After spending more than a decade away from the metal scene, former Bury Your Dead guitarist Eric Ellis has launched a new project. Performing under the name Ellis, he has released the music video for the band’s debut single, “Manners,” marking his return to heavy music.
The new project combines hardcore, metalcore, and groove-oriented riffs, reflecting both Ellis‘ musical background and the experiences that have shaped his life over the past several years.
Eric Ellis stepped away from the public eye after serving more than a decade in federal prison. Since regaining his freedom, he has focused on rebuilding his life by writing and recording new material, leading to the formation of Ellis.
The band’s live debut is set for August 1 at Hardlove in Jacksonville, Florida. Ellis will open the record release show for Southpaw FLHC, whose new album, The Standard, arrives July 31 through Spinefarm.
For longtime fans, the project marks the return of a guitarist whose work helped define an important era for Bury Your Dead. Rather than revisiting the past, Ellis signals the start of a new creative direction.
Eric Ellis played guitar on Bury Your Dead‘s breakthrough 2004 release, Cover Your Tracks, followed by 2006’s Beauty And The Breakdown and the band’s 2008 self-titled album. He exited the group in August 2008, citing “medical reasons” and “personality differences.”
In 2012, Ellis was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy and violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act as a member of a violent gang based in Jacksonville, Florida.
With Ellis now underway and “Manners” introducing the band’s sound, Eric Ellis is moving forward with a new chapter centered on fresh music and returning to the stage.
