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Song

Let it Fail

Artist

High Parasite

High Parasite backstory

Aaron Stainthorpe’s work with My Dying Bride has made him one of the most revered vocalists in gothic doom. The Yorkshireman and his bandmates laid the foundations for globe-spanning musical misery, and along with Paradise Lost and Anathema, MDB formed the ‘Peaceville Three’ – and changed the face of British metal.  

So when Stainthorpe announces he’s fronting a brand new act, you take notice.

A writing collaboration with bassist/vocalist/songwriter Tombs, High Parasite is “not a side project” according to Stainthorpe. Guitarists Sam Hill and Jonny Hunter, plus drummer Dan Brown (drums) are in tow, and the band have recorded a 10-track debut album, Forever We Burn, which is set for a September release. A bunch of shows are in the pipeline too.

In vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe’s own words

“The band has been lurking in the shadows, developing, growing, and evolving, and is now ready to unveil its own brand of darkness to the world. Skating the lines between metal, gothic rock and dark synth pop, High Parasite is here, and death pop is born!”

The verdict on Let it Fail

Slick, direct and instantly infectious, and with outstanding vocals from Stainthorpe and Tapping The Vein’s Heather Thompson, Let it Fail burrows deep.

Yes, Stainthorpe’s musical heritage is certainly part of this track’s DNA, as is the influence of Paradise Lost guitarist Gregor Mackintosh, who produced Forever We Burn: there’s a strong hint of PL classics such as Draconian Times and One Second in this track’s seductive textures.

But Let it Fail stands on its own two feet as a surging, near perfect example of dark metal (or is that death pop!).

And it’s one hell of an opening statement.

What’s next for High Parasite?

Forever We Burn will be released via Candlelight Records and Spinefarm on September 27.

Following that, High Parasite will be heading out on tour with UK black metal legends Cradle Of Filth in the autumn, starting at O2 Academy in Bristol on October 27.

High Parasite photo by Andy Ford.