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Desolate North
Desolate North cover
Studio album by Celestiial
Released 2006
Recorded Azrael's rehearsal space / Tanner Anderson's house
Genre Funeral doom metal
Label Bindrune Recordings
Producer None
Professional reviews

Desolate North is the debut studio album by the funeral doom metal band Celestiial, released on Bindrune Recordings in 2006. A studio album is an original collection of new tracks by a recording artist Celestiial is a one man Funeral doom metal band from Minnesota. Azrael is a Black metal band from Minnesota, USA, formed by Lord Samaiza and Algol in 1999 A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing allmusic (previously All Music Guide) is a Metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. Decibel is a monthly extreme music magazine published by the Philadelphia-based Red Flag Media Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork, is a Chicago -based daily Internet publication devoted to music criticism and commentary A studio album is an original collection of new tracks by a recording artist Celestiial is a one man Funeral doom metal band from Minnesota. It comprised of the five tracks from Celestiial's demo, Ashen, combined with three more tracks recorded separately. It was written and performed entirely by Tanner Anderson, the sole member of Celestiial, and was never written to be an album or to be performed.

The recording of the album was also done entirely by Anderson, and was done in three parts. Firstly, the material for Ashen was recorded at the rehearsal space he shared with the black metal band Azrael, then the three extra tracks were recorded at the same place, and then the hard pieces were recorded at Anderson's home. Azrael is a Black metal band from Minnesota, USA, formed by Lord Samaiza and Algol in 1999

The album received mixed reviews- some critics claiming it was fresh and a new sound, some claiming it was very similar to music already available. The music itself has been described as extremely slow, with various woodland sounds, such as running water and footsteps. Many people have drawn a comparison to dark ambient through sound, and black metal through imagery. Dark ambient is a subgenre of Ambient music that features foreboding ominous or discordant overtones Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos shrieked vocals highly distorted guitars played with Tremolo picking,

Contents

Recording

The album was recorded in three parts. The first of these was to record the music for Ashen, which was done in a wooden loft in the corner of the rehearsal space used by Azrael, of whom Anderson was, at the time, a member. Azrael is a Black metal band from Minnesota, USA, formed by Lord Samaiza and Algol in 1999 Anderson stated that he does not remember how long this recording took him, as he slept there after finishing the recording, but described that space as being perfect for the recording as there was nothing there to distract him. [1]

As everything was recorded and played by Anderson, the only option was to record the album in layers. First, he recorded the drums, using a drum kit. A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells However, he was unhappy with the way they sounded, and so re-recorded on a drum machine. For the early "drum machine" computers that used a rotating cylinder as their main memory see Drum memory A drum machine is an The next layers to be recorded were the guitar, bass and vocals, with other sounds being added later. [1]

Of the other three songs, one was recorded at the same place in early 2005, and the other two, the harp songs, were recorded at Anderson's home. The harp is a Stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicular to the soundboard. He has said how this was the most difficult part of the recording. As it happened, Anderson misplaced his microphone stand and so recorded those two songs with the microphone tucked under his chin. Despite this, Anderson claims that it picked up everything, and he was extremely happy with the result. [1]

Anderson has described this as giving the album a "raw" sound,[2] and he has hypothesised that it is because of this that critics have described his work as having influences from black metal. Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos shrieked vocals highly distorted guitars played with Tremolo picking, [3] Although the album has been criticised because of its production by some reviewers,[4][5] others have praised it as having the right sound. [6] However, a different reviewer even praised the album for its high quality recording, explaining that it "is not raw, necro black metal at all. "[7]

Release

"Maybe six or so copies" of Ashen were sent out to various people, and Marty Rytkonen, of Bindrune Recordings, was the only person attached to a record label to receive a copy. [1] Celestiial was then taken on by Bindrune, something which Anderson has, on multiple occasions, talked about how happy he was with, due to the fact he was an avid reader of Worm Gear (a magazine attached to the label) when he was younger. [1][3] Despite the fact that Anderson had not written Desolate North with the intention of it ever being released,[3] in 2006, it was released by Bindrune Recordings. [8]

Musical style

Desolate North has been described as taking "the template of the funeral doom genre. . . and disembowel[ing] the formula even further". [9] The album makes use of minimal vocals, instead relying on electronics, guitars and syncopated drums (with liberal use of cymbals). The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells Cymbals are a modern percussion instrument Cymbals consist of thin normally round plates of various Cymbal alloys; see Cymbal making for a discussion of their Also, these sounds are backed up by more traditional instruments, such as harps and Native American flutes. The harp is a Stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicular to the soundboard. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States The flute is a Musical instrument of the Woodwind family Unlike other woodwind instruments a flute is a Reedless wind instrument that produces its [10] Also, there is the use of sampled sounds of footsteps, water, birdsong, wind and the like. [9]

Celestiial is a funeral doom metal band. [10][9][11] However, Desolate North has been described as taking the genre in new directions with comparisons to ambient, goth, experimental and dark folk music being made. Ambient music is a Musical genre in which sound is more important than notes This article is about the musical style of gothic rock For the goth scene in general see Goth subculture. Experimental music is a term introduced by composer John Cage in 1955 Neofolk is a form of Folk music -inspired experimental music that emerged from post-industrial music circles [9] The music has also been described as meditative[12] and medieval. Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness [11]

Anderson admits that there may be death metal influences in the vocals, but says that it was not a conscious design, and that the music does not have any other similarities to death metal. Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs fast tempos heavily distorted guitars deep growling vocals morbid lyrics He claims that there are no black metal influences. Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos shrieked vocals highly distorted guitars played with Tremolo picking, He says that describing Celestiial's music as folk is a bad idea, as folk is such a broad, vague description as to make it meaningless. Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous He says that what he is creating is neither folk, nor traditional, and even the harp songs are not traditional works, though they are influenced by the traditional music of the United Kingdom and traditional Irish music. Music from the United Kingdom has lost great popularity since the 1960s when a wave of musicians helped to popularise Rock and roll. Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the entire island of Ireland, North and South of the border [3]

Imagery

A publicity photo used by the band. It shows Anderson holding a piece of bark, demonstrating the band's heavy use of natural imagery.
A publicity photo used by the band. It shows Anderson holding a piece of bark, demonstrating the band's heavy use of natural imagery.

Desolate North uses imagery very much based around nature, with natural sounds sampled in the music, and imagery involving woodland, and, as one reviewer put it, "the scary places that we all fear when the lights are out". [10] Bindrune recordings describes this affinity for nature by saying that "Celestiial was created to mirror mysticism in nature. Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity "[8]

Some critics have talked of a black metal influence in imagery. Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos shrieked vocals highly distorted guitars played with Tremolo picking, [13] Anderson responded to this by claiming that he doesn't know why people compare his music to black metal; hypothesising that it is simply the raw production of the music, or the double 'i' in the band name. [3]

Anderson was once asked about whether there were any pagan beliefs in Celestiial. Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world He responded that Celestiial "is romanticized Paganism with very real Pagan values behind it. " He talked of how Celestiial celebrated paganism and the natural world, but that paganism is often viewed as something that it is not. [1] Anderson was once asked about whether there were any pagan beliefs in Celestiial. Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world He responded that Celestiial "is romanticized Paganism with very real Pagan values behind it. " He talked of how Celestiial celebrated paganism and the natural world, but that paganism is often viewed as something that it is not. [1]

Reception

Desolate North received numerous positive reviews[9][10][14] with comparisons to founders of the genre, such as Disembowelment. Disembowelment (often written diSEMBOWELMENT) was an Australian death / Doom metal band from Melbourne that was formed in 1989 [9][10][12] Reviews varied in terms of the originality of the music- while some claimed that it was new and inventive[9] others said that it was very typical funeral doom metal. [10] Negative reviews and comments talked about the poor production and guitars,[11] and the lack of speed in the music, combined with the monotony of the sound. [10] One reviewer went so far as to say that this was so much so that the music could not be counted as heavy metal,[4] to which Marty Worm, of Bindrune Recordings, responded- "If you were expecting "riffs" or definite hooks, then I can understand the disappointment. Desolate North is all about vibe. . . some get it and appreciate this album, others don't. "[4]

Track listing

  1. "Into this Earth of Shallow Intent"[8] (2:00)[15]
  2. "Haunting Cries Beneath the Lake Where Our Queen Once Walked"[8] (8:56)[15]
  3. "Lamentations in the Citadel of God"[8] (10:48)[15]
  4. "Desolate North"[8] (2:47)[15]
  5. "Thule"[8] (8:08)[15]
  6. "Hinterland"[8] (02:16)[15]
  7. "Waldlander im Herbst"[8] (8:59)[15]
  8. "Ashen"[8] (2:11)[15]

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Interview with Tanner Anderson. Dark Recollections (recognised by Bindrune Recordings). Retrieved on 2007-04-02. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of
  2. ^ Anderson, Tanner; Bindrune Recordings (2007-03-18). Celestiial is a one man Funeral doom metal band from Minnesota. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor Celestiial news. Bindrune. Retrieved on 2007-04-02. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of
  3. ^ a b c d e Interview with Tanner Anderson. Absolute Zero Media Magazine LLC (2006-8-22). Retrieved on 2007-03-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates
  4. ^ a b c Sessions, Chris. Review of Celestiial- Desolate North. Metal Review. Retrieved on 2007-03-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1279 - A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China.
  5. ^ Coluccio, Ignacio (May 2006). CELESTIIAL - Desolate North - CD - Bindrune Recordings - 2006. Issue 44. Maelstrom. Retrieved on 2007-04-09. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans)
  6. ^ Daredevil Music's Desolate North review. Daredevil Music/Bindrune Recordings. Retrieved on 2007-04-09. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans)
  7. ^ Kelly, Kim (2006-12-07). Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Celestiial- Desolate North. Pivotal Alliance. Retrieved on 2007-03-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1279 - A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bindrune Recordings: Celestiial. Bindrune Recordings. Retrieved on 2007-02-02. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Seward, Scott. Celestiial Desolate North. Decibel Magazine. Decibel is a monthly extreme music magazine published by the Philadelphia-based Red Flag Media Retrieved on 2007-01-30. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Batmaz, Murat (2006-06-02). Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks Review: "Celestiial:Desolate North". Sea of Tranquility. Retrieved on 2007-01-30. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain
  11. ^ a b c Coluccio, Ignacio. CELESTIIAL - Desolate North - CD - Bindrune Recordings - 2006. Issue 44. Maelstrom. Retrieved on 2007-01-30. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain
  12. ^ a b Bengtson, Tate. Reviews (Celestiial). Issue 31. Unrestrained! Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-01-30. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain
  13. ^ Stosuy, Brandon (2006-08-09). Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Show No Mercy. Pitchfork Media. Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork, is a Chicago -based daily Internet publication devoted to music criticism and commentary Retrieved on 2007-05-05. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John
  14. ^ Desolate North Reviews. Numerous/Bindrune Recordings. Retrieved on 2007-04-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1111 - Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 - The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h Desolate North. Encyclopaedia Metallum. Metal-Archives. com. Retrieved on 2007-04-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I.

External links

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