After the Burial
American progressive metalcore band from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
After the Burial, a progressive metalcore band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been signed to Sumerian Records for most of its career, releasing five of its six full-length albums through the label. Formed in 2004, the group has experienced multiple lineup shifts, including two changes in vocalists and drummers, the departure and subsequent death of founding rhythm guitarist Justin Lowe, and the exit of bassist Lerichard Foral. Lead guitarist Trent Hafdahl is the only original member still in the band. The group is recognized as a significant influence on the development of djent and progressive metalcore.
- origin
- Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- formed
- 2004
- genre
- Progressive metalcore, metalcore, deathcore, djent
- label
- Sumerian Records
- years_active
- 2004–present
- associated_acts
- Nostalia, Veil of Maya, Suicide Silence, Winds of Plague
Lore & Background
After the Burial was founded in 2004 by Nick Wellner, Trent Hafdahl, Justin Lowe, and Greg Erickson, who all met in high school. Dave Coleman initially filled in on bass before Lee Foral joined. Their first album, Forging a Future Self, was released on March 1, 2006 via Corrosive Records without an official record deal. The band later signed to Sumerian Records, after which Erickson and Wellner departed and Grant Luoma joined as vocalist. Eric Robles replaced Erickson on drums but left before the second album.
Their second album, Rareform, was recorded in 2008 with drum programming by Lowe and lyrics by Hafdahl. After its release, Luoma was replaced by Anthony Notarmaso, and Dan Carle joined on drums. The band re-released Rareform with Notarmaso's vocals in September 2009. In 2010, they released In Dreams through Sumerian. In 2013, they released the EP This Life Is All We Have and the album Wolves Within. On June 24, 2015, Justin Lowe announced his departure, posting a statement described as "barely-coherent"; he was found dead on July 21, 2015, under the Soo Line High Bridge, with authorities stating his death was consistent with a fall.
Following Lowe's death, the band released Dig Deep in 2016. Bassist Lee Foral departed in June 2016, and Adrian Oropeza became a full-time member later that year. Their sixth album, Evergreen, was released on April 19, 2019. In 2023, they released the two-song single Embrace the Infinity. In July 2025, they released "Hum from the Hollow." The band is scheduled to perform at Louder Than Life in September 2026 and Milwaukee Metal Fest in spring 2026.
Reader's Guide
After the Burial's significance lies in their role as early pioneers blending progressive metalcore, deathcore, and djent, helping to shape the sound of modern metal. Their 2006 debut Forging a Future Self is cited as groundbreaking in this regard. Despite numerous lineup changes—including the tragic death of founding guitarist Justin Lowe in 2015—the band has maintained a consistent output through Sumerian Records, with lead guitarist Trent Hafdahl as the sole constant member. Their albums Rareform and Dig Deep are considered key works in the genre. The band's resilience through personal loss and member turnover, along with their continued touring and recording into the 2020s, underscores their lasting influence on the heavy music scene.
Did You Know?
- Founding rhythm guitarist Justin Lowe was born in Flemington, New Jersey on December 17, 1982, and died on July 21, 2015.
- The band's second album Rareform was re-released in 2009 with new vocals by Anthony Notarmaso after the departure of original vocalist Grant Luoma.
- Bassist Lee Foral left the band in June 2016 to focus on his family.
- The band released a two-song single titled Embrace the Infinity on March 30, 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is After the Burial?
After the Burial is a progressive metalcore band that came together in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2004. They fuse heavy metalcore and deathcore aggression with the polyrhythmic, low-tuned complexity that later became associated with djent.
Which label has After the Burial been on?
The group has spent the bulk of its career on Sumerian Records, issuing five of its six full-length studio albums through that label.
Who is still in After the Burial from the original lineup?
Lead guitarist Trent Hafdahl is the sole founding member who remains in the band. The group has cycled through two vocalists, a drummer change, the exit of bassist Lerichard Foral, and the departure—and later death—of founding rhythm guitarist Justin Lowe.
Why do fans credit After the Burial as a key influence on djent?
Their mid-2000s records helped codify the blend of syncopated, palm-muted riffing and extreme vocal delivery that defined the emerging djent and progressive metalcore scenes. Many later bands in that space cite After the Burial as a direct inspiration.
What other bands are After the Burial associated with?
Fans and critics often group them alongside Nostalia, Veil of Maya, Suicide Silence, and Winds of Plague as part of the broader Minneapolis and wider metalcore / progressive metalcore ecosystem of that era.
More in American progressive metal musical groups 1-24
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