AS I LAY DYING Announces Eighth Album 'Through Storms Ahead'

Two and a half decades and a pile of albums later, AS I LAY DYING is tossing another entry onto their discography stack. Their eighth studio album, “Through Storms Ahead”, hits shelves (or playlists, let’s be honest) on November 15, 2024, courtesy of Napalm Records. The big question isn’t whether it’ll sound heavy—it’s how many layers of breakdowns we’re getting this time.

This outing features new blood in the lineup, with Ryan Neff (bass and clean vocals), Nick Pierce (drums), and Ken Susi (guitar) stepping in alongside veterans Tim Lambesis and Phil Sgrosso. Together, they’ve cooked up “Burden” and “The Cave We Fear To Enter”, which dropped earlier this year. Those tracks gave fans a taste of the band’s attempt to fuse old-school metalcore with… whatever the kids are calling “progression” these days.

Just released, “We Are The Dead” adds to the pre-album hype, featuring none other than Alex Terrible (SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL) and Tom Barber (CHELSEA GRIN, DARKO). The accompanying video leans into the creepy and chaotic, showing the band still knows how to pair aggressive riffs with unsettling visuals. According to Sgrosso, this song dives into their thrashier side, claiming it’s the meanest they’ve ever sounded. Sure, Phil. Let’s see if that claim holds up once the full album drops.

Production-wise, “Through Storms Ahead” comes with all the bells and whistles. Phil Sgrosso and Hiram Hernandez handled the production, Aaron Chaparian took care of mixing, and Ted Jensen mastered it. As for the album art, Corey Meyers returns to tie it all together with visuals that’ll likely be a mix of moody and metal cliché.

Track highlights? Opening number “A Broken Reflection” starts with a melancholic riff before launching into a blend of melody and aggression. Ryan Neff’s clean vocals try to lift the song into emotional territory, while Lambesis delivers his signature growls. “Burden” has already proven its crowd-pleaser status with catchy choruses and riff-heavy breakdowns. For those still craving the cinematic metalcore vibes, tracks like “Whitewashed Tomb” and “The Void Within” sprinkle in atmosphere and melody.

“Through Storms Ahead” isn’t all finesse, though. Songs like “Strength to Survive” and “Gears That Never Stop” bring plenty of headbang-worthy moments, while the title track hits with relentless drumwork and an infectious chorus. If you’re into tracks that start all wistful before exploding, “The Cave We Fear To Enter” might be your jam.

The Tracklist:

1. Permanence
2. A Broken Reflection
3. Burden
4. We Are The Dead (feat. Alex Terrible, Tom Barber)
5. Whitewashed Tomb
6. Through Storms Ahead
7. The Void Within
8. Strength To Survive
9. Gears That Never Stop
10. The Cave We Fear To Enter
11. Taken From Nothing

The band is gearing up for their “Through Storms Ahead Tour”, kicking off on November 15 in Würzburg, Germany, with support from CALIBAN, DECAPITATED, and OV SULFUR. U.S. fans got a preview when they played the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival in September.

Of course, no conversation about AS I LAY DYING is complete without dragging out the drama. Drummer Jordan Mancino walked away in 2022, because “ongoing internal issues.” Around the same time, Josh Gilbert (bass/vocals) decided to “pursue other opportunities,” leaving the band in a reshuffle frenzy. And let’s not forget Nick Hipa’s 2021 exit, which came with a statement denouncing the band’s reunion as “superficial.”

The Lambesis saga continues to linger like a bad tattoo. Convictions, jail time, and a questionable comeback—it’s all part of the package. While his actions offstage are a stain that will never wash out, fans seem to have decided that the music is good enough to overlook the mess. For better or worse, AS I LAY DYING is still here, grinding out albums and tours like the drama never happened. “Through Storms Ahead” might not erase the past, but it’ll surely keep the conversation alive.

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