In an unholy sonic marriage of progressive metal, grind, hardcore, and blackened crust, Chicago's Immortal Bird have slowly and purposefully established a formidable presence in extreme music. Since their founding in 2013, their reputation and fan base have grown exponentially due to the sonic evolution from their 2014 debut Akrasia EP to 2019's Thrive on Neglect. Where they once played basements and underground clubs, they now wreak their particular brand of sonic mayhem on festival main stages. In 2019 they were named on metal magazine Kerrang's hotlist as one of the 50 most important metal bands of the last decade. Immortal Bird was originally formed as a writing project by then drummer and lead vocalist Rae Amitay (ex-Woods of Ypres) and studio guitarist/arranger Evan Berry. Bassist John Picillo was recruited shortly thereafter and the band recorded the Akrasia EP. Released in December, it was given auspicious praise by Decibel magazine. Playing loads of local underground shows in support (with guitarist Eric Kornfein assuming Berry's role live), Immortal Bird managed to get themselves booked in support slots on national tours with Mortals, Krieg, and Occultist. In addition, they won the chance to play on the same stage as Pelican, Bongripper, and others in the Southern Darkness Fest in the late summer of 2014. Early the next year, Immortal Bird went into the studio and cut Empress/Abscess, their full-length debut, produced by Colin Marston (Dysrhythmia, Gorguts). The album's first single, "Neoplastic," was featured as a flexi-disc in an issue of Decibel and featured a guest vocal performance from John Hoffman of Weekend Nachos. It wasn't the only personnel change: Amitay moved out front permanently and Novembers Doom drummer Garry Naples helmed the kit in the studio and on the road. Following the album's release in August, Immortal Bird hit the road again for a tour of the West Coast that included an appearance on the main stage at the Southwest Terrorfest. After the tour for Empress/Abscess, Naples resumed his duties with Novembers Doom and Immortal Bird hired drummer Matt Korajczyk as his permanent replacement. Berry eventually left the band, while Kornfien's role as a live member came to an end. Guitarist Nate Madden (Roman Ring) became the band's full-time guitarist. With a fixed lineup, Immortal Bird spent most of 2017 and 2018 touring the States, Canada, and Western Europe, playing their own co-headlining gigs as well as festival main stages. Following a break to write and rest, Immortal Bird announced on social media that they had a signed a record deal with 20 Buck Spin. When it was time to record, they enlisted Dave Otero as producer and traveled to his Flatline Studio in Denver. In May, Immortal Bird emerged with the pre-release track "Vestigial Warnings" in May, with the full-length Thrive on Neglect arriving in July. ~ Thom Jurek