Almost 4 years on from their last release (Mass VI), the Belgian sludge metal masters Amenra will release De Doorn (The Thorn) on June 25th. The album, which is their first to not feature the "Mass" numbering, nevertheless finds the mining the same wide-eyed and expansive version of doom/post-whatever metal they've since 2005's flawless Mass III. First single, De Evenmens, has the same crushing post-rock riffs, piercing shrieks and melodic singing that we have grown to expect. That's not a bad thing. The evolution of Amenra's sound has been more about refining and perfecting their craft than resorting to cheap song writing tricks to prop them up. Lead singer Colin H. van Eeckhout says:
"We are only here for a split second in history. This song is about finding the answer within the question, man's search for his place here on earth. A journey of sorrow with mere moments of beauty and happiness and this all in relation to his or her fellowman. To accept what is. Our brother Dehn Sora sculpted the digital world where Everman dwells, protected by its thorns, wounded by the others. Sacrificing blood of gold."