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Today, BLACKBRIAR release their brand new studio album A Dark Euphony. The album delivers comprehensive storytelling, just as you would expect from the grandiose raconteurs. Besides gothic beauty and metallic darkness there is infinitely more to explore on this exceptional album.
Vocalist Zora Cock comments:
“Some say that there is beauty in darkness… Terrifying visitors, worlds far gone, Gothic romances, bone-chilling legends, sin-eaters, burning hearts frozen in time, songs with a misleading voice, and a truthful whisper. This and so much more for you to discover on ‘A Dark Euphony’. We’ve had the pleasure of working with producer and musical genius Joost van den Broek, and we gave it our all to write this record and feel that this is our most complete, personal, and mature album to date.”
Stream/purchase A Dark Euphony: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/a-dark-euphony
Check out the other singles from A Dark Euphony:
‘Forever and a Day’: https://youtu.be/jNhqTGw_hIg?si=e3fLLMhkCu0TvtEk
‘Cicada’: https://youtu.be/cKYTrDM2mpw
‘My Souls Demise’: https://youtu.be/QvPS2Cf2VNw
‘Crimson Faces’: https://youtu.be/9zOVTkAMY9A
“Some say that there is beauty in darkness – terrifying visitors, worlds far gone, gothic romances, bone-chilling legends, sin-eaters, burning hearts frozen in time, songs with a misleading voice, and a truthful whisper. This and so much more for you to discover on A Dark Euphony.” Such are the words of vocalist Zora Cock about the band’s upcoming sophomore album, set for release in autumn 2023 on Nuclear Blast Records. A telling sign coming from a band who has reveled in gothic beauty and metallic darkness since their onset, spanning three EPs and a full-length album, along with long-time collaborator Joost van den Broek.
Formed in 2012, BLACKBRIAR crafted their first single in 2014 – ‘Ready to Kill,’ but it was 2015’s second single ‘Until Eternity’ that truly propelled the band into the limelight, with now over 18.1 million views since its debut. Taking advantage of the growing buzz surrounding them, they independently recorded and released their first EP, Fractured Fairytales, which laid down an impressive foundation for the band’s ethereal, breath-taking sound, and brought about new opportunities, including EU tour dates alongside Epica, Halestorm, In This Moment, Delain and MAYAN. The band crowdfunded their follow-up EP, We’d Rather Burn in 2018. It would be the first time they worked alongside esteemed producer Joost van den Broek, and this collaboration allowed BLACKBRIAR’s whimsical and enigmatic sound to reach new sonic heights. The EP showcased a stronger sense of dreamy atmosphere and brought listeners beautifully grim tales of witches, banshees, and sea sirens.
In 2019 the band released haunting single ‘Snow White and Rose Red’ , their take on the Grimm’s fairy tales. Continuing to dig deeper into fairy tale realms, BLACKBRIAR closed the year with their third EP, Our Mortal Remains, followed up by further touring with Epica and Delain. Championing their continued independence, which included everything from song-writing, overseeing merch, as well as shooting and producing their own videos and photos, BLACKBRIAR reached out to their ever-growing and loyal fanbase for assistance to make their full-length debut album a reality in 2020. Fans heeded the call, reaching the €25,000 goal in under 24 hours, ending with a total of €70,000. It was an impressive accomplishment for an independent act, which shows their strong internet presence, with over 230,000 YouTube subscribers and 56.5 million channel views, as well as 37.9 million Spotify streams and 275,000 monthly listeners.
Entering 2021, the band relinquished a bit of control in signing with Doomstar Bookings to help support their first full-length album, The Cause of Shipwreck. It was recorded with Joost van den Broek (Epica, Ayreon, Powerwolf), and the release showcased the band’s continued evolution into masterfully dark gothic storytelling and theatrical aesthetics. On the live front, the band launched the record with six sold-out Dutch club shows, before further EU mainland dates.
Despite a very successful 2021, the band hungered for more, unleashing single, ‘Fairy of the Bog’ in December. A song about ‘het meisje van Yde’ (Yde girl), a mixture of folklore, myth, and ancient local history wrapped into a mystical and magical package. Due to winning the ‘Drents Talent Award Culture 2021’ from ‘Stichting Kunst & Cultuur,’ BLACKBRIAR performed ‘I’d Rather Burn’ live on television together with the Dutch ‘Noordpool Orchestra in early 2022. In April, the band parted ways with founding member and bassist Frank Akkerman, welcoming Siebe Sol Sijpkens from The Netherlands as their new bassist. A happy and energetic performer with a lifetime of global performances, he is a welcome addition to the act as they continue to strive forward.
With their vision looking firmly into the future, and a major label behind them, BLACKBRIAR have set their sights on 2023 to conjure their most deadly siren song yet. The band previously released the song ‘Crimson Faces’ to celebrate their partnership with Nuclear Blast Records, and now the world eagerly awaits the release of A Dark Euphony this autumn. Set to contain 10 new original songs as well as a bonus track, they’ve now released first single ‘My Soul’s Demise.’ According to Zora, “We’ve had the pleasure of working with producer and musical genius Joost van den Broek, and we gave it our all to write this record and feel that this is our most complete, personal, and mature album to date.” They have also been preparing on the road, with festival shows Wave Gotik Treffen, SummerBreeze, and Rock the Lakes in 2023, as well as being a special guest on CHARLOTTE WESSELS’s Club Tour.
With accolades behind them, such as being nominated three times for ‘Best Artist’ in the EuroSonic/Noorderslag’s Popgala Noord Awards (2018, 2020, 2022), and continued fan support, with current monthly streaming totals on YouTube and Spotify nearing 1.5 million streams, the world is primed and ready for a spectacular journey ahead.
BLACKBRIAR is:
Zora Cock – Vocals
René Boxem – Drums
Bart Winters – Guitars
Robin Koezen – Guitars
Siebe Sol Sijpkens – Bass
Ruben Wijga – Keys
Connect with Blackbriar, here.
