AS I LAY DYING Finalizes New Record Deal for 2024 Album

When Tim Lambesis sat down with Jamey Jasta on the “The Jasta Show”, the HATEBREED frontman probably knew he’d get some juicy tidbits on AS I LAY DYING’s new material. And Lambesis didn’t disappoint—well, unless you’re a fan of clarity. In his own words (courtesy of BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “We’ve got a label. The details are being ironed out.” Translation? Corporate limbo, folks. He then dove into their touring schedule, revealing a July-to-August U.S. tour with CHELSEA GRIN and ENTHEOS, while hinting at a European album-release tour later in the year. Singles will drop before the U.S. leg, but don’t hold your breath for a full album by then.

This upcoming record will mark the debut of AS I LAY DYING’s revamped lineup. Alongside Lambesis and Phil Sgrosso, the band now includes Nick Pierce (formerly of UNEARTH) on drums, bassist/vocalist Ryan Neff from MISS MAY I, and guitarist Ken Susi, also an UNEARTH alum. It’s a Frankenstein’s monster of metalcore veterans, but will it deliver?

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AS I LAY DYING’s new album promises energy and passion with fresh contributions from its latest members.

New Blood, Old Core: Lambesis insists the group’s creative DNA hasn’t changed. He called the new members’ contributions “a breath of fresh air,” though songwriting still revolves around him and Phil. Sure, it’s nice to have Nick, Ken, and Ryan in the mix, but let’s not kid ourselves—this is still their show. Lambesis also took a swipe at bands who mellow with age, promising this record will retain the intensity fans expect. “We’re as passionate as we’ve ever been,” he claimed, emphasizing intricate melodies and aggressive guitar work.

Is this PR fluff, or is AS I LAY DYING really holding onto its edge? Let’s see how that plays out once the music lands.

Lineup Changes: Over the past two years, AS I LAY DYING has undergone enough lineup changes to make a soap opera blush. It started with Ken Susi, who joined around 2020 but barely played a gig before the pandemic hit. Then, Nick Pierce came aboard as their pandemic-era drummer, filling in for the now-departed Jordan Mancino, whose “internal issues” with the band were never resolved. By 2022, Josh Gilbert (bass/vocals) left to join SPIRITBOX, prompting Ryan Neff to step in—three days after wrapping a tour with MISS MAY I. No pressure, right?

But it’s not just about personnel shifts. The band has grappled with deeper fractures. Guitarist Nick Hipa, who left in 2021, called the band’s post-2018 reunion a “superficial pursuit.” Ouch.

Behind The Curtain: Lambesis, never one to shy away from controversy (his murder-for-hire conviction being Exhibit A), addressed these upheavals with a mix of candor and spin. The new album, he says, has been partly self-produced over the course of a year before being handed off to a producer. For the curious, this record follows 2019’s “Shaped By Fire”, the first post-incarceration release for Lambesis.

Since his release in 2016, AS I LAY DYING has tried to navigate damaged reputations and fan skepticism. The return of Lambesis was polarizing, with former members openly criticizing him. Yet the band carried on, dropping singles like “Roots Below” and weathering public scrutiny.

The summer U.S. tour starts July 9, hitting major cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, before wrapping in their hometown on August 10. The European tour promises to finally align with the album release. But with so much shifting beneath the surface, will this new chapter in AS I LAY DYING’s saga be a rebirth or just a rebranding? One thing’s for sure—they’ve got a lot to prove.

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