Daniel Bohn drops brand new LP

From his base in St. Louis, Daniel Bohn has created an exciting offering within progressive metal by bringing together sheer heaviness with cinematic ambition. His music sits on the tension between extremes, with the aggression of death metal colliding with the grandeur of orchestral soundtrack writing, forming songs that feel as story-focused as they are visceral. At the centre of his work is a fascination with humanity’s darker experiences, from mental illness and conflict to the determination that arises in their wake.

Those themes have been present since the beginning of his solo career when in 2020, Daniel introduced his artistic world with the debut album The Black & White Sea, a ten-track outing that revealed both his musicianship talent and a knack for storytelling. Subsequent full-length releases and singles expanded that identity, building up his sonic output while maintaining the sense that every composition has been conjured to serve a larger emotional and conceptual purpose.

Influences from artists such as Porcupine Tree, Opeth and Persefone can be felt in the way Daniel balances complexity with atmosphere and those inspirations are transformed into a style that’s his own, in which intricate arrangements and thematic concept move hand in hand. By the time he signed with Sliptrick Records, it was already readily apparent that he possessed not only formidable performance skill but also a compelling creative vision.

That vision reaches a new peak on Gallant Guest, his brand new full-length release and his first under the Sliptrick Records imprint. Serving as a continuation of the story begun on 2021’s Colors of the Land, the album transports listeners into a war-torn realm where divine vengeance spills into the mortal world. The premise is captivating; a god, consumed by the desire for retribution, manipulates an emissary to destroy everything another deity holds dear. When the central figure begins to understand the scale of the scheme, the conflict escalates, leading to the corruption of the land itself and the loss of the very symbol of courage and life.

It’s an appropriately bleak framework for an album that embraces darkness while themes of love, disease, mental illness and unresolved mystery course through the record, lending emotional impact to its barrage of death metal ferocity and progressive intricacy. A remarkable aspect of Gallant Guest is the extent of Daniel’s personal involvement, where he performs guitars, drums, piano, bass and vocals himself, shaping every detail of the album’s sound from the inside out before the mixing and mastering of Dorian Falconeri completes the LP.

The nine-track record kicks off with “Runes,” the album starts with the soft flow of strings, setting a melancholic atmosphere as the punch of rolling drums and airy lead guitar notes soar above. The track abruptly jumps into a charging riff-driven scene where pounding rhythms and intense guitars are met by Daniel’s aggressive vocals to deliver a raucous metal ride packed full of rhythmic switch ups and pure sonic energy. Title track “Gallant Guest” launches straight in with drilling percussive shots and blistering guitar rhythms capped by belted vocals to lay down a thrilling metal ride cut with superb lead guitar work.

“Bonfire” casts a dark scene with orchestral textures before the relentless burst of drums, guitars and vocal screams sets up a stuttering riff to craft a gripping soundscape full of twists and turns. Tracks like “Pain From Within” parts one and two present a more emotive sound of hazy vocals and soft piano before erupting into an enthralling death metal experience that captures the incredible scale and scope of the album.

“Tarn of the Fallen Voice” flows with clean guitar notes and pattering drums before gathering driving metal energy to offer a powerful metal rollercoaster that plays out across eight riveting minutes. Closing the album with “Verisimillitude,” the elegant sway of strings gently builds with hushed vocals and quiet guitar plucks to form a wholly absorbing sound before building into an exhilarating metal anthem to present an epic finale to Daniel Bohn’s stellar new album.

Listen to Gallant Guest below