IDES OF GEMINI DELIVERS VIDEO FOR "STRANGE FRUIT"

Atmospheric metal band Ides of Gemini has delivered a video for the track "Strange Fruit". Below is the press statement:

"Atmospheric spirit-conjurers, IDES OF GEMINI, released the moon-moving tones of their Carthage/Strange Fruit 7″ via Magic Bullet Records last month in honor of Record Store Day.

Side A begins with the lingering resonances of “Carthage.” Commencing with the doomy, acoustic summoning of souls of a barren world, the band goes full tilt into their eclectic brand of overdriven power and command, charging onward and upward through forest and sky, dragging the doomed, sorrowful carcass of humanity itself into light. Side B offers up one of the most stunning and emotionally stirring covers of “Strange Fruit” ever put to tape. Written as a poem by Abel Meeropol in 1937, and set to music famously by Billie Holiday in 1939, the song stems from Meeropol’s original protest piece against the racial lynchings that marred the early 20th century in America. It has been covered many times over since – including versions by Nina Simone, Lou Rawls, Annie Lennox, Jeff Buckley, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Diana Ross, Tori Amos, and countless others. IDES OF GEMINI dug deep on this one, perfecting a uniquely somber and haunting arrangement the poem/song has simply never seen.

In celebration of this moving piece of history, the band has crafted a haunting visual accompaniment to their reinterpretation of the tune. The solemn video was directed by singer/bassist Sera Timms, also of West Coast dark-psych unit Black Mare, who elaborates, “The first time I ever heard ‘Strange Fruit,’ I was immediately taken by the powerful imagery in the lyrics before I even knew the historical implications of them. Though this song was written as a protest against racism, it seems to me to conjure a deep mournfulness for the violent atrocities that all people continue to commit against one another, with racism being a very potent example…sadly more so today than ever.”

IDES OF GEMINI features Timms, alongside drummer Kelly Johnston-Gibson and guitarist J. Bennett.

MARUTA RELEASES "HOPE SMASHER" VIDEO

Miami´s brutal death metal grindcore outfit Maruta has released a video for the track "Hope Smasher". Below is the press release:

"The latest dose of enforced persuasion in the propaganda campaign surrounding MARUTA’s incoming "Remain Dystopian" LP has been put on display in the form of a brutally brainwashing visual accompaniment to the band’s “Hope Smasher” track, delivered by the puppet masters at Noisey. While the auditory delivery of the Miami grind mercenaries is already over-the-top with blistering speed and seething dissonant aggression, see what happens when these measures are deployed in the visual form with seizure-inducing effects set to the track’s rabid pace. Offers the write-up accompanying the video, “…‘Hope Smasher’ is a full on cavalcade of grind blasts, groove-metal breaks, and all out pandemonium. MARUTA’s video for the song is similarly venomous, combining footage of the band performing with video freakouts, riot footage, dumpster diving, landfills, and Chernobyl. Get ready to do your windmill headbangs, this fucker rips.”

"Named after a special project during World War II in which the Imperial Japanese Army used human beings for torturous scientific experiments, the newest phase in MARUTA’s modus operandi comes in the form of their fourth LP, and first for Relapse, with Remain Dystopian. Delivering seventeen demanding and damaging tracks in under twenty-eight minutes, the album is made all the more dangerous with the assistance of contracted outside henchmen for the multiple-studio recording of the album — including drums with Pig Destroyer’s Scott Hull and vocals with Torche’s Jonathan Nuñez — with additional torment tactics provided by Pig Destroyer’s J.R. Hayes, Agoraphobic Nosebleed’s Jay Randall, and Tomas Lindberg of At The Gates."

"Remain Dystopian" campaign will see release on CD, LP and digital formats June 2nd in North America, May 29th in Germany, Benelux and Finland, and June 1st in the UK and elsewhere. 

OBSEQUIAE STREAMS NEW TRACK "IN THE ABSENCE OF LIGHT"

Minnesota´s medieval metal band Obsequiae has issue dthe following press statement: 

"OBSEQUIAE, Minnesota’s organic, medieval metal outfit, is preparing for the release of their sophomore LP, "Aria Of Vernal Tombs", through 20 Buck Spin later this month. While the anxiously awaited album is already reaping critical pre-release acclaim, the physical embodiments of the record has been very slightly delayed, so in response, the band and label have issued another new passage of glorious audio from the platter to the masses. American Aftermath has lent their assistance in issuing “In The Absence Of Light” through an exclusive premiere from OBSEQUIAE’s "Aria Of Vernal Tombs"." (check below)

"Aria Of Vernal Tombs" will see CD and digital release on May 26th, and the vinyl in July, both physical versions to be delivered in gorgeous, foil stamped packages, all via 20 Buck Spin.

"The sparse, sorrowful harp pieces appearing throughout Aria Of Vernal Tombs provide a foundation on which to base the longer metal-based sagas that form the album’s core. OBSEQUIAE’s black, death and traditional heavy metal influences seamlessly merge with medieval, Middle Ages music in baroque yet abrasive reverence, resulting in a remarkably original long-player. With a wet clarity to the incandescent production that cites underrated obscurities like Sacramentum’s Far Away From The Sun and Eucharist’s A Velvet Creation, along with the early works of Varathron, Samael and Rotting Christ, the atmosphere created on Aria Of Vernal Tombs brings to 2015 what such bands strangely but sincerely captured years ago. Every sound and shimmering tone is intentional and essential to this rite of Spring".