| Pallbearer | |
|---|---|
 Pallbearer performing in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Genres | Doom metal |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Profound Lore, Nuclear Blast |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | pallbearerdoom |
Pallbearer is an American doom metal band from Little Rock, Arkansas, formed in 2008. While intitally rooted in a fairly traditional sound at their beginning, their music is noted for expanding into progressive rock and alternative rock territories as their career has continued.
History
Pallbearer was formed in 2008 in Little Rock, Arkansas by Brett Campbell and Joseph D. Rowland. The two met as students at the University of Central Arkansas and were previously in an experimental project, called SPORTS. After adding Devin Holt on second guitar and drummer David Dobbs, who was shortly thereafter replaced by Zach Stine, Pallbearer recorded and self-released a three-song demo in 2010. The group was signed by Profound Lore Records in 2011. Pallbearer's first full length Sorrow and Extinction was released in 2012, earning immediate critical success. Sorrow and Extinction was awarded Best New Music status by Pitchfork and was cited amongst the best albums of the year by Spin and NPR.
The line up was solidified by the addition of Mark Lierly (drums) after the recording of the debut LP. Pallbearer's 2014 album, Foundations of Burden was recorded and produced by Billy Anderson at Type Foundry Studio in Portland, Oregon. The album was awarded Best New Music status by Pitchfork. The album topped Decibel magazine's Album of the Year list.
In the summer of 2016, the band returned to Little Rock to record their third full-length, Heartless, at Fellowship Hall Sound studios. The mix was done by Joe Barresi. The official video for the opening track, "I Saw the End," was released in March 2017, along with the album. Heartless debuted at #187 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart in the U.S. and #42 on the Billboard Top Current Albums chart. It ranks on Stereogum's 50 Best Albums of 2017 So Far. Heartless marked the band moving away from their traditional metal and doom roots, with the album demonstrating grunge, classic rock, and prog influences such as The Smashing Pumpkins, Camel, Pink Floyd, Kansas, and Brian Eno. PopMatters, in reviewing the album, wrote "Pallbearer reaches universality previously hit by artists like the Beatles on Abbey Road or Pink Floyd at their most explorative."
In October 2017, the band was featured in The New York Times Magazine in an essay by cultural critic David Rees. Acknowledging the band's expanding appeal and sonic horizons, Rees described Pallbearer as "one of the most resonant emotional campaigns in American rock music." They were awarded the 2017 Metal Hammer Golden God award for Best Underground Band. Thrillist also named Pallbearer the best band from Arkansas in their Best Bands From Every State rankings. Their fourth album, Forgotten Days, was released in October 2020 and was described by Consequence of Sound as "Perhaps the best doom metal album of 2020".
On 20 March 2024, the band released a new song titled "Where the Light Fades" and announced their fifth album, Mind Burns Alive, which was released on 17 May with high acclaim from music critics.
Band members
Current
- Brett Campbell – lead vocals, guitar, synthesizer (2008–present)
- Joseph D. Rowland – bass, lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic piano, synthesizer (2008–present)
- Devin Holt – guitar, backing vocals (2008–present)
- Mark Lierly – drums (2012–present)
Former
- David Dobbs – drums (2009)
- Zach Stine – drums (2009–2011)
- Chuck Schaaf – drums (2011-2012)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
- Sorrow and Extinction (2012)
- Foundations of Burden (2014)
- Heartless (2017)
- Forgotten Days (2020)
- Mind Burns Alive (2024)
EPs
- 2010 Demo (2010)
- Fear and Fury (2016)
Singles
- "Fear and Fury" (2015)
- "Dropout" (2018)
- "Atlantis" (2019)
References
- "Pallbearer". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- "NPR Music's 50 Favorite Albums Of 2012". NPR.org. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- "Pallbearer – Sorrow and Extinction (Profound Lore) – SPIN's 20 Best Metal Albums of 2012". SPIN. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- "Pallbearer". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- "Best Albums Of 2017 So Far List". Stereogum.com. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- PopMatters, Pallbearer Heartless Album Review, Mar. 22, 2017
- Rees, David (19 October 2017). "Letter of Recommendation: Pallbearer". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- Schneck, Dan Jackson, Anthony (18 October 2017). "The Best Band From Every State". Thrillist.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - "Pallbearer forge ahead with emotionally charged doom on Forgotten Days: Review". Consequence of Sound. 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
- Greg Kennelty (March 20, 2024). "PALLBEARER Announces New Album, Unveils Tour With RWAKE, REZN, INTER ARMA & THE KEENING". Metal Injection. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
