English doom metallers My Dying Bride released their 15th studio album This Mortal Binding this past Friday, Yet, the joy of the arrival of the record has been overshadowed by the band's decision to cancel all their 2024 tour dates, including a much-anticipated appearance at the Maryland Deathfest, which curiously were the ones that jumped the gun spilled the beans about the situation.
Now, in an official statement shared on their social media, My Dying Bride have opened up about the internal challenges that led to this difficult decision. The band has revealed that the production of their latest album had been a taxing process, unearthing underlying tensions within the group. These tensions, which had been simmering during the creation of their previous two albums, were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past few months, these internal conflicts escalated, causing significant discontent among the band members.
Despite the growing issues, My Dying Bride had hoped to resolve these internal conflicts and proceed with their scheduled shows. However, they admitted that finding a resolution has proven elusive. The band also expressed frustration with the lack of understanding and poor communication from their professional partners, leading to a chaotic situation that has been challenging to navigate.
"The production of this latest album was arduous and challenging to such an extent that it has revealed fractures within the band. These tensions had already been observed during the creation of the previous 2 albums and were only exacerbated during the Covid period. Over the past few months, they have intensified, causing a profound sense of discontent among the band members. The resulting stress and the pervasive feeling of burnout, along with the physical and mental malaise it creates, necessitated a period of time off which unfortunately impacts live shows."
"The reason for the lack of an official statement until now is because the band has truly hoped to resolve these internal issues and perform some shows this year while trying to find a resolution in time to satisfy all parties involved. Sadly, this resolution is yet to be found.”
"Regrettably, a lack of understanding and poor communication from our professional partners has resulted in an untimely and chaotic mess from which a recovery is challenging. However, the promoters have now been officially contacted and it is hoped that steps can be taken to minimize the impact on you all.”
"We apologize for keeping you in the dark, but these are indeed challenging times."
It's a somber moment for My Dying Bride and their devoted fanbase, but it's essential to recognize the human element behind these decisions. Bands, like any group of people, face challenges, and sometimes those challenges become too significant to ignore. We hope they ultimately find a way to emerge stronger, ready to weave new tales of sorrow and solace for us to immerse ourselves in once more.
