In November 2018, US dark melodic metal act WITHERFALL released its much-celebrated second studio album, “A Prelude to Sorrow”. Never resting on its laurels, the group led by the creative duo comprised of vocalist Joseph Michael (Sanctuary) and Jake Dreyer (Iced Earth) now announces the “Vintage” CD, LP, and digital release to be available during the upcoming acoustic tour with Sonata Arctica and released via Century Media Records on March 22nd, 2019.
WITHERFALL reveals:
“During the sessions for “A Prelude to Sorrow” two cover songs were recorded that showed a different side of WITHERFALL, originally intended to be bonus tracks. A dark and somber version of Tom Petty’s 'I Won’t Back Down' with vocals recorded with Michael Wagener (Metallica, Skid Row) and an epic version of the Helloween classic 'A Tale That Wasn’t Right'. With the announcement of the “Sonata Arctica Acoustic Adventures tour”, it was decided to release these covers along with a few acoustic renditions of favorite WITHERFALL tracks.
Along with new keyboardist Alex Nasla and session percussionist James “Timbali” Cornwell (Smokey Robinson, Earth Wind & Fire ), Joseph Michael, Jake Dreyer and Anthony Crawford retreated to Harmony Recording Studios in Hollywood, CA (Adele, Miley Cyrus) armed with acoustic guitars and bottles of wine to start working on acoustic arrangements for the tour. The sessions were fruitful and two acoustic versions of past WITHERFALL songs were recorded: a medley of 'Vintage' and 'Nobody Sleeps Here...' (originally on “Nocturnes and Requiems”) and an alternate arrangement of 'Ode to Despair'. Instead of keeping these as secrets and finally making the rare 'The Long Walk Home (December)' also available to an audience outside of Japan, the “Vintage” EP offers a collection of music that shows another dimension of the WITHERFALL sound.”
Mixed and mastered by Christopher “Zeuss” Harris and again featuring artwork by Kristian Wåhlin, “Vintage” will be released as strictly limited, hand-numbered CD digipak, on black and limited colored vinyl as well as on all digital platforms.
WITHERFALL “Vintage – EP” (40:51) track-listing:
1. Vintage Medley
Vintage I
Nobody Sleeps Here…
Vintage II
2. A Tale That Wasn't Right (Helloween cover)
3. Ode To Despair (Acoustic)
4. The Long Walk Home (December)
5. I Won't Back Down (Tom Petty cover)
6. Vintage (album version)
Furthermore, the “Vintage” EP also features new keyboardist Alex Nasla who will join WITHERFALL on the group's upcoming European tour kicking off March 13th in Oslo, Norway. Prior to the Acoustic Adventures Tour with Sonata Arctica, WITHERFALL will now perform at LA's Regent Theater on January 21st, supporting Ensiferum and Septic Flesh.
WITHERFALL live:
Witherfall with Ensiferum, Septic Flesh
21.01 Los Angeles (US) Regent Theater
SONATA ARCTICA
»Acoustic Adventures«
w/ WITHERFALL (‘Acoustic set’)
13.03. Oslo (NO) Parkteatret
14.03. Stockholm (SE) Södra Teatern
15.03. Malmö (SE) Palladium
16.03. Hamburg (DE) Fabrik
17.03. Eindhoven (NL) Effenaar
19.03. London (UK) Islington Assembly Hall
20.03. Haarlem (NL) Patronaat
21.03. Aschaffenburg (DE) Colos-Saal
22.03. Paris (FR) Le Trabendo
23.03. Lyon (FR) Ninkasi Kao
24.03. Mailand (IT) Teatro Dal Verme
26.03. Pratteln (CH) Z7
27.03. Nürnberg (DE) Hirsch
28.03. Prag (CZ) Roxy
29.03. Stuttgart (DE) Im Wizemann (Club)
30.03. Bochum (DE) Christuskirche
26.04 – 27.04 (exact date tba) WITHERFALL ‘Electric set’ @ Keep It True XXII, Germany
w/ Candlemass, Satan, Agent Steel, Midnight & many others
WITHERFALL is:
Joseph Michael - Vocals/Guitar/Keyboards
Jake Dreyer - Guitars
Anthony Crawford - Bass
Alex Nasla – Keyboards
Steve Bolognese- Drums