Liturgy | |
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Origin | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 2005 | –present
Labels |
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Members | |
Past members |
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Website | arkwork |
Liturgy is an American black metal band from Brooklyn, New York. The band have described their music as "transcendental black metal," [6] [7] which was especially described in a manifesto written by Hunt-Hendrix; in the process of transforming their style of black metal, they have experimented with other genres including progressive rock, hip hop and electronic music. [8] [9] In the band's early days, Hunt-Hendrix expressed her interest in the work of Swans, Glenn Branca, Rhys Chatham, La Monte Young and Lightning Bolt as influences. [10] [11]
Originally the solo project of Haela Hunt-Hendrix, the band expanded to a four-piece in 2008, after the release of the 12" Immortal Life, which was followed in 2009 with their debut album Renihilation . [1] The group's second album, Aesthethica , was released in May 2011 by Thrill Jockey, and was ranked as number 26 on Spin's 50 Best Albums of 2011. [12]
In a 2012 interview with Pitchfork Media, Hunt-Hendrix expressed her desire to move away from black metal on future releases in order to avoid "self-imitation," noting that Aesthethica's recognition "turns it into safe territory." She suggested that the next release could include bells or a focus on electronics. [13] In June 2014, the band recorded its third studio album, The Ark Work , which was released in 2015. [14] [15] The album was named the #1 avant garde album of 2015 by Spin [16] and Rolling Stone. [17] Hunt-Hendrix released her debut electronic album, New Introductory Lectures on the System of Transcendental Qabala , under the name Kel Valhaal in 2016, following the same mythologies she had written as Liturgy's songwriter.
Hunt-Hendrix composed, directed, and starred in the video opera “Origin of the Alimonies,” which was screened at National Sawdust in New York City in October 2018. It was shown with a live score performed by Liturgy alongside an eleven-piece chamber ensemble. [18] In November 2019 a live-action version of the opera was staged at REDCAT in Los Angeles. Liturgy performed in collaboration with the Sonic Boom Ensemble, and the opera featured performers Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste and Kathleen Dycaico, with choreography by Gillian Wash and light design by artist Matthew Schreiber. [19]
The band's fourth studio album, H.A.Q.Q. , was released without any prior notice in November 2019, with a physical release following five months later. The album is tied to an ongoing series of philosophical lectures by Hunt-Hendrix on YouTube, which details the system of concepts portrayed by the diagram on its cover. [20]
Hunt-Hendrix came out as transgender in May 2020, [21] and the band released their fifth studio album, Origin of the Alimonies, in November the same year. Their sixth studio album, 93696, followed in March 2023.
Current members
Former members