On September 19th internationally, Dying Victims Productions will release Naevus’ highly anticipated third album, Back Home, on CD and vinyl LP formats. And today, Deaf Forever magazine’s website premieres the new track “Back Home.” Hear Naevus‘ title track “Back Home” in its entirety exclusively HERE.
Hailing from Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany’s Naevus was originally formed in 1991 as a death metal trio. Various lineup changes and musical alterations led to the first demo Quixotic Dreams in 1993. The second demo, A Sad Illusion, arrived a year later bearing a doomier sound and clean vocals. In 1995, the Autumn Sun demo was recorded and released, with the lineup still existing today: Uwe Groebel (vocals / lead guitar), Oliver Grosshans (guitar), Sven Heimerdinger (bass), and Mathias Straub (drums). The demo – influenced by Trouble, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, and Black Sabbath – received very good international reviews and finally led to the first recording contract in 1997 with Lee Dorrian’s Rise Above Records. The recordings were made at Vielklang Studio in Berlin where The Obsessed’s debut and Saint Vitus’ V were recorded. Bearing the title Sun Meditation, Naevus’ debut album was released in March 1998.
Thereafter, Naevus’ musical style continued to develop. This was followed by the 14 Inches of Fury four-way split with Revelation, Twisted Tower Dire, and Grief of God as well as the song “R.I.P” on the Trouble tribute album. After family and professional changes, the band went their separate ways in 1999, while at the same time, Mathias Straub and Oliver Grosshans founded the epic power metal band Sacred Steel. From then on, Uwe Groebel dedicated himself to the doom trio Voodooshock with further song ideas, before the band got back together in 2012 and the first rehearsals for the reunion show with Saint Vitus began. Originally, they only wanted to play the old songs again, but the joy of playing meant that new songs were not long in coming. In 2016, the second long-player, Heavy Burden, was released and garnered with internationally positive reviews.
In 2023, recordings began for a third album. At last here, Back Home is its title, and quite aptly. Naevus are nothing if not consistent, and within the opening minute – hell, even seconds – you are right Back Home with their warm, emotive doom. And yet, while Naevus’ traditional-yet-signature sound remains stronger than ever, the means of arriving at that have changed some. Nowadays, the band acts more flexibly and arranges the entire songs together, which was previously almost exclusively reserved for Uwe Groebel. Groebel’s vocals are as melodically hypnotic as ever, too, with the very personal lyrics imparting loss and grief but also with love and hope – a quality surely highlighted by the man’s warm pipes. Cementing this sensation of warmth and comfort – effectively, being Back Home – the cover art was once again created by Roland Scriver.
Longtime fans of the band, Dying Victims are honored to bring Naevus Back Home, and the album’s release show will take place with old tape-trading friend Patrick Walker of 40 Watt Sun and Warning at Schwarzer Keiler, Stuttgart on October 2nd.
In the meantime, hear the brand-new title track “Back Home” exclusively HERE, courtesy of Deaf Forever, Germany’s defenders of the true. Aforementioned cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Naevus’ Back Home
1. Intro
2. Back Home
3. The Dead Don’t Sleep
4. My Fire
5. Under A Different Sky
6. Ghost
7. Angels Never Come
8. Master Of Shiver
9. Free The Ravens Fly
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