Mars Red Sky Post “The Final Round” Video
Fresh off a performance at the Rise and Fall Festival in Niort, France, the Bordeaux-based heavy psychedelic progressive rock trio Mars Red Sky are edging closer to the Dec. 8 release of their fifth full-length, Dawn of the Dusk. Following up on the clip for “Break Even” (posted here) that itself followed the actual album announcement early last month, “The Final Round” is track three on the record after “Break Even” and “Maps of Inferno,” which featured earlier this year on the collaborative EP, Mars Red Sky & Queen of the Meadow (review here).
It’s an eight-track record and the last one is an instrumental revisit to the eerie melodies of “Maps of Inferno,” so three songs is not an insubstantial portion of the release out there before the arrival, which is still basically a month off. “The Final Round” also brings to my mind one of my greatest concerns about Dawn of the Dusk, namely that it’s either consciously or not positioning itself as the last Mars Red Sky album. The LP’s title certainly hints at beginnings of endings, and maybe “The Final Round” really is a last go on their part in some way. You’ll note it’s not the first round for bassist Jimmy Kinast taking on lead vocals. That was “Up the Stairs” on their 2011 self-titled debut (review here, discussed here), but Kinast makes the six-plus-minute track a highlight of the album — which is doubly impressive following Helen Ferguson‘s sit-in for “Maps of Inferno” and the high standard of guitarist Julien Pras‘ general handling of the role — and the effect those changes have in broadening the scope of Dawn of the Dusk isn’t to be understated. I may or may not be streaming the album in advance of the release, so I’m trying to hold back reviewing for that, but Mars Red Sky have never put out the same record twice, they’ve only ever moved forward, and this one does that too.
I only hope it’s not where they stop moving at all. I don’t think the shape of heavy rock or progressive psych would be what it is without the work Mars Red Sky have done over more than the last decade. They’re the band that showed a generation how to be heavy without having to give up melody for aggression. If they are done — mind you I have no confirmation, this is me hypothesizing; and “done” includes a hiatus for a few or however many years — the legacy they’ve left is not a trifling thing, and while I hope very much Dawn of the Dusk is not their collective final round, neither do I feel like they owe listeners or anyone else anything in terms of either the quality of their work or the ethic with which they’ve thus far delivered it. Speaking of, there’s tour dates listed below that carry into next year. Hardly the kind of thing a band wrapping up would do, you say? It is my sincere, sincere hope that you’re correct.
Enjoy “The Final Round”:
Mars Red Sky, “The Final Round” official video
From MARS RED SKY’s new album ‘Dawn Of The Dusk’ – out December 8th 2023 on MRS Red Sound & Vicious Circle. https://idol-io.ffm.to/DawnoftheDusk
French doom-psych/heavy-progressive trio MARS RED SKY unveil a striking new video for their monumental new track “The Final Round”. Their upcoming album ‘Dawn Of The Dusk’ is due out on December 8th 2023 via Mrs Red Sound and Vicious Circle Records.
‘Dawn Of The Dusk’: the beginning and the end are one. Mirror effects, reversals, double-dealing, deterioration… This fifth studio effort from French heavy psychedelic stalwarts MARS RED SKY is a genuine conceptual piece of work skilfully designed to take the listener on a journey through a shifting, unpredictable and even utterly disconcerting sonic universe. Bordeaux-based trio explore progressive and post-metal territories with boundless inspiration.
New video “The Final Round” proves that the band know how to surprise with a sumptuous Bowiesque journey with Jimmy Kinast (bass) on vocals! One of the highlights of the album. “As the film progresses, the organic elements of the creature deteriorate. This slow decline reflects the lyrics suggesting, in a pre-apocalyptic atmosphere, a balance of power between leaders and victims, the powerful ones and the weaks, power and the people it affects” comment film director Carol Teillard D’Eyry. “The Final Round” was directed by Carol Teillard d’Eyry with the help of D.O.P Nicolas Pradeau and Mathieu Disson (gaffer). Starring: Clément Gyselinck.
TRACK LISTING ‘DAWN OF THE DUSK’
1. Break Even
2. Maps of Inferno
3. The Final Round
4. A Choir of Ghosts
5. Carnival Man
6. Trap Door
7. Slow Attack
8. Heavenly Bodies
TICKETS: https://marsredsky.rocks/tour
11.11.2023 NIORT, FR – Rise & Fall Festival
16.11.2023 VANNES, FR – L’ECHONOVA
17.11.2023 VALLET, FR – Westill
18.11.2023 ARGENTEUIL, FR – La Cave Argenteuil
01.12.2023 MACON, FR – Matilda
02.12.2023 OLTEN, CH – OltenAir Rock Session
03.12.2023 GENEVA, CH – UNDERTOWN
05.12.2023 REGENSBURG, DE – Alte Mälzerei
06.12.2023 VIENNA, AU – ARENA WIEN
07.12.2023 DRESDEN, DE – Chemiefabrik Dresden (Chemo)
08.12.2023 JENA, DE – KuBa
09.12.2023 SIEGEN, DE – FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL Winter Edition
19.01.2024 AMIENS, FR – 1001 Bières Amiens
20.01.2024 ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX, FR – Le Réacteur
02.02.2024 CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE, FR – LaPéniche
03.02.2024 STRASBOURG, FR – La Laiterie Artefact
07.02.2024 LYON, FR – Marché Gare
21.03.2024 ANGERS – Le Chabada – Angers (club et salle de concerts)
Vicious Circle Records – Mrs Red Sound
MARS RED SKY are:
Julien Pras : guitar, vocals
Jimmy Kinast : bass, vocals
Mathieu “Matgaz” Gazeau : drums, vocals
Mars Red Sky, “Break Even” official video
Mars Red Sky, “Maps of Inferno” official video
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Vicious Circle Records website
Tags: Bordeaux, Dawn of the Dusk, France, Mars Red Sky, Mars Red Sky Dawn of the Dusk, Mrs Red Sound, Vicious Circle Records
