STRIGOI were already plenty unsettling on their debut album. After all, this band includes current and former members of Paradise Lose, Extreme Noise Terror, Satyricon and Carcass. But the UK death-doom band's follow-up pushed their grinding asphyxiations to such vile extremes, that it produced an abundance of putridity.
'Bathed In A Black Sun' includes four unreleased or exclusive songs from the recording sessions for their last album 'Viscera', which was mastered by Brad Boatright and mixed by Kurt Ballou. The title track oozes pure, unadorned filth, slimed with sludge riffs and a crusty drum groove, while other songs spew punkish riffs atop leather-spiked d-beats.
"'Bathed In A Black Sun' is part bridge, part exorcism", writes No Clean Singing. "Strigoi will always have that big pit-riff bubbling up just inside them and they have to unleash it somehow".
Strigoi's terrifying new EP comes out this Friday, November 3. But seeing as it's Halloween, they're treating our blackened sweet tooths with an early taste of all five tracks.
"We've been dying to release this EP as a companion to 'Viscera'," says the band's bassist Chris Casket. "Enjoy these extra cuts of raging spite and cold despair."
Listen: https://youtu.be/otUqjrCFhKc?si=VoQu0MuphyBLi3S5
Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/strigoi-bathed-in-a-black-sun
Pre-save:
https://orcd.co/strigoibiabspresave
When Paradise Lost guitarist Greg Mackintosh put to rest his Vallenfyre side project in 2018, he closed a difficult, but ultimately cathartic period in his life. Created as a tribute to his father John, who passed away in 2009, Vallenfyre originally served as a sounding board for Greg’s grief, but then delved into his nihilistic take on the world. Vallenfyre’s brief existence was intentional — the band always knew they could go no further than the three studio albums that bore their name.
A mere few days after Vallenfyre played its last live show in September 2018, Mackintosh announced the formation of a brand-new band with Vallenfyre bassist Chris Casket (Ex. Extreme Noise Terror), Strigoi. The English twosome released their debut album Abandon All Faith on 22nd November 2019 which was met by widespread critical acclaim and support. From this success, the band began preproduction to take the project live, recruiting to the line-up drummer Guido Zima (Ex Implore / The Secret) and live guitarist Sam Kelly-Wallace (Ex Vallenfyre) to begin spreading their foreboding gospel throughout the European festival circuit.
Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic that hit Spring 2020 Strigoi were unable to perform live as planned, and realising this situation was going to be a long-term constraint Greg and Chris decided to begin writing for a second album. This 18-month process culminated in Strigoi signing to Season Of Mist records, then heading to Orgone Studios UK to track 14 brand new songs under the watchful eye of award winning producer Jamie Gomez Arellano.
The bands line up, now set with the addition of guitarist Ben Ash (Satyricon / Ex. Carcass) completed the recording of the album ‘Viscera’ in October 2021, subsequently mixed by Kurt Ballou at GodCity Studios and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege Studios. ‘Viscera’ represents the further evolution of Strigoi as a band, a concept fully realised as a statement of terror, malaise, and ultimately a record representing what Greg and Chris wanted to achieve from the band’s inception.
Their new 'Bathed In A Black Sun' EP includes five unreleased songs from the recording sessions for 'Viscera'. The title track is pure, unadulterated filth, slimed with sludge riffs and a crusty drum groove.
Recording Studio: Oregon Studios
Producer/Sound engineer: Jamie Gomez and Strigoi
Additional recording and production: Gregor Mackintosh at Black Planet Studios
Mixing studio/engineer: Kurt Ballou - Godcity Studios
Mastering studio/engineer: Brad Boatright – Audiosiege
Recording line-up:
Greg Mackintosh: Vocals and Guitar
Chris Casket: Bass
Guido Zima: Drums
Ben Ash: Guitar
Ross White - Guitar (Live)
Cover artwork: Brian Sheehan - Legerdemain Art
Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/BathedInABlackSun
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/strigoibiabspresave
Booking contact:
Andy Farrow: andy@northernmusic.co.uk
Follow Strigoi
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/strigoi/1477641031
https://strigoiofficial.bandcamp.com/album/viscera
https://www.facebook.com/strigoibandofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/strigoi_official/?hl=en
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6BUcX21YlCyGOUKXrNutei
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTUjPPERTRxYCMOYDbzMSAA
https://twitter.com/OfficialStrigoi
Formats:
CD Digipack
Digital Download