Formed in 2006 by drummer Patrick Curley and guitarist Mike Neumeister, Theater of the Absurd’s initial intent was to play unique extreme metal, equal parts progressive and ferocious. Insistent on splitting all instrument and vocal duties amongst themselves, the two friends quickly threw together an album’s worth of songs that seethed with youthful exuberance and passion, if not musicality and finesse. But what the duo lacked in craftsmanship they made up for in vigor: 500 LPs were soon pressed on a private label, funded exclusively by Neumeister and Curley. The vinyl was still hot from the press when the duo realized its folly.
“We wanted something more,” Neumeister explains. “The record was immature…just primal. We knew right away that our creative impulses weren’t satisfied.”
Only a few copies of the LP made it out into the world before the band stopped pushing it altogether and refocused on a new goal. Combining their love of forward-thinking, progressive bands of the 1970s and modern, avant-garde metal, the duo set out to create progressive metal that was truly distinct. Influenced by bands as diverse as Magma, Cynic, Gonin-Ish, and Gentle Giant, Theater of the Absurd took the next couple of years to craft emotionally-charged, cerebral, intricate pieces of music that were unlike any other.
In order to get everything recorded they enlisted the help of Norwegian émigré pianist Tor Morten and New York-based vocalist Chandler Mogel (Outloud), who describes the band as follows "Theater of the Absurd is a highly dynamic and fresh band which pushes the boundaries of progressive music. Their textures and arrangements are well planned and unique, and it was great to be a part of the making of their record and seeing their visions come to fruition. I'm looking forward to working with this band live".
Neumeister and Curley spent nearly three years perfecting and recording the album that would become "The Myth of Sisyphus". In that time, they went from jamming in a dingy basement, playing under-produced avant-metal, to being expert purveyors of highbrow progressive compositions. They also got the chance to be working with the likes of legendary mixer Jim Morris (Iced Earth, Savatage, Crimson Glory) and mastering engineer Maor Appelbaum (Cynic, Halford, Therion), who quotes “If you take the style ‘Prog Metal‘ and change the word Prog to Drama you will get ‘Drama Metal‘ and that’s what this music sounds like – It’s changing every few seconds and it throws you to different places - ups, downs and sideways”
“It’s been quite a journey,” Curley enlightens. “We’ve sacrificed everything for the sake of this record.” And to anyone who’s heard the record, it’s clear that all of the hard work and dedication will pay off tenfold.
Teaming up with Graviton Music Services, the band will release the record in Europe in a special digipack format, slated for December 13th.
Armed with a sound all their own and a statement to make, Theater of the Absurd is ready to take on the world. And after what seemed at times to be an uphill battle, it appears that the world is finally ready for Theater of the Absurd.