Press Release this album is the brainchild of a liaison between two exceptional artists: sal-ocin who made a name for himself as a collaborator and band member as well as with his solo project empusae, and marc titolo aka marc t. who is partially known for his earlier breakbeat / electronica / idm project dither, but mostly as a composer, guitarist and vocalist of the sludge post-rock band dirge. after their first collaboration on empusae's 'sphere from the woods' release in 2013, marc and sal-ocin decided to work on a whole album based on marc's guitar compositions and completed with sal-ocin's electronic and electro-acoustic rhythms, melodies and soundscapes. the result of this decision is 'deugden van angst en het kwaad', a perfect balance between two different musical viewpoints fusing into one. slow repetitive beats and atmospheric electronics build a solid foundation for massive guitar soundwalls passing the edge of hypnotic post-psychedelia and grieving doom metal. a deep and dark and dangerous maelstrom for the listener get roped into without resistance - be invited, you won't regret taking this auditory journey!
Tracklist 01. Second Ornament 02. Sphère des Bois 03. Seven Types of Ambiguity 04. Quantum Daimon 05. Consanguinous Pain 06. Dirge 07. One and the Same
Press Release this truly fine collection of live recordings made in 2012 and 2013 delivers the intoxicating concert experience of an empusae performance right into your home environment. besides the project's mastermind nicolas van meirhaeghe the notable musicians tom de doncker, peter bjärgö (arcana, sophia) and benjamin sperling (jännerwein) joined the empusae lineup for these concerts in moscow and utrecht. the seven tracks on this album include all aspects of the sound concept empusae has developed over the last three years, transformed into unique live versions. a vibrant inebriation of emotive ambient, ominous electronic soundspheres, melancholic melody lines, ritualistic beats, breathy, haunting vocals and skillful guitar and piano accompaniment. if you didn't have the opportunity to watch an outstanding empusae performance, this release is ideal to work up your appetite - and if you already have, have a listen, and spend an hour of prosperous remembrance.
Press Release since the very beginning, the addition of acoustic instruments and tribal, ritualistic influences have been an integral part of the omnipresent electronic soundscapes of empusae. these significant aspects have also been reflected in many of this project's album titles, like f.e. 'the hatred of trees' and 'organic.aural.ornaments'. for his present work, nicolas van meirhaeghe's influences were mainly centred around nature - woods, forests and trees, as well as paintings by his artist friend christel morvan (nesisart), who created the main theme for the album's artwork. empusae has the talent and the gift to turn all these disparate artifacts into a mature piece of sound. 'sphere from the woods' is the perfect fusion of natural, organic elements and advanced electronics. it blends a huge variety of acoustic sources, ranging from synthesizers, processed field recordings, ethnical percussions and guitars to quite unusual acoustic instruments like psaltery, chains, plates and several kinds of wood. orchestral arrangements combined with touching melody lines and precisely set rhythmic syncopation generate an enthralling amalgam of atmospheric ambiance and cinematic elements with a deep ceremonious flow. if a more focused description of empusae's musical self-image is needed, then you need nothing more that the word 'organic'. and 'sphere from the woods' is the release where this concept locks in in the most perfect way. wood has long been used as an artistic medium - this album develops a very new and exciting aspect for ma...
Tracklist 01. One and the Same (featuring Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio) 02. Deceivious Water (featuring Arcana) 03. Dissection of Purity (featuring In Slaughter Natives) 04. La Rivière Noire 05. Seven Types of Ambiguity (featuring Nick Grey) 06. Kralizec
Press Release empusae is a project created by nicolas van meirhaeghe, aka sal-ocin who, amongst other things is a member of this morn' omina, tzolk'in, project arctic and also works as a live member of ah cama-sotz and in slaughter natives. when listening to empusae's music, you're lost in dark, melancholy, tribal electronic atmospheres and frightening, ritualistic ambient - a soundtrack for the listeners personal dark fantasies. sal-ocin is always open-minded about working together with other artists, as can be heard on his previous works with oil 10, nick grey and shinkiro. 'symbiosis' is a perfect allegory of his intentions for this album where he merges his creations with the additives of other artists' music and artwork. 'one and the same' features tomas pettersson and rose-marie larsen from stockholm's well-acquainted neofolk and martial industrial group ordo rosarius equilibrio. mighty drum patterns, a hypnotic piano line and mind ensnaring vocals result in a perfect album opener. 'deceivious water' combines melancholy, dark ambience and menacing atmospheres, including vocals by the swedish medieval-ambient project arcana. in slaughter natives, a pioneer of symphonic industrial contributed vocals and lyrics on 'dissection of purity', a fiery rhythmic track with gloomy death industrial influences. christel morvan aka nesisart who made the artwork for this album contributed vocals and lyrics to the haunting and ritualistic, 'la rivière noire' where dark shallows hide beneath the apparent ease - beware... . the calm and relieving 'seven types of ambiguity' is a recent collaboration between empusae and nicolai riccardo (nick) grey after the 'simple black lines in a diagram' release five years ago - beautiful moody ambient for relaxational purpose. the purely instrumental 'kralizec' releases the mindful listener with s...
Press Release empusae is a project created by sal-ocin who is also a member of various other projects such as this morn' omina, tzolk'in, project arctic and also works as a live member of ah cama-sotz and in slaughter natives. sal-ocin is always open-minded about working together with other artists, as can be heard on this album: a liaison with manabu hiramoto a.k.a. shinkiro from osaka, japan who collaborated with artists like contagious orgasm, hybryds and jack or jive, and who has also made releases under the name kotodama. organic.aural.ornaments is based mostly on track-sources from manabu supplemented by sal-ocin. both artists' aural characteristics merge perfectly: shinkiro's cinematic dark soundscapes with a meditative touch blend with empusae's haunting ritualistic ambience and enthralling melodies. varied rhythmic structures ranging from tribal to minimalistic sequences loom out of the vast, lamenting synth sounds - a kaleidoscope of ethereal atmospheres, both enthralling and enchanting. in sal-ocin's words, the term 'organic' fits perfectly concerning the result of this collaborative work. two artistic minds fused into one, creating a movie without visuals or dialogue. organic.aural.ornaments is waiting for you to step through the frame and into an imagined world, and we highly recommend taking the chance.
Tracklist CD 1: 01. Agony (Misère I) 02. Out of Question (Misère II) 03. God 04. Masterslave 05. Knowledge 06. Oorlog 07. Fantasm I 08. Fantasm II 09. The Binding of Destruction 10. Beauty of Decay 11. They're So Sweet 12. Ritual Evil 13. Game of Confession 14. Assassination
CD 2: 01. Extra-Muros 02. Résurrection 03. Epiceas 04. Dark Alchemy 05. Ceremony (Empusae vs Converter) 06. Melkor 07. Tenebris for the Unborn (live at Mfest 08 feat. Thomas Hein and Xabec) 08. Niflheim (Godlike) (live at Mfest 08 feat. Synapscape) 09. Entering Oblivion (live at Mfest 08 feat. Roger Rotor and Salt)
Press Release The Mortusae double cd album is an epic sound release created by Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe aka Sal-Ocin (This Morn' Omina, Tzolk'in). It includes new and rare long deleted track and is a journey through time, regions and atmospheres. Mortusae is a restrospective of different periods of Empusae from almost a decade. A collection from early releases to more recent collaborations with friends & musical family. Containing tracks from the legendary maschinenfest 10 year jubileum, comic-book soundtrack and other never forgotten but very rare tracks of his first albums which were not released on hands. All tracks were mastered by Mika Goedrijk (This Morn' Omina, Pow(d)er Pussy). The red line through Mortusae and also Empusae's essence is dark, melodic, danceable and atmospheric electronic music based on the human gift >fantasy<. Merge yourself with beauty and decay, darkness and melancholy, tribal ceremonies and unearthly misery... enter into oblivion!
