Beyond The Abyss With LEE JENNINGS From THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT

Interview by Kris Peters
The Funeral Portrait have always been true champions for the underdog; the outcasts of society who are struggling to find their identity or be accepted in a world that is often harsh and judgmental.
Their musical world is one of acceptance and unequivocal belonging, with a flair for the theatrical and a need for unity.
In little over a decade, The Funeral Portrait have steadily ploughed through the ranks, loudly going about their business with an air of defiant arrogance that only comes from a band who know they have something special.
Since joining forces with Better Noise Music for last year's smash hit album Greetings From Suffocate City, The Funeral Portrait have become one of the most in-demand bands on the planet, touring with Ice Nine Kills, Five Finger Death Punch, Marilyn Manson and more to solidify their obvious potential. The campaign cycle for that album began long before its release, with attention to even the smallest details providing a solid platform from which the band launched their global assault.
Greetings From Suffocate City expanded the group’s mythology to new heights and dimensions with invigorating, authentic, and passionate anthems. Songs like Alien, Voodoo Doll, You’re So Ugly When You Cry (featuring The Used’s Bert McCracken), and the title track (featuring Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills) have forced the world to stand up and notice, culminating in the release on June 13 of GREETINGS FROM SUFFOCATE CITY - FROM BEYOND THE ABYSS: DELUXE EDITION. The updated release contains 24 songs, including tracks from the CASSANOVA EP and the FROM BEYOND THE ABYSS EP, as well as the recently released versions of Holy Water feat. Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch, Hearse for Two feat. Lilith Czar and three brand new songs: Skinny Lies, Evergreen, and Lost Boy.
The album that was originally released September 13, 2024 via Better Noise Music, consisted of 14 tracks of theatrical, dramatic, unapologetic, full-throated flair with guest appearances from Bert McCracken of The Used, Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills, Danny Worsnop of Asking Alexandria and Amanda Lyberg of Eva Under Fire. It was - and is - a remarkable album from a band only now starting to find their musical identity, and looks set to reach a new generation of ears with the deluxe edition on offer this week.
HEAVY caught up with frontman Lee Jennings on one of his rare down days to force him to talk shop. We ask him about the response to Greetings From Suffocate City and if it was what they were hoping for.
"Completely, yes," he nodded. "I think at first we had been building fans along the way. So it was definitely a cool stretch at the beginning. But I think the better part is what we're building now. We're still supporting some huge tours, and it's growing every single day. Every day, we're selling copies at the merch table or online. You can go to your local record store a lot of the time and get it. And for us, it's about that growth. It's not about that direct, right when it's out, everybody's freaking out about it. To me, it's about the build. And I feel like what we're building towards is this next record that I hope that will be more that moment of like, oh, the new Funeral Portrait record is coming out. I'm very excited for that instead of right now. We're in discovery mode still now, I think, is the easiest way to say."
In the full interview, Lee discussed the upcoming release of the deluxe edition of Greetings From Suffocate City - scheduled for June 13 - reflecting on the five-year journey of creating the original album, which was impacted by the pandemic and other factors. Lee expressed enthusiasm for the new songs on the deluxe edition, particularly Skinny Lies and Evergreen, which tackle personal themes and mental health, and explained the inclusion of both original and guest versions of certain tracks to showcase the band's creative evolution. We also explored the role of guest features in modern rock music, with Lee open to collaborations across genres, emphasizing a process that allows guest artists to contribute while maintaining the song's essence.
We spoke about The Funeral Portrait's touring schedule, how they integrate the new songs into live performances, and more.


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