Veteran metalcore group As I Lay Dying have returned with their first single in five years, which is also the first studio effort to feature the band's current lineup.
The song in question is a thrashy, but melodic piece called "Burden," and it marks the first preview from the San Diego quintet's forthcoming, as-yet-detailed eighth full-length release. It's likewise the studio debut of bassist Ryan Neff, drummer Nick Pierce and guitarist Ken Susi, who joined up with founding vocalist Tim Lambesis and longtime lead guitarist Phil Sgrosso in 2022.
You can hear the song up above.
Sgrosso explained that the song was built off an ages-old idea they'd thought "was lost for good in the demo abyss." When Lambesis recently rediscovered the track, they were inspired to give it another go in the studio with Hiram Hernandez, who co-produced "Burden" with Sgrosso.
"Musically, we feel that 'Burden' represents a familiar part of our melodic history combined with a modern sense of energy and aggression," Sgrosso said in a statement. "We really pushed ourselves to expand our musical capabilities in every department. We look forward to the addition of 'Burden' into our live show as well as introducing more music we've been working hard on over the past few years. Stay tuned."
"Burden" marks the first piece of new music from As I Lay Dying since the release of 2019's Shaped by Fire. That record itself marked a return for Lambesis after he served two-and-a-half years in prison for attempting to hire an undercover police, posing as a hit man, to murder the singer's then-wife, Meggan Lambesis.
As I Lay Dying's new album will be delivered through Napalm Records. In addition to the new music, As I Lay Dying have a U.S. summer tour coming up with Chelsea Grin and Entheos, and have just announced a late fall/early winter European trek with Caliban, Decapitated and Left to Suffer. You'll find all the tour info here.
