Note that the poster says Selim Lemouchi’s Enemies and not Selim Lemouchi and His Enemies, in case there’s any confusion. The former will take the place of the latter on the bill for the Roadburn 2014 Afterburner on Sunday, April 13, playing a tribute set to Lemouchi, whose death earlier this month shocked fans the world over. Reportedly this is a one-time event being held for Roadburn in honor of Lemouchi, and all of the contributors who played on the 2013 Selim Lemouchi and His Enemies debut full-length, Earth Air Spirit Water Fire, including Selim‘s sister and former The Devil’s Blood frontwoman Farida Lemouchi, will be on hand to perform the album in full in what’s sure to be an emotionally and sonically turbulent ride.

The Roadburn Afterburner is now sold out, making tickets completely gone for the 2014 festival. Announcement and explanation of the Selim Lemouchi’s Enemies set follows here, snagged from Roadburn‘s website:

In Memoriam: Selim Lemouchi’s Earth Air Spirit Water Fire At The 2014 Roadburn Afterburner

The Devil’s Blood’s first-ever show at Roadburn 2008 was undeniably one of the great moments in the festival’s history. After the group disbanded in early 2013, guitarist Selim Lemouchi began to channel his considerable creative energies into a new project: Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies.

During 2013, the debut EP Mens Animus Corpus was followed by the release of the full-length Earth Air Spirit Water Fire. The album presentation in December 2013 offered a tantalizing hint of transcendent performances to come, and consequently we at Roadburn HQ were thrilled to add Selim and his new band to this year’s Afterburner bill.

This month, thrill turned to sorrow with the news of Selim’s death. At first, it was impossible to grasp. How could he be gone? The idea of removing his name from the various Roadburn 2014 posters, press releases and website items was too much to bear. Even after being able to talk with his family, even after having had a little time to grieve, it was still incomprehensible that he would not be joining us.

Selim was inspirational both artistically and personally. He was someone who gave us the courage to keep pursuing our chosen artistic path. On a more personal level, he reminded me to stay true to myself. He taught me some valuable lessons about life and death through his music and as a person.

Now, thanks to Selim’s sister Farida, also formerly of The Devil’s Blood, and other musical collaborators involved in his last project, Selim will be a part of the festival. Together, Selim Lemouchi’s Enemies will bring Earth Air Spirit Fire Water to the 2014 Roadburn Festival Afterburner on Sunday, April 13th at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands.

Join us as we celebrate Selim’s music and honor his spirit. The performance is scheduled to start at 3:45pm (15:45), so be sure to get there on time. Doors open: 2.30pm (14:30).

Walter on behalf of Jurgen, Yvonne and Roadburn.

http://www.roadburn.com/roadburn-2014/

Selim Lemouchi and His Enemies, “Eschaton (Mens Animus Corpus)”

Though as of this post, we’re still waiting on some official word of the cause, it’s been reported today and confirmed by his management that Selim Lemouchi, former guitarist and founder of Dutch cult rockers The Devil’s Blood, has died. Lemouchi, who was 34, disbanded The Devil’s Blood in 2013 just prior to the release of their third and final album, III: Tabula Rasa or Death and the Seven Pillars, and had already issued a full-length from his follow-up project, Selim Lemouchi and His Enemies, who were also slated to play Roadburn this year. As of now, there has been no comment from either Metal Blade, who released the last two The Devil’s Blood records in the US, or Lemouchi‘s European label, Ván Records, which released Earth Air Spirit Water Fire, the 2013 debut from Selim Lemouchi and His Enemies.

That LP showcased a more psychedelic side of the ritual-minded songwriter, but Lemouchi will likely be most remembered for his work in The Devil’s Blood in which, along with his sister, frontwoman Farida Lemouchi, he provided much of of the foundation of the modern cult rock revival. The Devil’s Blood‘s 2008 EP, Come, Reap, and ensuing 2009 full-length debut, The Time of No Time Evermore, were met with massive popular response and have proven influential in the half-decade since, elements of the band’s Satanic devotion and chaos-minded rock showing up in groups from both Europe and the US, as though The Devil’s Blood were the reminder point of the marriage between evil and beauty that once permeated underground rock and folk musics. In delivering that reminder, The Devil’s Blood was a groundbreaking outfit, and their live performances — soaked in blood — quickly became the stuff of legend.

On behalf of this site and myself, I wish to extend condolences to Lemouchi‘s family, friends and acquaintances. I know that when I interviewed him in 2012, I found him to be personable and deeply charismatic, and his loss is significant.

The Devil’s Blood, The Time of No Time Evermore (2009)

I haven’t really dug into Earth Air Spirit Fire Water yet, but the debut LP from former The Devil’s Blood mastermind Selim Lemouchi and his new project, Selim Lemouchi and His Enemies (as opposed, one assumes, to his friends), has managed to catch my attention with every sampling I’ve had thus far, whether it’s the song “The Ghost of Valentine,” which was included in the most recent podcast, or “Echaton (Mens Animus Corpus),” for which you can find the video below, under the announcement that the band will play the Main Stage at the 2014 Roadburn Afterburner. No small distinction — they’re in exceedingly good company — and it looks like Lemouchi will bring some of his favorite enemies along for the occasion.

Here follows the official word, courtesy of Roadburn‘s site:

Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies To Bring Earth Air Spirit Fire Water To The 2014 Roadburn Festival Afterburner

Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies will play the 2014 Roadburn Festival Afterburner on Sunday, April 13th at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Selim and his motley crew of assorted enemies will take to the main stage for a special show.

Selim was scheduled to perform at the 2012 and 2013 editions of Roadburn, but fate had other ideas both times, with The Devil’s Blood disbanding just a couple of months before the 2013 festival took place. Now, Selim will be making his overdue appearance in Tilburg with his new band, Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies.

Selim comments: “I am very glad to be a part of this festival again. Walter has given me another chance to present my works to a broader audience and I am grateful. I have plans to put together quite the performance with many of my Enemies…”

As long time avid fans and admirers of Selim‘s musical endeavours, we at Roadburn HQ are extremely excited about the upcoming release of Earth Air Spirit Fire Water, the debut full length album from Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies. The album is the coming together of many minds and many ideas; four drummers, multiple vocalists, including the indomitable Farida Lemouchi, plus several other contributing instrumentalists.

Earth Air Spirit Fire Water is among the top Roadburn-related albums of the year, and the live performance of these tracks will be unmissable come April.

A video for the track Eschaton, taken from an earlier release, has been débuted today. Selim added some insight to it’s origins: “Jérôme Siegelaer came up with this one. We went back to the place where photography was done for the Mens Animus Corpus cover and I took off my clothes for another swim. The video itself was later edited, I say later as it did take us all summer and autumn to get it finished, the reason for coming this late with it and not releasing it before this time is simple; we had no time. But for what it’s worth, here it is”

Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies will perform at a special album launch show on December 7th in Eindhoven at the Temporary Arts Centre.

Roadburn Festival 2014 will run for four days from Thursday, April 10th to Sunday, April 13th 2014 at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands.

Roadburn Festival 2014 ticket pre-sales are in full swing! GET IN ON THE ACTION HERE!

Selim Lemouchi and His Enemies, “Echaton (Mens Animus Corpus)”

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If you’re in the States and celebrating Thanksgiving this week, I thought maybe a new podcast would be good to have along for the travel. Maybe you take it with you on the road, or maybe put some headphones on in one of those need-to-get-away moments that invariably crop up over the holidays. I always get very stressed out at this time of year. I’d be lying if putting this together wasn’t a bit of therapy for my own anxiousness, but I also thought that if someone else was in the same boat, they might also appreciate it. Or maybe not and you just want to rock without using it as an escape for deep-rooted psychological issues. That’s cool too.

This one has a lot of good stuff that I’ve come across lately, from the opening Foghound track on through the Clamfight single that was featured here a couple weeks back, and on to the B-side of the single that Ice Dragon released just this weekend, finally rounding out with the closing track from Uzala‘s new album, Tales of Blood and Fire, “Tenement of the Lost,” which was so captivating when I saw them in Providence last month. It’s a wide variety, but it flows well from song to song and I think it’s a good time.

Hopefully you agree. I’m especially happy with how well the last three songs, which make up the bulk of the second hour, came together. My hope is you’ll be too hypnotized by one song to realize when it’s gone into the next. Whether or not that happens, please enjoy.

First Hour:
Foghound, “Dragon Tooth” from Quick, Dirty and High (2013)
Lizzard Wizzard, “Total Handjob Future” from Lizzard Wizzard (2013)
Summoner, “Into the Abyss” from Atlantian (2013)
Groan, “Slice of that Vibe” from Ride the Snake EP (2013)
The Vintage Caravan, “Let Me Be” from Voyage (2013)
Run After To, “Melancholy from Run After To/Gjinn and Djinn (2013 Reissue)
Clamfight, “Bathosphere” from single release (2013)
No Gods No Masters, “Lie to Me” from No Gods No Masters EP (2013)
Horseskull, “Arahari” from 2013 Promo
Gudars Skymning, “Gåtor I Mörkret” from Höj Era Glas (2013)
Ice Dragon, “Queen of the Black Harvest” from Steel Veins b/w Queen of the Black Harvest (2013)
T.G. Olson, “Return from the Brink” from The Bad Lands to Cross (2013)

Second Hour:
EYE, “Lost are the Years” from Second Sight (2013)
Øresund Space Collective, “Black Sabbath Forever in Space” from Live at Loppen 2013.11.19
Selim Lemouchi and His Enemies, “The Ghost of Valentine” from Earth Air Spirit Water Fire (2013)
Uzala, “Tenement of the Lost” from Tales of Blood and Fire (2013)

Total running time: 1:59:03

Thank you for listening.

Download audiObelisk Transmission 032