DAWN RAY’D: ‘To Know The Light’ Album Available For Streaming In Its Entirety
March 24th, 2023
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Liverpool, England-based black metal trio Dawn Ray’d issued third full-length studio album To Know The Light on March 24th, 2023 through Prosthetic Records.
“This record has been transformative for us, it is Dawn Ray’d, black metal and protest music entirely reimagined,” commented vocalist / violinist Simon Barr. “Writing these songs has helped us process the times we are living through, the chaos that swirls around us, and has given us new resolve and a clearer perspective on how we continue to find love and joy in disordered times. We cannot wait to share that catharsis with the world, we will be a poison if we cannot be a cure!”
The album can be streamed in its entirety below.
To Know The Light was recorded at the Station House in Leeds, England, which was previously an old police house, and Mynetaur Studios with production by Mark Mynett and additional engineering by James Atkinson.
To Know The Light’s front cover features a photograph taken in France by Rémi Moon, with additional artwork and layout by Ethan McCarthy. The image features a silhouetted figure in front of a fire at a protest.
The track listing is as follows:
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01. ‘The Battle Of Sudden Flame’
02. ‘Ancient Light’
03. ‘Inferno’
04. ‘Requital’
05. ‘Sepulchre (Don’t Vote)’
06. ‘Cruel Optimisms’
07. ‘In The Shadow Of The Past’
08. ‘Freedom In Retrograde’
09. ‘Wild Fire’
10. ‘Go As Free Companions’
Dawn Ray’d’s line-up is as follows:
Simon Barr (vocals, violin and synthesizers, ex-We Came Out Like Tigers)
Fabian Devlin (guitars, ex-We Came Out Like Tigers)
Matthew Broadley (drums, ex-We Came Out Like Tigers)
Directed by Joe Guppy of JG Visuals, a music video was filmed for the track ‘Ancient Light’. “‘Ancient Light’ is the first song we wrote for this record, it was written during a very bleak time when it felt like the world was crashing down around us, and one of the things that got us through that time was our belief in the goodness of people, in the strength of community, in the power of art and creativity,” Dawn Ray’d commented.
“The lyrics are about how capitalism leaves us feeling divorced from our very selves, and robs us of our time, dreams and the things that make us happy. We are forced into lives of subjugation and coercion, against our will and against our best interests. But we are not beaten, we are many, we are powerful and together we are unstoppable. Every government, every king, every tyrant knows this, we just have to realise it ourselves.”
A music video was filmed for the track ‘The Battle of Sudden Flame’ too, also directed by Joe Guppy of JG Visuals. “The lyrics to this song feel very relevant to what we have seen the police do in 2023, but has there ever been a year when that wouldn’t be the case?,” Dawn Ray’d said.
“One of the ways working people have been able to tell the stories of their lives is through folk music; documenting labour struggles, the lives of revolutionaries, and all the abuses those in power commit against us. There is no break between the past and the present, this is a true story told in the best way we know how. Folk music isn’t a synonym for ‘acoustic’ or ‘twee’, it is the music of our real lives, we the folk down here struggling.
“It isn’t controversial to hate an institution that brutalises women, torments the poor, murders people of colour with impunity, covers for the abusive rich and crushes dissent.
“We don’t have to justify our opposition to the police, that is the burden of those who choose to support them.”
Rounding off a trio of music videos directed by Joe Guppy of JG Visuals, a clip was released for the track ‘Go As Free Companions’.
“To Know The Light is an exploration of anarcho-nihilism, and ‘Go As Free Companions’ is our conclusion. We have chosen not to despair in the face of overwhelming odds, but to live while time allows it,” the band said. “If the future is canceled, if the present is all we have, then each minute must be revolutionary; every moment counts, so live these ideas in every moment.
“It is easy to know what we are against, but we must not forget what we are for. Whilst there is joy, love, empathy, kindness, people in need of your help; we cannot give up. You may sometimes feel like it, but you are not alone and you are not powerless, there are huge numbers of us, let’s find each other! Though acrid black clouds race across the horizon we must not forget: today, the sun still shines.”
All three clips can be viewed below.
Second studio record Behold Sedition Plainsong was released in October 2019 via Prosthetic.
