MY DYING BRIDE‘s three decades of misery almost came to an end several years ago. Following 2015’s universally lauded »Feel the Misery« album, vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe’s daughter, just five years old at the time, was diagnosed with cancer. Shocked and heartbroken, Stainthorpe put all band activities on hold while he, his immediate family, and MY DYING BRIDE put their collective energies into eradicating what Stainthorpe called, “the cruellest of God's bitter and loveless creations.” The high hurdles, however, didn’t stop with cancer. In 2018, returning original member and guitarist Calvin Robertshaw texted his departure, effective immediately. No reason was given or explanation provided to anyone. Then, just as MY DYING BRIDE had regrouped after positive news that his daughter was effectively cancer free, returning drummer Shaun Taylor-Steels departed right before the band were slated to enter Mark Mynett’s studio, Mynetaur Productions. Down two members but feeling right as rain, MY DYING BRIDE moved on, mastered the doldrums, recording magnificent new album, »The Ghost of Orion«, to the joyful tears of fans across the globe, in the process.
Replete with an excellent Eliran Kantor (FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, EX DEO) cover art—commissioned by Stainthorpe—and sporting 11 tracks, »The Ghost of Orion« posits MY DYING BRIDE back on the proverbial doom-death throne. In fact, they’ve never sounded better. From the doleful lay in 'Your Broken Shore' and the deathly traditional 'A Secret Kiss' to the grim 10-minute epic 'The Old Earth,' »The Ghost of Orion« is the product of a vibrantly creative band unwilling to rest on their laurels or past glories.
