WITHERFALL Feat. ICED EARTH, SANCTUARY Members: 'Ode To Despair' Video

“Ode To Despair”, the new video from U.S. dark melodic metal masters WITHERFALL, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band’s sophomore album, “A Prelude To Sorrow”, which will be released on November 2.

Says WITHERFALL: “‘Ode To Despair’ was the first composition that was completed for ‘A Prelude To Sorrow’, so it only seems fitting to start off with this track. Its origin traces back to around 2016 when we were figuring out what to do with [late WITHERFALL drummer Adam] Sagan being sick and unable to perform. Fueled by red wine and only a glimmer of the sorrow that was to come, ‘Ode’ took only one writing session to complete. The video was shot over the two-month span that we were in the studio tracking ‘A Prelude To Sorrow’ and watching the video brings you into the world we inhabited for what seems like an eternity… Special thanks to Don Adams and his masochistic tendencies and keen editor’s eye.”

Songwriters Joseph Michael (vocals, SANCTUARY) and Jake Dreyer (guitar, ICED EARTH) succeeded in perfectly combining the group’s technical proficiency with an appropriate eerie and somber atmosphere, manifesting also in Kristian Wåhlin‘s majestic cover painting. For mix and mastering, WITHERFALL again worked with Chris “Zeuss” Harris (SANCTUARY, QUEENSRŸCHE, ICED EARTH).

Regarding the follow-up to 2017’s “Nocturnes And Requiems”, WITHERFALL said: “‘A Prelude To Sorrow’ is a concept record, though not in the sense that most people have come to know the form. Ours is not a story where each song acts as a chapter. The inspiration lays in the supremely dark reality that was the passing of our drummer and one of our best friends, Adam Sagan.

“These songs are raw emotional reflections, composed in the witching hours under the influence of wine and sorrow, while watching and helping our friend fight and ultimately lose his battle with lymphoma. ‘Nocturnes And Requiems’ was dedicated to Adam after the fact. ‘A Prelude To Sorrow’ is written specifically about his and our personal tragedy.

“Like ‘Nocturnes and Requiems’, the songs have been arranged to still have the peaks and valleys that any great record should. With ‘Prelude’, these peaks just might be a little steeper and the valleys might be a little deeper, alternating between violence and beauty.

“The titles initials are an acronym for ‘Adam Paul Sagan.’ He came up with ‘Nocturnes And Requiems’ so we suppose it is kind of fitting that he also inspired this title. Hope he doesn’t come knocking on our door for royalties.

“We hope that this will be a fitting requiem for our friend and talented musician.”

“A Prelude To Sorrow” track listing:

01. A Prelude To Sorrow
02. We Are Nothing
03. Moment Of Silence
04. Communion Of The Wicked
05. Maridian’s Visitation
06. Shadows
07. Ode To Despair
08. The Call
09. Vintage
10. Epilogue

The album will be released as limited-edition digipak, jewelcase CD (U.S. only), gatefold 2LP plus poster and etching on Side D as well as digital album.

WITHERFALL is:

Jake Dreyer – Guitar
Joseph Michael – Vocals/Keyboards
Anthony Crawford – Bass
Fili Bibiano – Guitar
Steve Bolognese – Drums