Novarupta Premiere “No Constellation” Video; Marine Snow Out This Week
Posted in Bootleg Theater on November 9th, 2020 by JJ Koczan
This week, Swedish one-man outfit Novarupta issue the second in a purported cycle of four full-lengths, Marine Snow, through esteemed noisebringers Suicide Records. The project, which began in 2018 following Alex Stjernfeldt‘s departure from The Moth Gatherer and that year released the debut, Disillusioned Fire, wants nothing for ambition. Embracing a richly atmospheric approach to post-metal, the five-song second outing boasts guest appearances from a cast of six vocalists not only from Stjernfeldt‘s home in Sweden — Robert Lamu of Skraeckoedlan, Arvid Hällagård of Greenleaf, Lea Amling of Besvärjelsen and Martin Persner of Magna Carta Cartel — but a couple of Americans as well in Inter Arma‘s Mike Paparo and A Storm of Light‘s Josh Graham, who begins the record with “Broken Blue Cascades” in a lyrical meditation on climate change and the destructive relationship between humans and the planet indulgent enough to let us evolve on it.
The method of bringing in outsiders is a carryover from Disillusioned Fire, and as Marine Snow plays out, with Amling and Lamu working through a melodic wash of an arrangement on “Every Shade of Water,” the theme unites the material effectively in concert with the instrumental backing entirely from Stjernfeldt. Songwriting is patient and allows the proceedings to flow accordingly as well, furthering the watery nature that’s been a part of post-metal at least since Isis issued Oceanic, if not before, but the 
breadth across Marine Snow is Stjernfeldt‘s own, and continues into the more active lumbering of “Trieste,” which brings Persner forward atop a weighted punch of bass and lumbering chug that borders on atmospheric goth rock in a surprising highlight that lives up to the standard of the song before (a high standard indeed) and thanks to layering even manages to keep some sonic congruence as well. Sonar pings as it moves toward the midsection let the listener know perhaps that they’re on their way down through “Trieste,” and the back half plays between returning verses and more forceful chug and march, galloping triplets and echoing effects capping.
With “No Constellation,” Paparo brings the album’s most singularly extreme vocals over a melancholic progression, reminiscent of modern death-doom but distinct from it and accompanied by distortion to match the echoing growls. The two — that additional layer of guitar and the gutturalism — give the track a sense of depth that, in addition to being on-theme, is a standout from everything else that surrounds on Marine Snow, a darker and denser place; as Stjernfeldt portrays it below, like the bottom of the ocean. If “Broken Blue Cascades” and “Every Shade of Water” were breaking the surface and “Trieste” was perhaps a goodbye love-letter to breathable air, then certainly “No Constellation” is as far down as the plunge goes. It comes backed by the closer, “11°22.4?N 142°35.5?E,” which are coordinates that correspond to the spot in the Pacific Ocean that is the lowest point on the earth, and a fitting enough place for Stjernfeldt to find some sense of rest. Of course, there’s still plenty of heft to convey across the 10-plus minutes of the finale, but though the rush of waves at the finish becomes more intense, the feeling throughout Hällagård‘s relatively subdued contribution is still that having gone so far down, Novarupta remain in that place.
And so, the listener does as well. As the series of albums is based around the ancient elements — fire, water, air and earth — there are two left for Stjernfeldt and presumably his next round of accompaniment to cover. I don’t know if earth or air is next, but the procession throughout Marine Snow not only showcases a refinement of approach since Disillusioned Fire, but an increase in breadth as well. Should that continue apace, whether he’s capturing the essence of the ground or soaring high above it, Stjernfeldt will be in a fitting position to manifest his theme.
I’ll resist the temptation to tell you to ‘dive in’ to “No Constellation” below, and instead just point out the quote from Stjernfeldt and preorder link/PR wire info that follow.
Enjoy:
Novarupta, “No Constellation” official video premiere
Alex Stjernfeldt on “No Constellation”:
“I first stumbled upon Inter Arma back in 2013 when they released Sky Burial. I was in love! Since then Mike’s voice has been in the back of my mind. We met a couple of years ago when they toured with Deafheaven and we started talking about some collaboration. ‘No Constellation’ took some different turns during the writing sessions, but when it was finished, I realised it was one of the heavier songs I had done for Novarupta, so in came Mike Paparo, who created a really hostile and End of Days environment. Listening to the track feels like you’re at the bottom, surrounded by darkness and a crushing pressure, you will never see the stars again, so get used to the suffering.”
Novarupta’s Marine Snow is released worldwide on 13th November on Suicide Records and can be pre-ordered HERE: https://suiciderecordsswe.bandcamp.com/album/marine-snow
Formed in 2018 from the pyres of time spent in Swedish post-metal outfit The Moth Gatherer, Alex Stjernfeldt’s Novarupta has gone on to envelop almost every corner of Sweden’s underground rock and metal community.
Named after one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the 20th Century, this November, Novarupta will again join forces with Suicide Records for the release of Marine Snow; the second instalment in a series of four albums that conceptually focuses on the elemental forces of Fire, Water, Air and Earth.
Heralding a journey of musical catharsis, Marine Snow effortlessly takes the torch from Novarupta’s acclaimed debut, Disillusioned Fire (2018). Emerging from a passage of fire onto the ocean floor below, Marine Snow immerses listeners in a sea of blackened sludge, progressive metal and monochromatic psychedelia.
TRACK LISTING
1. Broken Blue Cascades
2. Every Shade of Water
3. Trieste
4. No Constellation
5. 11°22.4?N 142°35.5?E
NOVARUPTA is:
Alex Stjernfeldt
Featured vocalists on Marine Snow:
Josh Graham (A Storm of Light/Red Sparowes)
Lea Amling (Besvärjelsen)
Robert Lamu (Skraeckoedlan)
Martin Persner (Magna Carta Cartel/Ghost)
Mike Paparo (Inter Arma)
Arvid Hällagård (Greenleaf)
