Returning like a phoenix from the ashes, French dark progressive metal band THE OLD DEAD TREE unveil the harbinger of the upcoming album Second Thoughts — the soul-stirring single, Unpredictable. Unpredictable delves into the chaotic maelstrom of life’s twists and turns. Musically as hauntingly beautiful as it is merciless, a mirror reflecting the unpredictable nature of existence. The morning dawns, casting light on the twisted ruins we wake up to every day. But on Unpredictable, the light is more than just the break of day; it’s a call to arms. With lyrics bleeding raw emotion and riffs that cut through the white noise of apathy, THE OLD DEAD TREE summons us to embrace the chaos that life throws our way. “No one really knows what life will bring; it’s just unpredictable,” Manuel Munoz sings with an urgency that demands you to hear the ticking clock of existence. Carrying the band’s signature weight—the amalgamation of progressive extreme music and dark rock-pop—Unpredictable captures the essence of living on the edge. It’s a powerful reminder to seize the moment, to rise against the constraints of rationality and be prepared for the unplanned, the unexpected. The haunting vocals and relentless rhythms pull you under and lift you out, breaking through the frame of what was once seen as possible.
The Old Dead Tree
Gothic Metal - France
During the 2000s, THE OLD DEAD TREE made a name for themselves on the European metal scene, performing almost 200 concerts and releasing three albums, creating a unique universe combining extreme music and dark rock-pop, sublimated by Manuel Munoz’s exceptional, versatile vocals.
In 1999, when THE OLD DEAD TREE had just released their debut EP The Blossom, drummer Frédéric Guillemot took his own life.
The shock deeply traumatized the other three members, and formed the basis of the concept for their first album, The Nameless Disease.
The immediate success of this landmark album, released in 2003 by Season Of Mist, saw the band hit the road with PARADISE LOST, OPETH and KATATONIA, introducing their music to metalheads across Europe.
This was followed by two critically acclaimed albums, The Perpetual Motion (2005) and The Water Fields (2007), which further established THE OLD DEAD TREE as a pillar of the French metal scene and a benchmark for progressive metal in Europe.
In late 2008, with the writing of a fourth album just getting underway, the wear and tear of the necessary personal investment proved too much for several band members to bear.
THE OLD DEAD TREE officially broke up in 2009.
Over the following years, the musicians drifted apart geographically and became involved in other musical projects (PENUMBRA, ARKAN, OMMATIDIA, LUX INCERTA, NUIT CARMIN, MELTED SPACE), but never abandoned their indefectible friendship.
In 2013, THE OLD DEAD TREE reunited briefly to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Nameless Disease album with a 3-country tour that included stops at HELLFEST and MOTOCULTOR.
By the end of December 2019, THE OLD DEAD TREE announce the unexpected release of an unreleased 5‑track EP: The End, featuring songs from the writing sessions for the unfinished fourth album. A headlining tour and several dates with LACUNA COIL were scheduled, but the pandemic quickly put a damper on the band’s plans, and they didn’t return to the stage until autumn 2022, playing three full headlining concerts in Paris (Petit Bain), Nantes (Ferrailleur) and Brest (Léo Ferré) before joining KLONE at Trabendo in February 2023.
In May 2023, THE OLD DEAD TREE announced the release of its first original composition since 2008 and were part of the HELLFEST line up one month later.
Line-up:
- Manuel MUNOZ : Vocals
- Nicolas CHEVROLLIER : Guitars
- Nicolas CORNOLO : Guitars
- Gilles MOINET : Bass
- Raphael ANTHEAUME : Drums
Date | Venue | City | Country | Info | Ticket |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 26th, 2024 | La Maroquinerie | Paris | France | w/ Vestige |
French dark metal outfit THE OLD DEAD TREE are now streaming their EP ‘The End’ in full. With this final chapter, the band is closing their career by paying one last tribute to their long-lost friend. The EP includes a bonus DVD containing an extensive documentary on the bands’ career.
French dark metal outfit THE OLD DEAD TREE are now releasing a new track and album details of their upcoming opus ‘The End’, which will be released on December 6, 2019. This final chapter, containing 5 never released tracks, was already written in 1999, a few days before the tragic loss of drummer Frédéric Guillemot. With this final chapter, the band is closing their career by paying one last tribute to their long-lost friend. The EP includes a bonus DVD containing an extensive documentary on the bands’ career.
As previously announced, French dark metallers THE OLD DEAD TREE are reuniting this year to mark the 10th anniversary of their iconic debut full-length, ‘The Nameless Disease’. To celebrate, the band will perform the album in its entirety at Hellfest this June and is currently booking a French tour. But there’s more…
THE OLD DEAD TREE is growing back to life! To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut album ‘The Nameless Disease’, the French goth metallers decided to stream demos of that iconic release on Soundcloud. Here are the links: