American band PLAGUE OF STARS have released the lyric video for ' Vain ', one of the tracks from their apocalyptic ' Extinction ', released on January 31st via Wormhole Death .

' Vain ' is a bold statement of empowerment, a profound female reflection that challenges the listener to acknowledge how women can momentarily tolerate constant belittling and unwanted attention, but their inner strength converts this negativity into a silent rebellion: “ Do not mistake her silence for agreement / Do not mistake her silence for consent ” sings new vocalist Liz Ziegler with her imposing voice. The instrumentals – a unique fusion of doom, black and gothic metal – convey the weight of these life experiences and, joining with great energy with the clean and ethereal vocals, create a powerful and engaging listening experience.

The album ' Extinction ' marks a pivotal moment for PLAGUE OF STARS , proving to be their most aggressive and emotionally charged work to date. The album draws inspiration from the fragmentation of our contemporary world, transforming emotional tensions into a musical experience that reaches deep into the guts.

' Extinction ' is currently streaming on all major digital platforms: orcd.co/extinction

Hailing from the Minneapolis metal scene, PLAGUE OF STARS have captivated audiences and critics alike since their inception with their blend of darkness, raw energy and musicianship. Led by the voice of new vocalist Liz Ziegler , this band of veterans – featuring Will Maravelas and Frodo Caulfield on guitar,  Neal Pruett on bass and Aaron Lanik behind the drums – defies genre classification with their sound. Active since 2012, PLAGUE OF STARS have always worked to push the boundaries of metal, delving into the unexplored territories of doom, black and gothic in a powerful mix that leaves listeners pleasantly enchanted.

To connect to PLAGUE OF STARS:

plagueofstars.com
www.facebook.com/PlagueOfStars
www.instagram.com/plagueofstarsofficial
plagueofstars.bandcamp.com
www.youtube.com/@plagueofstars4400
first-avenue.com/performer/plague-of-stars

WormHoleDeath has a knack for finding unsigned exceptional talent skulking around in the metalsphere and PLAGUE OF STARS is another one of them. “Extinction” is an excellent find for extreme metal fans who have a liking for dark Symph.

By Gary Hernandez February 23, 2025

I was a little disappointed to find out that PLAGUE OF STARS is not a Black Metal Lovecraftian band. My disappointment was fleeting, though, when I discovered they’re a fusion of all things metal—Symph, Goth, Avant-garde, Black, Death—let’s just call it extreme metal. They feature both clean and harsh vocals, though not in the usual beauty and beast fashion—so again, breaking stereotypes. On January 31, 2025, they dropped their third full-length album, Extinction. Now on the WormHoleDeath label and showcasing a new vocalist, Liz Ziegler, this album is their heaviest yet. 

PLAGUE OF STARS hails from Minneapolis, US where they formed 13 years ago. You can almost feel the bleak frostiness of the environs permeate their music which is simultaneously ethereal and visceral. Extinction features nine tracks and has a full run time of over 45 minutes. Thematically, the album draws “inspiration from the fractured world.” The cover depicts a stone man collapsed in exhaustion on an expanse of ash, storm clouds churning behind him and evil spires of doom protruding evenly like fangs of some impossibly large subterranean beast—so, yeah, the general theme of extinction tracks.

The album opens with a gorgeous but brief acoustic (though clearly plugged in) intro, “Akerra,” with Liz hauntingly singing solo in the background. As if in contradiction to its 55-second opening statement, but also in a strange symbiosis, the album closes with a hefty ten-minute track, “Akelarre,” which reprieves the motif from “Akerra” before breaking out the Doom-laden boots of lead. The most complex track on the album, the song feels like a re-awakening—essentially signaling the potential for rebirth after extinction.

And then there are the six tracks between those two. While tracks like “Vain,” “False Reality,” and “Corporatocracy” are clear indictments of the modern system leading to the world’s demise, they’re packaged in well-executed metal. These aren’t Thrash socio-political lectures meant to drive the listeners to revolt, but rather thoughtful compositions crafted to make us think and feel. These more modern takes are countered with tracks that hearken to an older, perhaps ancient order: “Gods of Old” and “Sentinels.” The clash between the modern system vs. the ancient order then lead to “Extinction” and “Shift,” and ultimately that reawakening I mentioned. That’s my reading anyway. I could be totally off and the whole album might actually be about unrequited love . . . but not likely.

I should also mention that the track “Extinction” features former vocalist, Melissa Ferlaak, so that’s kind of cool. Not going to read anything into that. Clearly, it’s more about what track was recorded when. It’s also the title track, so yeah, cool.

Altogether a solid album. WormHoleDeath has a knack for finding unsigned exceptional talent skulking around in the metalsphere and PLAGUE OF STARS is another one of them. Extinction is an excellent find for extreme metal fans who have a liking for dark Symph.

Tags: Dark Ambient,Doom Metal,Extinction,goth,Gothic Metal,Metal,Minneapolis,Plague of Stars,WormHoleDeath

8 / 10 - Excellent

Songwriting - 8

Musicianship - 8

Memorability - 8

Production - 8

Willful and dark, PLAGUE OF STARS has undoubtedly fed off the pandemic period to create its new opus. Both very in-your-face and playing on more delicate moments, the group delivers a complete album and at the same time celebrates the arrival behind the microphone of Liz Ziegler, who didn’t take long to find her marks. Vocally captivating, she leads these new tracks with aplomb and a lot of strength. ”  Extinction  ” already stands out thanks to its dark and super-effective Metal.

It was in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that PLAGUE OF STARS hatched in 2012 and especially in 2014 with the release of ”  When Morning Came  “, a first opus that would launch a sort of quest for an almost absolute Metal between Doom, Gothic and Black and Heavy flavors. Composed of experienced musicians, the quintet is now releasing its third studio album, to which must be added a live (”  Virtual Live  ” in 2021) and a single three years ago. The latter also marks the final performance of its former singer, Melissa Ferlaak.

Because, it is now Liz Ziegler who has taken the reins of singing at PLAGUE OF STARS, and who manages from her arrival to impose her style and a clear and powerful register. No screams, no growls, which makes this new album undoubtedly more impactful, especially in terms of the lyrics, which remain in a very dark vein. ”  Extinction  ” therefore reveals its new frontwoman, who also offers a very good duet with the one she now replaces on the title track, a classy gesture for an explosive title.

After the short intro (”  Akerra  “), ”  Vain  ” propels us into a muscular, lively and massive Metal. While remaining melodic, PLAGUE OF STARS hits hard by distilling an apocalyptic atmosphere cleverly composed of diverse influences that come together without difficulty. From ”  False Reality  ” and its little symphonic side to the percussive ”  Sentinels  “, through the more ethereal ”  Shift  ” and up to ”  Akelarre  “, which closes this new effort in response to the intro, the Americans hit hard, avoid any repetition and play on an exemplary originality.

This is the third album by the band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, which returns more strongly under the auspices of Wormholedeath, about five years after its last release. If in the approximately 12 years of
Plague Of Stars’ existence, three albums seem few, we should point out that most of their members have a long tenure in the metal scene, having participated in various bands since the end of the last century.

The current line-up features only two of the original members, Aaaron Lanik on drums and Will Maravelas on guitar. Guitarist Aaaron “Frodo” Caulfield joined shortly before the previous album (Daedalus 2019) and bassist Neil Pruett shortly after. The biggest change, however, was in the vocals, which remain female, with the departure of Melissa Ferlaak and her replacement by Liz Ziegler.

“Extinction” emerged from an idea of ​​the previous singer to create an “opera”, which would highlight all kinds of issues caused by religious psychosis. All aspects of the dark sound are captured in detail with Gothic and Doom elements, reinforced with several Black and Horror metal features. The range of influences is so wide and the variety of compositions is so great, that we can hardly say that the album brings something specific to mind. In a rough attempt, we would say that it moves on a scale from Gojira and Nevermore with a subtle passage from Type ‘O Negative to Nightwish and Within Temptation.

The beginning (“Akerra”), however, a short lyrical guitar introduction with ethereal vocals, ideally lays the “carpet” for an explosive bass (“Vain”), perfectly representative of the imposing style of Plague Of Stars. The drums are stormy and do not rest for a moment, with the guitars dominating with the massive riffs, the bass following in tune, a few discreet keys giving color and Liz bringing out all her potential, faithfully following in the familiar “footprints” of her predecessor. “Gods Of Old” begins with black moods, with the elegant vocals convincingly surviving in the midst of a devastating brutal attack that rages relentlessly. A story that revives memories from the time when Christianity took control and forced the populations either to convert or die.

Operatic voices are mixed with eerie and cinematic ones, to end up with clear melodies that definitely take the upper hand on “False Reality”. The choice of the new singer is more than successful. A professional of the genre, Liz became known from her participation in Imaginaerum, a Nightwish tribute band, where she caught the attention of Will and Aaron.

The title track (“Extinction”) is clearly one of the album’s strongest moments on all levels. Experimental, with alternations that keep the interest undiminished, with a changing tempo and an atmosphere that mutates from seductive “regions” to terrifyingly dark ones, in a theatricality comparable to King Diamond. In a not-so-distant future, humanity digs its own pit with the use of nuclear weapons with devastating results, until Mother Earth comes to dominate again. Here too, a sensitivity to environmental issues is visible and a naturalistic sympathy is faintly discernible in the band’s perspective.

“Sentinels” is a torrential, impetuous demolition of everything it finds in its “path”, with unbridled energy from all the contributors, to progressively “tumble” into more “mournful” paths of nostalgia. The structure of “Shift” is completely different with unpredictable development, continuing to balance dangerously between heavy, consolidated fermentations and sweet melodies. The guitars give an extensive range to their own role, adding drops of lyricism, alongside the transcendental wanderings of the vocals.

“Corporatocracy” is definitely the most trashy/power track, running at increasing speeds, to release all its “anger” and rage for the consequences of climate change. The epilogue is written with the ten-minute farewell “Akellare” perfectly aligned with the opening “Akerra” has an intensely melancholic tone, moves at a slower pace, although it is just as heavy and includes a multitude of elements to convey the message it exudes. The “diabolical assembly” (“Akellare”) is a feminist anthem for women who chose to live their own way at the cost of even their own lives. In times when they were accused of witchcraft as an easy target for all the suffering that was happening, they themselves chose to be led to the stake voluntarily rather than submit.

The whole of “Extinction” is “soaked” in times and memories where the defense of human rights, especially of the “weaker” sex, exceeded even the will to live. “Plague Of Stars” summarizes a wide range of sounds of dark hard sound and spreads a magical mantle of conceptions full of relentless energy and genuine penetrating power. The freshness and appetite of the new members (especially Liz), seems to have given new impetus to the “veterans” of metal and acted as a catalyst towards a more ambitious direction, in a “space” where their long-standing contribution gives them the right to sit around.  

Genre: Heavy Gothic/Doom Metal
Label: Wormholedeath
Release Date: January 31, 2025

Plague of Stars was the only band on this four band line-up that I had never heard of before but as soon as I saw vocalist Melissa Ferlaak take the stage I got excited. I’m never one to make the lack of female musicians and concert-goers in the local metal scene a thing but there is a reason why I have a “Sausage Fest Meter” at the end of every one of my posts. It’s just a fact of life that there are very few females in this scene and even fewer that take the stage. I could probably count on my hands how many local bands have females in them and to catch one without being prepared for it definitely made my night. Melissa’s operatic and dramatic ranged voice juxtaposed the heavy instrumentation of Plague of Stars in the most perfect way. Even beyond the female vocals, this band had a sound that definitely stood out from the other bands of the night. Clearly each band brought something different to the table but these guys just had something so interesting and creative that it definitely caught me a bit off guard. I know these guys have been around for awhile and I’m a bit late to the game but I truly can’t wait to watch this band grow. Their unique sound definitely has a lot of potential making them a band I have my eye on for this year.