North Carolina conceptual metal proggers The Reticent will be releasing their new album entitled "The Oubliette" via Heaven & Hell Records on September 25th. Produced again by Jamie King (BTBAM, The Contortionist, Scale The Summit), the album tells a tale of man's battle with Alzheimer's disease. Before it officially drops, the band wants to share this story with the full length's stream premiere on TheProgSpace HERE.
"The Oubliette" follows the band's critically acclaimed 2016 release "On The Eve Of A Goodbye", which was an autobiographical concept record that chronicled the day before, day of, and the day after the suicide of band founder Chris Hathcock's childhood friend Eve. Critics and fans of the record alike were moved by the compelling narrative and heartrending performances along with the band's award-winning live performances that are both an audiovisual and emotional experience that utilizes film, story-telling, and the sheer intensity of the music.
Even though the recording of "The Oubliette" was delayed four times due to a severe injury to Hathcock’s right arm (the deltoid bursa to be exact), he was able to perform all instruments on the full length, he actually began lining up players to fill in for him as doctors told him he may be endangering his arm’s functionality if he didn’t take an extended break from playing. Luckily, rest allowed him to recuperate enough to complete the record. Although, the process was slowed because he was in pain the entire time. Every recording session began with him taking at least 800 mg of Ibuprofen to make it through.
Finally completing "The Oubliette", The Reticent shares another stirring autobiographical tale, this time about the tragedy of Alzheimer's disease. The album follows the journey of an old man named Henry, which is based upon a relative of songwriter Chris Hathcock who's real name was Cyrus. The name Henry was chosen as a somewhat more universal name, but also because Henry was one of the Alzheimer’s patients featured prominently in the documentary “Alive Inside". The concept of the album is to demonstrate Henry's descent through the seven stages of Alzheimer’s. He doesn’t know where he is or why he’s there. He doesn’t remember his wife is dead. He doesn’t recognize his son. Step by step the disease takes his memories, his ability to speak, his ability to walk, his ability to breathe. The music of “The Oubliette” traverses styles as divergent as jazz and black metal all within the framework of emotionally driven progressive metal. With each track sonically independent from its predecessor, the album moves the listener from experience to experience, vague memories to dreams and nightmares all toward its heartbreaking finale. Fans and critics alike will be very eager to sink their teeth into another intense emotional outpouring of progressive metal.
Chris Hathcock adds:
“As with my previous album, I hope that ‘The Oubliette’ will provide listeners with a rich and emotionally challenging audio experience. This is undoubtedly the most ambitious record The Reticent has attempted to date. The hope is that listeners will be personally affected by the music on a deep level and that it may draw some attention to a disease that is frighteningly prominent but frequently poorly understood. There will be moments that are soothing and there will be moments that are overwhelming. The story I have to tell is not a happy one but it is an important one - and it is often through the pain that we find the most profound reflection and calls to action.”
"The Oubliette" is due out via Heaven & Hell Records on September 25, 2020.
Album Pre-Order HERE.
Music Video - Stage 2: The Captive - YouTube
Track Listing:
1. Stage 1 – His Name Is Henry (9:46)
2. Stage 2 – The Captive (6:00)
3. Stage 3 – The Palliative Breath (7:13)
4. Stage 4 – The Dream (11:47)
5. Stage 5 – The Nightmare (12:14)
6. Stage 6 – The Oubliette (10:38)
7. Stage 7 - ________ (6:10)
Album Length: 1:03:50
Album Band Line Up:
Chris Hathcock - Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Drums, Vocals, Additional Percussion
James Nelson - Lead Guitars
Live Band Line Up:
Chris Hathcock - Vocals, Guitar
James Nelson - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Cliff Stankiewicz - Bass
Mitch Moore - Drums
For more info:
HeavenandHellRecords.com
TheReticent.net
EPK
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"it’s clear that this is a very personal story from Chris Hathcock. He poured his heart and soul into the concept, and the way the tracks flowed, the story is very real and vivid. Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease, because it mostly affects the patient’s loved ones more than the patient himself. It’s a long process of slowly letting go, until the disease claims another victim. This process is carefully matriculated through music here, and it’s something all fans of music will want to experience. Especially considering the number of us who have been affected in one way or another by this ravaging disease. 9/10" - Metal Temple
"Prog's most emotionally gutwrenching one-man band returns with plenty more feels... The Oubliette is the next album released under The Reticent's name, and tells the story of the protagonist Henry's decline as a result of Alzheimer's disease, heavy subject matter again inspired by life experience of Hathcock. The Reticent's track record for dealing with such serious subject matter was promising, and with The Oubliette they deliver on said promise." - Metal Storm
"The Reticent have delivered a narrative masterpiece... I give 10 out of 10 bangs" - Rock Magazine.net
"In a way, Chris pulled off the perfect fusion of PINK FLOYD's The Wall and Operation Mindcrime by QUEENSRYCHE, all treated with the sensitivity of a modern Crossover between OPETH and EDGE OF SANITY. We obviously recognize the paw of Neal Morse and Steven Wilson in the most complex and melodic parts, but this fourth LP of the master arises in synthesis of the modern progressive." - Metalnews.fr
"The Oubliette – being a true concept album – follows the 7 stages of Alzheimer’s. And – by that same token – tries to portray the emotions of the afflicted. In a way, this record is like one of those deep, dark, gleamy chocolate cakes. The ones that look at you with ominous malevolence, just before the evil clown jumps out. This thing is so full of psychological horrors and innuendo that – after a few listens – you start getting the jitters. Not because of the clown, of course, but because all of that has the ring of truth to it. And worse, the disease could hit you, too. Because there’s no defense." - Rock Music Raider
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