Release:
Eisenwald
25.02.2022
Info:
Eisenwald is pleased to announce a special 25th anniversary release celebrating the Bewitching Black Metal of CEREMONIAL CASTINGS.
In order to appreciate what led the band to this point, some history seems to be in order. In the later part of the year of 1996, brothers Jake and Nick Superchi formed a musical group that would come to be known as CEREMONIAL CASTINGS. While the duo draw from a wide range of musical influences and have done so throughout their career, it is a particular family heritage connection that seems to permeate through the project's existence and play a large role in their creative endeavors. From an early age, the brothers had learned of their lineage on one side that connected them to infamous writer Nathaniel Hawthorne, who's great-great grandfather was none other than Salem Witch Trials judge and magistrate John Hathorne. Growing up an hour west of Salem in north central Massachusetts, the brothers learned of the dark history and the shadows it had cast over the state. With such influences in their bloodlines, it was only natural these events would integrate into their writings.
The band's connection to New England's dark history has followed them throughout their career, thematically in the topics they explore but also by what some believe to be the curse cast upon John Hathorne's bloodline, something the brothers have had to experience directly during the recording sessions of what they deemed to be their magnum opus concept album "Salem 1692" in 2008. Plagued with technical problems and physical afflictions to all involved parties that escaped rational explanation, the final result did not meet the band's standards. As such, 2020 saw the band re-record the entirety of "Salem 1692" to allow the album to finally meet their initial vision.
With a career spanning nine full-length albums, a slew of demos, EPs and splits as well as notable live performances throughout the globe, it is high time for CEREMONIAL CASTINGS to commemorate 25 years of their existence, a milestone reached in the year 2021. For this occasion, the band has hand selected and carefully re-recorded 18 of their classic songs, as well as two completely new and previously unreleased instrumentals by Nick Superchi, to be released as a double album.
Entitled "Our Journey Through Forever", these recordings take listeners on a look back at the history of the band and particularly their early works, allowing for a better appreciation of the significant progression seen in their writing throughout the years. A modern, yet never sterile production (with mixing duties handled by Jake Superchi at Obsidian Spells and mastering duties handled by James Sloan at Negative Force Audio Production) allows these songs to breathe in the way the band always intended and allows for a smoother listen as opposed to merely compiling the initial album recordings. Rather, "Our Journey Through Forever" better appreciates these classic songs from today's perspective and thus is sure to make listeners eager to see where CEREMONIAL CASTINGS' journey will lead them to in the future...
"Immortal Black Art" - Official Track Stream: https://youtu.be/tK0R1bCmt_A
Tracklist:
CD 1
01. Come Forth...Damnation
02. Immortal Black Art
03. Our Journey Through Forever
04. My Kingdom of Cold Sorrows
05. I; A Thousand Fires
06. Bewitching Black Metal
07. The Purifier of Battle Pt. I
08. Desecration of Grace
09. The Fall of Man
10. Midnight Deathcult Phenomena
CD 2
11. Darkness & War
12. Into the Black Forest of Witchery
13. Sweet Misery I Foresee
14. Barbaric is the Beast
15. Frostseasongoddess
16. Human Slave Infantry
17. The Purifier of Battle Pt. II
18. A Serpent's Kiss
19. Universal Funeral March
20. The Coming of Dawn We Fear
Line-up:
Jake Superchi - Guitars / Vocals
Nick Superchi - Keyboards / Synths / Pianos
Matt Mattern - Drums / Percussions
|
