gravetemple: ambient/ruin

Gravetemple was formed in 2006 as a side-project of the band Sunn O))) by Oren Ambarchi, Stephen O'Malley and Attila Csihar. The group formed initially to tour in Israel in the summer of '06, creating several recordings which eventually became The Holy Down album, which was released on Southern Lord Recordings in 2007. At the time of the Israel tour, the Lebanon War started and was in action. In summer '08, the trio reformed together with the addition of Australian drummer Matt "Skitz" Sanders for a short European tour culminating in a headlining performance at Supersonic Festival in Birmingham. In late 2009, the original trio reconvened for a special one-off concert at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts. April 2013 marks the first set of live action since that period, and a new chapter in the ongoing system of the related network. Ambient/Ruin was created with the 2008 quartet -- elements of tape collage, concrète, and field recordings blend within a strong, geographically-diverse (parts were recorded in Japan, Australia, Paris and Israel) suite of heavy minimalist/maximalist music, black/death metal and drone. The culmination of these efforts become the music, literally, of Sadistik Exekution meeting Phill Niblock. Gravetemple clearly adapted the more abstract and experimental aspects related to Sunn O))) and have continued from that point, with ongoing focus on metaphysical construction of free music and will. The music became a geographically and metaphysically-based effort. Attila (chants & percussion & Fuji sounds recorded on location in Kamakura May 08); Stephen (guitars & Korg Polysix recorded in Paris & Saalfelden June 08); Matt (drums were recorded at 3 Phase studios, Melbourne by Sam Johnson March 06); Oren (guitars, motorized cymbal, electronics, bells, tympani, atmos recorded at Jerker House, Melbourne & BJB, Sydney 06-08). Cut by Rashad Becker at Dubplates & Mastering, Berlin February 2013. Drawings by Justin Bartlett/VBERKVLT. Art direction & backline design: SOMA. Housed in a gatefold sleeve.

Gravetemple 'II' (SOMA015)