EPK – Paradox Rift – Ensnared (2024)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
“We feel that this album best conveys the evolution and maturity of our musical style. We aim to melt peopleâs faces with it! Itâs not just one spectrum or one specific style of metalâ¦This is a versatile sonic beast that will transport its listeners to a completely different dimension!” – PARADOX
For fans of Between the Buried and Me, Gojira, Lamb of God, Converge, Voivod
Paradoxriftofficial.com | Facebook.com/ParadoxRiftOfficial | Youtube.com/@paradoxrift365
Paradoxrift.bandcamp.com | Spotify
Cleveland, Ohio has voted Paradox-Rift as the WINNER of the “BEST METAL BAND” award in 2022! … and Nominated again for the 2023 award!! (CLE Music Awards)
“Paradox Rift EP Swiftly Tops our Charts with Their Exhilarating Music, Offering Astonishing Instrumentation!” – THE TUNES CLUB 2020
“Powerful/ Unique Groovy Death Metal style full of chaos and energy! A brutal self-titled release.” – ROCK ERA MAGAZINE 2020
“Great sounding super-aggressive songs with tight instrumentation, badass riffage, powerful dynamics and vibes all along the way. There’s absolutely nothing negative to say here. The band is showing potential with their raw energy. I enjoyed what I heard.” – METALHEAD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE
[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]
Band: Paradox
Album Title: Ensnared
Release Date: May 10, 2024
Label: Self-Release
Track Listing:
1. Dismembered by Dogs (4:29)
2. Ensnared (3:15)
3. Prophet of Grievances (1:18)
4. Doomsayer (4:06)
5. Sporous (3:10)
6. Loathsome (4:42)
7. Disfluency (4:09)
8. Grave-Snuggler (2:22)
9. Lantern (1:47)
10. The Sky Beneath (3:29)
11. Feral Soul (4:12)
Album Credits:
– All songs performed by Paradox Rift
– All songs written by Paradox Rift
– Produced by Paradox Rift & Mercenary Studios
– Mixed by Noah C. Buchanan
– Mastered by Noah C. Buchanan
Band Line Up:
Luke Weeks – Vocals
Eric Burrington – Drums
Preston Lund – Guitar
Aljosa Covic – Bass
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About The Album Artwork
A figure or entity stuck/ being torn between two dimensions; A demolecularizing body that has no complete form in one realm or the other. Existing in agony, never to be whole. Constantly being ripped apart and reanimated, Ensnared between two worlds.
The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
Beneath the veil of mysticism and intrigue, listeners are lured into a mesmerizing and curious dimension … then, violently transported into sweeping hallucinations of horror and despair. This versatile album is heavy, technical, spastic and style-bending. Itâs definitely not what anyone will be expecting to hear from an extreme metal band based out of Cleveland, Ohio. Transcending the high-energy and sheer violence at unforeseen times as the dynamic music traverses through new ideas⦠and even encroaches on to more of an ethereal sound and atmosphere. Taming the beast⦠blending the tranquil with the agitated. This new release is much more than just brutal riffs with blasting drums. It almost feels like itâs set apart from the rest of the music in this particular genre. The compositions are incredibly captivating and seem to have a wild order of their own, on top of their eerie/ groovy nature. Encapsulating feelings of panic, rage, paranoia, chaos and crippling fear. The lyrics paint a vivid picture as the intense music tells the complex story of how it will leave its audience âEnsnaredâ.
Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
1. Dismembered by Dogs
âDismembered by Dogsâ is written as a story within a story. There is a surface narrative built from ideas of revenge and guilt, but there is also an esoteric meaning to some of the phrases. The listener will find the themes pulled from to be extremely relatable to battles that many of us face in our daily lives.
Sonically this piece is a dynamic balance of some of the darker human emotions. From mesmerizing swells of extreme sorrow and remorse to driving riffs of raw unfiltered aggression.
2. Ensnared
âEnsnaredâ is a fictional story about an indigenous tribe of merciless forest dwellers. They set traps for unsuspecting intruders and take pleasure in performing inhuman rituals on their victims.
The groove and rhythm of this song will make even the most clinically depressed metalhead start banging their head within seconds of the intro. The intricate guitar turnarounds synchronized perfectly with the intentional drum placements really make this song shine.
3. Prophet of Grievances
The lyrics of âProphet of Grievancesâ are similar in content to the beginning of âFeral Soulâ. The idea is that someone can offer you a suggestion but it is your job to consider what has been said, do the research and then make up your own mind. Not all advice is good advice, even if it comes from a place of authority.
Musically this is a hype builder that gets you pumped and charged for action. Yelling the words âyou canât make meâ at top volume just seems to fit perfectly.
4. DoomSayer (video release prior to album release)
The lyrics of âDoomSayerâ aim at making a comparison of human frailness and the will to persevere. Even during moments of strength we can sometimes get choked out by the deep sense that all is futile.
The musical inspiration for this song draws from quite a few different styles of metal genres that we love.
5. Sporous
âSporousâ is about the process of a human becoming infected with artificial intelligence nano-tech bots that start to take over the victimâs central nervous system.
The style of this one stands distinct from everything else we have created. It has more structured verses and unique vocal techniques that set it apart.
6. Loathsome
A song written more or less about âSocial Anxiety Disorderâ through the use of metaphor. The âpit of deathâ that pulls you down is anything that gives you anxiety or makes you feel inadequate. The character in this story still faces his enemies head on though it might not be with words.
Musically this may be our most developed composition and really showcases our growth as musicians molding a new sound.
7. Disfluency
âDisfluencyâ is about the damage that flows from a completely depraved society. Even fighting for your beliefs becomes futile when the intent is in the wrong place. A never ending spiral of death and decay is the theme of this short story.
The music of this song will take you on a journey. Starting off with an unsuspecting clean guitar tone, this composition soon builds to an intense syncopation of heavy and fast paced metal bliss.
8. Grave-Snuggler
In short, this song is all about filth by association. What we are surrounded by can rub off onto us even if we donât like it.
This song kicks off with a robust and in your face drum fill that sets the pace for the rest of the song. This high-energy dominant song will take the listener on a wild ride through death metal territory.
9. Lantern
The lyrics of âLanternâ give the listener the feeling of waking up from a concerning dream that has you shaken up. A deep sense of despair looming just around a corner, your inner being disturbed but you canât quite grasp what is truly going on.
This one was written intentionally as a short interlude but still is packed full of fervor and emotion. It has an ominous feel that builds into an explosive release of sophisticated madness.
10. The Sky Beneath
âThe Sky Beneathâ is a fabricated story about a sadistic manipulator getting caught in the web of his own lies. Though he can sometimes exert his control over some people, he will learn that not everyone will put up with his slanderous actions. Eventually he will lose his life for trying his games on the wrong person.
Musically this song is matched well with the deep feelings contained in the lyrics. There are peaks and valleys in the instrumentation that convey anger, betrayal and regret that one could pick up on even without the lyrics being heard.
11. Feral Soul
âFeral Soulâ is about a personal relationship with someone that goes from good to destructive.
The lyrics start with someone becoming controlling of your decisions and move into them trying to harm you or your family. The song crescendos into expressing the hurt that comes from realizing that someone you cared so much about completely betrayed you.
This track is packed with mean riffs and exciting drum patterns. The lyrics are perfectly matched with the mood of each different section. The vocals range from high shrills to low and mid-range growls. âFeral Soulâ is a crowd favorite for all these reasons and more.
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1-Our Origin story
Paradox Rift had an interesting start. The 3 original band members Luke, Eric and Preston all met through a Craigslist ad. Eric had a rehearsal space that he was already paying for.
(Eric elaborates) -My previous band Cymatik had ended and the members went in different ways. So, i figured I’d try my luck at starting something from the ground up with like-minded musicians. Only catch was finding them. I hung flyers at music stores and some online ads and got a few hits. Preston had seen my ad on Craigslist. We had chatted a bit over emails about what we were into musically. He even said he had a vocalist in mind too. After a good 1st meeting with both Luke and Preston, I already felt that we had a great chemistry with a very unique sound. We began jamming weekly after that. Everything grew like a wildfire from there. After playing out for a cpl years with fill in bass players we decided to find a more long term fit for the band. Osha had hit me up online around this time from seeing my posts involving the local metal scene. He was looking for a band to join so we gave him a shot. After that the lineup for Paradox Rift was finalized and the writing of Ensnared began.
2. Album Production/ Studio facts:
The ENSNARED LP was recorded in an unusual manner. First of all, the band members couldn’t align all of their schedules for studio time. Resulting in multiple solo sessions to complete the album. The drums aren’t midi drums like in most modern metal albums. Instead they are natural acoustic drums with no samples or triggering. Another fun fact about the making of this album⦠Almost all of the tracks on ENSNARED were recorded without the use of pre-production when entering the studio. For example, when drums were tracked, there was no reference for the drummer. No guitars, no music, not even click tracks for tempos. The album was basically recorded by feel. Once Eric had a few solid takes down on the drums, it was time for the strings to come in for tracking. Preston had tracked all guitars and even a lot of the bass work on the album alongside bassist Osha. Vocals were added last, like the icing on an elaborately baked cake. With both Luke and Preston recording the vocal arrangements. By the time everything had come together, it felt as if the Album had become its own entity. It seems almost human-like in ways. It’s raw, emotional, aggressive and imperfect in its natural state. Humans made this album⦠Not programs, robots or metronomes. Real people with real instruments. At the end of the day we wrote this album to be felt more than to be heard.
3. Age/ Generation Differences
Paradox Rift is a blend of multiple generations of metal coming together. With members in their early thirties, late thirties and even a fifty year old. We all listen to different generations, styles and subgenres of metal and we all bring something different to the Paradox Rift table. Metal music is what brought us together. We gladly blend all of our inspirations to create something we feel is new to the community of metal and will hold up through the ages to come.
4. Award Winning Metal
In the year of 2022 the city of Cleveland, Ohio decided to help showcase its music and arts scene by holding an award ceremony to commemorate local artists of all styles and genres. The inaugural Cleveland Music Awards was born. Citizens from all over the state of Ohio voted for their favorite artists and âParadox Riftâ was one of the top four nominated bands in the metal genre. When the award ceremony took place, Paradox Rift was announced the Winner of the 2022 Best Metal Band Award! Then in 2023, when the CLE Music Awards returned for its second year, âParadox Riftâ found themselves nominated once again for Best band in metal.
5. The Writing âProcessâ
In âParadox Riftâ, thereâs two cooks in the kitchen serving up new song ideas. Preston and Eric. The process they use for writing songs can seem very unorthodox at times.Thereâs no method to the madness! A lot of songs have stemmed from isolated drum beats and grooves. Drummer Eric has a process of writing things on his own sometimes, where he combines multiple drum arrangements to flow and work together as a song outline or skeleton. Then, Preston colors in that outline with structured guitar riffs and leads. They like to bounce ideas off of each other until theyâve reached a mutual agreement of what theyâre both pursuing. Preston also writes a lot of the song ideas on his own. Usually based off of riff ideas or inspired by other bands that heâs been listening to at that time. These days, he records his ideas at home and sends them to the others in the band to see if they like any of the riffs. Then, he and Eric hash it out and edit parts as they put everything together and rearrange the idea into a song. Itâs pretty mind boggling after the song is completed. Sometimes itâs completely unrecognizable from the skeleton that it started out as. The band strives to try new methods and ways to create their music. Constantly adapting and evolving as they refine their craft and brand.
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Left to Right – Luke(vox), Preston(guitar), Osha(bass), Eric(drums) (photographer Lance Littlefield)
Having been recognized in their local scene with the BEST METAL BAND award from the Cleveland Music Awards in 2022 and nominated again in 2023, melodic death quartet PARADOX RIFT has their sights set on their next offering of brutal, technical, and intentional, style-bending metal.
Aiming to melt peopleâs faces, they are gearing up to unleash their first full-length “Ensnared” this coming May 2024. Combining their experimental death/math style with heavy grooves and progressive twists, the band keeps listeners reeling for what comes next, and with this forthcoming record, fans will find not just one spectrum or one specific style of metal.
“This is a versatile sonic beast that will transport its listeners to a completely different dimension! We feel that this album best conveys the evolution and maturity of our musical style. and hope that it will go above and beyond the fans’ expectations.” says the band.
For the album’s production “Ensnared” LP was recorded in an unusual manner. First of all, the band members couldn’t align all of their schedules for studio time. Resulting in multiple solo sessions to complete the album. The drums aren’t midi drums like in most modern metal albums. Instead they are natural acoustic drums with no samples or triggering. Another fun fact about the making of this album. Almost all of the tracks on “Ensnared” were recorded without the use of pre-production when entering the studio. For example, when drums were tracked, there was no reference for the drummer. No guitars, no music, not even click tracks for tempos. The album was basically recorded by feel. Once their drummer Eric had a few solid takes down, it was time for the strings to come in for tracking. Preston had tracked all guitars and even a lot of the bass work on the album alongside bassist Osha. Vocals were added last, like the icing on an elaborately baked cake. With both Luke and Preston recording the vocal arrangements. By the time everything had come together, it felt as if the album had become its own entity. It seems almost human-like in ways. It’s raw, emotional, aggressive and imperfect in its natural state. Humans made this album⦠Not programs, robots or metronomes. Real people with real instruments. At the end of the day PARADOX RIFT wrote this album to be felt more than to be heard.
Lyrically, this album comes from lots of different inspirations, storytelling, art, metaphor, life experiences, even other songs and music have inspired the wordsmithing. Overall, the lyrics paint a vivid picture as the intense music tells the complex story of how it will leave its audience “Ensnared”.
Recommended for fans of Between the Buried and Me, Gojira, Lamb of God, Converge, and Voivod, “Ensnared” is due out on May 10, 2024 and available for pre-order at âhttps://paradoxrift.bandcamp.comâ.
Discography:
2024 – Â Ensnared
2022- Dismembered by Dogs- Demo
2019- Self Titled- EP
Tours and Festivals:
2023- C.O.C.C. Fest- Norwalk, OH
2023- Full Send Summer Fest- Cleveland, OH
2023- Skatopia Bowl Bash â23- Rutland, OH
2023- Midwest Meltdown- Cleveland, OH
2022- Desecration Ritual Fest- Ft. Wayne, IN
2022- Noise Dosage Media- Doused in Death 2 Fest- Buffalo, NY
2022- Cleveland Summer Slam- Cleveland, OH
2022- Life After Death Fest- Youngstown, OH
2020- September Shred Fest- Kent, OH
