“It’s not that that they’ve changed their formula so much as honed it to something so sharp it bleeds excellence. At 44 minutes, The Powerless Rise feels more like 10..”
–Thom Jurek, ALL MUSIC, May 18, 2010
Pictured above: Tim Lambesis of AS I LAY DYING performing at the 2010 Revolver Golden Gods Awards. Photo credit: Paul Hebert
AS I LAY DYING–whose last four albums count combines sales in excess of one million copies–have entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at #10 with over 38,000 copies sold of their much anticipated THE POWERLESS RISE album. THE POWERLESS RISE also reached #2 on Billboard’s Independent Albums Chart and #3 on Billboard’s Hard Music Albums Chart. In Canada, the new album debuted at #11 on the Top 200 Chart, #2 on the Indie Chart and #3 on the Hard Rock Chart. Additionally, the album reached the Top 40 in the following territories: Japan, UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Potent and provocative, THE POWERLESS RISE elevates the group well-beyond their previous work, the new album marks their fifth disc and fourth to be released on Metal Blade Records. Check out a sampling of the early critical acclaim for THE POWERLESS RISE below.
The Grammy®-nominated group will make their national TV debut on Saturday, May 22 when they perform live on the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, America’s original hard-rock and heavy-metal music awards show–airing at 10:00pm ET/PT on VH1 Classic. During the hour-long broadcast, the group will perform alongside iconic music legends Slash, Lemmy Kilmister and Dave Grohl as well as Rob Zombie, Zakk Wylde and Fear Factory. The show also welcomes special appearances by iconic rock and metal artists including: Ronnie James Dio, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Alice in Chains, Slayer and more. For more information, visit: http://www.revolvermag.com/golden-gods/.
Next week, AS I LAY DYING will appear live on “Loveline” this coming Tuesday, May 25 to co-host the national radio show with Dr. Drew Pinksy 10:00PM PST. To tune in visit: http://www.lovelineshow.com/site and check stations/times in your area.
The Billboard chart debut comes on the heels of AS I LAY DYING’s acclaimed An Ocean Between Us. “Jordan and I started this band knowing we might be held back by the intensity of our music,” says lead singer TIM LAMBESIS. “Nine years later we’ve released our second record to make it into the Top 10! It’s an amazing testament to our diehard fan base, underground music and the heavy music listeners that truly know what they want despite what’s perceived to be more popular.”
Early critical acclaim is appearing for THE POWERLESS RISE (which the group co-produced with Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage and mixer Colin Richardson who they’d previously worked with on An Ocean Between Us). Check out a sampling here:
“…what makes The Powerless Rise such a stunning metal record is the band’s commitment to vigorously kicking at their boundaries while remaining true to their sound. ‘Parallels,’ ‘The Only Constant Is Change’ and the magnificent ‘Vacancy’ match their ferocity with an epic grandeur that prove you really don’t need an all-out pop chorus to create something that soars. …The album flows together beautifully, and by the time sweeping closer ‘The Blinding Of False Light’ dies away into echoes, you’re left with the feeling of experiencing something truly special.”
“As I Lay Dying have created an album that is inarguably a melodic metalcore behemoth. The group’s heavy-with-hooks formula is brazenly conformed to but nevertheless provides massively appreciable moments–especially in the harmonious interplay between vocals and lead work on ‘Anger and Apathy.’ “
–Richard Cartey, ROCK SOUND (monthly, UK) May 2010
“It’s not that that they’ve changed their formula so much as honed it to something so sharp it bleeds excellence. While everything here charges maniacally and furiously from the opening track–and first single–‘Beyond Our Suffering,’ right on through to the set-closer ‘The Blinding of False Light,’ there are some slower intros on tracks such as ‘Parallels’ and ‘Upside Down Kingdom’ that work to stellar dramatic effect when the tunes give way to furious thrashing. The twin-guitar attack of Nick Hipa and Phil Sgrosso is sharper and heavier than ever here–check the back and forth work on “The Only Constant Is Change’ and ‘Anodyne Sea.’ At 44 minutes, The Powerless Rise feels more like 10. As a band, AILD has grown most is in their songwriting and production skills (the latter of which are now off the charts in terms of precision). The Powerless Rise, delivers on what their previous outings have handsomely promised.”
“…a smooth combination of traditional metal and thrash. ‘Anodyne Sea’ adds a melodic depth new to this group’s arsenal that blends well… Lambesis has added depth to his screams, Gilbert shines with clean vocal leads, Sgrosso and Hipa continue their guitar-duo dynamic and Mancino never misses a best.”
“This fifth studio LP from the San Diego metalcore quintet comes after an unusually long break for the band (some three years), and in the wake of their previous album garnering a Grammy nomination. The guys came off of a long touring run to record this disc, but they took their time with it, and the results here have been getting major attention–deservedly so. The set’s heavy and tight, almost surgically so at points. Another Grammy nod seems probable.”
“Enter The Powerless Rise, As I Lay Dying’s fifth studio album and finest one at that. What separates the San Diego quintet from the rest of the pack is the group’s attention to detail in their songwriting. From the initial onslaught of ‘Beyond Our Suffering’ to the punishing payoff in closer ‘The Blinding of False Light,’ The Powerless Rise is a whirlwind ride through 44 minutes of pristine instrumentation and production. Instead of bombarding your ears with breakdowns galore, the band carefully chooses their spots on the record to unleash their auditory assault. Not only is The Powerless Rise As I Lay Dying’s heaviest album to date, it also features a splendor not heard on past releases. Slow leads build up into dynamic payoffs, such as ‘Anger and Apathy,’ ‘Upside Down Kingdom,’ and the magnificent ‘Parallels.’ …There is nothing ‘Powerless’ about this behemoth of an album.“
After AS I LAY DYING–NICK HIPA (guitar), TIM LAMBESIS (vocals), JORDAN MANCINO (drums), PHIL SGROSSO (guitar) and JOSH GILBERT (bass)–wrap their current headlining U.S Tour with Demon Hunter, blessthefall and War of Ages, the group will head overseas for shows in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, France, Holland, Russia, Italy, Belgium, Sweden and the U.K. On July 12, AS I LAY DYING will launch the “Cool Tour” with Underoath, Between The Buried And Me, Blessthefall, The Acacia Strain, Architects, Cancer Bats, and War of Ages. The nationwide trek will launch this summer on July 12 in Orlando and wrap up in San Francisco on August 1. For pre-sale tickets and more information, visit: www.cooltour10.com.
For the latest news on AS I LAY DYING, check out the newly designed website: www.AsILayDying.com.
| DATE | CITY | VENUE | |
| Headlining Tour w/ Demon Hunter, blessthefall, and War of Ages | |||
| Fri | 5/21 | San Diego, CA | SOMA |
| Sat | 5/22 | Las Vegas, NV | House Of Blues |
| European Tour | |||
| Mon | 6/7 | Solothurn, Switzerland | Kofmehlweg 1 |
| Tue | 6/8 | Munich, Germany | Backstage Halle |
| Fri | 6/11 | Derby, UK | Donnington Park |
| Sun | 6/13 | Nickelsdorf, Austria | Pannonia Fields II |
| Tue | 6/15 | Budapest, Hungary | Durer Kert |
| Wed | 6/16 | Salzburg, Austria | Rock House |
| Fri | 6/18 | Jonschwill, Switzerland | Degenaupark |
| Sat | 6/19 | Clisson, France | Complexe Du Val De Moine |
| Sun | 6/20 | Enschede, Holland | Atak (Grolsch Zaal) |
| Tue | 6/22 | St. Petersburg, Russia | Glav Club |
| Wed | 6/23 | Moscow, Russia | Tochka Club |
| Fri | 6/25 | Turin, Italy | Parco Della Certosa Reale |
| Sun | 6/27 | Dessel, Belgium | Festival Park “Stenehel” |
| Mon | 6/28 | Bochum, Germany | Matrix |
| Tue | 6/29 | Hamburg, Germany | Grosse Freiheit 36 |
| Thu | 7/1 | Tromoy, Norway | TBA |
| Fri | 7/2 | Borlange, Sweden | Borganasyagen 39 |
| Sun | 7/4 | Leipzig, Germany | Flugplatz/Roitzschjora |
Cool Tour w/Underoath, Between the Buried and Me, Blessthefall, The Acacia Strain, Architects, Cancer Bats, and War of Ages |
|||
| **Mon | 7/12 | Orlando, FL | House of Blues |
| Tue | 7/13 | Atlanta, GA | The Tabernacle |
| Wed | 7/14 | N. Myrtle Beach, SC | House of Blues |
| Thu | 7/15 | Charlotte, NC | The Fillmore Charlotte |
| Fri | 7/16 | Baltimore, MD | Sonar |
| Sat | 7/17 | Toronto, ON | Sound Academy |
| Sun | 7/18 | Royal Oak, MI | Royal Oak Music Theatre |
| Tue | 7/20 | Boston, MA | House of Blues |
| Wed | 7/21 | Sayreville, NJ | Starland Ballroom |
| Thu | 7/22 | Philadelphia, PA | Electric Factory |
| Fri | 7/23 | Columbus, OH | The LC Pavilion |
| Sat | 7/24 | Milwaukee, WI | Eagles Complex |
| Sun | 7/25 | St. Louis, MO | The Pageant |
| Mon | 7/27 | Houston, TX | Verizon Wireless Theater |
| Wed | 7/28 | Dallas, TX | The Palladium Ballroom |
| Fri | 7/30 | Mesa, AZ | Mesa Amphitheatre |
| Sat | 7/31 | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Palladium |
| Sun | 8/1 | San Francisco, CA | The Warfield |
| ** denotes no Acacia Strain | |||
www.AsILayDying.com
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