Wikipedia

Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape

Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape is the third full-length album from American extreme metal band Black Crown Initiate. The album was released on August 7, 2020.[10] It was produced by Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland, [3] with cover art by Schon Wanner.[11] The album sold 1,075 copies in its first week, debuting at No. 85 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart.[12] The album's subject matter was conceived during a "dark period" in lyricist and guitarist Andy Thomas' life.[13] Thomas called the album's theme "a bookmark on thirty three years of my life," and realizing "you can go through whatever you want but you're still accountable to yourself."[13]

Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape
Studio album by
Black Crown Initiate
ReleasedAugust 7, 2020
RecordedDecember 2-20, 2019
StudioThink Loud Studios
GenreTechnical death metal
Length50:00
LabelCentury Media
ProducerCarson Slovak, Grant McFarland
Black Crown Initiate chronology
Selves We Cannot Forgive
(2016) 		Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape
(2020)
Singles from Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape
  1. "Years in Frigid Light"
    Released: September 20, 2019 (2019-09-20)[1]
  2. "Invitation"
    Released: March 13, 2020 (2020-03-13)[2]
  3. "Sun of War"
    Released: June 5, 2020 (2020-06-05)[3]
  4. "Death Comes in Reverse"
    Released: July 24, 2020[4]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Angry Metal Guy(3.5/5)[5]
Distorted Sound Magazine(10/10)[6]
Blabbermouth.net(8.5/10)[7]
Tuonel Magazine(9/10)[8]
Ghost Cult Magazine(9/10)[9]

Background

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In late 2016, the band entered somewhat of a hiatus as they dealt with complications related to representation, personal issues, and departing band members.[14] In December 2018, the band announced the departure of guitarist Wes Hauch, and drummer Jesse Beahler. Additionally, the band announced that guitarist Ethan McKenna and drummer Samuel Santiago would be joining the band.[15] In December 2019, the band recruited drummer Gabe Seeber to work on their new album.[16] In July 2019, the band signed for Century Media Records, and hinted at new music in the near future.[17]

On September 20, 2019, the band released its first new music in three years with the single "Years in Frigid Light."[1] In November of 2019, the band announced it was entering the studio to begin work on a new album, with tracking set to commence in "a couple weeks."[18] On March 10, 2019, the band officially announced they'd completed work on the coming album titled "Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape," with a single titled "Invitation" slated to drop the following Friday.[19] In July of 2020, a music video was produced for the song "Holy Silence," directed by David Brodsky, with illustrations by Chris Bishop.[20]

The album proved to be the last for founding members Andy Thomas and Nick Shaw, who would depart in 2022 within a day of each other.[21] Thomas would ultimately join Rivers of Nihil, citing the reason for his departure from Black Crown Initiate as difficulty working with a "revolving door" of musicians.[21]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Invitation"7:55
2."Son of War"4:03
3."Trauma Bonds"6:03
4."Years in Frigid Light"6:43
5."Bellow"2:14
6."Death Comes in Reverse"5:45
7."Sun of War"7:14
8."Holy Silence"7:47
9."He Is the Path"2:19
Total length:50:00

Credits

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Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes.

Personnel

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Black Crown Initiate
  • James Dorton – Vocals
  • Andy Thomas – Guitars, Vocals
  • Ethan McKenna – Guitars
  • Nick Shaw – Bass
  • Gabe Seeber – Drums

Production and staff

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  • Carson James Slovak – Production, Mixing, Mastering
  • Grant McFarland – Production, Mixing, Mastering
  • Think Loud Studios – Recording, Mixing
  • Dan Defonce and Continental Touring – Booking North America
  • Ben Umanov – Management
  • Mike Gitter – A&R
  • Schon Wanner – Artwork
  • Alex Hofmann – Layout
  • Tyler Katsigiannis – Photography
  • Olivia Place – Photography

References

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  1. ^ a b Kennelty, Greg (September 20, 2019). "Black Crown Initiate Returns With First New Song In Three Years, "Years In Frigid Light"". Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ Kennelty, Greg (March 13, 2020). "BLACK CROWN INITIATE Drops New Song "Invitation," First New Album In Four Years Due Out In August". Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Kennelty, Greg (June 6, 2020). "BLACK CROWN INITIATE Streams New Song "Sun Of War"". Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "Black Crown Initiate Releases New Single "Death Comes in Reverse"". July 24, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  5. ^ "Black Crown Initiate – Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape Review". August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  6. ^ Graham, Ray (August 5, 2020). "ALBUM REVIEW: Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape – Black Crown Initiate". Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  7. ^ Lawson, Dom. "BLACK CROWN INITIATE Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape". Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  8. ^ M., Didrik (August 7, 2020). "REVIEW: Black Crown Initiate – Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape (Musicalypse Archive)". Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  9. ^ Alcock, Gary (August 6, 2020). "ALBUM REVIEW: Black Crown Initiate – Violent Portraits Of Doomed Escape – Century Media". Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  10. ^ "Black Crown Initiate - Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape (Ltd. CD Digipak)". August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  11. ^ "Black Crown Initiate announce new album". March 10, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  12. ^ "Metal By Numbers 8/19: Deep Purple are truckin' up the charts". 19 August 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Jeff Forrest (September 13, 2020). "Ep 014 Andy Thomas of Black Crown Initiate" (Podcast). Event occurs at 16:26. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Jeff Forrest (September 13, 2020). "Ep 014 Andy Thomas of Black Crown Initiate" (Podcast). Event occurs at 15:56. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  15. ^ Kennelty, Greg (December 11, 2018). "BLACK CROWN INITIATE Announce New Guitarist, Drummer; Wes Hauch & Jesse Beahler Exit". Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  16. ^ "BLACK CROWN INITIATE Recruits THE KENNEDY VEIL Drummer For New Album". December 19, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  17. ^ "BLACK CROWN INITIATE Signs With CENTURY MEDIA". July 30, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  18. ^ "Black Crown Initiate set to record new album". November 18, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  19. ^ "Black Crown Initiate announce new album". March 20, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  20. ^ "Black Crown Initiate's "Holy Silence": Incredible". July 9, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Kennelty, Greg (November 1, 2022). "ANDY THOMAS Opens Up About Why He Quit BLACK CROWN INITIATE". Retrieved August 7, 2024.
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