Interview: Chris Capitanio of IN THE PRESENCE OF WOLVES

Experimental Rock/Metal Quartet IN THE PRESENCE OF WOLVES to Release New EP Exploring the Five Stages of Grief

Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape and The Cage Out June 30, 2017 | Pre-Order via Bandcamp

Listen to New Track “The One Who Fell to Earth” Now via Metal Injection

Produced by Backroom Studios Owner & Dillinger Escape Plan Guitarist Kevin Antreassian

Philadelphia-native progressive group IN THE PRESENCE OF WOLVES rattled the east coast metal scene with their 2015 full-length release, Thalassas, deftly mixing a bevy of classic progressive rock, modern prog-metal, experimental, post-hardcore and jazz rock influences that has since been unparalleled by any up-and-coming local artist of late. Tight live and recorded performances and mind-boggling technical precision have already pushed IN THE PRESENCE OF WOLVES far beyond the limitations of their contemporaries, and they’ve only just begun.

IN THE PRESENCE OF WOLVES further improves upon their addictive sonic blend with their upcoming EP, Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape and The Cage, a conceptual offering all its own out June 30, 2017. The EP’s auditory assault reaches far beyond the confines of ITPOW’s experimental predecessors—plainly inspired by the piercing vocal attacks, tasteful theatricality and frantic musical kaleidoscopes pioneered by artists like Rush, Coheed and Cambria, Queen, The Mars Volta and Between The Buried And Me—leaving the listener with something overtly inspired yet fresh and uncharted.

Of Two Minds… is available for pre-order now via Bandcamp. Take a listen to ITPOW’s first single, “The One Who Fell To Earth”, now via Metal Injection: http://www.metalinjection.net/av/new-music/in-the-presence-of-wolves-progs-your-day-up-with-the-one-who-fell-to-earth

Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape and The Cage is a two-in-one part EP in an eventual multi-release story that explores ITPOW’s personal confrontations with mental illness, emotional struggle and the five stages of grief. The EP tells the story of twin brothers, one with paranoid schizophrenia and one without. The sane brother deals with the first two stages of grief as he investigates the reasons behind his twin taking his own life.

Appropriately, Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape and The Cage stretches the musical confines of cognitive dissonance personified—chaotic, disturbed, enlightened and energized. Kicking off with a stripped-down, dramatic, retro-inspired introduction track, Of Two Minds… wastes no time soaring into an experimental rock adventure—shifting gracefully from dynamic, emotional passages to borderline aggressive turbulence.

At the helm on Of Two Minds… was producer Kevin Antreassian of Backroom Studios, otherwise recognized as guitarist for kings of metallic chaos, Dillinger Escape Plan. The album was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music.

“This EP feels like a natural evolution of the band,” says guitarist Chris Capitanio. “Our live show has grown more aggressive and our music has too. We still try to incorporate the dynamics and odd time signatures that we love and are known for, but it’s a little heavier this time around.”

“Working directly with Dillinger Escape Plan‘s Kevin Antreassian on the record definitely inspired a heavier edge to the songs. This new album is more focused and definitely has a lot more to say,” adds vocalist and bassist Vini Stamato. “We added a lot more to our existing traditional progressive influences and it provided us with an incredibly freeing writing experience.”

Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape and The Cage Track Listing:

1) As We Speak Pt. 1

2) The One Who Fell to Earth

3) White Noise

4) The Ape and the Cage

5) M.U.A. (Manipulation Under Anesthesia)

Capitanio adds, “This EP is the first in a series of conceptual releases. When we started writing, we were all going through a lot of negative things in our personal lives—several close family deaths, cancer scares, breakups—it seemed like it was all happening at once. We came up with the idea of basing the album on the five stages of grief and everything just fell into place.”

“In addition to our own experiences, the lyrical content is somewhat inspired by a documentary I once watched about David Bowie and his family’s history of paranoid schizophrenia,” continues Stamato. “I was actually already writing this EP before his passing, and during that process, I remembered that documentary and re-watched it for inspiration. I wouldn’t go as far as saying this EP is based on Bowie or the documentary, nor are we interested in capitalizing on the Bowie legacy, but the film definitely taught me a lot about the subject matter, regardless.”

IN THE PRESENCE OF WOLVES are planning to tour after releasing Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape and The Cage, with dates set to be scheduled soon. While the band has already broken out of their local Philadelphia scene of frequented venues such as the TLA, Trocadero, Kung Fu Necktie and The Legendary Dobbs, ITPOW hopes to visit uncharted territory.

Stay tuned for more touring news, new tracks and videos coming soon from IN THE PRESENCE OF WOLVES in anticipation of their upcoming EP release.