Founding vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe has opened up about the ongoing tensions within My Dying Bride, confirming that two unreleased songs are currently in limbo as he and his bandmates navigate their dispute. Speaking with The Razor’s Edge, Stainthorpe revealed that the tracks were recorded during the sessions for the band’s 2024 album, A Mortal Binding, but were set aside for a future EP.
The songs have since been shelved due to a combination of internal strife and issues at the band’s label, Nuclear Blast. “When we did A Mortal Binding, again, there was a couple of songs left over for an EP. And then we had a big argument,” Stainthorpe explained. He added that a lack of communication with the label has also created uncertainty: “All my contacts have gone, so I really don’t know what’s happening at Nuclear Blast, and I’m not entirely sure what’s happening with My Dying Bride.”
The band’s current situation became public earlier this year when they announced that Swallow the Sun vocalist Mikko Kotamäki would handle live vocals for all of their 2025 shows. This decision came after a breakdown in communication, which was further detailed by guitarist Andrew Craighan in a separate interview with Metalirium. According to Craighan, the band was forced to cancel their remaining 2024 shows at the last minute because Stainthorpe was unwilling to perform. The band was not prepared to be sidelined, so they unanimously chose Kotamäki as a replacement. Craighan also claimed that Stainthorpe has not responded to band inquiries since March 2025 and has not engaged with them since April 2024.
Despite these unresolved issues, Stainthorpe remains hopeful for a reconciliation. “I’d like to think so, because there’s 30 years of really, really good work,” he said. “And a band as respectful of that shouldn’t just wither and die. So we need to work on fixing that.” For now, Stainthorpe‘s future with the band remains unclear, with the vocalist confirming that he “won’t be singing for them” until their “argument” is resolved.
