SERMON have today released their sophomore album, Of Golden Verse, via Prosthetic Records. The London, UK group’s second full-length sees the pairing of chief songwriter Him and drummer James Stewart (Vader and Decapitated) expand on their melodic doom and progressive metal sound, with stellar production work from Scott Atkins.
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Speaking on Of Golden Verse‘s release SERMON‘s Him comments: “Finally. After years in the making, we, James Stewart and myself, can present to you Of Golden Verse in its entirety.
“From start to finish, it was a formidable task with frequent bouts of self-doubt, gut wrenching panic and inner turmoil to release this to the world. It sounds melodramatic, and I suppose it sort of is, considering all it is, is making a piece of music. The point is though, it takes almost a constant stream of self-belief, one that I believe few people can keep up. I am one of them. I don’t have that internal energy in me and while I am recognised in this act as the songwriter, I can assure you, none of this happened alone.
“So this is really a thank you to those involved, rather than a pledge to listen to this dark and visceral album (although feel free to do that anyway): Firstly, to the demigod percussion ability and endless meltdown-quelling skill of my friend and musical colleague, James Stewart. It’s a basic truth, Sermon wouldn’t exist without him. The constant mentorship of the skilled eyes, ears and mind of Scott Atkins. Whose musical wisdom makes all these musical ideas actually tangible and ultimately worth listening too. To EJ and Steve of Prosthetic Records, who took a chance on some guy who just sat in his bedroom with a Line6 Pod from 2001 and lets him do what he wants. And of course, my dear mother and late father, who had the kindness to encourage even the dumbest surface-level ambition I had.
“Yeah, this was a little hyper-sentimental (and should probably only be reserved for moments like winning a Grammy), but I’d also feel kind of like a rotten person for not openly thanking those who are directly responsible for it. So there we go. Thank you all.
P.S also, add it your basket. Go on.”A beacon of iridescent musical light amid the torpid fog of modern life, SERMON blazed brightly but briefly when they released their debut album back in 2019. Led by the shadowy figurehead known only as Him, they blurred boundaries with the aptly titled Birth Of The Marvellous – which earned widespread acclaim and the effusive support of listeners around the world. But then, after a single live show at Prog In Park in Poland, there was only silence.
In the years between then and now, the world has become a darker, nastier place. Summoned from their slumbers for a second time, Him and his collaborators are back with an album that accurately encapsulates the mood of the moment. Recorded at Grindstone Studios under the legendary supervision of producer Scott Atkins, Of Golden Verse was entirely written by Him, but the new songs reached their final, immaculate state through a team effort.
The resulting 10 tracks that make up Of Golden Verse are musically intense, dynamic – and often a startlingly heavy trawl down corridors of corruption and stairways of compromise. First single Golden is a stunning entry point to SERMON‘s reconfigured world; dense with melody and melancholy, it showcases the band’s expanded sonic vision, with lyrics that detail a slow, steady chipping away at the human spirit. There’s no question: Sermon has returned in 2023 with an imperious flourish.
Of Golden Verse tracklist:
1. The Great Marsh
2. Royal
3. Light the Witch
4. In Black
5. The Distance
6. Senescence
7. Wake the Silent
8. Golden
9. Centre
10. Departure
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