Death Dealer Union, a metal ensemble based on the West coast, has shared news about their upcoming debut album, ‘Initiation’, slated for a September 22, 2023 release through Napalm Records. The band includes Elena Cataraga, also known in the metal community as Lena Scissorhands of Infected Rain.
The group’s second single from the album, “The Integument,” transitions from a traditional power metal beginning to a more atmospheric conclusion. Accompanying this track is a music video which features performances by the heavy metal dance group, Cherry Bombs.
The origin story of Death Dealer Union begins in 2019 with metal musicians CC McKenna (drums) and Doug Weiand (lead guitars). Their collaboration was focused on blending metal with themes of alchemy, the occult, and other esoteric topics. Their direction became clearer upon teaming up with frontwoman Elena Cataraga. This collaboration led them to the studio with producer Valentin Voluta, notable for his association with Infected Rain. The lineup further expanded with the addition of Hunter Havok on rhythm and lead guitars and Jonny Heinz on bass.
The forthcoming album, ‘Initiation’, aims to provide listeners with a diverse range of tracks. Each song on the album stands alone in its theme and composition, yet they all contribute to the broader narrative of the band’s vision.
The tracklist for ‘Initiation’ is as follows:
Initiation
The Vow of Silence
Ill Fated
Ekphrasis
The Integument
Mythos
The Big Blue
Back To Me
The Downfall
Love Me When I’m Ugly
Anew
Beyond Heaven
For fans of the genre and those curious about this new entrant, ‘Initiation’ might be worth marking on the calendar for its September release.