Roadburn 2019 has announced a second commissioned project for its lineup. Following word that Tom G. Warrior would complete Celtic Frost‘s ‘Requiem’ triptych at the festival to be held next April, as always, in Tilburg, the Netherlands, details of a new project entirely have emerged that seems to have come about at least in part at Roadburn‘s behest. Molasses hits close to home in the native Dutch underground, bringing together members of The Devil’s Blood, Death Alley, Birth of Joy, Astrosoniq and Donnerwetter. On vocals is Farida Lemouchi, formerly of The Devil’s Blood and whose brother, Selim, was regarded as a figurehead in the scene around Eindhoven prior to his death in 2014 — one remembers the tribute in his honor at Roadburn 2014 and still feels like an intruder for having watched something so personal, even on such a large stage as it was — and on drums is no less than Marcel van de Vondervoort of Astrosoniq, who’s Roadburn fest-family in that it’s under his watch as engineer that so many sets are recorded, resulting in the glut of live albums that have surfaced over the years.

With Oeds Beydals of the newly-hiatused Death Alley and other The Devil’s Blood alumni Job van de Zande and Ron van Herpen, as well as Birth of Joy‘s Bob Hogenelst and Matthijs Stronks of Donnerwetter in the lineup, it’s bound to be a formidable showcase — their first live date — and it may not be a one-off by any means. You’ll note it says “a new beginning” below.

From the PR wire:

Second commissioned project for 2019 announced; MOLASSES will debut at Roadburn

Roadburn is ecstatic to announce the second commissioned piece of music to be performed at the 2019 edition of the festival. Following the recent announcement of Tom G. Warrior’s Celtic Frost/Triptykon Requiem which will be performed by Triptykon and the Dutch Metropole Orkest in April, and the success of the first commissioned pieces earlier this year – the series continues.

It’s time to redefine a bond that never ceased to ascend. Loosen the valve and let the blood flow!

A little over ten years since The Devil’s Blood made its live debut at Roadburn Festival, something is stirring once again in the souls of many of those involved in pulling that first performance together. The last track on Selim Lemouchi’s post-TDB album, Earth Air Spirit Water Fire, titled Molasses has lent its name to a burgeoning, specially commissioned project. An ensemble bound together by a unwavering thread, a shared bond and a definitive presence in their lives. The fragmented pieces of The Devil’s Blood are piecing themselves back together, bereft of a very specific physical form but enriched by his spiritual company.

Farida Lemouchi, Oeds Beydals, Job van de Zande, and Ron van Herpen – all former members of The Devil’s Blood – are joined by kindred spirits, Marcel Van De Vondervoort of Astrosoniq, Bob Hogenelst (Birth of Joy) and Matthijs Stronks (Donnerwetter) to form Molasses.

Those hoping to hear some tracks from The Devil’s Blood back catalogue will come away empty handed; if you’re keeping an ear out for some Astrosoniq, it won’t come. Molasses may be shot through with the DNA that made those bands tick, but this is very clearly – and definitively – a new beginning.

Artwork by Max Rovers.

Artistic director, Walter Hoeijmakers comments: “When we started to commission music for Roadburn, it was a given that I wanted to reconnect Farida, Ron, Oeds and Job, along with Marcel from Astrosoniq, as they are such a gifted musicians, who simply belong on stage together. Plus, I wanted to give them the opportunity to grow into a new space as artists, and really hope that Molasses will help them personally as well, giving them strength to embrace the future – whatever that holds.”

Molasses will be embracing the future on Thursday, April 11.

It reaches out to neverending times
Eats itself to be born again
There is just space but it holds the lines
For an ever growing love and deep affection
To rise and rise and rise and rise

TICKETS:
Single day tickets will go on sale on Thursday, December 13. Weekend tickets are on sale now

Tickets are be priced as follows:
3 days ticket (Thu-Sat) €181 + €4,50 service fee
4 days ticket (Thu-Sun) €204 + €4,50 service fee
Day ticket (Thu, Fri or Sat) €62 + €4,50 service fee
Sunday ticket €55,50 + €4,50 service fee

Click here for more ticketing information.

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Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies, “Molasses”

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)