In 2011, Below was formed in Sweden after a discussion about how doom bands of today either lack melody or try to sound as retro as possible. They consequently decided to start a doom band that would pay tribute to the more epic, heavy and dark styles of doom.
Below started writing songs, and in November 2012, a 4-track EP was recorded at Deep Blue Studios in Sweden. The EP received praise from all areas of the industry, with Metal Hammer Germany awarding the EP an almost perfect rating of 9/10.With only one unreleased EP, the band was able to book a 10-day tour through Denmark, Holland and Germany. The final show of that tour was the Hammer of Doom festival in Germany.
Below recorded their debut album in 2013 at Andy LaRocque‘s (King Diamond) Sonic Train Studios. This critically acclaimed full-length, Across the Dark River, was released in April 2014 via Metal Blade Records.
In February 2015, Below went on a two-week tour of Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Poland. Since then, Below has also performed at different festivals, including Germany’s Summer Breeze festival, Athens’ Up the Hammers, Germany’s Hammer of Doom and Norway’s Tons Of Rock festival.
In May 2017, Below will release their sophomore album, Upon A Pale Horse, via Metal Blade Records.The album was recorded at Deep Blue Studios in their hometown of Nykoping, Sweden. While staying true to the core of the music that is Below (heavy riffs, haunting melodies and huge atmospheres), Upon A Pale Horse also offers a broader variety to the songs, with the band’s slowest song to-date, as well as the fastest, the shortest, and the longest. Additionally, the album features several guest appearances, such as backing vocals by Sorcerer‘s Anders Engberg and a speech by Alan Averill of Primordial.
Upon A Pale Horse track-listing
The Plague Within
Disappearing into Nothing
The Coven
Upon a Pale Horse
Suffer in Silence
Hours of Darkness
1000 Broken Bones
We Are All Slaves
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