EPK – Burned In Effigy – Rex Mortem (2022)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
“We are psyched to present our debut album, Rex Mortem, a catalog of the first chapter of the band. This has been in the works for a long time and we couldn’t be more pleased with how it has turned out. The songs vary in complexity and intensity and demonstrate our growth as a band since its inception. Listeners will hear influences such as The Black Dahlia Murder and The Human Abstract, combining our love for death metal and progressive/neo-classical metal. The vocals are gritty and tense and the lyrics emphasize this with dark tales inspired by mythology, history, and classic literature. Many of the songs follow the story of a tyrannical king aiming to expand his power and influence, who ends up being brought down by his closest allies. We believe our album has something for all metal fans, regardless of preferred subgenre.” – Matt Watkins (Bass) – Burned in Effigy
For fans of The Black Dahlia Murder, The Human Abstract, At the Gates, Between the Buried and Me, Arsis
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“One of the first strong albums of 2022… a very solid debut without much in the way of a bad track. While the band tends to stick to a basic formula and not overpopulate the tracks with clean vocals, keyboards, or guest vocals which tends to the be typical melodeath experience these days “Rex Mortem” is full of infectious riffs that will grab listeners and root them in place for the full ride. Definitely, a band to watch for in 2022. 4/5” – Brutalism
“On this album there’s a sound that was both impressive technically and a lot of fun. Sure, you’re getting technical guitar playing and sinister vocals, but when that neo-classical side of the band hits you can’t help but bounce or sway with the melodies.” – Metal Injection
“Burned In Effigy gild their aggressive, though catchy, melodic death metal with ornate neoclassical melodies that give their violent proceedings a distinctly regal tint.” – Invisible Oranges
““Treachery” is indeed an exuberantly intricate song that involves plenty of fleet-fingered fretwork and dynamic drumming, and it’s even more interesting because of the ways in which melodic motifs appear, change, and re-appear — and wind up getting stuck in the listener’s head in the midst of the neo-classical and progressive instrumental flourishes. Those melodies create sensations of frenzy, torment, and bleak desperation. And thanks to vocalist Mark “Smedy” Smedbron‘s incinerating snarls and screams, it’s a damned vicious song too (please resist the impulse to scream “Hail!” along with him unless you’re by yourself).” – No Clean Singing
“Burned In Effigy, a Neo-classical Melodic Death Metal band from Chicago, weave a sublime meld of classical and progressive elements into their tracks. The result makes their debut full length, Rex Mortem, a stunning and essential listen.” – Metal Talk
“This may be a self-released debut album from a young band, but the level of professionalism and genre fluency on display here is mind-blowing. Burned in Effigy have a killer melodeath sound, and I hope that they will take their neoclassical side even farther in the future. Its front-loaded nature may have kept me from giving Rex Mortem an elite score, but I think fans of aggressive melodeath and neoclassical metal alike will feel the burn.” – Angry Metal Guy
“This album is chock full of leads that earworm their way right into your head and won’t come out, and the moments that will bring you back for more listens are plentiful…If you’re looking for a talented new band that writes engaging songs and showcases a plethora of stylistic influences, look no further. Burned in Effigy are here to blow you away with their relentlessly catchy debut LP, and you can expect to dig it if you like quality metal, period. Rex Mortem, as far as I’m concerned, is this year’s Secrypts of the Egochasm by Vaelmyst: a tight powerhouse of a melodeath record that is likely to land the band a deserved swathe of new fans.” – Noob Heavy
“This record is straight to the point, brutally beautiful, effortlessly ruthless and an incredibly fun listen. ‘Doomsayer,’ ‘Artorias’ and ‘Nightfall’ consist of chunky riffs, solos galore, rapid drumming and frequently alternates between classic death metal growls and more black metal-esque shrieks… Despite being a self-released record, the level of production and professionalism from such a young band cannot be questioned and is absolutely mind-blowing. I completely vibed with this record and give it a solid 8/10.” – This Day In Metal
“The bombastic guitar soloing on “Vendetta” puts a showmanship quality on the spot… Rex Mortem does share qualities with other groups of this nature, such as The Black Dahlia Murder and The Human Abstract, but their superb musical ability keeps the album away from listless comparisons.” – Heavy Music Headquarters
“if you’re looking for that ultimate mix of savvy Tech and Melodic Death Metal high on a yet unknown number of energy drinks, Burned in Effigy is your band. Rex Mortem effortlessly latches on to the string of excellent Extreme Metal pieces of that ilk from 2021. This is just pure metal geekery, rough-hewn, harsh, and truly delicious.8/10” – Rock Music Raider
“Indeed so mature is the song writing here you keep pulling yourself up and uttering surprised little grunts on the continued recollection that this is Burned In Effigy’s debut album; If this is what they can come up with first up, the melodic death metal world would appear to be their oyster – If this style of music is your thing, get in on the ground floor while you still can and remember to tell them who sent you!” – Sentinel Daily
“BURNED IN EFFIGY is a great new band on the scene. “Rex Mortem” is an album that checks all my boxes. Melodic, violent yet pretty; hard edges framed by Victorian lace. And so, I would like to formally introduce you to this new and awesome band. Definitely check it out. If you’re anything like me, you’ll love it. 9/10” – Metal Temple
“Guitar fans will be salivating at what is on offer… Rex Mortem is a highly impressive debut from Burned In Effigy, my money would be on them being snapped up to a label sooner rather than later.” – Musipedia of Metal
“It is technically proficient, exuberant, flashy but not overly so, and features plenty of proper songs that are memorable and well thought out. ‘Rex Mortem’ isn’t the finished article by any means, but the signs are all there that Burned In Effigy might be a big name within the melodic death metal genre in years to come. I’m certainly looking forward to finding out – come join me!” – Man of Much Metal
“Exciting debut between Prog, Melodic Death Metal and modern Metalcore.” – PowerMetal.de
“Musicianship shines throughout; carefully controlled chaos, excellent melodic passages and a classical nature often draped in devastating fury culminating in a surprisingly remarkable flow helping to keep predictability at a minimum.” – Cult Metal Flix
“Burned in Effigy has the skills and a sound that will propel them upwards in both the techdeath and melodic death metal scenes. They’ll be one to watch closely” – The Progressive Subway
“I have to say that I was blown away by this album. The yet so simple mixture of melodic metal with dark doom metal, accompanied by “Smedy’s” voice, can be heard. I particularly like “Nightfall”, “Atlas” and “Vendetta”… Anyone who loves a myriad of solos and defining guitar riffs must have “Burned in Effigy” on their shelves. For this symphonic horror scenario, I give Hellfire 9 out of 10 points.” – Hellfire Magazin
“Burned in Effigy is composed of a lot of influences, and they are all gathered on Rex Mortem. However, the album stays really coherent, offering as many complex parts as hooking rhythmics.” – Acta Infernalis
“the highlight goes to the fantastic guitar work that manages to pull out memorable melodies and those that seem to be part of the common lexicon, especially for those who appreciate the neo-classical side. Add the caustic weight we’re used to in Black Dahlia Murder and we’re set for a great start to 2022. 8.5/10” – Word of Metal
[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]
Track Listing:
1. Doomsayer (3:28)
2. Artorias (5:08)
3. Nightfall (3:20)
4. The Empiricist (4:05)
5. Hades (4:26)
6. Atlas (4:23)
7. Treachery (3:25)
8. Vendetta (3:55)
Album Length: 32:12
• All songs performed by: Mark Smedbron, Matt Watkins, Eddie Dec, Vito Bellino, Brad Dose
• All songs written by: Burned in Effigy
• Produced by: Jordon Beal
• Mixed by: Jordon Beal
• Mastered by: Jordon Beal
• Album Artwork by: Martin Trottier, Darkest Media
Album Recording Lineup:
– Mark “Smedy” Smedbron – Vocals
– Matt Watkins – Bass
– Eddie Dec – Drums
– Vito Bellino – Guitar
– Brad Dose – Guitar
Live Band Line Up:
– Mark “Smedy” Smedbron – Vocals
– Matt Watkins – Bass
– Eddie Dec – Drums
– Steve Bacakos – Guitar
– Mike Hisson – Guitar
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The album as a whole explained by bassist Matt Watkins:
Lyrically, the album is the introduction of a tale of a tyrannical king’s rule and demise, including some other minor themes and stories from mythology and classic literature. Musically, the album is high-energy, but also diverse. It takes elements from multiple subgenres within metal, mainly melodic death metal and progressive metal, while infusing neoclassical elements into each track. No two tracks sound the same. We try to skillfully and tastefully change keys and time signatures throughout, so the feel of the music is constantly shifting but also smoothly flowing between each section.
Track by Track by Explained:
1. Doomsayer – Doomsayer is a fast-paced and technical introduction to the album. The guitar progressions alternate between tight and muted and open and harmonized, building to a crushing pre-chorus and open, melodic chorus. The lyrical themes deal with the world burning while a tyrannical king watches from on high with contempt.
2. Artorias – Artorias has the most emphasis on groove on the album. It has multiple movements, including a latin-influenced clean departure in the middle of the song. It starts with a syncopated riff that really comes together with the drums’ half-time groove, going into a verse section with a thundering double kick pattern. The middle section continues the groove between the bass and drums, and the final section builds into a climactic finale with a ripping guitar solo. Lyrically, it describes a doomed path for humanity with no chance of redemption.
3. Nightfall – Nightfall’s lyrics are based on the tales of Vladimir Dracula and Count Orlok (Nosferatu) and seek to illustrate the neoclassical themes in the song. Musically, it incorporates multiple clean sections that outline the main musical themes that then appear in the riffs, including fast-paced tremolo picking sections with blast beats.
4. The Empiricist – The Empiricist steadily builds emotional tension throughout the song and shifts keys multiple times, demonstrating the main theme in multiple different ways. The lyrics deal with the king’s closest advisor and right-hand man betraying him and destroying what the king had built. This song really benefited the most from vocals as opposed to its instrumental version, in our opinion.
5. Hades – Hades is the fastest song on the album and shifts between multiple time signatures rapidly, with a mid-tempo melodic chorus and solo section. Though the groove is constantly shifting, it transitions smoothly so it feels natural instead of jarring. The lyrics illustrate the king’s descent to the afterlife.
6. Atlas – Atlas is likely the most melodic song on the album, though it also has plenty of groove. It was originally called “Jupiter” on our first EP and now has proper production and includes vocals. The lyrical themes follow Atlas, who was cursed to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders.
7. Treachery – Treachery is the most melodically and harmonically complex song on the album. It expresses its themes in multiple keys and includes lots of counterpoint, including sections with 3-way counterpoints between the guitars and bass. The vocal chants throughout the song hammer home the lyrical themes of divine right and corruption. The king aims to present an image to his subjects as a just and noble ruler, while he plots to spread his treachery across the land.
8. Vendetta – Vendetta is one of the first songs written by the band and deserved a rendition for the album release. It has some speed/power metal influences and includes very lead-driven choruses and a climactic solo. The lyrics detail a murderous revenge upon one’s oppressors.
L-R – Mark “Smedy” Smedbron (Vocals) | Matt Watkins (Bass) | Eddie Dec (Drums) | Steve Bacakos (Guitar) | Mike Hisson (Guitar)
Photo Credit – Emily Fuschen – Dark Trix Photography
Burned in Effigy is a neoclassical melodic death metal band from Chicago, IL. Formed in late 2016 by founding members Brad Dose (guitar), Vito Belino (guitar), Eddie Dec (drums), and Matt Watkins (bass). Starting as an instrumental melodic metal band, the four were brought together by their love of complex, melodic, and heavy music and sought to bring more of that to the Chicago extreme music scene.
Burned in Effigy released their debut EP, Terrestrial, in April 2017. The band focused on playing shows after and building an audience through top-notch live performances while opening for prominent bands such as Scale the Summit, Angel Vivaldi, Oh, Sleeper, and Mushroomhead. While supporting this EP, Burned in Effigy worked with a couple of different vocalists and eventually recruited vocalist Mark “Smedy” Smedbron in December 2019 while in the early demo stages for their first full length.
Instrumental recordings for the band’s masterpiece, Rex Mortem, were finished in early 2020. Shortly after, the band parted ways with guitarist Brad Dose. Vocal recording, mixing, and mastering was finished in mid-2021, after which guitarist Vito Bellino left in order to focus on music school. Shortly after, the remaining three members Eddie Dec (drums), Matt Watkins (bass), and Mark “Smedy” Smedbron (vocals) rallied and recruited guitarists Mike Hisson and Steve Bacakos, who naturally fit with and complemented the band’s signature sound.
Fans can expect a diverse high-energy album. It takes elements from multiple subgenres within metal, mainly melodic death and progressive metal while infusing neoclassical elements into each track. No two tracks sound the same. The quintet skillfully and tastefully changes keys and time signatures throughout, so the feel of the music is constantly shifting, but also smoothly flowing between each section.
“Rex Mortem” is due out January 28, 2022.
Album Recording Lineup:
– Mark “Smedy” Smedbron – Vocals
– Matt Watkins – Bass
– Eddie Dec – Drums
– Vito Bellino – Guitar
– Brad Dose – Guitar
Live Band Line Up:
– Mark “Smedy” Smedbron – Vocals
– Matt Watkins – Bass
– Eddie Dec – Drums
– Steve Bacakos – Guitar
– Mike Hisson – Guitar
Discography:
2022 – Rex Mortem – LP
2017 – Terrestrial EP
Shared Stage with:
Mushroomhead, Scale the Summit, Angel Vivaldi, Andy James, Oh Sleeper, Product of Hate, Depths of Hatred, A War Within, Sleep Signals
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BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:
1. While the story of the tyrannical king was not planned from the start, it naturally arose during the vocal/lyrical writing process and felt it complimented the sounds of the songs on the album. It isn’t fully a concept album, but does include an ongoing story that we will definitely continue in future material. We don’t want to limit ourselves, so some songs may depart from the theme, but we can also expand the scope of the saga to include other stories from within the same universe.
2. Opening for Mushroomhead was unexpected for us, as we were asked by the promoter day-of to fill in since the previously scheduled opening band had to drop the show. We cleared our schedules and showed up to play, though as an instrumental progressive band at the time we were more than a little out of place. We still gave our best performance and a decent amount of people in the crowd were vibing to it, despite the audience expecting something more in line with the main industrial lineup. It ended up being a great experience.
3. The candles in the background of our video for Doomsayer were made by the band the night before the video shoot. We made them by hot-gluing assorted lengths of PVC pipe together, adding extra dribbles of glue, and painting over. The extra amount of hot glue gave them a melted candle look, and we just placed small tea lights on top to provide light. While it was a last-minute idea and kept many of us up until the early morning hours, they turned out looking really cool, and we plan on bringing some of them for our live setups in the future.
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