KINGDOM OF SORROW

PLEASE NOTE: Kingdom of Sorrow will unfortunately not be appearing at the first show in Devore, CA.

Boasting a line up that includes members of such influential metal bands as HATEBREED, DOWN, CROWBAR, and more, KINGDOM OF SORROW has arrived to stake its claim as the band that lives up to its super group status.

The seeds of KINGDOM OF SORROW were sown over a decade ago when a 16 year old HATEBREED front man (and avid CROWBAR fan) Jamey Jasta introduced himself to DOWN/CROWBAR guitarist Kirk Windstein at a show at Pearl Street in Northampton, Massachusetts.

A short time later Jasta, who actively booked shows throughout New England in the early nineties, put up the cash for an NAPALM DEATH/CROWBAR show in order that HATEBREED could play with one of his favorite bands. Ever since, the two have remained in contact and become close friends over the subsequent decade.

Jasta and HATEBREED invited CROWBAR out for a UK run of dates in March 2005. It was there that the two friends decided to combine forces on a band based on their mutual affinity for the hallmarks of the genre (BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN, PANTERA) and their history of writing some of the heaviest hitting metal of the past fifteen years.

The duo holed-up in Silver Bullet Studios in Connecticut in May 2005 and once again when Kirk relocated post-Katrina to write and assemble what would become the very first KINGDOM OF SORROW album.

The first taste of the untitled project surfaced in the form of the epic track “Buried in Black” on Roadrunner Records,’MTV2 Headbangers Ball: The Revenge’ compilation (released April 2006).

“Buried in Black” combined two of metal’s most recognizable styles into one crushing, morose display of metal brilliance. The lead-heavy riffs captured by Zeuss (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL, MUNICIPAL WASTE) that closed the compilation cleared the deck of the bands before it, and were a call to arms of what is sure to be one of the genre’s most celebrated new bands. It wasn’t long before “Buried in Black” appeared on metal radio shows the world over and became a staple on Sirius’ “Hard Attack”.

While the writing flowed fast, progress was slow due to the pair’s commitments to their main bands that wrote, released, and toured extensively, on new records through 2006 and 2007. Songs were deconstructed, reconstructed, written and recorded again in Planet Z Studios (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, etc.) with Zeuss until the duo was completely satisfied with the outcome.

KINGDOM OF SORROW inked a deal with Relapse Records in fall 2007 and began plans to unveil the record they’d spent the better part of two years creating. The self-titled debut was released in the early months of 2008.

On their long-awaited album KINGDOM OF SORROW released an 11 track barrage of some of the heaviest and most muscular metal in years. The album’s release was followed by a headlining tour featuring a touring line-up of Jasta (Vocals) and Windstein (Guitar, Vocals), along with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY guitarist Steve Gibb, SEEMLESS drummer Derek Kerswell, and bassist Matthew Brunson. The band then spent a full two-months on tour in the US in the late fall alongside GWAR and TOXIC HOLOCAUST. For a portion of this tour, KINGDOM OF SORROW was joined by guest guitar player Kenny Hickey (TYPE O NEGATIVE) when Windstein fulfilled touring commitments with DOWN.

In 2009, Jasta and Windstein returned their focus to their other bands all the while KINGDOM OF SORROW’s fanbase was growing with the use of viral videos and online updates. The response to their debut album was exceedingly positive and interest continued to pour in. In the midst of recording and touring separately, Jasta and Windstein would use what free time they could find to exchange ideas and riffs for a new KINGDOM OF SORROW record.

The metal stars aligned and both men were able to meet up in January of 2010 to flesh out their ideas. Like the old pros that they are, things came together quickly between the two metal luminaries and they went straight into Dexter’s Lab in Milford, CT to lay these fresh new tracks to tape. After the initial recording session, KINGDOM OF SORROW sent off their 12 new tracks to Zuess at Plant Z to mix and master the whole thing. The outcome was progression in both sound and structure. With a sound as large as their reputations, and some of the best songwriting the genre has seen in years, Behind the Blackest Tears is destined to become a genre classic.

The album will see its North American release date on June 8th. KINGDOM OF SORROW’s first tour in support of the record will be as part of the triumphant return of OZZFEST in Summer 2010.

KINGDOM OF SORROW is:
Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED, ICEPICK) – Vocals and principal songwriter
Kirk Windstein (DOWN, CROWBAR) – Guitar, Vocals and principal songwriter