Ashes You Leave

The band was formed back in 1995. when a few young doom metal fanatics decided to form, what later becomes the biggest metal Croatian band of all times, Ashes You Leave. After recording two demos, Ashes You Leave attracted attention from record labels and decided to sign for Morbid Records from Germany. That deal led to release of their debut album “The Passage Back to Life”. Although seemingly opus dedicated to their childhood heroes like My Dying Bride, this album is considered by many as THE classic doom metal album that will stand the test of time and have its place into doom metal’s Hall of Fame if one was ever to be created. Since they were full of ideas and energy it took them only a year to release the second album “Desperate Existence”. This was clearly a step forward from their doom roots and is widely considered (and deservedly so) as the darkest AYL record ever (hence the title). With already established huge fan base throughout world, AYL had a great expectations from their 3rd album “The Inheritance of Sin and Shame” and it proved to be a milestone in their career. Not only that it simply swept most of the reviewers of their feet, not only that it outsold its predecessors, it gave the band their first taste of foreign stages as AYL embarked on their virgin European tour. Finally the fans had a chance to witness the band in live situation. And most of them were surprised by the ferocity and heaviness that hit them. After the release of “The Inheritance of Sin and Shame” AYL faced potentially huge problem. Their long time singer Dunja was unable to be a part of the band anymore and AYL started a search for a new singer. And they were very fortunate to find Marina, young and extremely talented singer. She was a member of the Croatian most elite female choir Putokazi and settled nicely into the band. Many waited passionately to hear the new voice of AYL and were stunned when “Fire” album was released. There was hardly a person who hasn’t put Marina among the top female singer of a genre. Big success of the album opened some new doors for the band and AYL have finally stepped on some of the biggest stages in the Europe, performing on festivals like Summer Breeze (with Dimmu Borgir, Paradise Lost), Metal Female Voices (with Nightwish, Epica) or Wave Gothic Treffen (with Moonspell, My Dying Bride). Their performance on WGT is widely recognized as one of the best gothic metal performance in years and they ended as the only metal band beside Moonspell who had to play an encore because of the fans demand. Release of “Fire” album meant the end of one part of AYL career. It was obvious that Morbid records, firmly stucked into death metal scene, could no longer be a home for AYL. Therefore the band decided not to renew their contract but rather search for a new label. After 4 years of songwriting AYL were ready to record their 5th album. But before recording process started one rather hard and painful had to be taken. Female singer Marina decided to pursue her singing education abroad and left the band with no option but to quickly find a replacement for her. Luckily it took them virtually no time at all to discover 18 years old Tamara and offer her to become a member of the band. With the line up completed AYL have entered the studio in March 2006. The new album Songs of the lost is finished and it is released via Greek metal label Sleaszy Rider Records.