Azusa (band)

Azusa is an progressive extreme metal supergroup that originated in 2018 as a project between cousins and former Extol members, Christer Espevoll and David Husvik. The two had been demoing material, when then The Dillinger Escape Plan bassist Liam Wilson expressed admiration for Extol.[3] The three added on pop vocalist Eleni Zafiriadou of Sea + Air, and the band recorded their debut album, Heavy Yoke.[3] The band is currently signed with Solid State Records.[4]

Azusa
OriginOslo, Norway, Europe
Drama, Greece, Europe
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
GenresProgressive metal,[1][2] extreme metal[2]
Years active2014–present
LabelsSolid State Records, Indie Recordings
Associated actsExtol, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Absurd²
WebsiteAzusa on Facebook
MembersEleni Zafiriadou
Christer Espevoll
Liam Wilson
David Husvik

History

Azusa began between cousins Christer Espevoll and David Husvik, who had originally formed the progressive metal band Extol, who reached great acclaim in their run. The band began to form when the two met up at a show for Espevoll's former band, Benea Reach in 2014.[5] The two began demoing material and put out a contest to begin creating logos for the band.[6] Shortly after the band began working on material, Liam Wilson (ex-The Dillinger Escape Plan, ex-Starkweather, John Frum), proclaimed an admiration for Extol to the two. Husvik and Espevoll hired Wilson into the band and the three began to record the music for Azusa's debut album.[7] The band would then hire on Eleni Zafiriadou of Sea + Air. Husvik had previously seen Zafiriadou perform with a project called Jumbo Jet, which featured clean and unclean vocals from time to time.[8] The band recorded and released several singles over time.[9][10][11][12][13][1] Following the singles releases, the band debut their album, Heavy Yoke, with the assistance of Solid State Records in the United States and Indie Recordings in Europe.[4][14] The band was nominated for an Edvardprisen award on June 20, 2019, most specifically for Espevoll and Husvik.[15] The band announced their first tour with The Contortionist in mid-2019.

In 2020, the band began releasing singles from their next album, titled Loops of Yesterday, which is set to be released on April 10, 2020. The band debuted with their first single, titled "Memories of an Old Emotion".[16] which On February 8, 2020, the band released "Monument", which was the second single for the album.[17] The band's third single, "Detatch", was released on February 27, and featured a guitar solo by Alex Skolnick of Testament.[16][17][18]

Style and lyrics

The band have been compared to Extol and Cynic, while also throwing comparisons of Death mixed with Annette Peacock and Slayer mixed with Kate Bush.[19] Azusa's lyrical content, like many of the cousins' previous bands, does contain Christian themes, however, not as "black and white" as they were when the members were younger.[20]

Members

Current

Name Instruments Years active Other projects
Eleni Zafiriadou Vocals 2018–present Sea + Air, Jumbo Jet
Christer Espevoll Guitars 2014–present Extol, Benea Reach, Absurd²
Liam Wilson Bass 2014–present The Dillinger Escape Plan, Starkweather, Frodus, John Frum, Burnside, For Life
David Husvik Drums 2014–present Extol, Doctor Midnight & the Mercy Cult, Arvinger, Mantric, Aperture, Absurd², Ganglion, The Crest, Twisted Into Form, InSection

Live

  • Eirik Kråkenes - Guitars (2019–present) (Astrosaur, Dream Archer)

Discography

Studio albums

  • Heavy Yoke (2018)
  • Loops of Yesterday (2020)

Singles

  • "Heavy Yoke" (2018)[9][10]
  • "Interstellar Islands" (2018)[11][12]
  • "First Lines" (2018)[13]
  • "Heart of Stone" (2018)[1]
  • "Memories of An Old Emotion" (2020)[16]
  • "Monument" (2020)[17]
  • "Detatch" (2020)[18]

References
  1. Chapstick, Kelsey (September 13, 2018). "Hear Dillinger Escape Plan/Extol Supergroup Azusa's Dizzying New Prog-Metal Song". Revolver Magazine. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  2. Stolzer-Gary, Isaac (February 19, 2020). "AZUSA Complete The Ritual In This Exclusive Guitar Playthrough of "Iniquitous Spiritual Praxis" (Feat. BOBBY KOELBLE)". Gear Gods. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  3. Gotrich, Lars (November 8, 2018). "Metal Supergroup Azusa Claws and Coos Through 'Heavy Yoke'". NPR. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  4. Wall, Graham (August 17, 2018). "Azusa Sign to Solid State Records". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  5. Sywala, Dan (December 13, 2018). "Azusa interview 2018". Rock N Roll Journalist. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  6. "Design a logo for thrash metal act Azusa". 99designs. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  7. Bowar, Chad (November 17, 2018). "Meet The Band: Azusa". Heavy Music Headquarters. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  8. Selzer, Jonathan (December 10, 2018). "New Band Of The Week: Azusa". Metal Hammer Magazine. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  9. Wall, Graham (October 18, 2018). "Azusa - Heavy Yoke". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  10. wookubus (October 12, 2018). "Azusa (Extol, Ex-The Dillinger Escape Plan, Etc.) Debut New Track "New Yoke"". Theprp. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  11. Kennelty, Greg (August 17, 2018). "EXTOL & Ex-THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN Members Form AZUSA". Metal Injection. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  12. "Dillinger Escape Plan, Extol members launch band". Lambgoat. August 16, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  13. Skaylatonwitch (November 5, 2018). "New Supergroup Alert: Azusa, feat. Members of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Extol, Sea + Air". MetalSucks. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  14. "Azusa". Discogs. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  15. "Fotospesial: Møt de EDVARD-nominerte 2019". TONO (in Norwegian). June 20, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  16. Kennelty, Greg (January 15, 2020). "AZUSA (EXTOL, Ex-THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) Drops Blistering New Track "Memories of an Old Emotion"". Metal Injection. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  17. Kennelty, Greg (February 8, 2020). "AZUSA (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, EXTOL) Streams New Song "Monuments"". Metal Injection. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  18. Kennelty, Greg (February 27, 2020). "AZUSA (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, EXTOL) Grooves Hard On New Song "Detatch"". Metal Injection. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  19. "AZUSA Featuring Members Of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, EXTOL, SEA + AIR To Release Debut Album In November; "Interstellar Islands" Music Video Posted". BraveWords. August 16, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  20. Aaron (November 16, 2018). "David Husvik (EXTOL) Shares the Genesis Behind New Project AZUSA". Metal Injection. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
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