas
“It’s very seldom that I am speechless and Day of Departure absolutely took my breath away. The music of Day of Departure can only be described as tragically beautiful. It encapsulates a vast plane of musical influences from Italian metal icons Lacuna Coil to the lush, dark melody of Norwegian black metal legends Darkthrone. Day of Departure delivers an apocalyptic message to the world that the world we take for granted may be closer to its end than we know and that we humans may be living on borrowed time. Day of Departure presents humanity with a powerful testimony to our mortality as human beings. It is a message that not everyone can deliver or even swallow, but Day of Departure is sharing a message with us all that is more than worthy of a listen.” – Southeast of Heaven
“In the end, it is not in the destination but, in the journey and self-discovery. Not only does this album tell a visually stunning story, it opens our minds to our own questions and discoveries, allowing us to explore what we may simply come to ignore as we stagnate our growth and opportunities to thrive. Musically complex, Days of Departure have truly created an album that not only visually stuns, but takes songwriting, and musical prowess to new, unimaginable heights.” – Metal Goddesses
“What an ingenious idea it is, to set up a group of musicians, seemingly trading as cooperative. With the unique idea of having the flexibility to morph into different bands under the dictates of alternate musicians who have developed their own separate projects. In this case, it is ‘Brave, guitarist ‘Matt Kozar who has put together a fascinating suite of atmospheric well-considered ambient progressive music.” – House of Prog
“if you just want to chill out with the fireplace and a glass of red wine in hand, then ‘Day Of Departure’ is a great soundtrack.” – Arrow Lords of Metal
“Modulating between more abrasive, noisy verses and extended, echoing guitar breaks, Day of Departure, part of the BraveMusic collective, seem to have located their sound somewhere between the intricate art rock of Tool and the straightforward energy of Lacuna Coil.” – Alchemical Records
“DC progressive metal veterans Brave have announced another project to be released under the “Bravemusic” umbrella. The project is called Day of Departure and this marks the 2nd break-off project, the first being guitarist Scott Loose’s Stellar Death project. Day of Departure is the brainchild of Brave guitarist Matt Kozar and the first single release, “And We Prepare For Our End” features Brave vocalist/keyboardist Michelle Schrotz along with other fellow Brave members drummer Trevor Schrotz, bassist Ben Kelly, and guitarist Scott Loose. “And We Prepare For Our End” is a departure (pun intended) from the sound of Brave which is a cool thing to hear. While the song maintains a progressive feel to it, I also hear a song that is infused with elements of goth, tribal rhythms, and even a bit of early “Comalies” era Lacuna Coil influence.” – Southeast of Heaven
[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]
Album Title: Day of Departure
Release Date: March 25, 2022
Label: Bravemusic
Distribution: Bravemusic
Track Listing:
1. …And We Prepare for Our End (8:00)
2. The Edge of Annihilation (6:13)
3. The Light In Our Eye Grows Dim (3:01)
4. Pierce the Sky (Conflict) (4:32)
5. Ex Machina (5:46)
6. Life Prevails (6:13)
7. The Future Has No Form (3:24)
8. Living Matter (7:34)
9. Awaken To The Beyond (5:50)
10. The Beyond (2:17)
Album Length: 52:50
Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Day of Departure
• All songs written by: Day of Departure (all songs copyright Bravemusic 2022)
• Produced by: Day of Departure
• Mixed by: Trevor Schrotz at the Red Room Studios in Virginia, USA
• Mastered by: Greg Schwan at the Oak Lodge in New York, USA
• Album Artwork by: Photo by MontyLov on Unspalsh.com
Album and Live Band Line Up:
Matt Kozar – Guitar and Keys
Michelle Schrotz – Vocals and Keys
Trevor Schrotz – Drums
Ben Kelly – Bass
Scott Loose – Guitar and Keys
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BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:
1. Day of Departure is heavily influenced by a number of different sci-fi stories and comics. Matt Kozar is an avid reader of all comics and looks forward to listeners funding subtle nods to comics throughout the lyrics.
2. The members of Day of Departure produced and recorded the album over the last 2 years completely remotely. We hope to gather and rehearse these songs sometime in 2022, but have never played these songs as a group, which is a first for all of the projects that we collaborated on.
L-R – Ben Kelly (Bass), Scott Loose (Guitars, Keys), Michelle Schrotz (Vocals, Keys), Trevor Schrotz (Drums), Matt Kozar (Guitars, Keys)
Photo credit – David Wright
Day of Departure combines elements of post-rock, ambient, progressive rock, and hard rock to arrive at a unique sonic landscape that seeks to balance the varied influences and inspirations from its creators.
Born out of a desire to explore a different musical style that merges their influences with a well-woven narrative, Washington D.C.’s Day of Departure created a story that begins with the destruction of our planet, and then the need to evolve and find a new path forward for survival. They are heavily influenced by a number of different sci-fi stories and comics that echo throughout their music.
Their debut self-titled album is set to be released on March 25, 2022. It was produced and recorded entirely remotely over two years with none of the members working together in person. They currently do not have any plans to play live at the moment, but are looking forward to thinking about how to bring to life the music and vibe that was created on the record.
While writing their debut, several songs didn’t make the cut, yet Day of Departure are already thinking about the next chapter to explore, with some of those songs/ideas being the inspiration or perhaps even the focus of forthcoming music.
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