My Dying Bride "For Lies I Sire"

For Lies I Sire is the tenth studio album by British doom metal pioneers My Dying Bride, released on 23 March 2009 via Peaceville Records and 21 April 2009 in the United States. It is the first album without keyboardist Sarah Stanton since she joined My Dying Bride in 2004 for their Songs of Darkness, Words of Light album. Musically, it is their first album since 1996's Like Gods of the Sun to feature a violin, performed by new band member Katie Stone. The album was recorded during September 2008 in Manchester's Futureworks Studio.

Andrew Craighan stated that the feel of the album is, in his words, "heading for empty and bleak with flashes of rage." Vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe stated in an interview that For Lies I Sire is "quite possibly the most depressing thing we've created to date", and that it's an album that unites the past of the band with the future.

The album is the first since 1996's album Like Gods of the Sun to feature a violin, this time performed by new keyboardist and violinist Katie Stone. The idea of using violin again has been described by Stainthorpe as adding "a deep range of feeling". The violin parts were well received by critics.

"A Chapter in Loathing" begins with the same riff that closed the band's last album, A Line of Deathless Kings.

This was the first studio release featuring keyboardist/violinist Katie Stone, drummer Dan Mullins and bassist Lena Abé, although the latter two also featured on the 2008 live CD/DVD An Ode to Woe. Stone resigned from the post to focus on her studies soon after the release of the album, to be replaced by Shaun MacGowan for the upcoming tour and Bring Me Victory EP.

There's also a special UK "guitar edition pack" featuring an extended 24 page booklet, a 12 page guitar booklet and a customised plectrum.

"Santuario di Sangue" is Italian for "Sanctuary of Blood".

Music and lyrics by My Dying Bride.

A video was made for "Bring Me Victory".

Recording information:

Recorded at Futureworks Studios, Manchester, England, April 2008-November 2008.

Engineered and mixed by Mags and My Dying Bride.
Mastered at Abbey Road Studios, London, England, December 2008.