Six years since our last track premiere, THE SLUDGELORD returns
with “In the Grips of Illusion,” the closing track from THRAKIAN’s debut record, The Way.
Originally from the coast of Bulgaria and now based in Wales, THRAKIAN fuse atmospheric
sludge/post-metal weight with mythic introspection.
After three years of delivering ferocious, high-impact performances across the UK metal scene, the band now present The Way, a 35-minute reflection on the human condition shaped by ancient philosophies, personal upheaval, and the turbulent process of rebuilding identity in a new land.
Recorded at Cardiff’s renowned Longwave and Woodcroft Audio Studios, and
shaped with the expertise of engineer Timothy Vincent, known for work with Evile and Brutality Will Prevail,
the record channels THRAKIAN’s immigrant experience
through pummelling riffcraft, expansive atmosphere, and immersive post-metal
soundscapes.
Drawing on Thracian mythology and themes of loss, endurance, and resilience, The Way feels both ancient and immediate, moving between widescreen atmosphere and punishing sludge-weight.
As the album’s final track, “In the Grips of Illusion” brings that journey to an imposing close: dense, brooding, cathartic, and full of mythic scale.
The Way will be released on October 16 via Aonair Records and is available to pre-order here. Listen to the exclusive premiere of “In the Grips of Illusion” below and the band had the following to say about the track
"In the Grips of Illusion draws on the myth of
Orpheus’ descent into Hell and the illusion that we can alter what has already
happened or control what is yet to come. We wrote this track last, just as we
were about to enter the studio, and in many ways it became a summary of the
whole process of creating 'The Way'."
