07/31/2013 20:57

Broken Hope

Broken Hope: new album 'Omen of Disease' out in October

Reformed Chicago death metallers Broken Hope will release their sixth album, 'Omen of Disease', in October via Century Media Records. The drums for the CD were laid down at Belle City Sound in Racine, Wisconsin with engineer Chris Wisco (Lazarus A.D., Jungle Rot, Origin, Gorgasm), while the remaining instruments were tracked at Mercenary Digital Studios in Zion, Illinois with engineer Scott Creekmore (Dirge Within, Putrid Pile, Lividity).

'Omen of Disease' will feature a special guest appearance by Trevor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder on the new Broken Hope track 'Rendered into Lard'. The cover painting for the CD was created by world-renowned horror artist Wes Benscoter (Slayer, Cattle Decapitation, Autopsy, Kreator).

Comments Broken Hope guitarist Jeremy Wagner: "Wes Benscoter is one of my favorite artists, EVER. In my opinion, he's right up there with Frank Frazetta, Michael Whelan and Todd Schorr. Ever since Benscoter did our 'Repulsive Conception' and 'Loathing' album covers, I've wanted to work with him again. I was beyond thrilled when Benscoter agreed to take on the 'Omen of Disease' project... and he nailed it! He's captured the vile essence, putrid vibe, and apocalyptic, disease-laden horror of 'Omen of Disease'. Thank you for creating another masterpiece, Wes Benscoter."

Broken Hope tapped James Murphy (Death, Obituary, Testament) to mix and master 'Omen of Disease' at Murphy's studio, Safehouse Production.

"'Omen of Disease' - a title conceived by chief lyricist and guitarist Jeremy Wagner - is also a song on the new album, marking the first Broken Hope "title track" since their 1991 debut LP, 'Swamped in Gore'. Other songtitles set to appear on the CD include 'The Flesh Mechanic' and 'Give Me the Bottom Half'.

Comments Wagner: "Some time ago, a festering death metal prophecy indicated something sick and brutal was coming back from the dead. The malignant signs became evident when Broken Hope first resurrected from the grave and then went on tour. A more sinister foreboding followed when Broken Hope wrote a new death metal album for the world to hear. Today, I'm a harbinger, here to alert everyone of a 'death metal omen' that is upon us...I speak of the new Broken Hope album, 'Omen of Disease'. The album title itself reeks of a musical offering that is nothing short of gruesome. 'Omen of Disease' will be released to infect everyone worldwide this summer. I promise: this death metal album is a most savage, feral, pestilential, and lethal creation. You've been warned..."

Broken Hope was formed in 1988 by Wagner, while he was in high school. Shortly after formation, they recorded two demo tapes and signed with indie label, Grind-Core Records. Then in 1991, they released their debut album, 'Swamped in Gore', launching the band out of the underground and into the mainstream. From there, the band signed to Metal Blade Records and released three more albums, all stellar examples of Broken Hope's fury, which etched their place in death-metal history.

After Broken Hope's last album (1999's 'Grotesque Blessings') and world tours, Wagner cleaned house and put Broken Hope into "metal hibernation" in 2000. On January 20, 2010, original Broken Hope vocalist Joe Ptacek tragically committed suicide. He was only 37 years old. Before his death, Ptacek met with Wagner and Glass and discussed the resurrection of Broken Hope. With Ptacek's death, Wagner and Glass took time off to reconsider their next moves.

In 2012, Broken Hope signed with Hard Impact Management and vowed to make Broken Hope a full-time monster. Wagner and Glass recruited longtime friend and Gorgasm vocalist Damian Leski as their new frontman and shortly after marked their return on the highly successful "Carnival of Death" tour. Broken Hope's high-intensity concerts received top praise, and confirmed the band was back and more rabid than ever.

Broken Hope 2013 is:
Damian Leski - vocals
Jeremy Wagner - guitars
Shaun Glass - bass
Chuck Wepfer - lead guitars
Mike Miczek - drums

(source: Blabbermouth.net)