SATURDAY OCT 19, 2019
Oranssi Pazuzu
“Oranssi Pazuzu conjures sounds from the dark corners of space and mind.”
The band was formed in 2007 by Jun-His (vocals, guitar) and Ontto (bass guitar), who started jamming with Korjak (drums), and Evill (synthesizers, organ, effects) in order to travel into uncharted musical territories. Very soon Moit (guitar) completed the lineup and Oranssi Pazuzu, The Demon of the Wind with the Colour of Cosmic Energy, was born.
During it’s initial months the band wrote songs collectively, fusing together various influences from space rock to black metal, to capture different states of mental cosmos. These early songs were recorded by Sami Jormanainen in Korjak’s family cabin in the late summer of 2008 and released as the group’s debut album Muukalainen puhuu by Violent Journey Records in April 2009.
In 2009-2010 Oranssi Pazuzu played shows around Finland and continued to write music that twisted towards more metallic and aggressive moods. In September 2010 they played first concerts outside Finland in Germany and the Netherlands. In November a split album with friend’s band Candy Cane was released as a co-operation of two labels Firebox and Verdura Records.
Kosmonument, their second full length album, was recorded in the old cold Karhu Manor in March 2011. Candy Cane’s Marko Neuman acted as an artistic advisor, while Sami Jormanainen returned to the engineering and mixing duties. A concept album about a drifter lost in the void, Kosmonument was released in October 2011 as a cd by Spinefarm Records and as a double vinyl album by Blackspin Music. Also a vinyl version of the debut Muukalainen puhuu was released in May 2011 by Svart Records.
After the release of Kosmonument, Oranssi Pazuzu played various European festivals in 2012, including Roadburn and Hellfest. They returned home satisfied, having also met Nikos Giagoudakis, who kindly decided to start as the band’s manager.
Being dropped from Spinefarm label, the band decided that it was time to move forward, and returned to writing new material with a newfound enthusiasm and freedom. Agreeing to work with Jaime Gomez Arellano, a London-based producer and engineer, Oranssi Pazuzu travelled to his Orgone Studios to record their third album in February 2013. After a succesful session with Gomez, the band finalized a new record deal with their old vinyl label Svart Records and with 20 Buck Spin for the album’s North American release.
Oranssi Pazuzu’s third album is called Valonielu, and it will be released on in October 2013. Produced, recorded and mixed by Jaime Gomez Arellano, it includes six songs that rank among the band’s most ambitious yet, from the album opener Vino verso’s trance metal to the epic finale of Ympyrä on viiva tomussa. An European tour is also planned to coincide with the album’s release.
“Oranssi Pazuzu conjures sounds from the dark corners of space and mind.”
The band was formed in 2007 by Jun-His (vocals, guitar) and Ontto (bass guitar), who started jamming with Korjak (drums), and Evill (synthesizers, organ, effects) in order to travel into uncharted musical territories. Very soon Moit (guitar) completed the lineup and Oranssi Pazuzu, The Demon of the Wind with the Colour of Cosmic Energy, was born.
During it’s initial months the band wrote songs collectively, fusing together various influences from space rock to black metal, to capture different states of mental cosmos. These early songs were recorded by Sami Jormanainen in Korjak’s family cabin in the late summer of 2008 and released as the group’s debut album Muukalainen puhuu by Violent Journey Records in April 2009.
In 2009-2010 Oranssi Pazuzu played shows around Finland and continued to write music that twisted towards more metallic and aggressive moods. In September 2010 they played first concerts outside Finland in Germany and the Netherlands. In November a split album with friend’s band Candy Cane was released as a co-operation of two labels Firebox and Verdura Records.
Kosmonument, their second full length album, was recorded in the old cold Karhu Manor in March 2011. Candy Cane’s Marko Neuman acted as an artistic advisor, while Sami Jormanainen returned to the engineering and mixing duties. A concept album about a drifter lost in the void, Kosmonument was released in October 2011 as a cd by Spinefarm Records and as a double vinyl album by Blackspin Music. Also a vinyl version of the debut Muukalainen puhuu was released in May 2011 by Svart Records.
After the release of Kosmonument, Oranssi Pazuzu played various European festivals in 2012, including Roadburn and Hellfest. They returned home satisfied, having also met Nikos Giagoudakis, who kindly decided to start as the band’s manager.
Being dropped from Spinefarm label, the band decided that it was time to move forward, and returned to writing new material with a newfound enthusiasm and freedom. Agreeing to work with Jaime Gomez Arellano, a London-based producer and engineer, Oranssi Pazuzu travelled to his Orgone Studios to record their third album in February 2013. After a succesful session with Gomez, the band finalized a new record deal with their old vinyl label Svart Records and with 20 Buck Spin for the album’s North American release.
Oranssi Pazuzu’s third album is called Valonielu, and it will be released on in October 2013. Produced, recorded and mixed by Jaime Gomez Arellano, it includes six songs that rank among the band’s most ambitious yet, from the album opener Vino verso’s trance metal to the epic finale of Ympyrä on viiva tomussa. An European tour is also planned to coincide with the album’s release.
Insect Ark
Evoking visions of dripping and lurching horror films, outer space travel, and gritty noir textures, NYC-based instrumental band Insect Ark is led by founder Dana Schechter (bass, lap steel guitar, synthesizers). Using delay-drenched lapsteel, distorted bass & synths, and acoustic and electronic drums, Insect Ark’s music creates a sonic mural both uncomfortably intimate and icy cold.
A busy 2018 included the release of full-length LP Marrow Hymns on Profound Lore Records, European and North American tours, a recording residency at modular synth mecca EMS Stockholm, and fest appearances at Roadburn, Basilica Soundscape, Northwest Terror fest and more. Now in Summer 2019, the composing of a new album is almost complete with heavy touring in Fall 2019/Spring 2020 for the US and EU scheduled.
Bridging the gap between experimentation and song form, a heavy focus is on composition, but Insect Ark is not content to stay in the studio. It is very much a live experience, with emphasis on the live instrumentation of bass, lap steel, drums and synths, using intricate live analog looping techniques to achieve a monster “wall of sound” with only one or two people on stage.
A mind-bending animated video piece accompanies live shows - also made by Schechter, who works as a video artist in the film business - completing the experience to envelop and crush the senses.
Evoking visions of dripping and lurching horror films, outer space travel, and gritty noir textures, NYC-based instrumental band Insect Ark is led by founder Dana Schechter (bass, lap steel guitar, synthesizers). Using delay-drenched lapsteel, distorted bass & synths, and acoustic and electronic drums, Insect Ark’s music creates a sonic mural both uncomfortably intimate and icy cold.
A busy 2018 included the release of full-length LP Marrow Hymns on Profound Lore Records, European and North American tours, a recording residency at modular synth mecca EMS Stockholm, and fest appearances at Roadburn, Basilica Soundscape, Northwest Terror fest and more. Now in Summer 2019, the composing of a new album is almost complete with heavy touring in Fall 2019/Spring 2020 for the US and EU scheduled.
Bridging the gap between experimentation and song form, a heavy focus is on composition, but Insect Ark is not content to stay in the studio. It is very much a live experience, with emphasis on the live instrumentation of bass, lap steel, drums and synths, using intricate live analog looping techniques to achieve a monster “wall of sound” with only one or two people on stage.
A mind-bending animated video piece accompanies live shows - also made by Schechter, who works as a video artist in the film business - completing the experience to envelop and crush the senses.
Dead Register
DEAD REGISTER arose from the gloomiest chasm in summer 2013 and reared its head with a caterwaul to the unfeeling stars. Fed by Chvasta (ex-Palaces; ex-Light Pupil Dilate) on vocals and bass/bass-vi, complimented by Avril’s bass synth/keys and backing vocals, the creature evolved, morphing and growing more melodic; its sweetened voice begged for a live skinbeater’s dynamics. Enter Chad Williams (ex-Magnapop) in 2014, to command its punishing sonic nature from his leopard-print throne and suckle from his black metal teat: DEAD REGISTER had at last arrived, a seething, soothing beast of woe and stillborn hope, to sink tooth and nail into your sorrowful heart.
DEAD REGISTER arose from the gloomiest chasm in summer 2013 and reared its head with a caterwaul to the unfeeling stars. Fed by Chvasta (ex-Palaces; ex-Light Pupil Dilate) on vocals and bass/bass-vi, complimented by Avril’s bass synth/keys and backing vocals, the creature evolved, morphing and growing more melodic; its sweetened voice begged for a live skinbeater’s dynamics. Enter Chad Williams (ex-Magnapop) in 2014, to command its punishing sonic nature from his leopard-print throne and suckle from his black metal teat: DEAD REGISTER had at last arrived, a seething, soothing beast of woe and stillborn hope, to sink tooth and nail into your sorrowful heart.