South Florida heavy metal outfit, Forty Winters, has announced a July 22nd release date for its sophomore album, Rotting Empire, on Dead Truth Recordings. Today, the band started streaming the first single and opening track, "Summoning Spirits," in the form of a lyric video created by animator / music video director Scott Rudd (Fear Factory, Thy Art Is Murder, Job For A Cowboy).

Forty Winters vocalist Xavier Vicuna comments: "Welcome to the year of Rot! With each release we got more comfortable in our own skin and more willing to take chances, which leads us to Rotting Empire. You can expect the signature FW sound with more of a modern approach, better song structure, as well as more grit and tenacity. It's pissed, and it's real. Some unexpected and unplanned touring pushed the release back quite a bit, but we were able to play new songs and hype the impending album so it was well worth it. We always had a vision for our sophomore album, this is it."

With regards to the first track, he adds: "'Summoning Spirits' is a great representation of what people can expect from Rotting Empire. It's the first single and the opening track of the album. We recorded the album in the order of the track list, it all just felt right."

Pre-order Rotting Empire at this location.

Tracklisting:

"Summoning Spirits"
"Choke"
"Profit Hostage"
"Empty Tombs"
"Human Sacrifice"
"Looming Serpent"
"Snuff Out The Light"
"Disease Of Time"

Rotting Empire was recorded by Jesse Kirkbride (Black Tongue, Aversions Crown, Enterprise Earth) at Kirkbride Recordings in Cape Coral, Florida., and features special guest appearances by Chad Ruhlig (For The Fallen Dreams) and Adam Warren (Oceano). 

Artwork comes courtesy of renowned artist Bill Hauser (Ozzy Osbourne, Gorilla Biscuits, Sick Of It All, Toxic Holocaust, Cruel Hand).

Forty Winters is:

Jeff Stevenson - guitar
Xavier Vicuna - vocals
Scott Dotson - drums