MARES OF THRACE Confirm Lineup Alterations Tour With Primitive Weapons, Pilgrim Begins This Week

Rae Amitay - Photo ?

This week, Calgary-based doom-core outfit MARES OF THRACE have made a major announcement about the band's lineup. Since their 2009 inception the band has been comprised of longtime friends guitarist/vocalist Thérèse Lanz and drummer Stef MacKichan, but this week the band announced the departure of Stef and the induction of new drummer Rae Amitay. Rae was trained at the Berklee School of Music, has recently recorded with folk metal act Thrawsunblat (the new band formed by members of Woods of Ypres), and is a staff writer for MetalReview.com. The full statement welcoming Rae is posted on the MARES OF THRACE Facebook page.

Additionally, the band will become a three-piece for this tour, joined by a bass player for the first time. Scott Shellhammer (American Heritage) who played drums on the recent MARES OF THRACE tour through Canada and the U.S., as well as painted the cover art for their new album The Pilgrimage, will lay down the low-end on the forthcoming trek.

The first MARES OF THRACE performances with the new lineup will be on the pending tour where the band will join Providence's epic doom trio Pilgrim and Brooklyn's metallic hardcore quartet Primitive Weapons for a string of ten Northeastern U.S. shows, kicking off this week.

MARES OF THRACE's sophomore LP The Pilgrimage was released worldwide via Sonic Unyon Metal in April. Critics and fans alike have been blown away by the band’s dynamic, metallic hybrid of sludge and scathing metalcore tendencies, the album receiving rave reviews and major coverage from media outlets worldwide. The band will have the new limited edition vinyl version of the album with them on the forthcoming tour. Limited to 500 copies on red and black splattered wax, each LP includes a CD version of the album as well.

MARES OF THRACE, PRIMITIVE WEAPONS, PILGRIM Northeastern U.S. Tour:

7/31/2012 O'Briens - Boston, MA

8/01/2012 Columbus Club - North Providence, RI [*new show]

8/02/2012 Cherry St. Station - Wallingford, CT

8/03/2012 Saint Vitus - Brooklyn, NY

8/04/2012 Broadway Bar - Amityville, NY

8/05/2012 Ottobar - Baltimore, MD [*new venue]

8/06/2012 Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA

8/07/2012 The Depot - York, PA

8/08/2012 Pirates Cove - Cleveland, OH

8/09/2012 Ruby Tuesday - Columbus, OH

8/10/2012 Cobra Lounge - Chicago, IL

MARES OF THRACE
photo: ihartphotos.com

maresofthrace.com | facebook.maresofthraceca

sonicunyon.com | facebook.SonicUnyonMetal 

PRIMITIVE WEAPONS, MARES OF THRACE, PILGRIM To Co-Headline Eastern U.S. Tour

This August, three contemporary extreme music luminaries -- PRIMITIVE WEAPONS, MARES OF THRACE and PILGRIM -- will hit the road on a three-way co-headlining tour of the Northeastern U.S.

The diverse, ten-date excursion will commence in Boston on the last day of July and run counter-clockwise through Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio before the finale in Chicago. As all three acts have recently released new LPs, and all demand your attention as they project their intense anthems from the state, PRIMITIVE WEAPONS, MARES OF THRACE and PILGRIM will take turns headlining shows throughout the endeavor.

The Pilgrimage -- the sophomore LP from Calgary duo MARES OF THRACE -- was released worldwide via Sonic Unyon Metal in April. Critics and fans alike have been blown away by the band’s dynamic, metallic hybrid of sludge and scathing metalcore tendencies, the album receiving rave reviews and major coverage from media outlets worldwide. Following a victorious Spring tour through Southern Canada and the Northern U.S., the band are energized to get back out there and sear some more ears this Summer.

PILGRIM's debut LP Misery Wizard was released through Metal Blade via Alan Nemtheanga’s (Primordial) imprint, Poison Tongue Records, in February. With a mix of destruction, misery and beauty, this Rhode Island-based doom trio blend a surprisingly original sword ‘n’ sorcery feel with the classic chest-caving heaviness of the masters, Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, Reverend Bizarre and Pentagram. The trio has been touring regionally throughout the Eastern U.S. all year, including performances at this year's SXSW festivities, along with two large Scandinavian metal fests in May.

Brooklyn ethereal hardcore/metal squad PRIMITIVE WEAPONS released their lauded debut album The Shadow Gallery in March, on CD via Prosthetic Records and on LP via Brutal Panda Records. The band's unique blend of unhinged, foreboding metallic hardcore and killer stage presence has elevated the unit from being an NYC live favorite to a nationally touring band, having toured down to SXSW and back this Spring and much more in support of the album.

PRIMITIVE WEAPONS, MARES OF THRACE, PILGRIM Northeastern U.S. Tour:

7/31/2012 O'Briens - Boston, MA

8/02/2012 Cherry St. Station - Wallingford, CT

8/03/2012 Saint Vitus - Brooklyn, NY

8/04/2012 Broadway Bar - Amityville, NY

8/05/2012 Talking Head - Baltimore, MD

8/06/2012 Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA

8/07/2012 The Depot - York, PA

8/08/2012 Pirates Cove - Cleveland, OH

8/09/2012 Ruby Tuesday - Columbus, OH

8/10/2012 Cobra Lounge - Chicago, IL

http://www.maresofthrace.com

http://www.metalblade.com/pilgrim

http://www.primitiveweaponsband.com

 

MARES OF THRACE Video Premieres - Album Available As Tour Begins This Week

As Calgary's sonic duo MARES OF THRACE prepare for their anticipated sophomore album The Pilgrimage to hit store shelves this week via Sonic Unyon Metal, today the first video to be crafted for the album is available!

The visual depiction of the album's diverse fourth track "The Perpetrator," the video was filmed and directed by Ian Hart of iHartVideo. Today the fine mongers of riffage at MetalSucks present the debut of the action-packed video, which they describe as "one of the filthiest, most vitriolic videos of the season," RIGHT HERE.

Exclaim! Magazine is still hosting a stream of The Pilgrimage in its entirety HERE.

MARES OF THRACE will take to the road across North America for a solid month in conjunction with the release of The Pilgrimage next week as well, the first show taking place only two days after the album's release. The band will of course be selling the album on the tour, or fans can order the record in several formats and bundles direct from Sonic Unyon.

MARES OF THRACE

 

photo: ihartphotos.com

MARES OF THRACE Spring Tour:

4/26/2012 LBH - Kamloops, BC
4/27/2012 Funky Winkerbeans - Vancouver, BC
4/28/2012 Highline - Seattle, WA

4/29/2012 Voyeur Cafe - Olympia, WA

4/30/2012 East End - Portland, OR

5/03/2012 Broken City - Calgary, AB

5/04/2012 Amigos - Saskatoon, SK

5/06/2012 Negative Space - Winnipeg, MB

5/07/2012 Black Pirates Pub - Thunder Bay, ON

5/08/2012 Oddfellows Hall - Sault Ste Marie, ON

5/09/2012 This Ain't Hollywood - Hamilton, ON

5/10/2012 Cafe Dekcuf - Ottawa, ON

5/11/2012 460 - Toronto, ON

5/12/2012 Club Absynthe - Montreal, QC

5/13/2012 Le Kaméléon - Quebec, QC

5/14/2012 Geno's - Portland, ME

5/15/2012 St. Vitus - Brooklyn, NY

5/16/2012 Radio - Somerville, MA

5/17/2012 Cherry Street Station - Wallingford, CT

5/18/2012 Monty's Krown - Rochester, NY

5/19/2012 Carabar - Columbus, OH

5/20/2012 Blind Bob's - Dayton, OH

5/21/2012 Lager House - Detroit, MI

5/22/2012 Vibes Music - Indianapolis, IN

5/23/2012 Ultralounge - Chicago, IL

5/24/2012 The Heavy Anchor - St. Louis, MO

5/25/2012 Off Minor - Dubuque, IA

5/26/2012 Medusa - Minneapolis, MN

http://maresofthrace.com

https://www.facebook.com/maresofthraceca

http://www.sonicunyon.com/metal

https://www.facebook.com/SonicUnyonMetal

MARES OF THRACE: Full Album Streaming! As Street Date Closes In North American Tour Begins Next Week

The Pilgrimage, the awaited second album from Calgary's MARES OF THRACE, will finally see worldwide release via CD and digital download next Tuesday, April 24th. To count down to the release date, today Exclaim! Magazine is hosting a full album stream of The Pilgrimage AT THIS LOCATION.

MARES OF THRACE will take to the road across North America for a solid month in conjunction with the release of The Pilgrimage next week as well, the first show taking place only two days after the album's release.

MARES OF THRACE Spring Tour:

4/26/2012 LBH - Kamloops, BC
4/27/2012 Funky Winkerbeans - Vancouver, BC
4/28/2012 Highline - Seattle, WA
4/29/2012 Voyeur Cafe - Olympia, WA

4/30/2012 East End - Portland, OR

5/03/2012 Broken City - Calgary, AB

5/04/2012 Amigos - Saskatoon, SK

5/06/2012 Negative Space - Winnipeg, MB

5/07/2012 Black Pirates Pub - Thunder Bay, ON

5/08/2012 Oddfellows Hall - Sault Ste Marie, ON

5/09/2012 This Ain't Hollywood - Hamilton, ON

5/10/2012 Cafe Dekcuf - Ottawa, ON

5/11/2012 460 - Toronto, ON

5/12/2012 Club Absynthe - Montreal, QC

5/13/2012 Le Kaméléon - Quebec, QC

5/14/2012 Geno's - Portland, ME

5/15/2012 St. Vitus - Brooklyn, NY

5/16/2012 Radio - Somerville, MA

5/17/2012 Cherry Street Station - Wallingford, CT

5/18/2012 Monty's Krown - Rochester, NY

5/19/2012 Carabar - Columbus, OH

5/20/2012 Blind Bob's - Dayton, OH

5/21/2012 Lager House - Detroit, MI

5/22/2012 Vibes Music - Indianapolis, IN

5/23/2012 Ultralounge - Chicago, IL

5/24/2012 The Heavy Anchor - St. Louis, MO

5/25/2012 Off Minor - Dubuque, IA

5/26/2012 Medusa - Minneapolis, MN

The first in a multi-album worldwide deal with Sonic Unyon Metal, The Pilgrimage sets a new bar for MARES OF THRACE, with nearly 43 minutes of material more creative, compelling and crushing than before. Recorded at Chicago’s Engine Studio with producer Sanford Parker (Nachtmystium, Pelican, YOB) and mastered by Collin Jordan at Boiler Room, The Pilgrimage has been killing at print and online media, radio and more, the band's dynamic, unique brutality winning over journalists worldwide. The record took the #1 place on Earshot's Canadian college radio Loud chart, and the band owns the main cover of the April issue of Beatroute Magazine. The duo also recently filmed a video for the track "The Perpetrator" which will be released shortly. A vinyl version of the album will see release in the coming months as well.

http://maresofthrace.com

https://www.facebook.com/maresofthraceca

http://www.sonicunyon.com/metal

https://www.facebook.com/SonicUnyonMetal

MARES OF THRACE: New Track Streaming Via Pitchfork First Video For New Album Nearing Completion

Still nearly three weeks from release, MARES OF THRACE's sophomore LP, The Pilgrimage. is already pillaging print and online media, radio and more, the band's dynamic, unique brutality scoring incredibly with journalists worldwide. The record took the #1 place on Earshot's Canadian college radio Loud chart this week, and the band stole the main cover spot for the April issue of Beatroute Magazine.

Today Pitchfork is hosting an exclusive stream of "Act I: David Glimpses Bathsheba," the opening track to The Pilgrimage, which sets up the album with incredible force, showcasing the dexterity these two ladies are capable of as a simple duo. Check it out via an exclusive premiere RIGHT HERE.

The third track from the album, "The Gallwasp," was also recently unveiled via BROOKLYN VEGAN.

The duo also recently filmed a video for the track "The Perpetrator" which will be released shortly as it's in the final stages of completion now. Check out a short but scorching preview of the video and more AT THIS LOCATION.

Calgary-based MARES OF THRACE will release The Pilgrimage on CD and digital download this April 24th, the first in their multi-album worldwide deal with Sonic Unyon Metal. An LP pressing will follow at a later date. The anticipated follow-up to their 2010-released The Moulting, The Pilgrimage sets a new bar for the duo, with nearly 43 minutes of material more creative, compelling and crushing than before. The Pilgrimage was recorded at Chicago’s Engine Studio with producer Sanford Parker (Nachtmystium, Pelican, YOB) and mastered by Collin Jordan at Boiler Room.

The band will take to the road across North America for a solid month in conjunction with the release of The Pilgrimage later this month.

MARES OF THRACE Spring Tour:

4/26/2012 LBH - Kamloops, BC
4/27/2012 Funky Winkerbeans, Vancouver, BC
4/28/2012 Highline - Seattle, WA

4/29/2012 Voyeur Cafe - Olympia, WA

4/30/2012 East End - Portland, OR

5/03/2012 Broken City - Calgary, AB

5/04/2012 Amigos - Saskatoon, SK

5/06/2012 Negative Space - Winnipeg, MB

5/07/2012 Black Pirates Pub - Thunder Bay, ON

5/08/2012 TBA - Sault Ste Marie, ON

5/09/2012 This Ain't Hollywood - Hamilton, ON

5/10/2012 Cafe Dekcuf - Ottawa, ON

5/11/2012 460 - Toronto, ON

5/12/2012 Club Absynthe - Montreal, QC

5/13/2012 Le Kaméléon - Quebec, QC

5/14/2012 Geno's - Portland, ME

5/15/2012 St. Vitus - Brooklyn, NY

5/16/2012 TBA - Boston, MA

5/17/2012 Cherry Street Station - Wallingford, CT

5/18/2012 Monty's Krown - Rochester, NY

5/19/2012 Carabar - Columbus, OH

5/20/2012 Blind Bob's - Dayton, OH

5/21/2012 Lager House - Detroit, MI

5/22/2012 Vibes Music - Indianapolis, IN

5/23/2012 Ultralounge - Chicago, IL

5/24/2012 The Heavy Anchor - St. Louis, MO

5/25/2012 Off Minor - Dubuque, IA

5/26/2012 Medusa - Minneapolis, MN

http://maresofthrace.com

https://www.facebook.com/maresofthraceca

http://www.sonicunyon.com/metal

https://www.facebook.com/SonicUnyonMetal

MARES OF THRACE: New Track Streaming - Duo Confirm North American Tour

MARES OF THRACE

photo: ihartphotos.com

Calgary-based doom-duo MARES OF THRACE will release their debut full-length The Pilgrimage on CD and digital download this April 24th, the first in their multi-album worldwide deal with Sonic Unyon Metal. An LP pressing will follow at a later date.

The anticipated follow-up to their 2010-released The Moulting, the new MARES OF THRACE album The Pilgrimage sets a new bar for the duo, with nearly 43 minutes of material more creative, compelling and crushing than before. The Pilgrimage was recorded at Chicago’s Engine Studio with producer Sanford Parker (Nachtmystium, Pelican, YOB) and mastered by Collin Jordan at Boiler Room.

Get your first sampling of the new album now, by streaming the third track from The Pilgrimage, "The Gallwasp," hosted by BrooklynVegan AT THIS LOCATION.

The cover art, created by visionary artist Scott Shellhammer, was featured this week at Metal Band Art.

Comprised simply of guitarist/vocalist Thérèse Lanz and drummer Stefani MacKichan, MARES OF THRACE show traces of multiple strains of forward-thinking extreme music and organically fuse them into their own entity. It becomes all that more powerful in the live setting, which fans will be able to see for themselves as they take to the road in support of the new album this Spring. The routing is still being confirmed but will see the band storming through the upper US and lower Canadian regions for nearly 30 dates. Stay tuned for further updates as more shows are confirmed in the coming weeks.

A full MARES OF THRACE live set filmed at a hometown Calgary show in February and more can be viewed HERE.

MARES OF THRACE Spring Tour:

4/26/2012 LBH - Kamloops, BC

4/27/2012 Funky Winkerbeans, Vancouver, BC

4/28/2012 Highline - Seattle, WA

4/29/2012 TBA - Tacoma, WA

4/30/2012 East End - Portland, OR

5/03/2012 Broken City - Calgary, AB

5/04/2012 Amigos - Saskatoon, SK

5/05/2012 TBA - Regina, SK

5/06/2012 Negative Space - Winnipeg, MB

5/07/2012 Black Pirates Pub - Thunder Bay, ON

5/08/2012 The Rosie - Sault Ste Marie, ON

5/09/2012 This Ain't Hollywood - Hamilton, ON

5/10/2012 Cafe Dekcuf - Ottawa, ON

5/11/2012 460 - Toronto, ON

5/12/2012 Club Absynthe - Montreal, QC

5/13/2012 Le Kaméléon - Quebec, QC

5/14/2012 Geno's - Portland, ME

5/15/2012 St. Vitus - Brooklyn, NY

5/16/2012 TBA - Boston, MA

5/17/2012 TBA - Whitehaven, CT

5/18/2012 Monty's Krown - Rochester, NY

5/19/2012 Carabar - Columbus, OH

5/20/2012 Blind Bob's - Dayton, OH

5/21/2012 Lager House - Detroit, MI

5/22/2012 Vibes Music - Indianapolis, IN

5/23/2012 Ultralounge - Chicago, IL

5/24/2012 TBA - St. Louis, MO

5/25/2012 Off Minor - Dubuque, IA

5/26/2012 Medusa - Minneapolis, MN

https://www.facebook.com/maresofthraceca

http://maresofthrace.bandcamp.com

http://www.sonicunyon.com/metal

https://www.facebook.com/SonicUnyonMetal

MARES OF THRACE: Calgary Doom Duo Sign Worldwide Deal With Sonic Unyon Metal

MARES OF THRACE

photo: ihartphotos.com

Hamilton, Ontario-based Sonic Unyon Metal are proud to announce the multi-album signing of noise-doom duo MARES OF THRACE to their label's ever-expanding roster.

Based out of Calgary, Alberta, the crushing MARES OF THRACE is comprised simply of guitarist/vocalist Thérèse Lanz and drummer Stefani MacKichan, who coalesce their talents into an organic style of beautiful and destructive atmospheric doom-laden metal.

“Some of the most influential records in my life, from way back in the 90s up till now, were Sonic Unyon releases,” says Lanz about the signing. “It's impossible to understate the impact the label has had on Canadian independent music. Accordingly we are incredibly proud and stoked to partner with Sonic Unyon Metal for our upcoming records."

MARES OF THRACE released their debut album The Moulting in 2010 via Arctodus Records. The Moulting was instantaneously well-received by North American press outlets including Decibel, Revolver, Blabbermouth, even scoring the #1 spot on Hellbound.ca's Canadian metal album of the year list. The band toured Canada in support of the album immediately after its release, followed by a US tour in 2011. Additionally, Thérèse played bass for KEN Mode for the first half of 2011, touring with them in support of their latest album Venerable (Profound Lore).

The newly completed new LP from MARES OF THRACE, and first for Sonic Unyon Metal, is entitled The Pilgrimage. Recorded in October and November of 2011 at Chicago’s Engine Studio with producer Sanford Parker (Nachtmystium, Pelican, YOB) and mastered by Collin Jordan at Boiler Room, the final touches on the release are being handled now, preparing the album for worldwide release this April.

Stay tuned for more info on the release of The Pilgrimage as well as North American tour announcements for MARES OF THRACE over the coming weeks.

https://www.facebook.com/maresofthraceca

http://maresofthrace.bandcamp.com

http://www.sonicunyon.com/metal

https://www.facebook.com/SonicUnyonMetal