The super-technical metal madmen known as Arsis have announced that their fifth full-length album, titled “Unwelcome,” will hit the shelves in late April via Nuclear Blast Records. The forthcoming release is the band’s follow up to 2010’s “Starve for the Devil,” aside from the 2012 EP released on Scion A/V, “Lepers Caress.”
Commenting on the upcoming album, founding vocalist/guitarist James Malone stated “At this point Arsis has more than a few releases in our catalogue and we are about to have one more, ‘Unwelcome.’ Of all the albums we have done, ‘Unwelcome’ is an album that I wanted to define the band’s sound. We were all focused for the writing and recording and the end product reflects this.” To further provoke the inquisitive nature of those waiting to hear this release, bassist Noah Martin added “Down to the artwork, ‘Unwelcome’ is by far the most raw and brutal album Arsis has released with Nuclear Blast.”
In support of this album, Arsis are scheduled to hit the road in North America, alongside Hypocrisy, Krisiun, and Aborted, for roughly one month of live dates. “We look forward to a very busy 2013 touring season, seeing all our old friends and making new ones,” continued Martin before adding “If Canadian fans want to bring some homemade poutine to a show, I would be forever indebted to you.”
Arsis first saw the light of day in 2000, but it wouldn’t be until 4 years later that their first album, “A Celebration of Guilt,” would be released to a wide audience in North America through Willowtip Records and internationally through Earache. The band would eventually sign to Nuclear Blast in time for the release of their third full-length, “We Are the Nightmare.” By 2008, the band would face numerous line-up shifts and tour cancellations due to ‘internal issues,’ leading many fans to assume drug use within the band, based on comments made from Malone himself. After the fury of speculation, Malone exclusively revealed to Noisecreep that he had been fighting anorexia which he had battled previously, but returned after he stopped drinking.