Having refined their broody, mesmerising vision of gothic/symphonic metal to cinematic levels, with three EPs and a full-length album behind them, Blackbriar continue to set their sails towards the future. The Netherlands based band are proud to announce their signing to Nuclear Blast Records, and are currently working towards their second full-length album, accompanied by long-time collaborator, Joost van den Broek. Today, the band have released a brand-new song titled “Crimson Faces”.
Stream “Crimson Faces” here. Watch the new video for “Crimson Faces” below.
Singer, Zora Cock comments on the signing:
“Dear fans, we’re so excited to have partnered up with Nuclear Blast Records!!! Having been an independent band for many years, we’ve finally found the perfect fit that makes our dreams come to life! Joining forces with this incredible label is a huge step for Blackbriar! We promise you that there are a lot of exciting things coming, starting with a brand-new single that’s OUT NOW! Listen to ‘Crimson Faces’ on all music platforms, and let us know what you think! ❤ Love, Blackbriar”.
Jens Prueter, Head Of A&R Nuclear Blast Europe:
“Please warmly welcome Blackbriar to the Nuclear Blast family! It has been a pleasure to meet them at Joost van den Broek’s studio and to get a sneak preview on the exciting things to come. We’re thrilled to work with such a creative team. It’s amazing what the band have already achieved completely DIY, creating a unique world of their own. Expect to be enchanted – this is probably the biggest gift that artists can give us”.
Zora Cock commented on the single:
“‘Crimson Faces’ tells a story of being haunted by ghosts, jealousy, and insecurities, based on the old classic Gothic novel ‘Rebecca’. You asked us to make a different kind of music video, one of us performing instead of portraying a story, and we thought ‘Crimson Faces’ was the perfect song to do this with. We hope we’ve fulfilled your wishes”!
Formed in 2012, Blackbriar crafted their first single in 2014 – “Ready to Kill”, but it was 2015’s second single “Until Eternity” that truly propelled the band into the limelight, with now over 18.1 million views since its debut. Taking advantage of the growing buzz surrounding them, they independently recorded and released their first EP, “Fractured Fairytales”, which laid down an impressive foundation for the band’s ethereal, breath-taking sound, and brought about new opportunities, including EU tour dates alongside Epica, Halestorm, In This Moment, Delain and MAYAN. The band crowdfunded their follow-up EP, “We’d Rather Burn” in 2018. It would be the first time they worked alongside esteemed producer Joost van den Broek, and this collaboration allowed Blackbriar’s whimsical and enigmatic sound to reach new sonic heights. The EP showcased a stronger sense of dreamy atmosphere and brought listeners beautifully grim tales of witches, banshees, and sea sirens.
In 2019 the band released haunting single “Snow White and Rose Red”, their take on the Grimm’s fairy tales. Continuing to dig deeper into fairy tale realms, Blackbriar closed the year with their third EP, “Our Mortal Remains”, followed up by further touring with Epica and Delain. Championing their continued independence, which included everything from song-writing, overseeing merch, as well as shooting and producing their own videos and photos, Blackbriar reached out to their ever-growing and loyal fanbase for assistance to make their full-length debut album a reality in 2020. Fans heeded the call, reaching the €25,000 goal in under 24 hours, ending with a total of €70,000. It was an impressive accomplishment for an independent act, which shows their strong internet presence, with over 214,000 YouTube subscribers and 46.1 million channel views, as well as 27.6 million Spotify streams and 150,000 monthly listeners.
Entering 2021, the band relinquished a bit of control in signing with Doomstar Bookings to help support their first full-length album, “The Cause of Shipwreck”. It was recorded with Joost van den Broek (Epica, Ayreon, Powerwolf), and the release showcased the band’s continued evolution into masterfully dark gothic storytelling and theatrical aesthetics. On the live front, the band launched the record with six sold-out Dutch club shows, before further EU mainland dates.
With their vision looking firmly into the future, and a major label behind them, Blackbriar have set their sights on 2023 to conjure their most deadly siren song yet. With accolades behind them, such as being nominated three times for ‘Best Artist’ in the EuroSonic/Noorderslag’s Popgala Noord Awards (2018, 2020, 2022), and continued fan support, with current monthly streaming totals on YouTube and Spotify nearing 1 million streams, the world is primed and ready for a spectacular journey ahead.
Line-up:
Zora Cock – Vocals
René Boxem – Drums
Bart Winters – Guitars
Robin Koezen – Guitars
Siebe Sol Sijpkens – Bass
Ruben Wijga – Keys
Weblinks:
www.blackbriarmusic.com
www.facebook.com/blackbriarmusic
