Avernus Is Back!
Founded in 1992, Chicago’s Avernus began with the desire to create
an original sound with the death/doom metal genre.
The concept of the music was to create a sound filled with emotional, melodic, at times angry and heavy music that would best represent the true psyche of the bands members. Combining their sounds by working on every song together, the experience was a broad array of dark and emotional music.
Avernus soon found the right line up
(Richard McCoy/Rick Yifrach/Roberto Franco/Anthony Volpe/Erik Kikke) that understood the concept and could contribute collectively to the bands creativity.
Next, Rick McCoy added what would prove to help set them apart from other bands, a guitar synthesizer to further establish a sound that truly set them apart. Incorporating an array of instruments to melody and harmonies the Avernus sound expands incorporated female singer, Kimberly Goss who went on to join Ancient, Therion & Dimmu Borgir,
but is best known for forming Sinergy.
With the band now having the right musicians, and a sound of their own, Avernus would record their highly regarded 4-song demo/EP called “Sadness” in 1994. The band was not quite expecting the significance and impression it made in the death metal scene. As a result, Avernus quickly started building a following all around the world.
Their unique sound was well received by heavy music fans, journalists, promoters and musicians. Avernus started being featured in bigger publications like Metal Maniacs and RIP Magazine as well as underground press. Things were looking very good
for the band, and things were moving fast.
Soon after the release of Sadness, Avernus received a lot of attention from numerous labels. They put out a single called Godlessness as a follow up to Sadness. This song was licensed by Metal Blade and added to the coveted “Metal Massacre” series in 1995 and was well received.
Avernus signed with a new label called MIA Records and released “...Of The Fallen” in 1997. These would be the darker days of the bands career, especially after experiencing the amount of success they had. The band lightened up their sound and tried to create a sound more acceptable by a larger audience, a trend with doom metal bands at the time. In doing this the band lost the edge that was their heaviness. Though the songs were well written, and did well, it didn’t capture the same essence of their previous releases.
Roberto Franco exits the band and enters James Michael (Fleshgrind / Dysphoria). The band hit the road, but after their return something was missing. The band decided it was time for a hiatus. After 1998 there were a few attempts to revitalize the band and release new music but the cohesiveness the band once shared was missing.
Around 2014 Avernus would regroup and revive their original sound and begin to write new music, this time around having more experience and a better vision for the future. Things moved slowly and it wasn’t until the Covid days that guitarist James Genenz would take the songs that Avernus wrote over many years and start re-formatting and perfecting them to their best possible potential. James would record the songs at his home, then send the rest of the members copies, asking, “are you guys ready to do this full force?” The answer from the other 3 members was a resounding YES!
Avernus spent two years in four studios and worked with two engineers and two producers to achieve the sound they wanted. The result being a ten song full-length album called “Grievances”. After sending a number of private copies to trusted journalists, musicians, and influencers, the response was extremely positive.
A copy of Grievances was sent to a longtime friend Marco Barbieri, owner of M-Theory Records (Century Media, Metal Blade, Nuclear Blast). Marco loved the album and soon made them an offer for two records. The band didn’t need to think twice, they took the deal.
After years of trying to get something substantial done once again,
Avernus has done it. “Grievances” will be released September 20th, 2024
on M-Theory Records
explore AVERNUS
https://avernusdoom.com
https://linktr.ee/avernusdoom
https://www.facebook.com/avernusdoommetal
https://www.instagram.com/avernusdoom
https://avernus.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/@AVERNUSDOOM
https://x.com/AvernusDoom
avernusdoom@yahoo.com
Avernus is represented by Rodney Pawlak for Mind Melt Media
rodney@mindmelt.com
