RUMOUR DEN UNVEILS HAUNTING NEW SINGLE "SEA OF TREES" - A MELANCHOLIC EXPLORATION OF DARK REALITIES

Rumour Den, the vehicle for the melancholic, dark, reality-infused songs written by long-time writing partners AJ Gilmore (lyrics & vocals) & Steve Simms (guitar & music), is pleased to announce the release of their new single, "Sea of Trees." This track is the first in a series of monthly releases leading up to their anticipated EP, "Relapse," due out towards the end of the year.

Hailing from Northern Ireland, Rumour Den's songs delve into universal themes of love, loss, loneliness, alienation, and helplessness in the face of power, resonating with listeners from anywhere. The band, which only existed as more than Gilmore & Simms for brief periods in the early 2000s and 2010s, recorded an album, "Melancholics Anonymous," in 2001. However, they never promoted it with conviction, feeling it didn't match their artistic vision.

For Gilmore and Simms, music is both a blessing and a curse, almost an addiction. Late last year, the idea to reimagine some old material with a new sound sparked something within the pair. No sooner had they reworked older songs than ideas for new material within that sound came pouring out, marking what they call a "relapse" – a passionate return to musical creation. Thus, "Relapse" became the title of this new collection of songs.

"Sea of Trees" is the Anglicized name of Aokigahara Forest near Tokyo, a place infamous among locals; a place where people go when living becomes too much, and do so with such horrifying regularity that it makes people wonder if the place itself is haunted. Gilmore is acutely aware of the sensitive nature of this subject, avoiding glorification or cheap horror thrills. In "Sea of Trees," Gilmore asks the question: "Can a place be manifestly evil, and can the souls of the dead seep into the soil and call to other souls to join them, like sirens calling unwary sailors onto the rocks?" The story is told by one of those drawn to the deathly quiet place. The clues to its true nature are there... but will he listen?