Chicago-based melodic death metal band VOW have announced their debut EP, Death Will Be My Bridge, set for release on May 15 via Iron Fortress Records. The band will premiere the first single, “New Patterns in the Blood”, on March 24, offering a first look into their bleak and emotionally charged sound.
A Mournful Vision Takes Shape
Formed in late 2023 on the northside of Chicago, VOW quickly carved out a distinct identity rooted in sorrowful melody and aggressive intensity. The band describe their sound as “mournful, forlorn melodic death metal”, crafted for dark nights and introspective listening.
Drawing inspiration from European melodic death metal acts like Eucharist, Gates of Ishtar, and Dawn, VOW blend those influences with the urgency of hardcore and the edge of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal, resulting in a sound that feels both nostalgic and immediate.
Crafted in Chicago
Death Will Be My Bridge was recorded with Greg Livas at Ohmstead Studios in Chicago, then mixed and mastered by Spenser Morris. The EP features six tracks of harmony-driven extremity, balancing melancholic atmosphere with sharp, driving aggression.
The visual identity of the release is equally striking, with cover artwork by Juanjo Castellano and additional design and photography by Ash Miyagawa.
Death Will Be My Bridge Track Listing
- Name Not the Fallen
- New Patterns in the Blood
- Interlude
- Bells Made from Bullets
- Still Breathing
- Death Will Be My Bridge
With their debut EP, VOW position themselves as a rising force in the modern melodic death metal landscape—melding old-world influence with contemporary intensity. “New Patterns in the Blood” marks the beginning of that journey, setting the tone for a release steeped in atmosphere, emotion, and sonic weight.
Pre-orders will begin on March 24 via Iron Fortress Records.