I got a text from Sullivan King two days ago, “YOOOO you hitting that A7X forum show or what?” Of course, I’d already bought my tickets and responded with a screenshot of my seats and, “You fuckin know it.” On a personal level, I’ve known and have been covering Sullivan King since 2014 — I remember walking into Icon Collective, from which he’d just graduated, in 2015, for our first sit-down interview. We bonded over our appreciation of metal, especially Avenged Sevenfold and Atreyu. I almost got my first tattoo of his signature on my chest (after he’d actually ripped my shirt open) after his show at the Belasco in Los Angeles in 2017, supporting Black Tiger Sex Machine.
We’ve been through a lot and walked the same path in these past 9 years. Through two other studio albums, his first mainstage play at Lost Lands, headline sets in Los Angeles, he has continually honed his craft leading to today, the release of his newest and most ambitious and rock-influenced album, Thrones of Blood.
The album’s collaborations span between Taylor Barber of Left To Suffer, to SVDDEN DEATH, Excision and more, and boasts previously released singles including the massive “The Dead March” with Ray Volpe, the speaker-shattering collaboration with Excision, “Fall Apart,” and the highly anticipated assaulting SVDDEN DEATH collaboration “Pursuit of Violence.” These are accompanied by new tracks like “Die By My Hand” with Vastive feat. Taylor Barber of Left To Suffer, “Riot” with Kai Wachi and more.
There’s even a surprising sample of The Rock’s famous “Shut up, bitch!” toward the end of “End of Us.”
Listening through the album, you’re bound to find a bunch of subtle (or not so subtle) nods to the past of metal and rock as well as plenty of influences from his contemporaries even outside of the explicit collaborations.
Check it out below!
Just days after the release of Thrones of Blood, Sullivan King is hitting the road on a 30+ date tour, headlining iconic venues including LA’s Hollywood Palladium (two nights in a row), Emo’s in Austin, DC’s Echostage, the Majestic Theater in Detroit, and more. This tour features special guests Kai Waichi & YOOKiE and support from Level Up, Benda, and Vastive.
Sullivan King – Thrones of Blood Tour
Mar 23 – Mission Ballroom – Denver, Co
Mar 24 – Mission Ballroom – Denver, Co
Mar 25 – The Great Saltair – Magna, Ut
Mar 26 – Wilma Theatre – Missoula, Mt
Mar 29 – Knitting Factory Concert House – Spokane, Wa
Mar 30 – Knitting Factory Concert House – Boise, Id
Mar 31 – Cargo Concert Hall – Reno, Nv
Apr 1 – The Midway – San Francisco, Ca
Apr 2 – Fremont Theater – San Luis Obispo, Ca
Apr 6 – Soma San Diego – San Diego, Ca
Apr 7 – Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, Ca
Apr 8 – Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, Ca
Apr 11 – The Truman – Kansas City, Mo
Apr 12 – Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, Ok
Apr 13 – Emo’s Austin -Austin, Tx
Apr 14 – Bayou Theater – Houston, Tx
Apr 15 – The Factory In Deep Ellum – Dallas, Tx
Apr 17 – Joy Theater – New Orleans, La
Apr 18 – The Barrelhouse Ballroom -Chattanooga, Tn
Apr 20 – The Bluestone – Columbus, Oh
Apr 21 – Roxian Theatre – Mckees Rocks, Pa
Apr 22 – Echostage – Washington, Dc
Apr 26 – Toad’s Place – New Haven, Ct
Apr 27 – White Eagle Hall – Jersey City, Nj
Apr 28 – The Fillmore Philadelphia – Philadelphia, Pa
May 4 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, Ny
May 5 – Breakaway Carolina – West Concord, Nc
May 5 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, Ny
May 6 – House Of Blues Boston – Boston, Ma
May 10 – Bogart’s – Cincinnati, Oh
May 11 – Majestic Theatre – Detroit, Mi
May 12 – Radius Chicago – Chicago, Il
Jul 21 – Tomorrowland -Boom, Belgium
Aug 4 – Veld Music Festival – Toronto, On, Canada
Sep 4 – Wildwood Outdoor Education Center- Lacygne, Ks
Photo via Rukes.com
