Shroud Of Despondency Streaming New Double Album

Milwaukee, WI extreme metal entity Shroud Of Despondency will self-release a double album journey into the abyss called "Tied to a Dying Animal" on February 12th. While 2012's "Pine" and 2011's "Dark Meditations in Monastic Seclusion" were very well received as black metal albums, "Tied to a Dying Animal" is a more expansive beast.

What better way to exaggerate that commonality than with an absorbing double album, inclusive of four bonus tracks? Guitarist Rory Heikkila tells the two-part tale as follows:

Part 1: "For Innocence, Beauty, and Those Who Defile" is the metal portion recorded at Howl Street Recordings by Shane Hochstetler. Here a variety of metal sub-genres can be heard. Influences of black metal (Emperor and Enslaved), death metal (Immolation, Morbid Angel, and Bolt Thrower), thrash metal (Slayer, Megadeth) can be heard alongside Mercyful Fate or Root. Some King Crimson influence can even be heard.

Part 2: "For Those Who Leave and Find Better Devils", is an acoustic affair recorded across three studios. Neo Classical acoustic guitar instrumentals and American Folk music are both on display along with a variety of percussive instruments, vocals, synths, and even a Theremin.

The only rule that applies to both albums is that they explore the despair and alienation of city life. Each set of lyrics has a character struggling to reconcile moral urges with the natural savagery of human existence, a conflict exasperated by the constant motion of civilization. Each song pits the individual against the group.

For a more intimate exploration of lyrical themes and inspiration, a detailed explanation of all the friends and musicians who helped with the effort, and to stream Parts 1 and 2 of "Tied to a Dying Animal" in full please visit this location or stream all seventeen tracks below.