The Promise Of Plague

Country: USA
Genre:  Blackened Doom/Death Metal
Founded: 2016
Label: Throne Of Lies

The Earth Above, A Grave Beneath is the fourth full length album from Louisville, Kentucky’s The Promise Of Plague – a band that draw inspiration from across the metal spectrum, fusing diverse elements into a dark and powerfully distinct sound. Nearly a decade on from their first EP, Sleepwalking Into Armageddon, the band’s experience and accomplished musicianship can be heard in every note of the bravely creative The Earth Above, A Grave Beneath. Opening in savage fashion with ‘Vomit Running Through My Veins’, The Promise Of Plague slam you back in your seat before the songs uncoils itself, shifting between moods and tempos, adding melodic guitar lines and rich atmosphere, driven forward by a visceral vocal presence. This opening sets the tone for what is to follow…expect the unexpected, be prepared for every song to possess its own individual character, but with an emotional weight and depth that anchors the band’s sound as they explore.

From the emotive darkness and haunted landscapes of ‘Dead Mistake’, via the varied vocal interplay of ‘One Line Poem’, to the album’s title track, with its guitar motifs with deep, deep roots that speak in a universal voice; there are a myriad of treasures to uncover in The Promise Of Plague’s musical darkness. The venomous black metal heart of ‘My World Is Better, Darker’ beats slower as it reaches its end and slips into the epic ‘Of Sorrow’ – resounding chords, wearied marches across windswept hills, jagged riffs, frantic velocities, raw, impassioned screams – they are all here, all part of the great tapestry of this momentous song. And then? Then we celebrate our passage through the night with a brutal reworking of Quiet Riot’s headbanging classic, ‘Metal Health’! Twisted into The Promise Of Plague’s form, it provides a triumphant conclusion to this harrowing but rewarding album.

Recorded and mixed by Chris Leffler (Stonecutters, Assisting Sorrow) with additional mixing and mastering by Overload drummer Todd Hawkins, The Earth Above, A Grave Beneath has the strength, dexterity and clarity of sound to bring the best out of The Promise Of Plague’s diverse and adventurous creativity. Completed by the evocative cover artwork of the band’s own Jerry Barksdale (who also supplied the visual elements for many albums by death metal veterans Abominant amongst others) The Earth Above, A Grave Beneath will be released in March of 2026. Prepare for a voyage into the stygian depths of the soul.

Members of the band:
JD Hall – Vocals
Joanie Michele – Vocals
Jerry Barksdale – Guitars
Sam Pedneau – Guitars
Phil Garrett – Bass
Jim Huggins – Drums
*additional guest guitars by Chris Leffler