The Funeral Pyre, ‘Vultures at Dawn’

Melodic black metal band the Funeral Pyre will follow up 2008's acerbic 'Wounds' with the more musically diverse 'Vultures at Dawn,' which is scheduled for release on June 8. "On this record, we stepped out of our comfort zone and tried to create better songs, never focusing on what style of metal it actually is. Just writing the songs was most important to us," said vocalist John Strachan.

The Los Angeles-based outfit recorded 'Vultures at Dawn,' their fourth album, with Adam Campbell at Awkward Studios. Song titles include 'Vultures' and 'Monolith.' "This is the first time we've tracked our own record," Strachan said. "It's definitely been a learning experience, but we feel this has been better for the sound or music or whatever it is that we do. We are extremely excited about this record."

Ryan Butler (Landmine Marathon, Misery Index) mixed 'Vultures at Dawn' at Arcane Digital and Dave Shirk (Incantation, Nile, Today Is the Day) mastered at Sonorous Mastering.

The Funeral Pyre will have a record release show in Boyle Heights, Calif. on June 5. A full U.S. tour to support 'Vultures at Dawn' will begin June 25 in San Diego. Dates run through August 2 in San Francisco.

Funeral Pyre tour dates

6/5 -- The Blvd (Record Release Show) -- Boyle Heights, California

6/25 -- San Diego, California

6/26 -- Las Vegas, Nevada

6/27 – Phoenix, Arizona

6/28 -- Tucson, Arizona

6/29 -- Albuquerque, New Mexico

6/30 -- El Paso, Texas

7/1 -- Amarillo, Texas

7/2 -- San Antonio, Texas

7/3 -- Austin, Texas

7/4 -- Dallas, Texas

7/5 -- Little Rock, Arkansas

7/6 -- Memphis, Tennessee

7/7 -- Louisville, Kentucky

7/8 -- Cincinnati, Ohio

7/9 -- Columbus, Ohio

7/10 -- Cleveland, Ohio

7/11 -- Syracuse, New York

7/12 -- Vermont

7/13 -- New Hampshire

7/14 -- Rhode Island

7/15 -- Connecticut

7/16 -- Everett, Massachusetts

7/17 -- New York, New York

7/18 -- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

7/19 -- Detroit, Michigan

7/20 -- Chicago, Illinois

7/21 -- St. Louis, Missouri

7/22 -- Kansas City, Missouri

7/23 -- Wichita, Kansas

7/24 -- Denver, Colorado

7/25 -- Cheyenne, Wyoming

7/26 --Salt Lake City, Utah

7/27 -- Boise, Idaho

7/28 -- Spokane, Washington

7/29 -- Seattle, Washington

7/30 -- Tacoma, Washington

7/31 -- Portland, Oregon

8/1 -- Eugene, Oregon

8/2 -- San Francisco, California