North Carolina melodic death metal band AETHER REALM have announced their new studio album, Season of Bloodshed, set for release December 11 via Napalm Records.
Arriving six years after 2020’s Redneck Vikings From Hell, the new record finds AETHER REALM emerging from a turbulent period that included the global pandemic, Hurricane Helene, and a lineup change that saw guitarist Donny Burbage depart and Chris Jones join the band. Fueled by those experiences, Season of Bloodshed channels anger, upheaval, and transformation into eight tracks of melodic death metal.
The band comments:
“This is an album born from an anger that was allowed to fester for too long. At the confluence of the great injustices of our time and the insignificant wrongs that get under our skin every day, we can find ourselves transformed into our worst selves. It is in the expression of this feeling—through these cruel riffs, shredding solos, and crushing breakdowns—that we may find peace.”
Opening track “The Blood Is Calling” immediately establishes the album’s darker direction with thunderous drums, elaborate guitar harmonies, and orchestration from Martin Gonzalez. “Control” follows with harmonized guitars from Heinrich Arnold and Chris Jones before accelerating into a furious display of melodic riffing and virtuosity.
AETHER REALM continue to stretch their sound throughout the record. “Broken Fist,” featuring guest vocalist Taj Jewett, combines elements of nu metal and progressive metal with groove-heavy riffs, while the appropriately hostile “Get Fukt” delivers a venomous vocal performance from bassist and frontman Jake Jones alongside harmonized guitar work rooted firmly in melodic death metal.
“The Weight” shifts from serene synthesizers into crushing heaviness and features orchestration by composer Wayne Ingram, known for his work with Wilderun and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok. “Path of the Wind” begins with a folk-inspired passage featuring former guitarist Donny Burbage and violinist Sarah Stepanik before erupting into blackened folk metal. Lyrically, the track recounts the band emerging physically unharmed from Hurricane Helene.
The band further embraces its Southern roots on “Achilles’ Heel,” opening with banjo and Jones’ clean vocals. Told from the perspective of Patroclus, companion of the Greek hero Achilles, the song combines intimate folk elements with sweeping guitar and string arrangements.
Closing track “Terminus Omnium”—roughly translating from Latin as “The End of All Things”—brings Season of Bloodshed to a cinematic conclusion. Featuring orchestration and mixing from Rob Carson as well as the Western North Carolina Pagan Choir, the track delivers a massive finale built around pounding percussion and grandiose arrangements.
Despite the obstacles encountered since their previous album, AETHER REALM return revitalized and considerably darker while retaining the complex melodies, aggressive riffing, and technical guitar work that have defined their sound.
Season of Bloodshed Track Listing
- “The Blood Is Calling”
- “Control”
- “Broken Fist” (feat. Taj Jewett)
- “Get Fukt”
- “The Weight”
- “Path of the Wind”
- “Achilles’ Heel”
- “Terminus Omnium”
Available Formats
- 1-CD Digipak
- 1-LP Gatefold (Black)
- 1-LP Gatefold (Splattered Red/Black)
- Digital Album
- 1-LP Gatefold (Splattered Red/Black) + LP-sized booklet
AETHER REALM lineup
Jake Jones — Bass, Vocals
Heinrich Arnold — Guitar
Tyler Gresham — Drums
Chris Jones — Guitar
Season of Bloodshed arrives December 11 via Napalm Records.