UPON STONE single-handedly re-sparked the metal scene’s excitement for the sound of melodic death metal (AKA “melodeath”) with their 2024 Century Media debut, “Dead Mother Moon”. This time, the freshly retooled San Fernando Valley, CA fivesome return with their strongest offering yet, the three song “End Time Lightning” EP.  Produced by the band and Nails bassist Andrew Solis and mixed by the legendary Dan Swano, (whose discography encompasses legendarily key releases from Dissection, Opeth and Katatonia), “End Time Lightning” is a rebirth for UPON STONE. Including a cover of Manowar’s “Outlaw”, it’s a bloodthirsty barrage of melodicism and menace. The sound of melodeath is perfectly encapsulated in the EP’s spearhead track and self-directed video, “Fury My Master”, which takes plenty of cues from 80’s horror and VHS-inspired grittiness.

Listen to “End Time Lightning” here

The band shares about the EP:

“End Time Lightning represents a window into the next evolution in Upon Stone. More grandiose, detailed and sharpened than before, while still retaining the visceral unfiltered darkness in its core essence. A brief journey through somber yet glorious spiritual warfare, and a truly collaborative effort that sees everyone in the band pushing themselves to new heights. With the production helmed by a pillar of Southern California metal in Andrew Solis, while the Swedish master himself Dan Swano, whose essential works laid the foundation that influenced Upon Stone to form, brought the songs to life through his signature lethal mix and master. The legendary Andreas Marschall Returns and delivers the perfect visual manifestation in the cover art, making this EP deadly cohesive and something we feel very proud of. Chaos Awakens!”

The band shares about the music video:

“We are excited to share the music video for “Fury My Master”. A core value within the band is to utilize each member’s vision and execution beyond just the music of upon stone. This music video is no different. Pulling from 80’s horror, found footage and a general sense of blood thirsty misanthropy the video was written and directed by the band and brought to life with the help of a close circle of friends and collaborators who understand and share the vision and mission of Upon Stone. Sleep all day, party all night, never grow old, never die. It’s fun to be a vampire. Enjoy.”

Upon Stone is supporting Creeping Death and Kruelty during their US run, starting June 20^th.  The band will be joining them for a total of 15 stops across June and July, with the first stop also marking the release day of their new EP. Audiences surely can expect a grand opening.

Upon Stone are
Xavier Wahlberg – Vocals
Ronny Marks – Guitar
Gage Goss – Guitar
Wyatt Bentley – Drums
Harley Woolston – Bass

Upon Stone online
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uponstone/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uponstone/
X: https://x.com/UponStone
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3gACjHwByUj3sUtHVqZBrf
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/de/artist/upon-stone/1589097908

UPON STONE mark their entrance into the metal realm with the release of their debut album, “Dead Mother Moon”. 

Crafted under the skilled hands of producer and mixer Taylor Young at The Pit (known for his work with Twitching Tongues and Nails), the nine-track album delivers a relentless onslaught of Melodic Death Metal.

The thematic core of “Dead Mother Moon” explores concepts of isolation, loss, the quest for meaning, and a return to strength. These themes are intricately woven into a tapestry of emotions and ideas, enriched with elements of mysticism and the occult.  

From the fierce opening title track to the savage “Onyx Through the Heart” and the growling melodies of “Dusk Sang Fairest,” the album not only pays homage to the early 90s Scandinavian underground sound but revitalizes it for a new era. The band accompanies the release with a visually compelling video for “Dusk Sang Fairest,” adding a layer of enigma to the already powerful track.

 The band’s journey culminates in a free record release show on February 9th at Knucklehead in Los Angeles, featuring support from Skinfather, Section H8, Darkness Everywhere, and Greenwitch.  

The roots of Upon Stone trace back to the teenage years of its members—vocalist and bassist Xavier Wahlberg, drummer Wyatt Bentley, and guitarist Ronny Marks—when they began playing together in various Valley-based outfits. Joined by guitarist Gage Goss, the band fully took form in 2021 with the EP “Where Wild Sorrows Grow,” released on Creator Destructor.

The subsequent years saw Upon Stone relentlessly gigging, carving their niche between Los Angeles’ hardcore and metal scenes, sharing stages with acts like Bewitcher, Creeping Death, and Vomit Forth. It was during this period that the band began crafting the material that would evolve into “Dead Mother Moon.”  

Throughout the album’s eight original compositions (and one Misfits cover), Upon Stone’s passion for early Melodic Death Metal is palpable. From the album cover artwork by renowned German artist Andreas Marschall (known for his work with Dimmu Borgir and In Flames), “Dead Mother Moon” not only celebrates the sound that influenced global metal scenes but also infuses it with a sense of immediacy and vitality.  

Drummer Wyatt Bentley expresses the band’s aspirations, stating,
“Without sounding arrogant, it feels like a rebirth of a sound that changed how we all looked at music. We hope that it’s a gateway for people to go back and discover albums like ‘The Jester Race’ and ‘Storm of the Light’s Bane.’ I want it to matter to a new generation in the same way those records did for us.”

ORDER THE ALBUM HERE.

Century Media Records is proud to announce the signing of San Fernando Valley, California, Melodic Death Metal merchants, UPON STONE.
 
The band delivers a uniquely visceral unfiltered energy and fuses it with a passion for the earliest and rawest Melodeath influences including At The Gates, In Flames and Dissection.

Their newest anthem “Onyx Through the Heart” can be listened to HERE.

The video can be seen here:

Comprised of bassist/vocalist Xavier Wahlberg, drummer Wyatt Bentley and guitarists Ronny Lee Marks and Gage Goss, UPON STONE was forged during the pandemic days, during which the band recorded its first release, a four song EP, Where Wild Sorrows Grow, which was released in late 2021 on the Creator Destructor label. The band made its live debut in January of 2022 supporting Japan’s KRUELTY and have since shared stages with the likes of UNEARTH, GATECREEPER, 200 STAB WOUNDS, as well as a US tour with labelmates VOMIT FORTH and an appearance at the KNOCKED LOOSE-curated LDB Fest in Louisville, KY.

UPON STONE comments: “We’re beyond elated to announce our signing to Century Media. The label’s commitment to releasing music from vital new artists, coupled with their undeniable legacy as the global gold standard for all facets of extreme metal makes this partnership incredibly exciting for us. From Unanimated to Insomnium and Dark Tranquillity, Century Media is the obvious home for Melodic Death Metal in 2023, and we’re honored to be a part of it.” 
 
“UPON STONE stands out for reenergizing influences from the early Scandinavian scene with an authenticity and intensity that’s undeniable”, says Century Media VP of A&R, Mike Gitter. “They’re bringing back some of modern metal’s most important influences. It’s a sound that’s deep in the label’s history that UPON STONE makes lethal again”.

“Onyx Through the Heart” is the first salvo from UPON STONE through their new label home. Produced and mixed by Taylor Young (Drain, Suicide Silence) it’s a relentless rampage that echoes classics like At the Gates’ Slaughter of the Soul. The song and its accompanying video evoke the feel of the early 90’s classics that UPON STONE brings a new fire to. “Onyx Through the Heart” taps into the inherent grandeur and chaos held within the nocturnal world”, says UPON STONE.  “Something ancient and feral awakens deep within the human spirit when surrounded by the darkness of nature in total solitude. This track seeks to strengthen that bond. To the Night Without Return!”.

Stream it now HERE: https://uponstone.lnk.to/OnyxThroughTheHeart-Single

Starting July 10th, UPON STONE begins a short US run with Texan death metal titans, CREEPING DEATH and labelmates, ENFORCED. The tour runs to July 21 in Fort Worth, Texas. They will also be playing the first annual Metal Injection on Sept 17th alongside headliners  MACHINE HEAD, TESTAMENT and FEAR FACTORY. Catch them here:

JUL 10 MON – Chelsea’s Live, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
JUL 11 TUE – 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA, United States TICKETS RSVP
JUL 12 WED – Radio Room, Greenville, SC, United States TICKETS RSVP
JUL 13 THU – Canal Club, Richmond, VA, United States TICKETS RSVP
JUL 14 FRI – Lovedraft’s Brewing Co, Mechanicsburg, PA, United States TICKETS RSVP
JUL 15 SAT – Palladium, Worcester, MA, United States TICKETS RSVP
JUL 16 SUN – Amityville Music Hall, Amityville, NY, United States TICKETS RSVP
JUL 18 TUE – The Loud, Huntington, WV, United States TICKETS RSVP
JUL 19 WED – Eastside Bowl, Nashville, TN, United States TICKETS RSVP
JUL 21 FRI – Tulips FTW, Fort Worth, TX, United States

Upon Stone line-up:
Xavier – Vocals and Bass
Gage – Guitars
Ronny – Guitar
Wyatt – Drums

Upon Stone online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uponstone/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/3gACjHwByUj3sUtHVqZBrf
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UponStone