AZURE EMOTE drop the video clip ‘Feast of Leeches‘ as the first single taken from their new full-length “Cryptic Aura“. The fourth studio album of the American progressive death alchemists has been scheduled for release on July 25, 2025.
Pre-sale link: http://lnk.spkr.media/azureemote-crypticaura
AZURE EMOTE comment: “The first single ‘Feast of Leeches’ is a frantic release of anger and madness”, mastermind Mike Hrubovcak writes. “For far too long have we suffered the pressure of outside vultures feeding off our personal energies. It’s fitting that this video was created by ‘Drain Hope’, because it visually expresses the frustration of being surrounded by leeches and parasites that are sucking on our lifeblood, while leaving us ultimately drained and lethargic. It’s like suffocating under dirt but still crawling through the mud in hopes of getting out. We are all waiting to breathe, but always holding our breath, and continually striving to be, while awaiting our death.”
Credit
Video created by Drain Hope
Tracklist
1. Into Abysmal Oblivion
2. Insomnia Nervosa
3. Aeons Adrift
4. Bleed with the Moon
5. Defiance Infernus
6. Provoking the Obscene
7. Disease of the Soul
8. Feast of Leeches
9. Return to the Unknown
10. Writhing Lunacy
Can they play with madness? With their fourth album “Cryptic Aura”, AZURE EMOTE offer a tour de force through the outer stellar realms of death metal where the musical possibilities seem to become infinite and to expand into all directions and dimensions until the gravity of ultra heavy sound pulls everything back into a crushing event horizon.
After years of existential turmoil, AZURE EMOTE return with a cast of death metal veterans that never tried to sell itself cheaply as an ‘all-star’ project that is best for name dropping but a band of real people driven by a passionate love for extreme music. Each track on “Cryptic Aura” is unique with its own abstract insanity, but they all bond together nicely by an amalgamation of disturbing atmospheres, restless unease, and defiant creativity.
AZURE EMOTE were founded by vocalist and keyboard player Mike Hrubovcak with the support of long-time friend and the band’s guitarist Ryan Moll (TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION) in Philadelphia, PA in 2003. His intention was the creation of an experimental musical outlet to express personal negativity without the arbitrary limitations of genre that are so often present within the extreme metal scenes.
Often dubbed avant-garde or progressive death metal, the unique sound of the Americans incorporates a wide variety of instruments and musical styles, which include elements of experimental, industrial, electronic, doom, progressive, and blackened death metal.
Although the debut album “Chronicles of an Aging Mammal” (2007) quickly accumulated a cult following, AZURE EMOTE were nevertheless put on hiatus as Hrubovcak focused on touring extensively with his other bands at the time, in particular MONSTROSITY and VILE.
In the summer of 2011, AZURE EMOTE were resurrected with FEAR FACTORY and MALIGNANCY drummer Mike Heller joining the fold, which eventually led to the release of the sophomore full-length “The Gravity of Impermanence” in 2013. Continuing to deliver surprising innovations to their avid listeners, this album presented an even more ambitious songwriting and improved production.
Despite the continued success of AZURE EMOTE, their third full-length still got to be written in between touring breaks with other bands during a span of seven years. “The Third Perspective” (2020) made well use of the extra time and can be viewed as a bold summary of the many additional years of experience and continued honing of songwriting skills.
The line-up is still featuring Kelly Conlon, who played bass on DEATH’s “Symbolic” album and has been a member in MONSTROSITY among many other bands. With the inclusion of former ELUVEITIE lead-vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Anna Murphy, now CELLAR DARLING, as well as violin player Pete Johansen (ex-SIRENIA), AZURE EMOTE have expanded their impressive musical range further than ever.
“Cryptic Aura” is the promise of what death metal can sound like when all considerations of genre limitations and musical preconceptions are abandoned while its brutal core remains untouched. Let AZURE EMOTE take you on a mind-blowing ride into deadly infinity.
Band: Azure Emote
Title: Cryptic Aura
Style: Progressive Death Metal
Release date: July 25, 2025
Label: Testimony Records
Review impact date: June 23, 2025
Current line-up
Mike Hrubovcak – vocals, keyboards
Ryan Moll – guitars
Mike Heller – drums
Kelly Conlon – bass, trumpet
Pete Johansen – violins
Anna Murphy – clean vocals
Guest musicians
James Murphy – 2nd guitar solo on ‘Into Abysmal Oblivion’
Andy LaRocque – 3rd guitar solo on ‘Into Abysmal Oblivion’
Bob Davodian – guitar solo on ‘Insomnia Nervosa’
Recording by Ron Vento at Nightsky Studios, Waldorf, MD (US)
Mix by Noah Buchanan at Mercinary Studios, Avon, OH (US)
Mastering by Andy LaRocque at Sonic Train Studios, Varberg (SE)
Cover artwork & layout by Mike Hrubovcak
Shop
http://lnk.spkr.media/azureemote-crypticaura
Formats
“Cryptic Aura” will be available as a black vinyl LP, as a ltd. transparent red vinyl LP, and on Jewelcase CD with O-Card packaging.
Linkswww.azureemote.com
www.facebook.com/azureemote
www.instagram.com/mikehrubovcak