Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Magic(k) comprobāvī (tersus)

ABSU’s New Album Confirmed For October 4 Release; Artwork Revealed

Candlelight Records today confirms October 4th as the North American release date for ABSU’s new album titled Abzu. As previously announced, the album is part two of a planned trilogy of recordings from the Dallas-based mythological occult metal band. Mixed by J.T. Longoria (King Diamond/Solitude Aeternus), the album features the original works of Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak (Watain, Behemoth, Destroyer 666, Vader).

Recorded at Nomad Recording Studios in Carrollton, Texas, Abzu finds drummer/vocalist Proscriptor and bassist/vocalist Ezezu sharing equal vocal duties and debuts the skills of new guitarist Vis Crom. Proscriptor comments, “Abzu is the first studio release to feature a co-vocalist alongside myself since our third album, The Third Storm of Cythraul. Ezezu’s vocal presentation is beyond superlative and I am overly pleased with his execution and delivery. The songwriting undertakings were equally distributed between both Ezezu and Vis Crom and I must admit it brings an admirable multiplicity to the album as a whole. The last song on the album, “A Song For Ea,” was composed in six movements, as it brought the entire band together as an equivalent songwriting team. Vis Crom has definitely proven to be ABSU’s most proficient guitarist in the history of the band.”

Writing began on Abzu last autumn as Proscriptor notes, “This album has not only been the most challenging in ABSU’s discography, but the quickest paced – composition and arrangement wise. The current line-up is scattered all across the United States, so the album was physically written utilizing internet file sharing. We even rehearsed, at times, while communicating via cell phones. Lyrically, the album descends deeper into Enki’s lower world as well Thelemic and Enochian Magic(k) Systems. My lyrical architecture is extremely convoluted, so I decided to create a generalized synopsis explaining the themes behind each song. I feel these are my best poems since 2001’s Tara.”

Abzu has benefited from the unity of the band despite limited face-to-face rehearsal time. In fact only two proper rehearsals were had; one preparing for the band’s dates with Immortal earlier this year. The six-date showcase tour was the first live American dates for the band since their headline tour in June of 2009. Proscriptor confirms, “We rehearsed one week prior to the tour supporting Immortal and exactly one week after in preparation for the studio experience. I can honestly say this is the first time ABSU has rehearsed for only one week, as an entire unit, before entering the studio.”

ABSU recently returned from Finland where they performed at the Hammer Open Air Festival. “For the first time in history, we presented a complete and unabridged version of ABSU’s second album, The Sun of Tiphareth,” shares Vis Crom of the performance. “Now, we prepare with eagerness to do the same at upcoming performances in Greece and The Netherlands. The crowds at Party San and Brutal Assault can expect a different, but unique live set. After that, our sights are set on North American abyss.”

ABSU came to prominence with the release of their 1993 debut, Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L. Each album saw continual expansion of the band’s now highly regarded artistic vision and international fanbase. It was with 2001’s Tara that the band truly arrived. The album reached top lists of countless magazines worldwide. Years, however, would pass before any new material would be recorded. In late 2007, the band finally announced their re-awakening. Now teamed with London-based Candlelight Records, the band would take nearly sixteen months writing/recording their sixth album. Absu, featuring contributions from members of King Diamond, Mayhem, Melechesh, Firstborn and Enthroned, was released early 2009.

Abzu Track Listing:
1. Earth Ripper
2. Circles of the Oath
3. Abraxas Connexus
4. Skrying in the Spirit Vision
5. Ontologically, It Became Time & Space
6. A Song for Ea including:
a. E-A
b. A Myriad of Portals
c. Third Tablet
d. Warren of Imhullu
e. The Waters – The Denizens
f. E-A (Reprise)

Upcoming ABSU Festival Performances:
8/12/2011 Party San Open Air – Schlotheim , Germany
8/13/2011 Brutal Assault Open Air – Jaromer, Czech Republic
9/10/2011 An Club – Athens , Greece (w/ZEMIAL)
10/29/2011 Aurora Infernalis Festival – Driel , Netherlands

(03:EsC) V.2

Monday, July 25, 2011

Reverto tenebrosus

"...if all goes according to plan, the cursed and wretched new LEVIATHAN full-length album, True Traitor, True Whore, will see its official release on November 8th. The return of Wrest, imminent..."

~Profound Lore Records

(((03)))

Friday, July 22, 2011

Elláda Magic(k)






















(((03)))

Monday, July 18, 2011

GLORIOR BELLI: French Black Metallers To Release The Great Southern Darkness

French black metallers GLORIOR BELLI have revealed the cover art and track listing for their new album The Great Southern Darkness to be released in North America on September 27, 2011.

Commented the band on the new release: “The Great Southern Darkness has been recorded over a few months period and is comprised of 11 tracks that magnify all the best elements of GLORIOR BELLI in a twisted unique way again; a tremendous journey through dark deserts and evil swamps with Lucifer as a personal guide. It’s also dangerously violent and fast, yet at the same time really dark with all the Americana/stoner/blues elements that we cherish. Though often warm and almost inviting, the allure of GLORIOR BELLI’s bidding is revealed by a vicious duplicity; you will find comfort here, but at an unspeakable toll. The production is clear yet just harsh enough to bring a warm, fuzzy and completely unique sound you won’t find in any other modern recordings. So load up your haversack and hit the dusty road!”

The Great Southern Darkness Track Listing:
1. Dark Gnosis
2. Secret Ride To Rebellion
3. They Call Me Black Devil
4. Negative Incarnate
5. Bring Down The Cosmic Scheme
6. The Great Southern Darkness
7. The Foolhardy Venturer
8. Per Nox Regna
9. The Science Of Shifting
10. Chaos Manifested
11. Horns In My Pathway

GLORIOR BELLI crept out from the temperamental suburbs of Paris in December 2002. What started as a notorious duo soon became a remarkable beast, acting as a beacon for everyone looking to free themselves of the influence of the Demiurge. A symbolic demo — Evil Archaic Order — was released in June 2004, followed by their first full-length album, Ô Lavdate Dominvs, in May 2005. Their sophomore album, Manifesting The Raging Beast, was released in June 2007 via Southern Lord Records followed by, Meet Us At The Southern Sign, which ravaged unsuspecting ears in June 2009 via Candlelight Records.

Lyrics and themes explored over the years reveal a sincere inclination for rebel-ism and a developed sense of poetry. Today, GLORIOR BELLI has garnered a stellar reputation in the extreme music community for mixing desert rock textures with the brutal, ominous, doom-laden vibe typical of black metal. But don’t bother trying to restrain that which cannot be confined, for this is merely the greatest curse of the cosmic scheme.

GLORIOR BELLI:
Julien: Vocals + Guitar
Gionata: Drums
Davide: Bass
Bjørn: Guitar

(03:EsC)

PROPHECY

My buddy Allen is playing bass for Prophecy. Swing by and check them out!

(((03)))

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Mogwai announces new EP: Earth Division

When MOGWAI released their seventh album Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, the Scottish post-rockers went back to basics, delivering an effort of Krautrock-tinged metal intensity. Now, though, the band is changing things up once more as they ready the release of a new EP. Due for release on September 13th via Sub Pop, Earth Division will feature four songs taken from the Hardcore sessions that didn’t quite make the cut. These brand new offerings still invoke the LP’s pulverizing sound, but gain a hazy, almost hypnotic sheen thanks to the infusion of a full string section.

Earth Division will be available on CD, 12″, and as a digital download. Check out the tracklist below.

Earth Division EP Tracklist:
01. Get To France
02. Hound Of Winter
03. Drunk And Crazy
04. Does This Always Happen?

(((03)))

Monday, July 11, 2011

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM: New Album Nears Completion

After devoting late Winter season to writing and recording, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM are in the final stages of completing their fourth full-length opus of epic, earthen Black Metal ceremony.

For over six months the Weaver brothers, Aaron and Nathan, have been immersed in the painstaking writing and recording process of their newest album, and this week the process is nearly complete, at press time the album in its final mixing stages. The WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM clan have confirmed the title of this forthcoming astral black metal document as Celestial Lineage.

The transmutation reaches a new level with the completion of the album. In contrast to the bleakly hypnotic architecture of Black Cascade, the lifespan of Celestial Lineage breathes more expansive and visionary life into the duo’s work. The WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM trademark long-form approach to arrangement remains intact, but there is a stronger thread of Popul Vuh-inspired underworld synthscapes and star-lit pulse woven with the intertwining guitar figures. Celestial Lineage will end a trilogy of releases which began with Two Hunters (2007), and is segued by Black Cascade (2009), and like both previous albums, will be released via Southern Lord Recordings, with a street date of September 13, 2011 now confirmed. Three songs on the album feature Jessika Kenney’s liturgical choir and solo voice, as heard on Two Hunters as well as 2009’s Malevolent Grain EP, the album also including orations from Aaron Turner (Isis).

Stated WITTR drummer Aaron Weaver of the writing process for Celestial Lineage: “An ornate constellation of imagery is what that guides the songwriting process. Cedar temples crowned with burnished bronze domes glimpsed in a remote valley. Wild Midsummer bonfires and feasting on roasted flesh. All of the sounds serve to evoke the images that exist in our minds eye. With this record we’re going to explore an entirely new palette of sound. We want the instruments to sound like the liturgical music of a cedar cult.”

Besides closing out a trilogy within WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM’s own annals, Celestial Lineage also marks the final release to ever be recorded in engineering wizard Randall Dunn’s infamous Aleph Studio, the birthplace of a plethora of groundbreaking releases from Earth, Sunn O))), Boris, Cave Singers, Bjork/Omar Souleyman and countless more over the past decade, as well as where the immense tones and energy on WITTR’s lauded Two Hunters and Black Cascade albums were captured. Check out several brand new in-studio photos from these special recording sessions below.

In support of the album, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM will commence worldwide touring this September, kicking off in the Americas, and eventually engulfing many other regions of the planet through 2012. Stay tuned for final album details and tour dates to be unearthed in the weeks ahead.

(03:EsC)