Black Crown Initiate

Black Crown Initiate
Origin Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres Progressive Death Metal
Years active 2012–present
Labels eOne Music
Website Black Crown Initiate on Facebook
Members James Dorton
Rik Stelzpflug
Andy Thomas
Nick Shaw
Jesse Beahler

Black Crown Initiate is an American based progressive death metal group from Reading, Pennsylvania currently signed to eOne Music. The band formed together in 2012 and self-released their first EP Song of The Crippled Bull. After having received a number of good reviews and coverage from the EP the band made their mark on the metal scene. They began touring relentlessly in early 2014 with the likes of extreme metal bands such as Goatwhore, Behemoth, and 1349 which would lead them to being picked up by eOne Music in June 2014.[1] Their most recent effort, The Wreckage of Stars, was released on September 30, 2014.

History

Black Crown Initiate started up in late 2012 releasing some demos onto SoundCloud which would lead to the creation of their four track EP Song of the Crippled Bull. The EP was recorded with Carson Slovak (August Burns Red, Texas In July) at Atrium Audio and was released on July 17, 2013. Their first EP quickly became the discussion of many underground metal blogs and publications . What initially began as a small project by guitarist Andy Thomas, vocalist James Dorton and bassist Nick Shaw turned into a full time endeavor when they began to recruit members for a live band due to immediate success from their EP. The band played their first ever show on October 18, 2013 in their hometown with their long time friends in Rivers of Nihil.[2]

In January 2014 the band posted on their official Facebook page that they would be embarking on the 2014 Metal Alliance Tour supporting 1349, Goatwhore and Behemoth. This was the band's first ever tour and is a rather impressive feat for a band who only had one four track EP to their name and had been together for just over a year at the time. Following their return from tour the band hit the studio once again with Carson Slovak to record their new album. On June 19 the band announced their signing to eOne Music through their Facebook page and revealed their debut full length record would be on its way.

Guitarist Andy Thomas had this to say about signing with the label, “We started this band with absolutely no clue how far it would take us. It has been an amazing time, as of today, we can honestly say that we are starting a new chapter in our careers; one that will afford us opportunities that we never imagined. We are absolutely honored to be part of the eOne family.”[3]

They spent their summer months on the road with Septicflesh and Fleshgod Apocalypse followed by their first trek into Canada on the Summer Slaughter tour with The Faceless, Fallujah, and Rings of Saturn. The band shot a music video and released the first single off their upcoming album The Wreckage of Stars titled "Withering Waves".[4] The album was officially released on September 30, 2014 and debuted at #18 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.[5]

In just a few years the band has accomplished much with their impressive list of tours and appeared at a number of festivals such as New England Hardcore Metal Fest, South By So What? and CMJ. The band announced they are back in the studio once again with Carson Slovak to record their sophomore effort to be released in 2016 through eOne Music.[6] Black Crown Initiate is scheduled to hit the road in March 2016 with label mates Black Fast. This trek will lead them to Austin, Texas where they are set to play SXSW for the first time in their career.[7] The band is also rumoured to be apart of the Metal Alliance Tour once again this time supporting Dying Fetus, The Acacia Strain and Jungle Rot.[8]

Tours

2014

2015

2016

Members

Current
  • Andy Thomas – guitars/vocals (2012–present)
  • Rik Stelzpflug – guitars/vocals (2013–present)
  • Jesse Beahler – drums (2013–present)
  • Nick Shaw– bass guitar (2012–present)
  • James Dorton – vocals (2012–present)
Former
  • Jeff Willet – drums (2012–2013)

Style

Black Crown Initiate is known for incorporating various elements of heavy metal and extreme music in their sound. There are traces of progressive metal, ambience, doom metal, and post-rock which often gives them comparisons to Opeth, Gojira, Mastodon, Decapitated and Cynic.[21]

Discography

Albums
2013 Song of The Crippled Bull
  • Released: July 17, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
2014 The Wreckage of Stars
2016 Selves We Cannot Forgive

References

  1. ↑ Teitalman, Bram (2014-06-19)."Black Crown Intiate signs with eOne Music". Metal Insider. Retrieved on 2016-03-03.
  2. ↑ Whelan, Kez. (2013-10-01). "Black Crown Initiate: Band Of The Day". Terrorizer. Retrieved on 2016-03-04.
  3. ↑ Rowe, Jimmy. (2014-06-20)."Black Crown Initiate Sign To eOne Records". Heavy Blog is Heavy. Retrieved on 2016-03-04.
  4. ↑ (2014-09-29)"Black Crown Initiate Premiere New Song and Music Video, 'Withering Waves'". Revolver Magazine. Retrieved on 2016-03-03.
  5. ↑ "Black Crown Initiate Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved on 2016-03-03.
  6. ↑ (2016-02-02)."BLACK CROWN INITIATE ENTER THE STUDIO; NEW ALBUM DUE IN LATE SPRING". Brave Words. Retrieved on 2016-03-03.
  7. ↑ (2016-01-12)."SXSW announces third round of 2016 artists". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved on 2016-03-03.
  8. ↑ Rosenberg, Axl. (2016-02-25)."Metal Alliance Tour Allegedly Returning with Dying Fetus, The Acacia Strain, and Jungle Rot". Metalsucks. Retrieved on 2016-03-04.
  9. ↑ (2014-01-13). "BEHEMOTH, GOATWHORE, 1349 Set For 'Metal Alliance Tour'". Blabbermouth. Retrieved on 2016-03-03.
  10. ↑ Hartmann, Graham. (2014-05-18)."Septicflesh, Fleshgod Apocalypse + More Team Up for 2014 ‘Conquerors of the World’ Tour". Loudwire. Retrieved on 2016-03-03.
  11. ↑ Rosenberg, Axl. (2014-07-10)."Canadian Summer Slaughter is Just Like American Summer Slaughter, Only Canadianer". Metalsucks. Retrieved on 2016-03-03.
  12. ↑ Pasbani, Robert. (2014-08-11). "RIVERS OF NIHIL, BLACK CROWN INITIATE Announce Reading Rainbow Tour". Metal Injection. Retrieved on 2016-03-04.
  13. ↑ Adams, Gregory. (2014-08-28)."Unearth Team Up with Darkest Hour, Carnifex, Origin for 'Hell or High Wattage Tour'". Exclaim!. Retrieved on 2016-03-03.
  14. ↑ "DON'T MISS CROWBAR'S NEW VIDEO FOR 'SYMMETRY IN WHITE'". Noisey. Retrieved on 2016-03-04.
  15. ↑ Gentile, John. (2014-11-04)."Napalm Death / Voivod / Exhumed / Iron Reagan / Black Crown Initiate". Punk News. Retrieved on 2016-03-04.
  16. ↑ Childers, Chad. (2015-06-10). "Metal Alliance Tour Canceled (Sort Of); Deicide to Headline Remaining Shows". Loudwire. Retrieved on 2016-03-04.
  17. ↑ (2015-02-27). "Black Crown Initiate tour (Canada)". Lambgoat. Retrieved on 2016-03-04.
  18. ↑ Adams, Gregory. (2015-08-04). "Cattle Decapitation Announce 'North American Extinction Tour'". Exclaim!. Retrieved on 2016-03-04.
  19. ↑ "Black Crown Initiate And Black Fast Announce ‘Blacker Than All’ Tour". The PRP. Retrieved on 2016-03-04.
  20. ↑ Hartmann, Graham. (2016-03-07)."Dying Fetus, The Acacia Strain, Jungle Rot + Black Crown Initiate to Play 2016 Metal Alliance Tour". Loudwire. Retrieved on 2016-03-10.
  21. ↑ Lawson, Dom. (2014-10-22)."The debut album from Black Crown Initiate".Team Rock. Retrieved on 2016-03-03.
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