Black Crown Initiate

Lore & Background

Black Crown Initiate formed in late 2012 as a small project by guitarist Andy Thomas, vocalist James Dorton, and bassist Nick Shaw. They released demos on SoundCloud, leading to the four-track EP Song of the Crippled Bull, recorded with Carson Slovak and released July 17, 2013. The EP gained attention from underground metal blogs, prompting the band to recruit members for live performances. Their first show was October 18, 2013, in their hometown with Rivers of Nihil.

In January 2014, the band embarked on the Metal Alliance Tour supporting 1349, Goatwhore, and Behemoth, their first tour. They signed with eOne Music in June 2014 and released their debut LP The Wreckage of Stars on September 30, 2014, which debuted at #18 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Their second album, Selves We Cannot Forgive, released July 22, 2016, became their strongest-selling album, moving 1,825 copies in its debut week and landing at #115 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart. The band experienced lineup changes, including the departure of guitarist Rik Stelzpflug in June 2016, replaced by former The Faceless guitarist Wes Hauch.

In December 2018, drummer Jesse Beahler and guitarist Wes Hauch departed, replaced by drummer Samuel Santiago and guitarist Ethan McKenna. The band signed with Century Media Records in July 2019 and released their third studio album, Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape, on August 7, 2020. In 2021, founding members Andy Thomas and Nick Shaw left the band, but both returned in 2023, stating the band would release new music 'when time permits.'

Reader's Guide

Black Crown Initiate emerged from the Pennsylvania underground in the early 2010s, quickly gaining traction with their debut EP and securing tours with established extreme metal acts. Their signing to eOne Music and later Century Media reflected their growing prominence. The band's music, characterized by progressive metal, ambience, doom metal, and post-rock, drew comparisons to Opeth, Gojira, and Mastodon. Their albums charted on Billboard, with Selves We Cannot Forgive achieving notable sales. Despite lineup changes and a hiatus, the band's return in 2024 signals continued relevance. Their legacy lies in their fusion of extreme metal with atmospheric and progressive elements, influencing the modern metal scene. The band's name, explained in a 2016 Reddit AMA, references a Tibetan spiritual leader's black crown, symbolizing help for humanity, which the band interpreted as showing people their own flaws.

Did You Know?

• The band's name originates from a Tibetan spiritual leader who wears a black crown to signify help for humanity, as stated in a 2016 Reddit AMA.
• Their debut EP Song of the Crippled Bull was recorded with Carson Slovak, who also produced August Burns Red and Texas In July.
• Founding members Andy Thomas and Nick Shaw left the band in 2021 but returned in 2023.

From SoundCloud Demos to a Full-Time Band

Black Crown Initiate traces its roots to late 2012 in Reading, Pennsylvania, where guitarist Andy Thomas, vocalist James Dorton, and bassist Nick Shaw began a small, informal project. What started as a side endeavor quickly gained momentum after the trio uploaded several demos to SoundCloud, drawing enough underground attention to justify a proper recording session. They entered Atrium Audio to work with engineer Carson Slovak, known for his sessions with August Burns Red and Texas In July, and produced a four-track EP called Song of the Crippled Bull, released on July 17, 2013. The record became a frequent talking point across underground metal blogs and publications, transforming the group from a casual collaboration into a full-time commitment. Eager to test their material in front of an audience, the three recruited additional members for live performances. Their first show took place on October 18, 2013, back home in Reading, sharing the bill with longtime friends and fellow local band Rivers of Nihil.

The 2014 Breakthrough and eOne Signing

In January 2014, the band announced on their Facebook page that they would join the 2014 Metal Alliance Tour, supporting 1349, Goatwhore, and Behemoth. For a group that had been together barely a year and possessed only a single four-track EP, landing on such a prominent tour was an extraordinary leap. After completing the run, they returned to the studio with Carson Slovak to record their debut full-length. On June 19, 2014, they announced their signing to eOne Music alongside the news that a full album was imminent. Guitarist Andy Thomas reflected that the band had begun with no sense of how far the project would carry them, calling the signing a new chapter that opened doors they had never imagined. The summer brought additional touring with Septicflesh and Fleshgod Apocalypse, followed by their first international dates in Canada on the Summer Slaughter tour alongside The Faceless, Fallujah, and Rings of Saturn. The Wreckage of Stars dropped on September 30, 2014, debuting at number 18 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

Selves We Cannot Forgive and a Year of Setbacks

By early 2016, Black Crown Initiate had returned to the studio with Carson Slovak to craft their sophomore album. Selves We Cannot Forgive arrived on July 22, 2016, through eOne Music, and became the band's strongest-selling record to date, moving 1,825 copies in its debut week and reaching number 115 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart. The album received positive critical reception, with promotional singles For Red Cloud and Vicious Lives building anticipation, and a title-track music video directed by Justin Reich premiering on VEVO. However, the period was marked by personal and logistical upheaval. In June 2016, long-time guitarist Rik Stelzpflug departed and was replaced by Wes Hauch, formerly of The Faceless. Then in August, while touring with Ne Obliviscaris and Starkill, the band's van and personal belongings were stolen in St. Louis, Missouri. The group launched a crowdfunding campaign to recoup their losses, a stark reminder of the financial fragility that still surrounded them despite growing recognition.

Lineup Turnover and the Century Media Era

The years between 2018 and 2020 brought significant personnel shifts and a new label home. In May 2018, vocalist James Dorton joined Replacire as a full-time member, while the band itself remained largely dormant until August, when they announced their first live show in two years at Beyond Creation's album release show and confirmed they were recording new material. On December 11, 2018, drummer Jesse Beahler and guitarist Wes Hauch departed on good terms. They were replaced by Samuel Santiago, known from Gorod, Beyond Creation, and Arkhon Infaustus, and Ethan McKenna, who had actually been the first guitarist the founding trio had asked to join the band. In July 2019, the group signed with Century Media Records, and in December they brought in drummer Gabe Seeber to work on the new album. The first new single in three years, Years in Frigid Light, dropped on September 20, 2019, setting the stage for Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape, released August 7, 2020.