The statistics of COVID-19 change with every news cycle, and with growing numbers, stay-at-home isolation and a near-universal disruption to society on a global scale, it is ever more important to consider the human aspect of this coronavirus. Amid the sad surrealism of living through social distancing, quarantines and bans on gatherings of groups of any size, creative professionals — artists, musicians, promoters, club owners, techs, producers, and more — are seeing an effect like nothing witnessed in the last century, and as humanity as a whole deals with this calamity, some perspective on who, what, where, when and how we’re all getting through is a needed reminder of why we’re doing so in the first place.

Thus, Days of Rona, in some attempt to help document the state of things as they are now, both so help can be asked for and given where needed, and so that when this is over it can be remembered.

Thanks to all who participate. To read all the Days of Rona coverage, click here. — JJ Koczan

Days of Rona: Martin Wegeland of Domkraft (Stockholm, Sweden)

—

How are you dealing with this crisis as a band? Have you had to rework plans at all? How is everyone’s health so far?

Well, since our focus right now is to get the next album written and recorded, it hasn’t really affected the band that much. A few shows have been cancelled, but since most of our booked shows this year are in the fall, there’s still hope that those will happen. We’re all healthy (as for now) and are still able to get together in our practice space so we are pretty much as active as we can be.

What are the quarantine/isolation rules where you are?

[As of April 9:] There are restrictions, but not as strict as in most other affected countries. Schools are still open and the limit for gatherings is 50 persons, so many restaurants and bars are also still up and running, but many of them are on their knees right now. I live in Stockholm, which is the by far most affected region in Sweden and I think this is where we’ve seen the biggest impact on daily life also. I’ve been working from home for a month, like most people in lines of work that allow that. Sweden has gone the route where we lay a lot of responsibility on the individual instead of governmental restrictions, basically to keep a social distance, not travel or use public transportation unless completely necessary – and to keep washing hands and to stay home at the very tiniest sign of illness whether it be a runny nose or a headache. The only strict restriction apart from the gathering limit is that no visits are allowed in nursing homes and hospitals, basically. And it does feel like most people take the threat seriously and adhere to the recommendations, so fingers crossed the flattened curve strategy will work.

How have you seen the virus affecting the community around you and in music?

The streets are less crowded, no doubt about that. But it’s not full on ghost town mode. As far as the music scene goes, I think the biggest concern is that – apart from the disease itself and the fact the people die from it, obviously – many already struggling venues and promoters are going through extremely rough times right now. It has always been a game with tight margins, and I honestly don’t know how many of them will make it through this. And that also goes for all the freelancers in the scene. And we also have friends in other bands that really, really suffered from this with tours being cancelled with all the costs already taken and non-refundable. Our own losses from cancelled shows are nothing in comparison.

What is the one thing you want people to know about your situation, either as a band, or personally, or anything?

Personally, I really hope that everyone takes this seriously. My mother is old and in the risk group and she will most likely neither see her kids nor grandchildren until this is over. And there is no telling how far away that is. The uncertainty is really frustrating since it affects us on so many levels; the damage done by the actual disease, but also all the effects of the lockdowns and restrictions all over the world. The only thing that is for certain is that we will come out to a something very different when this is over. From a band perspective, it does give us time to work on new music, but it’s strange to not have any idea of when we will be able to perform in front of a crowd again. Which of course is a non-issue when set against the fatalities and personal tragedies of those directly affected by the virus, but in the micro perspective of what the aftermath of all this will bring on a personal level, music still feels really important. Hopefully, this test of respect and solidarity will lead to something good coming out of it also. And not just an endless blame game fueled by political cheap shots.

domkraft.bandcamp.com
facebook.com/domkraftband
https://www.instagram.com/domkraftdomkraft/
https://www.facebook.com/bluesfuneral
https://www.bluesfuneral.com/

New material from Baltimore’s Foghound is always welcome, and as ‘Turn Off the World’ arrives today it does so not as the first benefit single the four-piece have put out. Come to think of it, in terms of prefacing an album or another kind of release, they could certainly do far worse. In this case, the proceeds from “Turn Off the World” go to Movable Feast, which helps not only feed, but council people on nutrition who are sick with terminal or life-threatening illnesses. Obviously someone with a specific kind of cancer is going to need different kinds of food than someone with HIV, so it’s no minor service and clearly goes beyond buying groceries for people or — in a far-more dickheaded example — just tossing paper towels and other such goods their way.

Adding another level of interest is the fact that “Turn Off the World” unites Foghound with another Marylander powerhouse in producer Noel Mueller. This is a significant pairing, and the results on “Turn Off the World” speak for themselves. The track was recorded in January, and one only wonders if there could possibly be more to come from that session?

Until we find out, the cause is just and the track is righteous and if you need more than that, you’re on the wrong site.

To the info:

FOGHOUND – Turn Off The World

As everyone is very aware, these are strange and extraordinary times we are living in right now.

With the Covid 19 outbreak, subsequent shutdowns, social distancing and quarantines in effect, those already in vulnerable positions find themselves in an even more disadvantaged place than before.

In times like these we have to band together, lend a hand of support and help those less fortunate get through these tough times as well.

While we may not be able to play any benefit shows for the time being, Foghound is proud to release our timely new single “Turn Off The World” as a name your price charity single through Ripple Music, as well as t-shirts featuring the accompanying artwork by Bill Kole, with 100% of the proceeds going to benefit Moveable Feast.

The T-shirt presale order link will be open from Monday April 27th until Monday May 25th. We will then be getting the t-shirts ordered and printed for all those that purchased. We will not be getting extras made, these are being made on a per order, limited edition only.

T-shirts will be available for mail order( + postage), local pickup (maybe a show, if we ever get to have those anytime soon, or through band members as scheduled) and there will also be scheduled local delivery days to be determined in the future.
Please allow us a few weeks after the end of sale date to get them printed, shipped and/ or available for delivery.

The mission of Moveable Feast is to foster a community that cares for men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses by preparing and delivering nutritious meals and groceries and providing nutritional counseling and other services.

100% of the proceeds will go directly to Moveable Feast to enable them to keep providing their much needed services to the community.

This single was recorded back in January of this year at Tiny Castle Studio with Noel Mueller at the helm of engineering, mixing and mastering.

We would like to thank all at Ripple Music for releasing and hosting via their site, Bill Kole for the awesome artwork, Sage Printing, and we thank you all for your help and support.

Please share the link and donate what you can.

For more information on Moveable Feast: https://www.mfeast.org/

T-shirt link here: https://foghound.bandcamp.com/merch/turn-off-the-world-benefit-t-shirt-shipped

Foghound are:
Chuck Dukeheart, III – Drums, Vocals
Dee Settar – Guitar, Vocals
Bob Sipes – Guitar, Vocals
Adam Heinzmann – Bass

https://www.facebook.com/foghoundbaltimore
http://foghound.net/
https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theripplemusic
http://www.ripple-music.com/

The statistics of COVID-19 change with every news cycle, and with growing numbers, stay-at-home isolation and a near-universal disruption to society on a global scale, it is ever more important to consider the human aspect of this coronavirus. Amid the sad surrealism of living through social distancing, quarantines and bans on gatherings of groups of any size, creative professionals — artists, musicians, promoters, club owners, techs, producers, and more — are seeing an effect like nothing witnessed in the last century, and as humanity as a whole deals with this calamity, some perspective on who, what, where, when and how we’re all getting through is a needed reminder of why we’re doing so in the first place.

Thus, Days of Rona, in some attempt to help document the state of things as they are now, both so help can be asked for and given where needed, and so that when this is over it can be remembered.

Thanks to all who participate. To read all the Days of Rona coverage, click here. — JJ Koczan

Days of Rona: Dana Schechter of Insect Ark (Berlin, Germany)

—

How are you dealing with this crisis as a band? Have you had to rework plans at all? How is everyone’s health so far?

Luckily our health is good so far. Everything besides getting sick or caring for those who are seems relatively unimportant. I suppose we’re dealing the same as many bands — waiting to see how, if, and when things will fall back into place. Andy and I are across the world from each other right now — I’m in Berlin, he’s in Salt Lake City — and on a normal day we’re across the country anyway. We’ll hopefully tour this Fall, but it’s too soon to say. Yes it sucks. Our new album came out just as the virus was hitting.

It’s hard for smaller bands to recover from something like this, since we left for the Europe tour on Feb 29 and had to pull the plug after four shows and go home. Getting Andy back to the US on short notice wasn’t easy, and I decided to stay in Berlin. A year of planning, ultimately with a massive loss of money/time… I haven’t really moped or licked my wounds re: how we’ve been so unlucky, because all people everywhere are feeling the same. Of course it’s massively disappointing, at best. But so many people are struggling much harder than I am, harder than ever before, and it’s on a massive scale — I know that I am lucky, relatively speaking. No kids, no house or car payments, etc. I’ve gotten by on almost nothing for a long time, so I can adapt to some extent.

What are the quarantine/isolation rules where you are?

Here in Berlin — at least so far [April 16] — it’s less strict than in other EU countries, like Italy, Greece or France, where you need a letter to leave the house or risk hefty fines by the police. Here, I can take a bike ride or walk, food shop, i.e., the basics. No public gatherings of any kind over two people. Keep six feet away from others when in public. People here are pretty compliant. I’m glad I’m not home (NYC) though, and it’s heartbreaking to watch the US struggling from afar. Some days it is beyond comprehension how we will all get past the challenges we are facing. And I’m utterly ashamed and furious at the USA’s reckless handling of the situation.

How have you seen the virus affecting the community around you and in music?

I’ve been seeing many creative friends saying that they’re having trouble being creative or productive. Even with the sudden luxury of free time, it’s hard to feel motivated when the day has no shape and making plans is such a questionable pursuit. And of course there are the thousands of events and tours that were canceled or are being rescheduled. I was supposed to do three consecutive Swans tours starting next week, which have mostly been pushed to next year now. It’s like a full year of our lives is being chopped out and a black box fills the calendar for days and days and days. There is a massive amount of uncertainty and the whole “business model” of touring and releasing albums feels extremely unstable and questionable right now.

What is the one thing you want people to know about your situation, either as a band, or personally, or anything?

We will make it back somehow. We live on the margins anyway, so with any luck this will be just a waiting game. I hope we can all try to be grateful for what we have… hold onto the good memories to get us through, don’t lose hope, and vote the bastards out of office before they get us all killed.

http://www.insectark.com
http://www.facebook.com/InsectArk
http://www.instagram.com/insectark/
http://www.insectark.bandcamp.com
http://www.profoundlorerecords.com
http://www.facebook.com/profoundlorerecords
http://www.profoundlorerecords.bandcamp.com

The aptly-named desert-dwelling imprint Desert Records continues to build its roster with the addition of Richmond, Virginia, tonebringers Book of Wyrms. The four-piece currently have two full-lengths under their collective belt in last year’s Remythologizer (review here) and 2017’s preceding Sci-Fi/Fantasy (review here), and in addition to the signing, the band announce their intention to hit the studio for a third LP, to be titled Occult/New Age, presumably as soon as conditions allow. Here’s what they had to say:

“We are so stoked and honored to work with Bradley Frye and Desert Records on our upcoming third album, Occult/New Age, to be recorded hopefully this summer or fall!”

The two earlier releases came out through Twin Earth Records and Stoner With Records in the case of the latter, and the band also followed up Remythologizer with the single “Spirit Drifter” in 2019, which of course you can hear on the Bandcamp player below,, following more bio-type info from, of course, the PR wire.

Kudos to the band and label, and here’s looking forward to new stuff to come:

Book of Wyrms is a four-piece heavy metal band with extensive experience jamming in outer space. In 2014 they came together over their mutual adoration of Hawkwind and ZZ Top and then put out a demo in early 2015. It got some positive attention and helped them find their label, Twin Earth Records.

On New Year’s Day, 2017, Americans everywhere stumbled out of each other’s beds to the surprise release of Book of Wyrms’ first full-length, Sci-Fi/Fantasy. The record received even more positive attention and helped the band get shows around the East Coast, New England, the South, and the Midwest. Their second full-length, Remythologizer, came out in August 2019 on tape, cd, and vinyl.

Members:
Sarah Moore-Lindsey: Vocals and synthesizers
Kyle Lewis: Guitar
Chris DeHaven: Drums
Jay “Jake” Lindsey: Bass

https://www.facebook.com/Bookofwyrms/
https://instagram.com/bookofwyrms
https://bookofwyrms.bandcamp.com/

Book of Wyrms, “Spirit Drifter”

The statistics of COVID-19 change with every news cycle, and with growing numbers, stay-at-home isolation and a near-universal disruption to society on a global scale, it is ever more important to consider the human aspect of this coronavirus. Amid the sad surrealism of living through social distancing, quarantines and bans on gatherings of groups of any size, creative professionals — artists, musicians, promoters, club owners, techs, producers, and more — are seeing an effect like nothing witnessed in the last century, and as humanity as a whole deals with this calamity, some perspective on who, what, where, when and how we’re all getting through is a needed reminder of why we’re doing so in the first place.

Thus, Days of Rona, in some attempt to help document the state of things as they are now, both so help can be asked for and given where needed, and so that when this is over it can be remembered.

Thanks to all who participate. To read all the Days of Rona coverage, click here. — JJ Koczan

Days of Rona: Scott Black of Green Lung (London, United Kingdom)

—

How are you dealing with this crisis as a band? Have you had to rework plans at all? How is everyone’s health so far?

Everyone’s health is fine thanks! One of us suspects he had the ‘rona. Luckily, he’s a strapping young chap — despite the horrid, doobie-based abuse he’d wrought on his lungs over the years, he’s made a full recovery.

The crisis has had a significant impact on the band. We’ve had to postpone a UK and Europe tour as well as a lot of festivals, etc.

The upside, however, is that it has given us more time to concentrate on music. We’ll be recording a new album later this year, so this situation is forcing us to write and refine songs remotely –- a fun and new way of writing for us!

On a personal level, I’ve started learning and recording one iconic guitar solo every day during the lockdown, which I am hugely enjoying. In the 16 days so far I’ve tackled solos that I’ve always wanted to learn including a bunch of Van Halen, Zakk Wylde and Brian May ones. My favorite so far is probably the monstrous “Sails of Charon” by The Scorpions.

I did it just as a fun little project to keep me busy and improve my chops, but it seems to be gaining some momentum of its own, which is very fun.

You can follow the project and see a new solo every day by following me on Instagram – @lockdownshred or subscribing to my YouTube channel here.

What are the quarantine/isolation rules where you are?

We’re all in South London, England, except for our drummer who lives somewhere shit. Luton, maybe?

Our government put a fairly casual lockdown into place just over two weeks ago [as of April 7], meaning that everyone should stay home except to get exercise or go shopping. Of course, British people being British people, loads of folk are completely ignoring it and taking the piss. My kitchen window overlooks a bit of grass. Last night, one bunch of absolute pillocks had a BBQ on it with about five families showing up.

I had to watch them breathing their stanky Corona-breath all over each other while I was doing the washing up. By the time I finished the dishes, I was glaring at them out of the window like Donald Sutherland at the end of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

How have you seen the virus affecting the community around you and in music?

I should imagine it has been the most devastating for event organizers, promoters and agents. I feel terrible for all of the independent festivals and promoters who have put years of effort into building their companies who are now in serious trouble.

While bands are the most visible, it’s really the behind the scenes guys who are hardest hit. For example, our booking agent put loads time and effort into shows and tours which have been cancelled/postponed/whatever. For most agents, this is commission based work. Therefore, for that whole industry months’ worth of work has been wiped out.

Everyone’s been saying this already, but I’ll add my voice to the choir – IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO, DO NOT DEMAND REFUNDS FROM PROMOTERS / SMALL FESTIVALS / BANDS. IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO, REFUSE REFUNDS FROM PROMOTERS / SMALL FESTIVALS / BANDS.

Seeing the comments on the Facebook announcements from events and festivals make me very sad, seeing lots of bedwetters demanding refunds and getting angry at organisers who are doing everything in their power to salvage the situation. I think due to this attitude from the punters, you’re going to see very few festivals and promotion companies survive this and the live music scene may be quite barren.

What is the one thing you want people to know about your situation, either as a band, or personally, or anything?

Know that you’ll have a new Green Lung album to look forward to in the not-too-distant future!

Also, our new label Svart recently repressed Woodland Rites for the third time. Most of it has already sold out, so if you’ve always wanted a vinyl of the album, now’s your chance!

https://www.facebook.com/greenlungband
https://www.instagram.com/greenlungband/
http://www.greenlung.co.uk/
https://greenlung.bandcamp.com/
www.svartrecords.com
www.facebook.com/svartrecords

The statistics of COVID-19 change with every news cycle, and with growing numbers, stay-at-home isolation and a near-universal disruption to society on a global scale, it is ever more important to consider the human aspect of this coronavirus. Amid the sad surrealism of living through social distancing, quarantines and bans on gatherings of groups of any size, creative professionals — artists, musicians, promoters, club owners, techs, producers, and more — are seeing an effect like nothing witnessed in the last century, and as humanity as a whole deals with this calamity, some perspective on who, what, where, when and how we’re all getting through is a needed reminder of why we’re doing so in the first place.

Thus, Days of Rona, in some attempt to help document the state of things as they are now, both so help can be asked for and given where needed, and so that when this is over it can be remembered.

Thanks to all who participate. To read all the Days of Rona coverage, click here. — JJ Koczan

Days of Rona: Dopelord (Warsaw, Poland)

—

How are you dealing with this crisis as a band? Have you had to rework plans at all? How is everyone’s health so far?

We’re under lockdown, so yeah, had to change all of our plans. Two tours postponed, pretty gutted about all of this, but this is what had to be done, no arguing here. We’re all healthy, no corona cases.

What are the quarantine/isolation rules where you are?

Gatherings above two persons are prohibited. Two meters distance to be kept all of the time while outside the house. You cannot leave your house if it’s not for an important reason (if you have work outside the house, or do groceries).

How have you seen the virus affecting the community around you and in music?

Well, all the events got canceled so there is nothing to do. We’re cannot do rehearsals. We cannot meet. Community is on hold.

What is the one thing you want people to know about your situation, either as a band, or personally, or anything?

Sooner or later it’ll be over. Meanwhile take care of the local venues and clubs. If they’re gathering money to stay alive — help them out.

https://www.facebook.com/Dopelord666
https://www.instagram.com/dopelord_666/
https://dopelord.bandcamp.com/

There has yet to be an Elder release that did not move forward from the one before it. They have never repeated themselves, and even if 2017’s Reflections of a Floating World (review here) seemed to be in direct conversation with its predecessor, the landmark 2015 outing, Lore (review here), it found ways to expand their sound by incorporating the work of then-new keyboardist/guitarist Mike Risberg, opening up to fluid sections of kraut-inspired improvisational jamming that came to fruition more on 2019’s instrumental The Gold & Silver Sessions EP (discussed here). The band’s fifth album, Omens — which is issued through Armageddon Shop in the US and Stickman Records in Europe and might as well be taking its title from what an entire league of other groups’ debuts will sound like four years from now — is no exception to the rule. It is, instead, a leap with eyes and both feet forward into new echelons of lush melody and progressive rock.

While their foundation may have been in the lumbering riffery of their 2008 self-titled (discussed here), a penchant for complexity began to take hold in 2011’s Dead Roots Stirring (review here) and 2012’s Spires Burn/Release (discussed here), but even that feels primitive in hindsight in comparison to what they bring to light across the five tracks and 55 minutes of Omens. Risberg‘s work is central to that, and he’s joined on keys throughout by founding guitarist/vocalist Nick DiSalvo — whose linear style of composition has remained an essential facet to Elder‘s approach even as so much else has changed — as well as guest spots on mellotron and Fender Rhodes by Fabio Cuomo, who makes an impression with the latter early in the near-11-minute rollout of the opening title-track. It is a shift in breadth of influence as much as one of sonic priorities, but Omens neither forgets where it came from nor gives up its sense of heft. Jack Donovan‘s bass arguably carries more responsibility than ever before for serving as the anchor of the rhythm section, since even as Elder have so clearly coalesced with Risberg as “the new guy,” they here introduce drummer Georg Edert (also of Germany’s Gaffa Ghandi) to the fold in place of Matt Couto.

As fluid as the results are throughout Omens, that is a major change. Couto‘s personality as a drummer is rare and distinct, and he’s not the kind of player one can simply replace. Much to their credit, Elder don’t try. Rather, Edert establishes quickly through “Omens” and “In Procession” his own style of play, feeding off the unfolding dramas of melody in the keys and DiSalvo‘s sweeping guitar progressions. A straightforward backbeat grounds the winding verse of “In Procession” even as Elder move into new textures and a more contoured sound than they’ve ever had before, some midsection crash satisfying those seeking a payoff along the way — indeed, the title-track’s opening riff likewise serves as something of an embrace of heavier impulses; give me a bit, we’ll get there — ahead of a keyboard solo and return of the vocals and finishing section, and Edert‘s play not only keeps up with these characteristically head-spinning, sometimes-maddening shifts from part to part, but enhances them. He emerges as a drummer of class and intention, able to bring a jazzy sensibility when called upon to do so or to rock out as need be. Though he’s inevitably the new “new guy,” this material is stronger for what he brings to it.

That’s true as well in “Halcyon,” the designation of which as the centerpiece would not seem to be happenstance. The longest cut at 12:48, it summarizes much of the growth that’s to be heard throughout Omens, opening with a gloriously languid unfurling of electronic and natural rhythm and multi-layered melodic coasting. There is a subtle build happening, with tension mounting in the guitar that moves forward gradually, but there’s a stop in the drums before the full-volume surge happens at 4:24 (also, by coincidence, the release day), and Elder successfully bring together the various sides of their continually deepening sonic persona — the weighted tonality of their earliest work, the push into conscious craft, too heady to be psychedelic but too aerial to be called anything but otherworldly. It is time to start thinking of DiSalvo among composers like Opeth‘s Mikael Åkerfeldt, not just because of an affinity for prog, but in terms of the ability to take seemingly disparate styles and create something new and individual from them. Elder‘s sound, despite an increasing amount of bands working in their wake, is their own, and there is no compromise to be found across Omens.

“Halcyon” is a triumph of their method, its finishing balance of patience and push all the more emblematic of their well-earned maturity as a unit, and yet it hardly stops before the returning mellotron in “Embers” signals the next movement of the record is underway, with chunky start and stops and a heavier roll that gives ground about halfway through to an instrumental build that could almost be in answer to “Halcyon,” culminating in wah sweep and farewell spiraling noise. This, ahead of the wistful standalone guitar that begins closer “One Light Retreating” and is soon joined by the full crux of tonal presence, DiSalvo‘s voice in the initial lines bringing to mind an almost post-hardcore/emo mindset in the verse before that heavier part returns in a back and forth that finds the one building off the next. As Elder has progressed relentlessly, so too has DiSalvo as a singer and somewhat reluctant frontman, but the feeling conveyed in “One Light Retreating” is at a level that wouldn’t have been possible even five years ago. Unsurprisingly, “One Light Retreating” does not blow itself out at the finish, but indeed retreats, with a poised instrumental flow that once again underscores not just the emotionality on display — I haven’t had the benefit of a lyric sheet, so I’m just going by what I hear — but a genuine encapsulation of the melodic and rhythmic grace they’ve been displaying all along.

Elder are a refinement process. They are driven by this need to move forward, and each of their albums becomes a summary of what they’ve learned since the last. Omens, whatever its title might directly be referencing, inevitably looks ahead. An omen does not occur in the past — lore does. Omens is Elder signaling the beginning of their next stage as a band, as all their work has been, and as ever, it finds them not thinking about where they’ve been, but where they might still go creatively, and these songs are made to be lived with. They will reveal their nuances to listeners not over a period of weeks or months, but years. This is part of what makes Elder such a special, singular band, and part of what has led their work to resonate on as great a scale as it has. Whatever they might do next, don’t expect it to sound just like this, but if Omens is itself a portent of things to come, heavy music will be all the more fortunate to have Elder as statesmen.

Elder, Omens (2020)

Elder on Thee Facebooks

Elder on Instagram

Elder on Bandcamp

Armageddon Shop website

Stickman Records website

I’ll readily admit that I had never heard Voida‘s Colour Me Darkness until yesterday. That was kind of the point. On thee social medias, I put out a request for something mellow with which to end the week. I wasn’t feeling anything too aggro, more subdued, and there were some really cool suggestions that came back. This one came courtesy of Igor Sidorenko of Kyiv-based Stoned Jesus and I followed the link immediately because, well, when The Mountain speaks, you listen. So I listened. It wasn’t until I actually looked at the Bandcamp though that I realized Voida was his own project — respect the hustle — with contributions of mellotron/organ from Alexey Klabukov of Vespero and some added sax from bnk of Selma. Right on. Igor also warned, via GIF, that it was depressing, and fair enough. While second cut “Erased” opens up to flourish of mellotron melody and is one of the three out of total six tracks that features drums, the roots of Voida are very much in acoustic songwriting, and there are plenty of moments — the opening of “No Sanctuary for the Sinking Ship,” and, to an extent, the opening title-cut — that hinge on guitar-and-voice minimalism.

At the same time, Colour Me Darkness, in that same “No Sanctuary for the Sinking Ship” no less, also explores a particularly Floydian melancholia, giving the entire affair a more contemplative feel. Sidorenko weaves in a sense of structure throughout. “Colour Me Darkness” establishes its hook in its verses and there’s a sense of drama thanks to the mellotron that gives a sense of build to “Erased,” even as the song takes on a full-band vibe, with bass and drums layered in beneath the electric guitar solo that, while not scorching, still provides a tie to Sidorenko‘s work in his main outfit. Still, some of the stylistic difference is part of what makes Colour Me Darkness engaging, particularly as a first/second/third listen, etc. The emotive crux of “The Last Date” serves as an example of something that, in a form that was outwardly heavier in tone, would be nearly impossible. Surrounded by his own acoustic strum and Klabukov‘s flowing keys, Sidorenko‘s voice lets loose in a way that weighted distortion would simply swallow up, and the backdrop enhances the sincerity of the lyrics. That song caps with backward guitar transitioning into “The First Snow,” and the connection is purposeful as the two songs comprise the ‘Disintegration Duology.’ It’s no stretch to hear a lonely spirit in a recording of solo voice and acoustic guitar, but the rougher edge in Sidorenko‘s voice, the way he reaches for some of the notes, the dryness (that is, sans-reverb) of the vocal recording — all of this feeds into a central idea of organic expression that, once again, is the root from which Colour Me Darkness stems.

And it does stem. “Erased” gave some tease, but Voida‘s drums return on both “The First Snow” and 14-minute closer “Poison in the Wells.” The penultimate track shifts into tambourine-laced psych-folk, with sitar-esque guitar drone and all, before its quiet conclusion rounds out the duology and, one assumes, the disintegration, with a sense more of acceptance than misery. Meanwhile, the finale is essentially an album unto itself, as its runtime spans not just a significant portion of Colour Me Darkness‘ 44-minute stretch, but it moves from hypnotic and moody Scott Kelly-style strum-and-woe into multi-layered vocals on a linear path that eventually takes it into a launch at 7:25 that puts it in atmospheric territory not unlike Paradise Lost or even Judgement-era Anathema in a spacious, progressive and surprising finish. Mellotron returns, the drums and bass march out in dirge fashion, and yes, there’s still an acoustic guitar at the base of it that’s the last thing to go, plucking the notes that started the song off on its encompassing path, but so much is put forth in “Poison in the Wells” that it’s easy to gloss over such subtleties in the wake of what’s just passed. Such is all the more fodder for repeat listens.

Voida issued a series of four seasonally-named EPs between 2010 and 2014, but Colour Me Darkness, which came out in 2011, was the project’s lone full-length, and since 2014’s Autumn EP, it would appear to have been put to rest. Perhaps that’s due to the shifting priorities of Sidorenko himself, with Stoned Jesus hitting the road ever harder after releasing their second album, 2012’s Seven Thunders Roar (review here), resulting in an even busier schedule for 2015’s The Harvest (review here) and their eventual pickup by Napalm Records ahead of 2018’s Pilgrims (review here), their ascent fueled not only by the hit-the-algorithm internet word of mouth, but through their own continued efforts in terms of touring and progressing in terms of sound. Last year, Stoned Jesus began to mark their 10th anniversary with a series of tours, dividing Europe into different territories and covering them one by one. Their first US appearance is currently still slated for Desertfest New York in Sept. 2020, but like everythig else in New York, it is a question as to whether or not this will take place.

Either way, the point here was that I wanted to hear something new to me, and here was a solo-project by someone whose work I’ve respected for the better part of a decade — Stoned Jesus made their debut in 2010 with First Communion, which I picked up in 2011 and dug — that I’d never heard. These are hard times. I know that. We all know it. Human beings aren’t made to sit still. We’re made to go, even if it’s just from one place to another to serve our capitalist overlords. But while we’re forced to stop that process, it’s important to remember that there are still ways to encounter new things, new ideas, both that are coming out now and that we might have missed. People are still making art, and people still have made art forever, and I don’t care who you are, there’s no way you’ve seen it all. If we’re all stuck, at least we can unstick our minds a little, and maybe when the plague lockdown is over, we’ll all come out a little better for it.

As always, I hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading.

—

Week’s over, right? Next week, I intend to wrap up the Days of Rona series. Last posts. It’s starting to feel like data-entry on my part and that’s a bit of a drag. Not really what my day needs. Plus I was kind of disappointed at the lack of response from women or anyone who wasn’t a dude with a beard, but I guess that’s heavy rock at this point. So it goes.

I asked The Patient Mrs. if she wanted to do one. I don’t know if she’s going to or not. She’s pretty busy these days.

Beyond that, Monday I’m reviewing the Elder record, Tuesday I’m reviewing High Priestess (finally!) and there are some other premieres set for this and that along the way too. Cool stuff to come.

Regular news is also starting to trickle in again, which is good. I wouldn’t say it’s “back to normal,” as far as that standard goes — not a lot of tour announcements — but there are things to talk about that aren’t directly related to COVID-19, and, if nothing else, I could use a break. If we all wind up in lockdown until June or July, August, October, three years from now, whenever, I reserve the right to start the series back up.

It’ll probably be all the same people answering. Ha. At least I’ll have pics to go with.

I noted such on Thee Facebooks, but today’s probably the busiest release day 2020 has seen, with new stuff from Elephant Tree, Elder, Wight, 1000mods, Soldati, King Witch, Gaffa Ghandi, Lord Fowl and a ton of others out. Obviously no one knew there’d be a pandemic on when they were doing their scheduling, so whatever you can do to support these people vis a vis buying records, it’s something you might consider doing. Because more art.

Have a great and safe weekend. Thanks again for reading.

FRM.

The Obelisk Forum

The Obelisk Radio

The Obelisk merch