Month: October 2024

Drummer Nick Pierce is the latest member of As I Lay Dying to split with the band; following the departure of bassist Ryan Neff, tour manager Alex Kendrick Wednesday, and guitarist Ken Susi who all left earlier this week. The band’s European tour has also been canceled as well. As of press time, frontman Tim Lambesis and guitarist Phil Sgrosso are the only remaining members in the lineup at this time. The band nor their label Napalm Records have not yet commented on the departures publicly.

Pierce joined the band in 2022 after the departure of longtime member Jordan Mancino. In a statement shared on his social media, he posted: “As of now, I am no longer playing drums for As I Lay Dying. This is far from being the ending I anticipated, and I feel I need to distance myself from the band in an effort to retain my personal health and integrity. I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who followed and supported me throughout this journey. My goal has and always will be to create unforgettable memories with my friends and write music that will truly resonate with our fans. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished on the road touring, as well as writing and recording drums for the new album. Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue my drumming career and pursue what I love most which is making music. My touring and session schedule is now actively open for new opportunities.”

Bassist Neff had posted earlier in the week: “As of today, I have made the decision to leave As I Lay Dying. This choice comes after much reflection, and I believe it is the right step for my personal and professional journey. I am grateful for the experiences and connections I’ve made during my time with the band. Thank you to all the fans for your support.”  Guitarist Susi later posted to his socials: “My time playing with As I Lay Dying has come to an end today. I leave with so much gratitude for everyone who followed and supported me from my days in Unearth to this era of my career. I jumped into the AILD camp with full knowledge of the heightened dramatic history but had a drive to just play great music with great friends. Unfortunately, my personal morals have recently been tested to a breaking point, and it’s now the saddest ending to what could have been the greatest second chance for this band. Ryan Neff is receiving a lot of backlash for stepping down first, and I regret not sharing this decision sooner and standing confidently with my friend — he’s a flawless musician and an even better person. I’ll miss you all on this stage, and I look forward to seeing you on the next one. Anyone looking for a guitar player? My resume is ready.”

As I Lay Dying are still scheduled to release of their upcoming eighth full-length studio album, Through Storms Ahead, out November 15. The new album features the tracks “Burden”, “The Cave We Fear To Enter”, and the recently revealed “We Are The Dead” featuring guest vocalists Alex Terrible (Slaughter To Prevail) and Tom Barber (Chelsea Grin, Darko)

The band also recently released the video for “Whitewashed Tomb” and at the time frontman Tim Lambesis commented: “‘Whitewashed Tomb’ represents a balance between the melody and aggression that AILD is known for with an interesting modern twist from the way that Phil and Hiram produced it. When Phil wrote the original demo, I could instantly appreciate the classic melodic-metal influences in the guitar melodies contrasted with an underlying darker theme. So, lyrically it seemed fitting for me to focus on the metaphor of a whitewashed tomb. It is something clean and beautiful at a first glance until the darker hidden side is revealed. I also love what Ryan Neff added to solidify that sense of contrast vocally, as well.”  See the video for “Whitewashed Tomb” – HERE.

Editorial credit: Lia Koltyrina / Shutterstock.com

U2 announced the release of How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb, a companion album to 2004’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, featuring 10 unreleased songs.

How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb is due out Nov. 22 digitally and Nov. 29 in exclusive vinyl formats for Record Store Day; while the original Atomic Bomb LP has also been remastered in honor of its 20th birthday, set for release on Nov. 22.  How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb is one of U2’s most successful releases, winning the Grammy for ‘Album of the Year’ and featuring the singles “Vertigo,” “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own” and “City of Blinding Lights.”

U2 guitarist The Edge said in a statement: “The sessions for How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb were such a creative period for the band. We were exploring so many song ideas in the studio. We were inspired to revisit our early music influences, and it was a time of deep personal introspection for Bono, who was attempting to process — dismantle — the death of his father. For this anniversary edition, I went into my personal archive to see if there were any unreleased gems and I hit the jackpot. We chose 10 that really spoke to us. Although at the time we left these songs to one side, with the benefit of hindsight we recognize that our initial instincts about them being contenders for the album were right. We were onto something. What you’re getting on this shadow album is that raw energy of discovery, the visceral impact of the music, a sonic narrative, a moment in time, the exploration and interaction of four musicians playing together in a room. This is the pure U2 drop.”

The first two tracks from How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb — “Country Mile” and “Picture of You (X + W)” — are available now.

Preorder How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (20th Anniversary Editions) – HERE.

Editorial credit: Damir Hajdarbasic / Shutterstock.com