The last time Abbath touched his horned-feet on American soil was all the way back in March 2020. No one needs to be reminded of what happened next. Because at long last, the charismatic black metal icon is returning to North America!
Having toured relentlessly across Europe in the glorious wake of his most recent album, the former Immortal frontman is flicking his forked-tongue in devilish anticipation at treating Americans and Canadians alike to songs off Dead Reaver for the very first time. Get ready to raise your horns amidst the charred and sizzling solo of “Dream Cull” and other riff-roaring hits from his legendary crypt.
The tour starts with a handful of shows in Canada before going on an extended run of dates in the U.S. leading up to Abbath’s performances at Dark Lord Day and Maryland Deathfest.
Local pre-sales start today. Tickets go on sale to the general public tomorrow, Friday, March 1.
Dread Reaver 2024 North American Tour Dates
with support from Imperial Triumphant, Black Anvil and Final Gasp
May 9 Quebec City, QC @ Capitole Theatre [TICKETS]
May 10 Montreal, QC @ La Tulipe [TICKETS]
May 11 Kitchener, ON @ The Hub [TICKETS]
May 12 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre [TICKETS]
May 14 Detroit, MI @ The Majestic Theatre [TICKETS]
May 16 Saint Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall [TICKETS]
May 17 Bloomington, IL @ Castle Theatre [TICKETS]
May 18 Munster, IN @ Dark Lord Day * [TICKETS]
May 19 Cleveland, OH @ TempleLive at Cleveland Masonic [TICKETS]
May 20 Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe at Old National Centre [TICKETS]
May 22 Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo Iron Works [TICKETS]
May 23 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair [TICKETS]
May 24 New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place [TICKETS]
May 25 New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre [TICKETS]
May 26 Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest * [TICKETS] * only Abbath
Dread Reaver is out now on Season of Mist.
Order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/AbbathDreadReaver
Stream: https://linktr.ee/abbathofficial
Praise for Abbath and Dread Reaver
“Dread Reaver only further solidifies the fact that we’re experiencing the work of the one the greatest songwriters in extreme metal history” – Metal Injection
“Edges the much-loved frontman ever closer to the sweet spot between Bathory, Motörhead, Manowar and Kiss” – Metal Hammer
“Abbath is still locked firmly into the heavy metal mainframe and making some of the most dynamic music of his career” – Blabbermouth
“Black Metal fans will be discussing and analyzing Dread Reaver for years to come” – Outburn
“A fitting reminder that black metal can be fun” – RollingStone
The ravens gaze ominously from above. The seas roar in anticipation. The mountains creak yet again. Abbath’s remarkable new album, Dread Reaver, is upon us all. Two years in the making, Abbath’s third full-length is the culmination of everything before it. A fusion of debut Abbath (2016) and follow-up Outstrider (2019), the aptly titled Dread Reaver extends its fantastical fangs outward and drives its cloven hooves onward. Indeed, there’s nothing like an Abbath record. This is the darkest metal for epic journeys and ancient battles. Comprised of eight riveting tracks and a red-hot cover of Metallica’s “Trapped Under Ice,” Dread Reaver shows Abbath triumphing over all trials and tribulations, riding hard into merciless glory as the one and only “Lemmy of black metal.”
Abbath was formed by Olve Eikemo (aka Abbath) in Bergen, Norway, in 2015. After splitting with vaunted extreme metallers Immortal, the beguiling frontman and storied songwriter only had one path: Abbath. Years before, he had proven that venturing out of the Immortal constellation was not only plausible but doable with the I project, a short-lived, one-album (Between Two Worlds) band featuring notable musicians from Immortal, Enslaved, and Gorgoroth. Indeed, once Eikemo was free of Immortal’s shackles, he was able to assemble a cadre of like-minded conspirators for his solo debut album, Abbath. So crucial was Abbath that the Norwegian Embassy in the UK ran a music/culture piece, while in Norway, the album was nominated for a Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy). Metal Hammer Germany even gonged Abbath with its Best Debut award. Follow-up album, Outstrider, was equally lauded. Billboard’s coverage sent shockwaves through the rock/metal scenes, while Kerrang! labeled it “dominating and creative,” awarding it 4Ks. Decibel also heaped praise on Outstrider, giving it the Best New Noise trophy. New album Dread Reaver will yet again lionize Abbath as leader of the frost-bitten pack.
Powered by Abbath’s creative musical imagination, Dread Reaver runs riotously out of the gate. The album’s edifice affords tracks like “Acid Haze,” “Scarred Core,” “The Deep Unbound,” and the album’s closing title track ample room to champion the extremes of black metal, heavy metal, and hard rock. While there are nods to NWOBHM greats, thrash metal’s luminaries, and black metal icons, Dread Reaver is unmistakably Abbath. There is no other fingerprint. Paired with thought-provoking lyrics based on the historical figure of Othryades, Abbath’s new album not only shouts exultant but reads like an ancient pyrrhic tale steeped in violence, sorrow, and grit. The idea of a Dread Reaver—a fearless duelist—can also be read as a metaphor for life’s actions and subsequent struggles. Be warned: Dread Reaver is Abbath at his most menacing and accomplished.
Dread Reaver was produced by Endre Kirkesola, Abbath, and Dag Erik Nygaard at Dub Studio in Kristiansand and Bergen Lydstudio, respectively. Kirkesola and Nygaard also engineered. Mixing was performed by Abbath and Kirkesola, while the mastering was done by maestro Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Rob Halford) at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in Los Angeles. The goal was to field a storming production that sat firmly at the crossroads of Abbath’s heroes Kiss, Motörhead, Manowar, and Bathory. From the anthemic thrust of opener “Acid Haze” and the epic pound of “Dream Cull” to the rampaging “The Book of Breath” and the wicked cover of Metallica’s “Trapped Under Ice,” Dread Reaver sounds as massive as Norwegian mountain and as fiery as the depths of Hell. Truly, the recording lineup of Abbath (guitar, bass, vocals), Ukri Suvilehto (drums), Ole André Farstad (guitars), and Mia Wallace (bass) found their sonic muse.
Abbath and Season of Mist will release Dread Reaver on February 25th, 2022. The album features a Bjørn Stian Bjoarvik (Immortal) cover and will be supported by singles “Dream Cull”, “Dread Reaver” and “The Book of Breath.” Of course, it’ll all be powered by Abbath’s wry, larger-than-life persona. If “Ace of Spades” catapulted Motörhead to fame and notoriety, then Dread Reaver will find Abbath atop extreme metal’s gigantic heap, the spoils of icy blood, scorching sweat, and steely tears at his feet. As “Myrmidon” states, “Die with a smile, stare glassy-eyed up / At boiling skies! / Valkyries descend to gore-caked fen / Fallen warriors arise!” Lightning strikes thrice with Abbath’s incredible Dread Reaver!
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