This week, Calgary-based doom-core outfit Mares of Thrace have made a major announcement about the band’s lineup. Since their 2009 inception the band has been comprised of longtime friends guitarist/vocalist Thérèse Lanz and drummer Stef MacKichan, but this week the band announced the departure of Stef and the induction of new drummer Rae Amitay. Rae was trained at the Berklee School of Music, has recently recorded with folk metal act Thrawsunblat (the new band formed by members of Woods of Ypres).  Additionally, the band will become a three-piece for this tour, joined by a bass player for the first time. Scott Shellhammer (American Heritage).
The first Mares of Thrace performances with the new lineup will be on the pending tour where the band will join Providence’s epic doom trio Pilgrim and Brooklyn’s metallic hardcore quartet Primitive Weapons for a string of ten Northeastern U.S. shows, kicking off this week.  Dates are below.
7/31/2012 O’Briens – Boston, MA
8/01/2012 Columbus Club – North Providence, RI [*new show]
8/02/2012 Cherry St. Station – Wallingford, CT
8/03/2012 Saint Vitus – Brooklyn, NY
8/04/2012 Broadway Bar – Amityville, NY
8/05/2012 Ottobar – Baltimore, MD [*new venue]
8/06/2012 Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA
8/07/2012 The Depot – York, PA
8/08/2012 Pirates Cove – Cleveland, OH
8/09/2012 Ruby Tuesday – Columbus, OH
8/10/2012 Cobra Lounge – Chicago, IL