Embers comes from the same gritty stream that flows through other Bay Area greats: Neurosis, Ludicra, Hammers of Misfortune, Saros, Grayceon, Amber Asylum, Worm Ouroboros, and more. Like these bands, Embers are hard to classify. Their foundation is crusty black metal, but slower passages suggest doom and even old 4AD. Unobtrusive keyboards, plaintive viola, and male and female screams enrich the sound. It sucks you in; I often put Embers on repeat and lose myself in its twists and turns.
Last year the band self-released a split 12″ with Oregon’s Book of Belial. Embers has made its two tracks (totaling about 19 minutes in length) from that split available for free download. See its Bandcamp page here, which offers streaming whole songs, complete lyrics, and a full range of download formats including MP3, FLAC, AAC, and more. See also the phenomenal artwork above, drawn by exceptionally talented bassist/vocalist Kelly Nelson. To purchase the 12″, visit the band’s official site here.
Embers is the real deal. Here’s your chance to get in on its ground floor. Again, stream, read, and download for free here. It will be worth your while.
I saw them open the WiTTR, Nachtmystium, Saros show in ‘08….very underwhelming, not the most exciting performance. Saros thoroughly housed them by comparison…I’m curious if they’ve upped their game because the recorded stuff is pretty excellent.
I’m actually curious, too. I can’t vouch for this band live, but these tracks sound like they could have been recorded live.
saw em live for the first time a couple weeks ago. i would not call it underwhelming at all. far from it.
Don’t forget Kowloon Walled City in the list of “gritty, crushing, awesome Bay Area bands”. I know they’ve received coverage here before but it’s worth saying it again because sweet fucking christ are they good.
I will check these guys out when I get home. Cool art too!
I saw this band too at WITTR with Saros and Nachtmystium. I thought they were crushing, high energy, and full sound with 6 members onstage rockin it. Awesome!! I look forward to seeing the new material at future gigs.
Great band live and otherwise.. Got a total crush on Kelly. Sick vocalist, badass bass player.. Hot!
Embers is just as incredible as all of the bands mentioned in this article. They have an absolutely amazing live sound and are killer performers. Any fans of blackmetal tinged grindcore, crust punk and straight up grim black metal would be doing themselves a favor by purchasing both the CD and the Split Vinyl LP with “Book of Belial” that is available for sale on their website. Both have been in heavy rotation on my ipod, turntable and car-stereo ever since I got them. Don’t pose…support!
I just checked out this band’s myspace and reverbnation page. 3 girls and 3 guys..not something you see every day although I guess their viola player is on hiatus for now. These ladies definitely fit into the bad ass chicks that rock catagory. They are an inspiration for all women in metal! From their videos, they seem to have a energetic live performance as well, the crowd sounded like they loved it. Thanks for turning me on to this band. They are a beautiful blend of melancholic back metal with haunting melodies and heavy Neurosis style doom riffs. Keep up the good work!!
I highly recommend Embers. As the article suggests, they play black metal that blends melodic elements, like keyboards, harmonized guitars, and slower passages, with a raw and crusty sound, particularly in the vocals. @Astral Zombie, I’ve been a fan of theirs for a while, but I remember hearing an opinion that they’d gotten a lot better recently, so maybe you’ll want to check em out again. I’d say the songs available for download are accurately representative of their recent material.
I’ve seen this band several times over the last few years and they keep getting better and better. They’re always tight and have a lot of energy. And of course, it’s always cool seeing the ladies rocking out. Their recorded shit is really good too. The last song on the split with Book of Belial transports me to another place. The progression is really dynamic and the viola adds the perfect blend of melancholy to driving, epic riffs.
It has been some time since i caught a live act that hit me the way EMBERS does. This band is HEAVY. Not to mention loud as hell, which i totally enjoy. Their music always takes my mind to unexpected places, and when i see them live, it’s like therapy for my twisted metal mind…GO SEE THEM. Tell your friends…this band deserves to go far….
What Robin, Bekey & Luke, et. al. said was spot on. I’ve seen them a bunch of times – they certainly keep improving. @ Astral Zombie – they’ve done a TON of shows since the gig with Nactmystium/Saros including touring Northern & Central Europe & the US South. Lilian, the keyboardist has filling in the viola parts really well during their shows and Jerry’s drumming is awesome.
I love this band!!! Live they are impeccable! The soaring beauty and the depths of hell within a moment! I have all their albums and I eagerly await their next one!
I like Embers so much I’ve chased them through several time zones. I drove from Bremen to Rostock Germany to see them play in the bowels of a very large punk ship anchored in Rostock harbor. It was like going to the end of the earth, with the perfect music to match. When Embers plays I close my eyes and they play inside my head, playing the most romantic metal I can imagine, summing up everything I’ve been feeling for days, and all without drugs! Turn them on and let yourself go.