Nearly ten years into their journey, Under Auburn Skies aren’t approaching Diminisher of Hope like a band still trying to figure out who they are.
The Denver melodic metalcore outfit has spent years developing their sound through recording, writing, and, importantly, playing alongside some serious names within the heavier music scene. With influences that place them comfortably alongside bands like Polaris, Invent Animate, Make Them Suffer, ERRA, and Phinehas, Under Auburn Skies balance melody with the intensity expected of modern metalcore.
That experience sits behind Diminisher of Hope, a six-track record that gives listeners a concentrated introduction to the band.
Beginning with the short “First Blood,” the album quickly moves into “World-Eater” before making its way through “The Pale King,” “Gravemind,” and “Dathomir,” eventually closing with “Final Sin.” “The Pale King” and “Final Sin” arrived ahead of the release as the record’s two singles, but the full record shows the heavier world Under Auburn Skies have spent years building.
Their history goes well beyond the studio. Over the last decade, the band has opened for All That Remains, Born of Osiris, Norma Jean, Darkest Hour, Like Moths to Flames, Entheos, VCTMS and Phinehas, giving them plenty of opportunities to sharpen their music in front of heavy crowds.
There is some impressive studio experience behind their catalog too. Previous record Invention of Reason was recorded at Hallway Studios in California with Zach Tuch, whose wider credits include work connected to some of modern heavy music’s biggest names. For Diminisher of Hope, vocals and additional guitar were tracked at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, a studio that has welcomed everyone from Rise Against and Descendents to A Day To Remember and As I Lay Dying.
That sense of experience is one of the defining qualities of Diminisher of Hope. Instead of treating the six-track record as a showcase for a band still searching for its direction, Under Auburn Skies approach it with the confidence that comes from years of writing, recording, and performing.
The melodic side of their sound remains an important part of that identity. Their influences place them within the modern metalcore landscape, but the band balances those melodic elements with the intensity expected from the genre. The result is a sound that gives the heavier moments room to hit while keeping melody at the center of the experience.
The structure of the record also helps make it an effective introduction. “First Blood” provides a brief opening before “World-Eater” expands the album’s heavier direction. From there, “The Pale King,” “Gravemind,” and “Dathomir” continue the progression before “Final Sin” brings the six-track release to its conclusion.
With “The Pale King” and “Final Sin” released as the record’s two singles, those tracks provide natural entry points for new listeners. At the same time, the complete record offers a broader picture of what Under Auburn Skies have developed over nearly a decade.
That development has been shaped heavily by the band’s live history. Opening for All That Remains, Born of Osiris, Norma Jean, Darkest Hour, Like Moths to Flames, Entheos, VCTMS, and Phinehas has placed the band in front of audiences already familiar with some of the heavier sounds surrounding modern metalcore.
Those opportunities have allowed Under Auburn Skies to continue sharpening their performances while building experience alongside established acts. The result is a record that carries the feeling of a band comfortable in the heavier music environment they have spent years becoming part of.
Their studio history adds another layer to that progression. Invention of Reason was recorded at Hallway Studios in California with Zach Tuch, providing an earlier example of the band’s recording experience. For Diminisher of Hope, vocals and additional guitar were tracked at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, connecting the new material to another established recording environment.
The Blasting Room’s history includes work associated with Rise Against, Descendents, A Day To Remember, and As I Lay Dying, adding further context to the production experience behind the record.
All of those elements come together to make Diminisher of Hope feel like a continuation rather than a beginning. The band has already spent years developing their sound, testing it on stages, and working through the recording process. This six-track release simply gives listeners a concentrated way to step into that world.
Rather than feeling like a starting point, Diminisher of Hope captures a band with years behind them and plenty still ahead. For listeners discovering Under Auburn Skies through “The Pale King” or “Final Sin,” the rest of the record makes a strong case for sticking around.
Diminisher of Hope is available to stream Under Auburn Skies on Spotify.
