As the guitarist/vocalist/producer and chief writer, arranger and lyricist of Anacrusis from 1986-1993, Kenn Nardi’s vision was a lofty one. He wanted to marry elements of classic metal, doom, speed/thrash, and early power metal together to create a unique brand of songwriting. Anacrusis delivered their material via brave and and forward-thinking arrangements while always maintaining a strong sense of melody throughout.
After releasing four albums between 1998 and 1993; the cult-favorite “Suffering Hour”, the quirky and experimental “Reason”, and two highly respected prog-metal classics; “Manic Impressions” and “Screams and Whispers”, Anacrusis disbanded in late 1993.
After lying dormant for over a decade, Kenn Nardi resurfaced in 2006 to write and record a collection of acoustically-driven material under the Cruel April moniker. The project gave the multi-instrumentalist the chance to hone and tighten his lyrical and musical songwriting style without the constraints or expectations of any specific genre.
On his new album, “Dancing With the Past”, Kenn Nardi has has brought together all of the signature elements of Anacrusis' sound... the crushing, low-tuned guitar riffs, prominent bass lines, sing/growl/scream vocals, introspective lyrics, and evocative melodies while adopting the more streamlined songwriting approach of Cruel April. The result is a mammoth collection of 28 brand new recordings filling two compact discs.
“Dancing With the Past” is comprised of music written as far back as 1994, shortly after the Anacrusis split-up, and post-Cruel April. The collection also features material borne from collaborations with his former Anacrusis band mates during their 2009-2012 reunion run along with a re-recorded Cruel April song in addition to the more recent compositions.
With styles ranging from classic metal, thrash/speed metal, orchestral metal, progressive metal, moody acoustic, goth, alternative, and new wave, “Dancing With the Past” in truly unlike any heavy metal album before it. Clocking in at over 2 1/2 hours, the double-disc set is sure to offer something for both fans of Anacrusis and of heavy music in general. Over two decades in the making, “Dancing With the Past” bears the fruit of everything musical that Kenn Nardi has done up until now.
Originally envisioned as a new reunion-era Anacrusis release, “Dancing With the Past” features bassist John Emery on four songs (two co-written), creative contributions, and arrangements from original drummer Mike Owen, one song co-written with fill-in reunion-era guitarist Mike Henricks. With all of the other vocals, guitars, bass, lyrics, drum and orchestral sequencing, production, and mixing on “Dancing With the Past” done by Kenn Nardi himself, it remains a "solo" album in the truest sense of the word.
The recording sessions were all done with one eye on Anacrusis and the other focused on creating something completely different. In other words, “Dancing With the Past” keeps true to the avant-garde spirit that made Kenn Nardi's former band so thrilling, while pushing the songwriting and compositional boundaries even further. Quite simply, “Dancing With the Past” promises to be the album Anacrusis fans have waiting for only full of surprises they never expected.
The 2-CD set will be released via Divebomb Records on January 13th, 2015. Cover art is being handled by Eliran Kantor (Testament, GWAR, Iced Earth) and will be revealed upon its completion.
I will also be pre-releasing a very limited number of copies on 11/4/2014 (autographed w/poster) for those of you who just can't wait until January.
Digital copies of the full album will also be available for download at that time through CDBaby and their partners including iTunes and most other usual outlets.
Tracklist:
CD1:
01. Unnecessary Evil
02. Fragile
03. Made
04. Armies of One
05. Lament in Rust
06. Dead Letters
07. Submerged
08. Await the Setting Sun
09. This Killer in My House
10. Straining the Frayed
11. The Dark and the Light
12. Untouchable
13. The Telling Skies
14. The Scarlet Letter
CD2:
01. Blinding Lies
02. Spitting Bitter
03. Ordinary
04. Dancing With the Past
05. One World
06. Creve Coeur (a place called “Broken Heart”)
07. A Little Light
08. Blood in the Water
09. Climbing
10. Stabbing Sorrow
11. Dead Men’s Bones
12. Symbiotic
13. Beside myself
14. The Runt
Weblinks:
www.facebook.com/AnacrusisOfficial
www.divebombrecords.com/site/bands/kenn-nardi-anacrusis/
After releasing four albums between 1998 and 1993; the cult-favorite “Suffering Hour”, the quirky and experimental “Reason”, and two highly respected prog-metal classics; “Manic Impressions” and “Screams and Whispers”, Anacrusis disbanded in late 1993.
After lying dormant for over a decade, Kenn Nardi resurfaced in 2006 to write and record a collection of acoustically-driven material under the Cruel April moniker. The project gave the multi-instrumentalist the chance to hone and tighten his lyrical and musical songwriting style without the constraints or expectations of any specific genre.
On his new album, “Dancing With the Past”, Kenn Nardi has has brought together all of the signature elements of Anacrusis' sound... the crushing, low-tuned guitar riffs, prominent bass lines, sing/growl/scream vocals, introspective lyrics, and evocative melodies while adopting the more streamlined songwriting approach of Cruel April. The result is a mammoth collection of 28 brand new recordings filling two compact discs.
“Dancing With the Past” is comprised of music written as far back as 1994, shortly after the Anacrusis split-up, and post-Cruel April. The collection also features material borne from collaborations with his former Anacrusis band mates during their 2009-2012 reunion run along with a re-recorded Cruel April song in addition to the more recent compositions.
With styles ranging from classic metal, thrash/speed metal, orchestral metal, progressive metal, moody acoustic, goth, alternative, and new wave, “Dancing With the Past” in truly unlike any heavy metal album before it. Clocking in at over 2 1/2 hours, the double-disc set is sure to offer something for both fans of Anacrusis and of heavy music in general. Over two decades in the making, “Dancing With the Past” bears the fruit of everything musical that Kenn Nardi has done up until now.
Originally envisioned as a new reunion-era Anacrusis release, “Dancing With the Past” features bassist John Emery on four songs (two co-written), creative contributions, and arrangements from original drummer Mike Owen, one song co-written with fill-in reunion-era guitarist Mike Henricks. With all of the other vocals, guitars, bass, lyrics, drum and orchestral sequencing, production, and mixing on “Dancing With the Past” done by Kenn Nardi himself, it remains a "solo" album in the truest sense of the word.
The recording sessions were all done with one eye on Anacrusis and the other focused on creating something completely different. In other words, “Dancing With the Past” keeps true to the avant-garde spirit that made Kenn Nardi's former band so thrilling, while pushing the songwriting and compositional boundaries even further. Quite simply, “Dancing With the Past” promises to be the album Anacrusis fans have waiting for only full of surprises they never expected.
The 2-CD set will be released via Divebomb Records on January 13th, 2015. Cover art is being handled by Eliran Kantor (Testament, GWAR, Iced Earth) and will be revealed upon its completion.
I will also be pre-releasing a very limited number of copies on 11/4/2014 (autographed w/poster) for those of you who just can't wait until January.
Digital copies of the full album will also be available for download at that time through CDBaby and their partners including iTunes and most other usual outlets.
Tracklist:
CD1:
01. Unnecessary Evil
02. Fragile
03. Made
04. Armies of One
05. Lament in Rust
06. Dead Letters
07. Submerged
08. Await the Setting Sun
09. This Killer in My House
10. Straining the Frayed
11. The Dark and the Light
12. Untouchable
13. The Telling Skies
14. The Scarlet Letter
CD2:
01. Blinding Lies
02. Spitting Bitter
03. Ordinary
04. Dancing With the Past
05. One World
06. Creve Coeur (a place called “Broken Heart”)
07. A Little Light
08. Blood in the Water
09. Climbing
10. Stabbing Sorrow
11. Dead Men’s Bones
12. Symbiotic
13. Beside myself
14. The Runt
Weblinks:
www.facebook.com/AnacrusisOfficial
www.divebombrecords.com/site/bands/kenn-nardi-anacrusis/