Portland, Oregon’s Unto Others have spent their seasons in the abyss and arise from the other side with their third full-length studio album and Century Media debut “Never, Neverland” – incoming on September 20th, 2024.
When writing began for the record, Unto Others’ Gabriel Franco & Co. were staggering away from two years of post-pandemic touring and personal hells. Not only did they survive that time, they also came back stronger and more resolute than ever.
“My goal was to push this thing so hard that more people know us as Unto Others”, says Franco, alluding to the band’s moniker shift from Idle Hands. But hard work came with a price: “At the end of it, I was burnt out, full of anxiety and raw nerves”, Franco relates. That ineffable pressure funneled itself into what became the foundation for “Never, Neverland”. Signing with Century Media and hiring British producer Tom Dalgety (Ghost, The Cult), what began as an exaltation of exhaustion blossomed into the band’s most diverse and fulfilled work to date.
“Never, Neverland” is equally dreamy while never letting go of the energy and darkness that is Unto Others. It’s a record that owes as much to The Cure as it does to self-professed influences like The Sisters Of Mercy and Iron Maiden. Simply put: this is the record where Unto Others prove themselves far more than just a one-trick, blackened steed, but instead, a band on the verge of something wickedly terrible and utterly timeless.
“Never, Neverland”’s majestic new single “Angel of the Night” premieres today. Franco comments: “I’ve always wanted to do a power ballad, and I think this might be the closest we ever get. A goth power ballad maybe. Sebastian’s [Silva, guitarist] solo in this one is my favourite of the record. He really did a phenomenal job”.
Listen to “Angel of the Night” below.
“Never, Neverland” also marks a new epoch for Unto Others (rounded out by guitarist Sebastian Silva, bassist Brandon Hill and drummer Colin Vranizan). Having emerged in 2017, the band turned heads with the “Don’t Waste Your Time” EP, followed by the beloved 2019 full length “Mana” and 2021’s heavy hitting “Strength” LP. Now, Unto Others build upon the seductive and beguiling foundation they’ve hewn out of a bedrock of goth, classic rock, punk, black metal and heavy metal.
“‘Mana’ and ‘Strength’ can almost be pushed together”, Franco reflects on how “Never, Neverland” differs from its predecessors. “I had an iron grip over those albums. Every beat needed to be where I wanted it and how I wanted it to sound. With this one, I took a much looser approach and gave the band members a lot more input. This is the first record with Brandon doing backup vocals instead of myself. Even though I still wrote the core of the songs, this one is a much more collaborative effort. I kind of let go of it because I realized it was killing me. And the record came out better for it. It’s the best thing we’ve ever done”.
Bringing in producer Tom Dalgety for “Never, Neverland” was a welcome change for Franco and crew. The results of the month spent in Portland’s Falcon Studios (where they recorded Mana) with Dalgety deliver majestically on Unto Others’ shadowy promise – guitars swell and thrash with colour and shape while a newfound confidence and dimension creeps into Gabe’s vocals. “Never, Neverland” weaves a spell of its own and cements Unto Others as the reflectively-bespeckled visage of goth today.
Whether opening for the likes of extreme metal legends Carcass, Arch Enemy or Behemoth or blasting packed and sweaty rooms with traditional metal outfits like Haunt or Eternal Champion, this band never fail in grabbing the most unlikely and diverse crowds with their incendiary shadow play. Like the best of their inspirations, Unto Others isn’t merely content to plumb darkened musical shrines and narrow subgenres – Gabe’s sights are set on something bigger.
Pre-order “Never, Neverland” here.
Tracklist:
1. Butterfly
2. Momma Likes the Door Closed
3. Angel of the Night
4. Suicide Today
5. Sunshine
6. Glass Slippers
7. Fame
8. When the Kids Get Caught
9. Flatline
10. Time Goes On
11. Cold World
12. I Am the Light
13. Farewell…
14. Raigeki
15. Hoops
16. Never, Neverland
See Unto Others on tour across the globe this summer and autumn (including an extensive US trek with W.A.S.P.) and expect more exciting news soon. Buy tickets here.
European Tour Dates 2024:
August 1 Copenhagen, DK @ Stengade
August 2 Wacken, DE @ Wacken Open Air
August 3 Munster, DE @ Zappenduster Festival
August 4 Berlin, DE @ SO 36
August 5 Gdynia, PL @ Klub Ucho
August 6 Poznan, PL @ 2Progi
August 8 Villena, ES @ Leyendas Del Rock Festival
August 9 Jaromer, CZ @ Brutal Assault Festival
August 10 Schlotheim, DE @ Party San Open Air
August 11 Kortrijk, BE @ Alcatraz Music Festival
August 13 Fontaneto D’agogna, IT @ Phenomenon
August 14 Dornbirn, AT @ Conrad Sohm
August 15 Munich, DE @ Backstage
August 16 Gyöngyös, HU @ Fekete Zaj Festival
August 17 Hamburg, DE @ Bambi Galore
August 18 Eindhoven, NL @ Dynamo Metal Fest
North American Tour Dates 2024:
October 28 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater *
October 29 Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre *
October 30 Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre *
November 1 Calgary, AB The Palace Theatre *
November 2 Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory *
November 3 Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory *
November 4 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot *
November 5 Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre *
November 7 Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore *
November 8 St Charles, IL @ The Arcada Theatre *
November 10 Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre *
November 11 Toronto, ON @ History *
November 13 Montreal, QC @ MTELUS *
November 14 Quebec City, QC @ Theatre Capitole *
November 15 Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre *
November 16 New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom At Manhattan Center *
November 17 Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall *
November 19 Cleveland, OH @ The Agora Theater *
November 20 Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE *
November 21 Stroudsburg, PA @ The Sherman Theater *
November 22 Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore *
November 23 Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore *
November 24 Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live *
November 26 Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium *
November 27 Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern *
November 29 Houston, TX @ House Of Blues *
November 30 San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre *
December 1 Dallas, TX @ The Factory in Deep Ellum *
December 3 Little Rock, AR @ The Hall *
December 4 Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion *
December 6 Albuquerque, NM @ REVEL *
December 7 Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee Theatre *
December 9 Tucson, AZ @ The Rialto Theatre *
December 10 San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues *
December 11 Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Resort and Casino *
December 12 Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl
December 13 San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield *
December 14 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium *
* (w/ W.A.S.P.)
Line-up:
Gabriel Franco – Vocals, Guitars
Sebastian Silva – Guitars
Brandon Hill – Bass
Colin Vranizan – Drums
