Posted on: August 5, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Technical death metal act, BENEATH THE MASSACRE, have announced “Marée Noire”, as the title of their forthcoming EP which will be released in North America on September 14th. The effort was co-produced by Chris Donaldson, known for his work with Cryptopsy, with guitarist Chris Bradley and the band. It was mixed by Donaldson and mastered by Alan Douches (Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, Converge).

Bradley commented on the release: “‘Marée Noire’ was written using a different approach than the preceding release. We wouldn’t start the writing process from the same point. Some songs were more structured by melodies while others all started from drums pattern. I think it makes the songs stand out a little more.”

Vocalist Elliot Desgagnes added: “The tones are a little rawer and it helped a lot that Donaldson and Bradley already worked together in the past. We were all on the same page and everything went well in studio. I really like the EP format. It’s easier lyrically to make connections between the songs and follow a thought pattern. We named the EP ‘Marée Noire,’ ‘Black Tide,’ in English, because I was writing lyrics on Absurdism, self fulfilled prophecy and corporations raping everything, when BP started to shit in the Gulf of Mexico.”

BENEATH THE MASSACRE will appear at the Heavy MTL festival later month alongside Slayer, Megadeth, Lamb of God, Despised Icon, Mastodon and more. The band has also announced a Canadian tour beginning in late August and wrapping up in early October, sponsored by JagerMusic Canada. They will be playing with Neuraxis, Ion Dissonance and others along the trek.
The dates are:

JagerMusic Canada Presents:
8/26: Rimouski, QC- Petit Pavillon Agricole #
8/27: Moncton, NB- Manhattan #
8/28: Halifax, NS- Gus’ Pub #
8/29: St John, NB- Nickolaj’s #
8/30: Fredericton, NB – Kinsmen Center #
9/3 Ottawa, ON- Mavericks
9/4 Sudbury, ON- The Serbian Hall (w/ Neuraxis)
9/5 Rouyn-Noranda, QC- Petit Theatre du Vieux-Noranda (FME Festival)
9/10 Brantford, ON Rehab – Sick Fest metal festival %
9/11 Toronto, ON- The Rockpile %
9/12 Kingston, ON- The Mansion (Wine Cellar Room) %
9/16 Trois Rivieres, QC – Rock Cafe le Stage
9/17 Quebec, QC- L’Agitee
9/18 Sherbrooke, QC- bar le Magog
9/23 St. Catharines, ON – Mikado *
9/24 Windsor, ON – Chubby Pickle *
9/25 London, ON – Moon Over Marin *
9/26 Oshawa, ON- EP Taylors *
9/30 Chicoutimi, QC- Le Bunker ^
10/1 St-Hyacinthe, QC- Bar le Trash – Trash Metalfest
10/2 Victoriaville/Warwick, QC- Salle du Canton ^
# w/ Ion Dissonance
% w/ Aeternam
* w/ Kraken
^ w/ Divinity

“Marée Noire” is the band’s first release since 2008’s “Dystopia.” Since recording “Dystopia,” the band has toured extensively: five full North American tours (including Summer Slaughter Canada 2008 and Sumer Slaughter 2009) and four full European tours (including Thrash and Burn Europe the past two years) BENEATH THE MASSACRE were nominated in 2009 for Metal Hammer’s Golden God Award for “Best Underground Band.

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