Beyond The Abyss With LEE JENNINGS From THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT

Interview by Kris Peters
The Funeral Portrait have always been true champions for the
underdog; the outcasts of society who are struggling to find their
identity or be accepted in a world that is often harsh and
judgmental.
Their musical world is one of acceptance and unequivocal belonging,
with a flair for the theatrical and a need for unity.
In little over a decade, The Funeral Portrait have steadily
ploughed through the ranks, loudly going about their business with
an air of defiant arrogance that only comes from a band who know
they have something special.
Since joining forces with Better Noise Music for last year's smash
hit album Greetings From Suffocate City, The Funeral Portrait have
become one of the most in-demand bands on the planet, touring with
Ice Nine Kills, Five Finger Death Punch, Marilyn Manson and more to
solidify their obvious potential. The campaign cycle for that album
began long before its release, with attention to even the smallest
details providing a solid platform from which the band launched
their global assault.
Greetings From Suffocate City expanded the group’s mythology to new
heights and dimensions with invigorating, authentic, and passionate
anthems. Songs like Alien, Voodoo Doll, You’re So Ugly When You Cry
(featuring The Used’s Bert McCracken), and the title track
(featuring Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills) have forced the world
to stand up and notice, culminating in the release on June 13 of
GREETINGS FROM SUFFOCATE CITY - FROM BEYOND THE ABYSS: DELUXE
EDITION. The updated release contains 24 songs, including tracks
from the CASSANOVA EP and the FROM BEYOND THE ABYSS EP, as well as
the recently released versions of Holy Water feat. Ivan Moody of
Five Finger Death Punch, Hearse for Two feat. Lilith Czar and three
brand new songs: Skinny Lies, Evergreen, and Lost Boy.
The album that was originally released September 13, 2024 via
Better Noise Music, consisted of 14 tracks of theatrical, dramatic,
unapologetic, full-throated flair with guest appearances from Bert
McCracken of The Used, Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills, Danny
Worsnop of Asking Alexandria and Amanda Lyberg of Eva Under Fire.
It was - and is - a remarkable album from a band only now starting
to find their musical identity, and looks set to reach a new
generation of ears with the deluxe edition on offer this
week.
HEAVY caught up with frontman Lee Jennings on one of his rare down
days to force him to talk shop. We ask him about the response to
Greetings From Suffocate City and if it was what they were hoping
for.
"Completely, yes," he nodded. "I think at first we had been
building fans along the way. So it was definitely a cool stretch at
the beginning. But I think the better part is what we're building
now. We're still supporting some huge tours, and it's growing every
single day. Every day, we're selling copies at the merch table or
online. You can go to your local record store a lot of the time and
get it. And for us, it's about that growth. It's not about that
direct, right when it's out, everybody's freaking out about it. To
me, it's about the build. And I feel like what we're building
towards is this next record that I hope that will be more that
moment of like, oh, the new Funeral Portrait record is coming out.
I'm very excited for that instead of right now. We're in discovery
mode still now, I think, is the easiest way to say."
In the full interview, Lee discussed the upcoming release of the
deluxe edition of Greetings From Suffocate City - scheduled for
June 13 - reflecting on the five-year journey of creating the
original album, which was impacted by the pandemic and other
factors. Lee expressed enthusiasm for the new songs on the deluxe
edition, particularly Skinny Lies and Evergreen, which tackle
personal themes and mental health, and explained the inclusion of
both original and guest versions of certain tracks to showcase the
band's creative evolution. We also explored the role of guest
features in modern rock music, with Lee open to collaborations
across genres, emphasizing a process that allows guest artists to
contribute while maintaining the song's essence.
We spoke about The Funeral Portrait's touring schedule, how they
integrate the new songs into live performances, and more.


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