Mythosphere Sign to Cruz Del Sur Music; Premiere “King’s Call to Arms” Video
Next week, Mythosphere will play their first gig Maryland Doom Fest 2022 as part of a packed lineup, and part of what they’ll be celebrating as they do is not only their advent as a new project working secretly in the shadows on putting together a debut full-length — and apparently having completed one — but also their signing to Cruz Del Sur Music to release said album. The band, which unites Pale Divine members Dana Ortt (also ex-Beelzefuzz), Darin McCloskey (also also ex-Beelzefuzz) and Ron “Fezzy” McGinnis (also Admiral Browning, etc.) with lead guitarist Victor Arduini of Fates Warning, Entierro and Arduini/Balich — bridging a geographical divide from the Chesapeake Watershed to New England in the doing — will have a limited number of self-made CDs on hand to share at the fest.
That I want one goes without saying. Gonna keep my finger on the trigger for when they launch a merch page and hopefully have a couple leftovers.
In any case, those familiar with Beelzefuzz‘s run — which began about about 13 years ago and ended seemingly for good at Maryland Doom Fest 2019 (review here) after two LPs — or who were made familiar with Pale Divine‘s most recent outing, 2020’s righteous Consequence of Time (review here), will recognize Ortt‘s stepping back into a frontman-ish role for Mythosphere on “King’s Call to Arms.” The song has a sweeping melody and a rhythmic foundation of swing that’s classic as much as defined by what Ortt, McGinnis and McCloskey have done in the past, but I also get the sense in listening that Mythosphere isn’t necessarily a redux of Beelzefuzz with Arduini‘s ripper solos over top so much as a new collaboration between parties familiar with each other that is in the process of setting out to find its own path. Can you hang with it? Oh most definitely.
If you’re heading to Maryland Doom Fest, and you go to the merch table, tell them I sent you, or at least that I said hi. Truth be told, I’ve done a near-embarrassing level of premieres and unveilings and streams around these players over the last decade-plus between their various bands, but I am still excited to find out where Mythosphere and this upcoming first collection of songs might take them. I like what I like — same as everyone — but this first impression is resoundingly positive. And kudos on the band signing to Cruz Del Sur.
Dig:
Mythosphere, “King’s Call to Arms” video premiere
MYTHOSPHERE Feat. PALE DIVINE and Ex-FATES WARNING Members Signs With CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC; Debut Live Appearance Scheduled for MARYLAND DOOM FEST
Cruz Del Sur Music is proud to announce the signing of MYTHOSPHERE, the band founded by PALE DIVINE guitarist/vocalist Dana Ortt and drummer Darin McCloskey. The pair are joined by their PALE DIVINE bandmate Ron McGinnis (bass) and none other than former FATES WARNING guitarist Victor Arduini. Their debut album will be released in 2023.
MYTHOSPHERE’s origins began in 2020 when Ortt and McCloskey started working on material intended to be the continuation of BEELZEFUZZ. Their songs came to fruition in 2021 once the pandemic subsided, prompting Ortt to reach out to Arduini to lend his identifiable brand of lead guitar playing. McGinnis was the natural choice for bass, thus completing MYTHOSPHERE, an outfit steeped in traditional metal and doom history that promises to live up to its lofty billing.
“I see it as Dana’s project,” says Arduini. “He is the primary songwriter and instrumentalist. I get to interpret the songs and come up with my own ideas and sounds. It’s great to see the merging of our two unique playing styles and how it forms something new. I’ve learned that when you do a project on your own, it will only represent your musical approach which is cool for a solo project. But Dana allowed an outside influence and I think we are both very pleased with how this came out. I can’t say enough about the band. Darin and Ron are both very passionate and committed to the music. They are very involved in the writing process and are great musicians. It allows me to focus on what I enjoy doing and not have to put the weight of the entire project on my shoulders.”
“From my perspective, I’m just reacting to what Dana presents,” adds McCloskey. “We will work off the basic ideas he presents and sometimes work out the arrangements together. Other times, Dana will have everything pretty well mapped out. I think there’s a bit of nuance from previous bands, but there’s also a progression into some uncharted territory which makes things really exciting!”
MYTHOSPHERE recorded their as-yet-titled debut album at Tiny Castle Studio in Towson, Maryland, with producer/engineer Noel Mueller. Arduini tracked at his home studio and delivered his parts to the rest of the band. “The music would be best described as an expansion of where BEELZEFUZZ left off,” says McCloskey. “A bit less doom as the songs have deeper progressions with soundscapes and melodic overtones which were brought into the mix by Victor creating a whole new vibe and listening experience.”
For the here and now, MYTHOSPHERE will make its live debut on June 24 at the Maryland Doom Fest. That gig will be followed by an appearance at the New England Stoner and Doom Fest on October 7. Fans will be given a sneak preview of MYTHOSPHERE’s debut album and will also be treated to some surprises from their past.
“We’ll be playing the songs we’ve recently recorded for the album and experimenting with the setlist and finding out what songs will go over the best in a live setting,” closes McCloskey. “We are also looking to include a bit of BEELZEFUZZ into the set that matches the vibe of our new music and Victor’s signature guitar playing. He brings a new element of depth and color to the songs.”
The lineup is:
Dana Ortt – Guitar/Vocals
Victor Arduini – Lead guitar
Darin McCloskey – Drums
Ron “FeZZy” McGinnis -Bass
https://www.facebook.com/Mythosphere-103752001922863
https://mythosphere.bandcamp.com/
cruzdelsurmusic.com
facebook.com/cruzdelsurmusic
cruzdelsurmusic.bandcamp.com
