Umbersound’s "If The Flies Could Sing"
Photo: Mikhael Antone D’Angelo
Delivering a Visceral Dive into the Shadows of Existence
Down in the shadowed recesses of sound, where every note feels like an ancient whisper, lies Umbersound—the solitary creation of Joe D’Angelo, a dark metal craftsman who seems to conjure music from the marrow of the earth itself. D’Angelo is one of the founding members of Grey Skies Fallen.) With the upcoming album If The Flies Could Sing set to release on January 24, 2025, Joe’s creative force brings a powerful exploration of life's darkest and most introspective themes to the forefront.
If The Flies Could Sing is an atmospheric journey through decay, transformation, and the eerie stillness of forgotten places. It’s loaded with solid riffs layered against ethereal melodies. The album’s soundscapes balance heaviness and vulnerability, mirroring the dance between the life and pain that is responsible for creating the most beautiful art. From its genesis to the final acoustic whisper, every track is designed to challenge listeners to confront their own shadows through D’Angelo’s personal experiences.
One month ago, the music video for “The Wolves At The Door,” was released, capturing the raw emotional intensity of the album and pairing it with a dreamlike, yet emotionally crushing atmosphere. Directed by Joe himself, it pulls viewers into a surreal and very small space of time, perfectly underscoring the themes of vulnerability and perseverance.
This release is highly reflective and emotional, and gives a fresh space to doom metal. Edging closer to its release date, “If The Flies Could Sing” comes highly recommended for Doom and Dark Metal lovers everywhere. We were fortunate to score a pretty stellar short interview with Joe D’Angelo.
What drew you to the mythos of flies representing humility and the spirits of the dead in If The Flies Could Sing? It’s a forgotten, but beautifully interesting adage I’ve read about in a lot of ancient cultures.
Well, to start off—for a number of years now (I don’t know if I should be admitting this, but what the hell)—I’ve been having recurring dreams about flies. Not the same dream every time, but dreams that involve either the sound, the images of them, or both. I would wake up feeling anxious whenever I had these dreams, so I finally decided to learn as much as I could about their meaning and mythos.
What I discovered is that flies often symbolize change or rebirth, which is exactly how I feel with each Umbersound album. Each one is like shedding a layer or starting anew, so the symbolism resonated deeply with me.
How do you balance the suffocating heaviness of doom metal with the ethereal and delicate moments in your compositions?
I just go by what I feel when I write—it’s really as simple as that. I usually wait for inspiration to strike, and I always have my DAW ready to capture the moment. That’s the beauty of having a home studio: the right riff at the right time, with the right feeling, can shine through effortlessly without being forced.
The album explores decay and transformation. Can you share any specific moments or stories from your life that directly influenced one of the tracks?
It’s a mix of faded relationships—both with people and with certain aspects of my life that I never really dealt with. These are the things that linger in the back of your mind as you go through your day, the things that hold you back from your potential but shouldn’t.
If I started getting into specific moments, we’d be here long enough to fill a book, so I’ll keep it simple. The album reflects those unresolved pieces of life and the process of working through them.
The title track, If The Flies Could Sing, deals with atonement and acceptance. How do you see the act of creating this music as a form of personal catharsis or resolution?
With this album, I bottled all the negativity—translating it into music—and in doing so, I felt a sense of release. It’s not necessarily about conquering those feelings but about accepting them and acknowledging that they were part of my experience.
I hope people listen to the music and connect with it in their own way. It’s the kind of album where you sit down, put it on, and really immerse yourself in contemplation. That’s the connection I aim for—a deeply personal and reflective experience.
If The Flies Could Sing will be available at Bandcamp this Friday.
Thanks to The Metallist PR
