PREMIERE // A CLOUD OF RAVENS serves up postpunk trepidation on ‘Parable’

The year is young and already there have been so many great releases, including in the dark music realm. Let us add yet another single to that list from A Cloud of Ravens. They’ve got a new album on the way (out come April 28), but they cannot sit idle in the meantime, teasing the new single ‘Parable’. Their forthcoming ‘Lost Hymns’ LP was recorded from spring to autumn 2021 and mastered by ACTORS’ Jason Corbett at his Jacknife Sound studio, this collection of 11 tracks will be released via Nexilis Records / Schubert Music Europe on April 28.

Taking a more synthpop turn in direction from the first few singles from this album, ‘Parable’ is a foreboding tale that comes following ‘Requiem For The Sun’, which casts a hopeful eye towards the light in a rich frenetic jaunt through the multiple facets of darkness we are all so eager to leave. Earlier, the duo previewed ‘Nature of Artifice’ and‘The Blackest Mantra‘.

Formed in 2018 by Matthew McIntosh (guitar and vocals) and Beth Narducci (bass guitar), the Brooklyn-based duo emerged on the burgeoning dark music scene with a series of self-released offerings that garnered attention that led to their 2021 album‘Another Kind of Midnight’, a mournful yet triumphant collection exploring the heart of a world amidst a devastating pandemic and torn by moral tribalism.

“In some ways, ‘Parable’ channels Einstein’s definition of insanity, which is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result,” says Matthew McIntosh.

“Though dense in metaphor, ‘Parable’ is asking – how dire do things need to get in this world for us to realize, as a society and culturally, that maybe something needs to shift as far as how we honor each other, the futility of war, and how we treat the environment? We’ve got one planet, and we’re on it together whether we like it or not. Doesn’t the path of least resistance ultimately make the most sense?”

Effectively merging classic and contemporary post-punk and darkwave sensibilities, their somewhat poetic use of prose and metaphor expressed the trials and joys of the world in which we now find ourselves. A Cloud of Ravens’ subsequent remix-based EP featured contributions by legendary producer John Fryer and such prominent artists as Clan of Xymox, ACTORS, Chris Vrenna and Ritual Howls.

‘Parable’ is out now, available across digital outlets – it can be obtained at https://orcd.co/acloudofravens

Soon enough, fans on two continents will also get a live treat as A Cloud of Ravens will launch a European tour with Then Comes Silence in April-May, followed by North American dates with Clan of Xymox and Curse Mackey in May-June.

TOUR DATES
Apr 15  Baltimore, MD – Dark Spring Baltimore
Apr 22  Stockholm, Sweden – Klubb DÖD *
Apr 29  Madrid, Spain – DarkMad *
Apr 30  Madrid, Spain – DarkMad *
May 05  Hannover, Germany – Subkultur *
May 06  Liège, Belgium – Le Garage Creative Music *
May 07  Liège, Belgium – Le Garage Creative Music *
May 09  Hamburg, Germany – Headcrash *
May 10  Hamburg, Germany – Bastard Club *
May 11  Berlin, Germany – Wild at Heart *
May 12  Antwerpen, Belgium – Fetish Café *
May 13  Köln, Germany – Artheater *
May 31  San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger **
June 01  Houston, TX – Numbers Night Club **
June 02  Austin, TX – Elysium Austin **
June 03  Dallas, TX – Granada Theater **
June 05  Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad **
June 06  Denver, CO – Oriental Theater **
June 07  Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall **
June 09  Seattle, WA – El Corazon **
June 10  Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre **
June 11  Portland, OR – Star Theater **
June 13  San Francisco, CA – August Hall **
June 14  Costa Mesa, CA – The Wayfarer **
June 15  San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick **
June 16  Los Angeles, CA – Regent Theater DTLA **
July 21  Meschede, Germany – Live Am See *
* tour dates with Then Comes Silence
** tour dates with Clan of Xymox & Curse Mackey

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