Concept albums are not new territory in metal by any means. But Northern Virginia's YESTERDAY'S SAINTS elevate the notion of conceptual metal to a whole other level, thanks to the rich, extensive storytelling and the pummeling metal in Generation of Vipers. The music is as smart and thought provoking as it is extreme, that's not an easy thing to do. Striking an artful balance is difficult, but YESTERDAY'S SAINTS make it seem easy.

 

Generation of Vipers is available for pre-order http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ZqbIXpR8ko-D3icBTcOu6P__SKpHeiPgX57gr_gPa36D-OTgTk0NPoaAc5YNvNzN9r9J9eCbkQC8-EVJ97N4gCD5BfKPd8pA01jKd2AqQsfxUTz4DjLrVXOjsvQHHYg0acoQI07knrvFpkN1tDw0FSoGf0ojqeUiB6OD5uvIB01KSZHW7YtF3F2fRGy463OQ&c=OT_Qb_KcSQ0eTh1dRbGbl6alOTjsSGkhpgOzikGji41FAidIBcavfA==&ch=IBe8kUekonMMfKrgAtnU9hoEeW5zcHrHNXytXmvqXJjUbysml3r5TA==" rel="nofollow - and will be released February 3^rd.  Purchases of the album via bandcamp will also receive a physical copy of the album and the download is mastered for digital play.  The album's amazing artwork was done by Vance Kelly (Huntress, Down, Prong)

 

Vocalist Matt Rice, recently sat down with the website DCist.com for an exclusive interview.  In addition the interview, DCist.com is hosting an exclusive stream of the song "Recursion".  Check out the interview and song premiere http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ZqbIXpR8ko-D3icBTcOu6P__SKpHeiPgX57gr_gPa36D-OTgTk0NPuY1JST3MoXgzBftayK1YVgfyagXC0IDepBXqViro10tfv4F17yGPMfnzAFWu8KtDN0gmharScPybqAW-h5UUkOH2YYB_e7EUcSnJBaPTDq46o4MX2G9dFQzRpx-JFjdy8kFHfIWuTrEAz3t6_ayM05hjZS-GjTlRD4YjNNS0GjA97rt5VEDpOU=&c=OT_Qb_KcSQ0eTh1dRbGbl6alOTjsSGkhpgOzikGji41FAidIBcavfA==&ch=IBe8kUekonMMfKrgAtnU9hoEeW5zcHrHNXytXmvqXJjUbysml3r5TA==" rel="nofollow - HERE .

 

In addition to the song premiere, the band has uploaded a studio video filmed during the recording sessions for Generation of Vipers.  The video, which focuses on the recording of the song "Recursion", can be viewed http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ZqbIXpR8ko-D3icBTcOu6P__SKpHeiPgX57gr_gPa36D-OTgTk0NPuY1JST3MoXgjiTOgWzqyClmRCSXhj-YtIgwirA-8GmMrh3qpwh4O0uZ8Ema4JdvsfP0r_0JJry7m5PaU7smDZgvuzcV0GTGUOnGCqvz7BN6Uj5XAJEkPc0M-9-lR4lsDx4Jooledhq1ckYaQMxLFLU=&c=OT_Qb_KcSQ0eTh1dRbGbl6alOTjsSGkhpgOzikGji41FAidIBcavfA==&ch=IBe8kUekonMMfKrgAtnU9hoEeW5zcHrHNXytXmvqXJjUbysml3r5TA==" rel="nofollow - HERE .

 

" 'The Recruitment' is such a powerful song and the video includes some great shots of technical sections on bass and guitar, bird's eye view of Albert going swivel-foot for the high-speed kicks in the chorus, and getting the inside look at the different mic's used to capture Matt's different vocal styles on the album. " 

 

"What's great here is the rug in the rehearsal space, it really ties the room together man. Oh and everything you see us playing in the video is all actually from us working on 'The Recruitment' at our rehearsal studio and Assembly Line Studios," says the band."

 

YESTERDAY'S SAINTS, who play a death-thrash-power hybrid, has been in existence since summer 2010 and with a self-released EP and some regional touring under their belt. They knew that a full concept album was the next step they wanted to take. But they did not go about it capriciously. The decision to go with a concept for the 11-track Generation of Vipers was driven by the most important things -the songwriting and careful thought.

 

The album is assembled like an opera, with three acts, along with an instrumental interlude and outro. It traces the story of Satan, one of the most notorious characters in history, throughout time, from his desire to usurp God's throne to his modern infiltration of mankind to the indication that all of Earth's inhabitants are now his descendants.

 

It's a lot to process, but once you absorb that story along with the music, your appreciation will be furthered and deepened, as all senses are satisfied by Generation of Vipers, which targets one's brain and one's body.

 

Overall, Generation of Vipers is pretty advanced and intellectual extreme metal. But it's not stringing together big ideas for the sake of big ideas. The album, which was recorded in the band's own studio and Assembly Line Studios in Virginia, features atypical metal instruments, such as the piano, cello, violin, so it really is lush and expansive and there is a lot going on.

 

YESTERDAY'S SAINTS and Generation of Vipers requires time and attention, but once you make the commitment and dive into the story and the sound, you'll find yourself doubly rewarded.

 

ACT I (PRIMARILY MELODIC DEATH):

1) Fall of the Ancients

2) Origen Adamantius

3) The Recruitment

INTERLUDE:
4) A Priori

ACT II (DOOM/ROCK, POWER AND THRASH):

5) Sangreale

6) Cain's Agony

7) Sands of Nod

ACT III (THRASH AND MELODIC DEATH):

8) Generation of Vipers

9) Divine Tragedy

10) Recursion

OUTRO:

11) Luctus in Mane