Immortal Bird

Lore & Background

Immortal Bird was formed in early 2013 by drummer/vocalist Rae Amitay, a Berklee College of Music graduate and former member of Mares of Thrace, as a writing project with guitarist/arranger Evan Berry. After adding bassist John Picillo, the band recorded their debut EP, Akrasia, at Lo-Tech Laboratories, mixed by Kurt Ballou and mastered by Brad Boatright. Released on December 3, 2013, the EP debuted on Decibel magazine's website to critical acclaim, with the Chicago Reader describing it as 'sick and greasy black metal.' The band then toured North America, including appearances with Mortals, Krieg, and Occultist, and performed at the inaugural Southern Darkness Fest in August 2014.

Their full-length debut, Empress/Abscess, was recorded in February 2015 with Pete Grossmann at Bricktop Recording Studio, mixed and mastered by Colin Marston, and released on July 14, 2015. The album featured a guest vocal performance from John Hoffman of Weekend Nachos on the single 'Neoplastic,' and the track 'Saprophyte' was premiered by NPR. Following the album's release, the band toured the West Coast of the United States in October 2015, including a main stage performance at Southwest Terror Fest.

As of April 2016, the band added drummer Matt Korajczyk and guitarist Nate Madden to their live lineup and began writing new material. They completed a co-headlining Southern US tour with Pyrrhon in April 2016, followed by summer touring with Theories and InAeona. In February 2017, they toured the Eastern US and Canada with Withered, and in October/November 2017 completed their first European/UK tour. In November 2018, it was announced that they would release a new album in 2019 through 20 Buck Spin, titled Thrive on Neglect, which was released in summer 2019.

Reader's Guide

Immortal Bird emerged from the Chicago metal scene as a project that quickly gained recognition for its blend of blackened death metal with grindcore, progressive metal, and post-metal influences. Their debut EP Akrasia was praised for its unpredictable, dark, and twisting sound, and the band built a reputation through extensive touring across North America and Europe. The album Empress/Abscess further solidified their standing, with NPR highlighting its fusion of Converge's melodies, Dillinger Escape Plan's tech-metal, and Carcass's death-grind. The band's significance lies in their evolution from a recording project to a collaborative live act, and their ability to incorporate diverse influences while maintaining a ferocious, cohesive sound. Their legacy includes critical acclaim from outlets like Decibel, Kerrang!, and PopMatters, and a growing discography that includes the 2019 album Thrive on Neglect.

Did You Know?

• Their debut EP Akrasia was mixed by Kurt Ballou and mastered by Brad Boatright, and released on December 3, 2013.
• The band completed their first European/UK tour in October/November 2017, playing fifteen shows and two festivals.