Aversed are back. Following their 2021 full-length, Impermanent, the Boston-based melodic death metal outfit are set to unleash Erasure of Color upon the world on March 21 via M-Theory Audio. But this isn’t just another album; it’s a rebirth, a testament to resilience, and a powerful exploration of grief, all fueled by the raw energy of melodic death metal. We sat down with vocalist Sarah Hartman and guitarist Sungwoo Jeong to delve into the creation of Erasure of Color, the band’s evolution, and the vibrant metal scene in Boston.
The seeds of Erasure of Color were sown as early as 2019, according to Jeong. “The songwriting of this album actually began as early as 2020, 2019, even,” he explains. “But I think that’s just the result of me and my drummer, Jeff (Saltzman), always writing music.” Their process is organic, a weekly ritual of jamming and crafting music for the sheer joy of it. “We meet, like, once a week, twice a week—We just write music for the sake of writing music,” Jeong says. “So me and him, we sit down with the guitar and drum, and we just bang out music because it’s very fluid to us.” From these sessions, the stroImengest eight or nine tracks emerged, forming the core of Erasure of Color.
However, the journey to this new album was not without its challenges. Six months before the release of Impermanent, the band parted ways with their original vocalist, Haydee Irizarry. This led to a significant period of searching for a new voice, a search that ultimately culminated in Sarah Hartman joining the ranks.
For Hartman, stepping into Aversed was a mix of excitement and trepidation. “It was incredible, exhilarating. I was so anxious; I was so nervous,” she admits. The weight of filling big shoes was palpable, but the opportunity was too enticing to pass up. “When someone initially asked me, I needed to sleep on it a little bit because I didn’t know if it was going to be a good fit,” Hartman recalls. “It was a big commitment, big shoes to fill, of course, so I took a little bit of time, but I decided, if it doesn’t go good, at least I can say I tried.” After a couple of rehearsals, any doubts quickly dissipated. “I felt right at home,” Hartman says. “And everyone has told me, like, this makes sense for you, like, this is the band that you fit into.” The anticipation for Erasure of Color has been building ever since.
Impermanent featured lyrics by both Irizarry and drummer Saltzman. For Erasure of Color, Saltzman took a more prominent role, crafting lyrics that delve into complex themes of heartbreak, both romantic and platonic, and the pervasive nature of grief. “There’s a lot of grieving throughout the album,” Hartman explains. “About the environment, about people that we lose in our lives, about challenges we have to face.”
The album’s striking cover art, once again crafted by Adam Burke (known for his work with Fit For An Autopsy), visually echoes these themes. Jeong describes it as capturing “the decay of everything,” with skeletal figures reaching amidst a smog-filled landscape. Hartman adds that it represents “the downfall and the trials and tribulations of mourning and grieving the earth as it’s falling apart in front of us, and also just our beings and our souls leaving us through the process.”
Aversed’s music finds itself within the melodic death metal realm, a genre that has seen a resurgence in recent years. While Jeong acknowledges the influence of bands like At the Gates and In Flames, and the rise of contemporary groups like Upon Stone, he sees the broader metal scene as thriving. “I just think metal in general is doing great,” he says. He frequents shows multiple times a week, witnessing firsthand the energy and talent in the loca scene. “It’s so inspiring,” he notes, although he admits the sheer number of incredible bands can be a little intimidating at times.
While concrete tour plans are still under wraps, Aversed is eager to hit the road and bring Erasure of Color to life. “Nothing is solidified right now,” Jeong admits, “we are talking to a few bands to tour later in the year.” This release marks their first with M-Theory Audio, a significant step up from their previous independent releases. “M-Theory has been treating us so well,” Jeong enthuses.
And the creative fire continues to burn. Aversed are already deep into the writing process for their next record, with 95% of the material already completed. “We have it written,” Jeong confirms. “And I think we’re trying to enter the city in May or June.”
As the release date for Erasure of Color draws closer, Aversed hopes that listeners will give the album a chance, immersing themselves in its sonic tapestry and lyrical depth. “I hope people really give it an honest chance,” Jeong says. “I hope when people listen to this album, they give it a full song listen, and if they love it, that’s great. If they hate it, that’s also great, as long they gave it a chance. I’m stoked about that either way.” With its potent blend of melodic death metal, introspective lyrics, and stunning artwork, Erasure of Color is poised to be a powerful and memorable addition to Aversed’s discography.
The post Interview: Aversed Talk New Era and ‘Erasure of Color’ appeared first on Decibel Magazine.