As many artists have experienced, the past two years hit the entire music and culture industry hard. But My Sleeping Karma – they have truly faced the abyss. Formed almost 20 years ago as a strong bond of best friends with a steady line-up ever since, the band has amassed an incredibly successful back catalogue of five highly acclaimed records and a live album in 2017, as well as extensive touring performances at sold-out venues and prestigious festivals that have marked them as one of the most well-respected instrumental post- and hypnotic rock bands within the heavy music community.
Closing a seven-year gap since their latest studio album, Moksha, My Sleeping Karma have announced the release their most emotional, deep, and darkest record to date, inspired by tragic events, on July 29 via Napalm Records.
The new album, entitled Atma, describes the (absolute) self, the indestructible, eternal essence of the spirit, and is often translated as the "soul". Sickness, death, and existential fear had brought the band to a point in music and life at which they were close to parting ways. But their will to survive has been recorded on Atma – a record the band wasn’t even sure would see the light of day when they started working on it back in 2017, and if it did, would’ve never been for industry sales, fame or success. Atma tells the story of their lives, processing the trauma of personal tragedies, deepest pain and fear of four best friends that have been going through their darkest days since their band existence.
Today, My Sleeping Karma have released the first single taken from Atma. "Prema" excels with a wide sound spectrum ranging between hard-hitting rock moments, ambient vibes and synth post-rock grandeur that bridge majestic texture and fast-paced dynamics. Watch the haunting music video for "Prema", created by Johanna Amberg & Gabriel Sahm, below.
"We already started working on the video content back in 2018. The world is full of hate, envy, fear and greed and it seems the competition never stops,” the band comments.
"Society is becoming more and more lost in a dog eat dog jungle, and back then we would have never thought that in 2022, it would be even worse. Besides the latest pandemic or the Russian/Ukrainian war, so many individuals are facing massive conflicts on a daily basis.
In the end, there´s always hope that the world will become better again, once mankind understands. Love is the key and peace starts inside of everyone. The video track ‘Prema’ tells that story and the entire album is all about this. "Atma" goes out with love to our dear families, friends and fans. Thanks for supporting us over the years and especially in the latest dark times.”
Most of the six new album tracks near the 10-minute mark and shine in distinctive My Sleeping Karma fashion – from crystal clear, otherworldly intros bursting into bittersweet melodies of vulnerable beauty to imposing soundspheres of mesmerizing heaviness with entrancing undercurrents. From the album’s first tone, it’s immediately evident that Atma isn’t just another new My Sleeping Karma record – it’s an infinite darkness, despair and sadness that furiously drives the German four-piece on studio album number six. As Dave Wyndorf once said, My Sleeping Karma is ART – and their new, cathartic record not only captures the zeitgeist of the times, but leaves a little light for hope, love, beauty and strength amid all the ugly facets of our vulnerable lives.
Atma was produced, recorded and mixed by drummer Steffen Weigand at New Life Studios, and was mastered by Andreas Balaskas at Masterlab Studios in Berlin. The album artwork has been created by incredibly talented artist Sebastian Jerke. The pre-sale of Atma has just started here.
The album will be available in the following formats:
- Digisleeve CD Edition
- 1LP Gatefold Black & 12 Page Booklet
- 1LP Gatefold & 12 Page Booklet Gold LTD 300 Copies
- 1LP Gatefold & 12 Page Booklet Transparent Turquoise Purple Splatter LTD 500 Copies
- Vinyl Hardcover Book (1LP Gatefold CLEAR plus 10" Vinyl Clear (2 Bonus Tracks) - 48 Page Booklet LTD 500 Copies
- Digisleeve CD Edition & Canvas Edition (Napalm EU Only)
- Digisleeve CD Edition & Shirt (Napalm EU Only)
- Digital
Tracklisting:
"Maya Shakti"
"Prema"
"Mukti"
"Avatara"
"Pralaya"
"Ananda"
"Prema" video:
Lineup:
Matte – Bass
Seppi – Guitar
Steffen – Drums
Norman – Soundboard
(Photo - Ingo Spörl / Hard Media)
