Deathspell Omega

Last updated

Deathspell Omega
Origin Poitiers, France
Genres
Years active1998–present
LabelsNorma Evangelium Diaboli
Northern Heritage
End All Life
Season of Mist

Deathspell Omega is a French black metal band formed in 1998 in Poitiers. The group is an anonymous collective that has never confirmed the identity of any of its members.

Contents

Their lyrical content often deals with metaphysical Satanism, [1] and the philosophies of Bataille [1] [2] and Hegel. [3]

From 2004 to 2010, the band released a trilogy of concept albums — Si monvmentvm reqvires, circvmspice , Fas – Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum and Paracletus – which focus on the theological aspects of God and Satan. With the band's seventh album The Furnaces of Palingenesia (2019), there was a shift in lyrical focus to anti-authoritarian political themes. [4]

The band's eighth and most recent album, The Long Defeat, was released on 23 March 2022. The band described the album as " the first emanation of the third era of Deathspell Omega". [5]

History

Initially, Deathspell Omega produced raw, traditional black metal akin to Darkthrone's Transilvanian Hunger . However, their 2004 release, Si monvmentvm reqvires, circvmspice , marked a change to a more technical, experimental, and well-recorded sound with musical influences including Russian Orthodox chanting and choral music. [6]

The band's work after Si monvmentvm reqvires, circvmspice was more experimental and technical, with their output in 2005— Kénôse , "Mass Grave Aesthetics" and "Diabolus absconditus"—totaling nearly eighty minutes in length, longer than Si monvmentvm reqvires, circvmspice. The second volume of the band's trilogy, Fas – Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum , was released on 16 July 2007, outside the United States, and the following day within the United States. [7] [8] The band released another EP in January 2009, entitled Veritas Diaboli Manet in Aeternum: Chaining the Katechon . The final album in the trilogy, Paracletus , was released by Norma Evangelium Diaboli and Season of Mist on 9 November 2010. [9] The band's final work related to the trilogy, [10] an EP titled Drought , was released on 22 June 2012.

Deathspell Omega's sixth full-length album, The Synarchy of Molten Bones, was made available early to download and stream on 31 October 2016 [11] [12] with a full physical release on 8 November. [13] [14]

The band's seventh full-length album, The Furnaces of Palingenesia , was released on 24 May 2019. It is presented as a manifesto from a dictator speaking for a political faction referred to as "the Order"; it is explicitly intended to deconstruct authoritarian regimes of both the left and the right. The band recorded the album live in a studio using analogue gear, and it was mastered more quietly than most of the band's preceding material, also reflecting a shift in production approach. [4]

Without naming any of their members directly, the band also claimed there was an ideological rift within the band, noting: "A minority of the collective's contributors – shall we say, parts of the second circle – who've been invited to partake because of their incredible talents as musicians are involved with earthly politics, but stand on completely opposite ends of the political spectrum and are therefore irreconcilable political foes. Were it not for dialogue on the grounds of transgressive art, they'd be shooting each other. That tension is what interests us." They also state that the music and lyrics were authored by the "French core of the collective". [4] This clarification was made in the wake of backlash against Deathspell Omega due to their longtime collaboration with Finnish musician Mikko Aspa, who has released National Socialist black metal music under the solo project Clandestine Blaze and has ties to RAC acts.

Band members

There is little to no concrete public information about Deathspell Omega's lineup. They do not have any official website, social media platform or promotional photos, have never performed live and do not list credits in their releases. Early interviews were deeply critical of the black metal scene, [15] [16] and the last interview they agreed to until 2019 was conducted in 2004 by their North American label The Ajna Offensive, with questions and answers sent through the band's exclusive label, Norma Evangelium Diaboli, to preserve their anonymity. [1]

Finnish musician Mikko Aspa is the band's current vocalist since 2002. [1] [17] Hirilorn vocalist Shaxul stated that he was Deathspell Omega's vocalist until 2002, and has gone on record as leaving due to displeasure with the band's shift in themes. [18] In a 2014 interview discussing the most underrated guitarists in metal, Gorguts vocalist Luc Lemay named Christian Bouché as Deathspell Omega's guitarist, also giving his pseudonym Hasjarl. [19]

The band contains a drummer, with a band member confirming that the only recordings to use a drum machine were the first four songs on the debut album Infernal Battles. [4]

In a 2018 interview with Loudwire , Tobias Forge, lead singer of the band Ghost, stated that the French synthwave artist Carpenter Brut (Franck Hueso) was Deathspell Omega's producer. [20]

Lineup

Past members

Discography

Compilation albums

EPs

Split releases

Demos

Compilation appearances

Box sets

Related Research Articles

Beherit is a Finnish black metal band from Rovaniemi. The band was formed in 1989 by Nuclear Holocausto Vengeance, Jari Vaarala and Sodomatic Slaughter, with the purpose of performing "the most primitive, savage, hell-obsessed black metal imaginable". "Beherit" is the Syriac word for Satan. Through the uncommercial nature of their music, visuals, and live performances, the band quickly attracted a cult following. Besides the "raw" sound, the band's music is noted for its avant-garde side and emphasis on atmosphere. Beherit are now regarded as a pioneer in their genre.

Season of Mist is an independent record label and record distributor with subsidiaries in France and the United States. The record label was founded in 1996 by Michael S. Berberian in Marseille, France. From the start releasing black metal, pagan metal, and death metal records, the label moved on to releasing albums of avant-garde metal, gothic metal and punk bands as well. The label has two offices, one in Marseille, France and one in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Antaeus are a French black metal band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shagrath</span> Norwegian musician

Stian Tomt Thoresen, known professionally as Shagrath, is a Norwegian musician. He is the vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and a founding member of the symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir.

Southern Lord Records is an American independent record label founded by Greg Anderson in 1998. The Los Angeles–based label was initially formed "just to put out" the debut albums by Thorr's Hammer and Burning Witch. These bands were among the first collaborations between Anderson and Stephen O'Malley, who also formed Sunn O))), one of the label's biggest selling acts along with Japanese band Boris.

<i>Si monvmentvm reqvires, circvmspice</i> 2004 studio album by Deathspell Omega

Si monvmentvm reqvires, circvmspice is the third full-length album by black metal band Deathspell Omega. The album title is a grammatically mis-quoted version of the Latin epitaph on the tomb of Christopher Wren in St Paul's Cathedral, meaning "If you seek his monument, look around you". This album is the first part in a trilogy of albums released by the band, followed by Fas – Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum in 2007 and Paracletus in 2010. The trilogy has been described as "a theological dispute on the divine essence of the Devil, the roles and virtues of faith and the place of man therein", particularly from a Theistic Satanist perspective. One interpretation of the purpose of the album is to examine and proclaim that "Satan is pervading every part of our material and metaphysical realms and how Man’s relationship with Him should be one of reverence and devotion." The album draws on themes of putrefaction, decomposition, antinatalism, as well as the work of the French philosopher Georges Bataille.

<i>Infernal Battles</i> 2000 studio album by Deathspell Omega

Infernal Battles is the first album by the black metal band Deathspell Omega. It was released in 2000 by Northern Heritage Records in a limited run of 200 vinyl copies, then re-released in 2003 by the same label and in 2010 by End All Life Productions, both times on CD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clandestine Blaze</span> Finnish one-man black metal band

Clandestine Blaze is a one-man Finnish black metal band from Lahti, formed in 1998 by Mikko Aspa. Aspa cites Darkthrone, Burzum, Beherit and Bathory as key influences. Aspa is also currently involved in many other projects, such as Stabat Mater, Creamface, Fleshpress, AM, Grunt, Clinic of Torture, Alchemy of the 20th Century, and Nicole 12.

Funeral Mist is a Swedish black metal band formed in Stockholm in 1993. To date, the band have released four full-length albums, three EPs and a compilation boxset. Since 2003, the band's sole permanent member has been Arioch, also known for his work as the frontman of the black metal band Marduk.

<i>Clandestine Blaze / Deathspell Omega – Split</i> 2005 compilation album by Clandestine Blaze and Deathspell Omega

Clandestine Blaze / Deathspell Omega – Split is an album released by the black metal bands Clandestine Blaze and Deathspell Omega in 2001.

<i>Fas – Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum</i> 2007 studio album by Deathspell Omega

Fas – Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum is the fourth full-length album by the black metal band Deathspell Omega. The album takes its title from the Vulgate translation of Matthew 25:41, "discedite a me maledicti in ignem æternum", usually quoted as "ite maledicti in ignem aeternum".

<i>Casus Luciferi</i> 2003 studio album by Watain

Casus Luciferi is the second studio album by the black metal band Watain. It was released in 2003 on Drakkar Productions. It was also released on limited edition vinyl by Norma Evangelium Diaboli and, in 2004, on tape by the Romanian label Mirgilus Siculorum. The album was remastered and reissued in October 2008 with a bonus track, a live cover of the song "Watain" by Von that the band is named after.

<i>Veritas Diaboli Manet in Aeternum: Chaining the Katechon</i> 2008 EP by Deathspell Omega

Veritas Diaboli Manet in Aeternum: Chaining the Katechon is a 22-minute EP containing a single song, recorded by the French black metal band Deathspell Omega. Chaining the Katechon was released through Norma Evangelium Diaboli on 8 December 2008. The title Veritas Diaboli Manet in Aeternum is a work of two French black metal bands—Deathspell Omega and S.V.E.S.T. —and can be understood as a variation on a same theme, independent yet complementary.

<i>Mass Grave Aesthetics</i> 2008 EP by Deathspell Omega

Mass Grave Aesthetics is a 19-minute EP containing a single song, recorded by the French black metal band Deathspell Omega. Mass Grave Aesthetics was released through Norma Evangelium Diaboli on 8 December 2008. It was also reissued with Diabolus Absconditus on a vinyl LP in 2011.

<i>Paracletus</i> 2010 studio album by Deathspell Omega

Paracletus is the fifth full-length studio album recorded by the French black metal band Deathspell Omega, released on 9 November 2010 through Norma Evangelium Diaboli along with Season of Mist. It is the third part in their metaphysical trilogy of albums representing God, the Devil and Man.

Ofermod is a Swedish black/death metal band, formed in 1996 by Michayah Belfagor.

<i>Drought</i> (EP) 2012 EP by Deathspell Omega

Drought is an EP by Deathspell Omega. It is the band's first release of new material since their 2010 album Paracletus. It is the final release included in the band's 2012 vinyl box set incorporating the trilogy and related works, suggesting that the band regards it as thematically connected, and can be regarded as an epilogue to the trilogy.

Katharsis are a German black metal band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Misþyrming</span> Black-metal band from Reykjavik, Iceland

Misþyrming are a black metal band from Reykjavík, Iceland. The band formed in June 2013 and are currently signed to the French record label Norma Evangelium Diaboli. They released their debut studio album Söngvar elds og óreiðu on 7 February 2015 to widespread critical acclaim. The band have since toured Europe and the United States, performed at Eistnaflug, and were named an 'artist in residence' at the famous Roadburn Festival in 2016.

<i>The Furnaces of Palingenesia</i> 2019 studio album by Deathspell Omega

The Furnaces of Palingenesia is the seventh studio album by French black metal band Deathspell Omega, released on 24 May 2019 through Norma Evangelium Diaboli. It represents a significant shift in the band's lyrical themes from Satanism to anti-authoritarianism.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Interview with Deathspell Omega". Kccricket.net. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  2. ↑ "Is Black Metal Coming of Age?". Chronicles of Chaos . 18 December 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "An Inquiry into the History and Evolution of Metaphysical Satanism in Black Metal". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Göransson, Niklas (23 June 2019). "Deathspell Omega interview - Bardo Methodology". Bardo Methodology. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  5. ↑ "Norma Evangelium Diaboli - Deathspell Omega. Stand witness to The Long Defeat! Hearken to the first emanation of the third era of DEATHSPELL OMEGA; forty-four minutes of Black Metal enacted through five instalments. Recorded live by the French power trio in July 2021. Bile and venom distilled and added until the leaves fell. "The Long Defeat" unfolds over three parallel storylines told via three different mediums. Two in writing: the lyrics, as well as a fable. The third speaks through the artwork – two metres' worth of maniacally detailed visions depicting the same premise its written content draws from. All three are fundamentally entwined but diverging in narrative, each complementing or contradicting the others". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Deathspell Omega | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  7. ↑ "Fas – Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "No. 2 on Brandon Stosuy's Best of 2007". Show No Mercy. Pitchfork Media. 28 November 2007. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "Paracletus' release date announced". Season of Mist. 2 September 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  10. 1 2 "Drought's release date announced". Norma Evangelium Diaboli. 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 8 August 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  11. ↑ Schafer, Joseph (31 October 2016). "Deathspell Omega – 'The Synarchy of Molten Bones'". Invisible Oranges . Archived from the original on 2 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "NoEvDia". NoEvDia. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  13. ↑ "The Synarchy of Molten Bones, by Deathspell Omega". Noevdia News. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  14. ↑ "The Synarchy of Molten Bones, by Deathspell Omega". Deathspell Omega. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "northern+heritage+bm+-zine2-03.jpg (image)". 1.bp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  16. ↑ "northern+heritage+bm+-zine2-04.jpg (image)". 4.bp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  17. ↑ "Outcast by Choice; an Interview with Mikko Aspa – Heathen Harvest". Heathen Harvest. 2 January 2016. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  18. ↑ "Interesting interview with Shaxul (ex-DsO) | Reanimator". reanimatormetal.proboards.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  19. ↑ Hammond, Shawn (27 March 2014). "Metal and Hardcore in 2014: Council of Steel, Blood & Bone - Premier Guitar". www.premierguitar.com. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  20. ↑ "Tobias Forge: How Iron Maiden Influenced Ghost". Loudwire. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.