UK post-metal quintet Dead Cosmonauts announce debut album »Parasomnia«; out on November 17th via Do It Thissen Records and Trepanation Recordings!

Sheffield, UK based post-metal quintet Dead Cosmonauts has announced their debut album, »Parasomnia«, which will be released on November 17th, 2023 via Do It Thissen Records and Trepanation Recordings.

Listen to the first single »Kenopsia« below!

Tracklist:
01. Liminal Space (65 mins REM, vitals = stable)
02. Beneath The Choking Sky
03. Kenopsia
04. In Spirals It Took Everything
05. Swallowed In Dark Waters
06. A Vision From The Valley Of Dry Bones

Courtesy of PR Trail:

Cosmic riff explorers Dead Cosmonauts launch their anticipated sci-fi inspired full-length debut album »Parasomnia«

Dead Cosmonauts are are a band that operate in their own lane, always going against the grain and thinking outside the box. Playing a gig in a cemetery with projected film imagery, releasing an 8″ lathe cut vinyl, giving profits to mental health charities, and deeply enriching their music with the inspirations of socio-political sci-fi novels and cinema. The Sheffield, UK based quintet draw from post-rock, sludge metal, math-rock, psychedelia, prog and retro-synth ambient music in such equal measure that fitting them into any single genre box or pigeonhole becomes futile. The band’s remarkable ability to operate outside of expectations is both their most championed and coveted asset, making these complex and cosmic riffers fascinatingly contrarian. Their willingness to never settle into one lane and push the boundaries is what makes Dead Cosmonauts one of the most exciting and must see live acts ready to burst out of the UK’s heavy underground. This experimental and explorative spirit spills into their grandest statement yet as a band, »Parasomnia« – which will come crashing to Earth on November 17th on Vinyl, CD and Digital formats.

“The melodies are complex, the beats technical, with a very progressive, jazz-like collage of dissonance.” ~ The Sludgelord

An Orwellian dystopian sci-fi concept album at heart, »Parasomnia« is a surreal and dreamlike psychodrama for the ears built on labyrinthine song structures, exuberant musicianship, brilliant textures, angular rhythms, and thrilling twists and turns. Largely instrumental in approach, each track is woven together through the stark voice narration by radio presenter Alibhe Waterhouse, depicting an inhospitable endtime society polluted by chaos, despair and hostility. Just looking at the striking, surreal album cover art solidifies the idea of the lines blurring between reality and nightmares, and how the coldness and austerity of modern living seeps into our unconscious fears. Dead Cosmonauts’ fiery, energetic and cerebral performances play off of these themes in defiance and rebellion, bringing new life, hope and possibilities to the fore.

“Psychedelic, but with a real sense of menace. The instrumentation, delivery and crescendos are unpredictable.” ~ Ninehertz Podcast

Photos by Dean Ayotte

»Parasomnia« came to life during a world in lockdown and turmoil, finding new creative energy from such stagnant times. Dead Cosmonauts recorded with unsung producer, engineer and Sheffield hero Adam Zejma at Tye Die Studios – who has a proven ear for bringing out bold dynamics, density, nuance and textures in his recordings, having previously worked with Ba’al, Aidan Baker, Lo Egin, Sister Wives and his own band Naisian. Dead Cosmonauts truly utilise space and considered dynamics across these six tracks to tell a story not just through the album’s bold conceptual themes, but through the music, the interplay, plus the narrative ebb and flow. The band have brought in instruments from outside their live setup into the sonic environment to add extra spice and variety. Scraping violin and wandering double-bass punctuate the sorrowful lament ‘Swallowed In Dark Waters«, whilst mournful synths and effects pedals broaden the contemplative »Beneath The Choking Sky«. The album’s two centrepieces dazzle from the ten minute workout and lead single »Kenopsia«, which bursts with ideas and urgency, whilst »In Spirals It Took Everything’ is the sweetest and most subversive spot – a beautiful and chilling ambient modulated synth composition sounding akin to Sigur Ros or Jon Hopkins. »Parasomnia« concludes as fiery as it begins, with crunchy stabbing basslines and angular metal riffage, culminating in a record that bursts with flavour and versatility, built on daring ideas, surprising moments and a fully realised concept at its heart.

»Parasomnia« follows two quick to sell out and sought after EP releases by Dead Cosmonauts, and will be joint released by Do It Thissen (Vinyl) and Trepanation Recordings (CD and Cassette) on November 17th 2023 just in time to shake up your album of the year lists. The album has been mastered by Cult Of Luna’s Magnus Lindberg, who has a proven track record for making dense and versatile recordings sound bold, elegant and heavy. Dead Cosmonauts have often been praised for their exciting high energy shows and have performed live with the likes of And So I Watch You From Afar, Boss Keloid, Pascagoula, Torpor, Codex Serafini, Gozer, Still, Tuskar, Goblinsmoker and more.

“We want »Parasomnia« to be a reflection of the world and current affairs that we feel trapped within, highlighting themes of mental health struggles, societal collapse, political unrest – and how the news and social media have become things to fear and keep us up at night, unwillingly ingraining into our collective subconscious. It’s our nightmare and unfortunately everyone else’s too.” ~ Dead Cosmonauts

Pre-order: linktr.ee/parasomnia2023

Credits:
Written and performed by Dead Cosmonauts.
Recorded at Tye Die Studios, Sheffield.
Produced by Adam Zejma and Dead Cosmonauts.
Engineered by Adam Zejma and Michael Aitken.
Mixed by Adam Zejma.
Mastered by Magnus Lindberg at Redmount Studios.
Violin by Ruth Nicholson.
Vocal samples by Alibhe Waterhouse.
Vocals on »Kenopsia« by Alexei, Krist and Nick.
Artwork by Georgina Wellbrook-Millar.
Photography by Dean Ayotte.

Dead Cosmonauts are:
Alexei – Bass and Synths
Krist – Baritone Guitar, Synths and Double Bass
Neil – Synths
Nick – Drums
Phil – Guitar

FFO: Russian Circles, 65daysofstatic, Elder, Mogwai, Godspeed, Mountain Caller.

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well