AMEN’s new album, Death Before Musick, is due out on May 18th through eatUR music/Columbia Records.

The new album was made with no compromise, strictly on frontman Casey Chaos’ own terms. The CD was produced by Chaos, mixed by Mike Frasier (AC/DC) and Joe Barresi (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE), and recorded between mid-2002 and late 2003 in various Los Angeles recording studios, garages, and private homes.

As with previous Amen releases, Chaos wrote all of the songs and played all of the instruments with the exception of the drums. Chaos also fronted the costs of the sessions by maxing out his personal credit cards and pulling favors from friends who had access to studios, laying down tracks whenever he could.

Death Before Musick chronicles the past eighteen months of the band’s history, without a doubt its most difficult period, especially for Chaos. During this time, Amen lost its record deal, band members jumped ship, personal relationships floundered, and Chaos was living off a meager income from his days as a professional skateboarder.

“I wanted to document what was happening and the only way I knew how was through my music,” said Chaos.

Seventy-three tracks were recorded, and fifteen made the cut, including titles such as ‘Please Kill Me’, ‘The Summer Of Guns’, ‘Money Infection’, ‘EXTERMINATE!’, and the CD’s first single, ‘California’s Bleeding’. Many of the remaining songs will be B-sides and bonus tracks on select international releases.