Pallbearer

Pallbearer is a doom metal band from Little Rock (Pulaski County). Drawing early influence from seminal genre acts like Black Sabbath and Candlemass, Pallbearer expanded their sound to include progressive rock, post-rock, alternative rock, and shoegaze elements. Their melodic yet heavy sound has earned consistent praise from major music publications, establishing them as one of Arkansas’s most acclaimed modern bands.

Formed in 2008 by Brett Campbell (vocals, guitar) and Joseph Rowland (bass) at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in Conway (Faulkner County), Pallbearer emerged as a more structured departure from their experimental drone noise project, Sports. Devin Holt (guitar) and David Dobbs (drums) joined in 2009, with Dobbs soon replaced by Zach Stine, who played on Pallbearer’s 2010 self-released demo. The demo drew attention in the metal underground, leading to the band’s 2011 signing with Profound Lore Records. Stine left that same year, briefly replaced by Chuck Shaaf before Mark Lierly became the permanent drummer in 2012.

Pallbearer’s debut album, Sorrow and Extinction, was released in 2012 to widespread critical acclaim. Tracks like “Foreigner” and “Given to the Grave” were especially lauded, highlighting the band’s talent for lengthy, emotionally resonant compositions. The album was featured on year-end lists by Pitchfork, Spin, and NPR Music, exposing the release to broader audiences beyond the metal community.

Their 2014 follow-up, Foundations of Burden, stayed grounded in doom metal while showcasing a broader sonic palette. Produced by Billy Anderson (Sleep, Neurosis), the album was praised by critics for its intricate, progressive arrangements, topping Decibel Magazine’s “Albums of the Year” list and earning another coveted “Best New Music” accolade from Pitchfork.

Pallbearer released their third album, Heartless, in 2017 alongside their first music video for the track “I Saw the End.” The album marked a significant shift in the band’s sound, blending grunge and 1970s-era progressive rock influences with its doom metal roots. After signing with the prominent metal label Nuclear Blast, Pallbearer released their fourth album, Forgotten Days, in 2020. This release blended the experimentation on Heartless with the heaviness of the band’s earlier work, refining their sound in a new direction.

Released in 2024, their fifth album, Mind Burns Alive, marked Pallbearer’s most significant stylistic evolution. The album emphasized the subtle restraint hinted at in the band’s earlier work, delivering a sparser, more nuanced sound. Widely praised for its ambition and artistry, Mind Burns Alive solidified the band’s reputation as innovators, earning acclaim from both metal and mainstream critics.

Pallbearer has toured extensively over the years, sharing stages with notable acts like Saint Vitus, Paradise Lost, and Gojira, and performing at major festivals such as Maryland Deathfest, Roadburn, and Hellfest. The band continues to be an influential force in the doom metal genre and is still based in Little Rock, remaining a source of pride for Arkansas’s music scene alongside bands such as Rwake and Terminal Nation.

For additional information:
Clancy, Sean. “Rise of Pallbearer.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, January 27, 2013. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/jan/27/rise-pallbearer-20130127/ (accessed April 25, 2025).

“Pallbearer.” Official Site. https://www.pallbearerdoom.com/ (accessed April 25, 2025).

“Pallbearer.” Encyclopaedia Metallum. https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/pallbearer/3540315471/ (accessed April 25, 2025).

Singer, Quentin Thane. “Pallbearer Elevate Doom Metal to New Dynamic Planes on 5th LP ‘Mind Burns Alive.'” Forbes, May 16, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/quentinsinger/2024/05/16/pallbearer-elevate-doom-metal-to-new-dynamic-planes-on-5th-lp-mind-burns-alive/ (accessed April 28, 2025).

Martin Parets
Atlanta, Georgia