VALAGNOR 'Weathered Dominions' (EP) (CASSETTE/DIGITAL) Released

https://realmandritual.bandcamp.com/album/weathered-dominions 

https://valagnor.bandcamp.com/album/weathered-dominions-ep

'Weathered Dominions' 

by 

Valagnor 

The second release by my DS project Valagnor has recently been dropped on cassette (Limited 30) by US based label Realm & Ritual (Boston, US based). 'Weathered Dominions' uses the EP format to explore the darker/more melancholy sounds explored on the debut 'The Warmth of Distant Firelight' (2022) and depict flooded and weathered landscapes and narratives. 

Realm & Ritual were kind enough to release the cassette which (at time of writing) has almost completely sold out. View the cassettes below:

https://realmandritual.bandcamp.com/album/weathered-dominions 

'Weathered Dominions' is also available digitally via the Valagnor Bandcamp, along with the debut. Thanks to all those who continue to support the project. 

Written, Produced, Mixed and Mastered

by

Sova Locus

Art Direction by Locus

Layout/Typography/Design by Realm & Ritual (US)

Email/Contact: 

valagnorsounds@gmail.com

Released on cassette (/30) by Realm & Ritual (US)

https://realmandritual.bandcamp.com/ 

Thanks for listening, 

MEKIGAH 'To Hold Onto a Heartless Heart' (CD/DIGITAL) Guitar by Sova Locus

https://mekigah.bandcamp.com/album/to-hold-onto-a-heartless-heart 

'To Hold Onto A Heartless Heart' 

by  

Mekigah 

The fifth album (and first in 7 years) by Australian experimental doom band Mekigah was recently released by the legendary European metal label Aesthetic Death, and features SL on guitar throughout. 

Complex, challenging and highly experimental, 'To Hold Onto A Heartless Heart' presents 6 tracks of weaving, sludging, borderline-industrial doom metal, repellent with dissonant textures and dark ambient atmospherics. Sova Locus contributed guitar to around half the album, mixing tremolo picking with slow paced down-tuned guitar that was then manipulated and mixed in together with the plethora of other instruments and signals. 

A true honor to have contributed to this gem of an album and to listen back with an incredibly well-mastered production by Greg Chandler (of legendary doom band Esoteric). CD comes as fold-out digipack, featuring artwork and drawings by Mekigah. 

Composed, recorded & mixed by Vis Ortis & L.R in Tasmania. 

Mastered by Greg Chandler at Priory Studios  

Additional Guitars by Sova Locus & Richard Ziltch 

Extra chants by AP & Con BCTW  

Chainsaw by Sammy

Saw & additional backing vocals by PRT

Released by AD (CD/Digital)

Thanks for listening,

Primal Regression Therapy 'Orchestral Oneirology' (CASSETTE/DIGITAL)

'Orchestral Oneirology' 

by

Primal Regression Therapy 

Released by Hyper Chaos
Tapes (Cassette/Digital) 

https://primalregressiontherapy.bandcamp.com/album/orchestral-oneirology-2 

Throughout 2022 Primal Regression Therapy sporadically worked on a plethora of material that eventually became two albums; 'Orchestral Oneirology' is the first to be complete and released. The album continues the meditative tones of 2021's Astral Agnosia but introduces darker and more formless structures, utilizing the saxophone and trumpet to layer atmospherics on top of the core-band members playing. By now a performing member of the band, SL contributed synths and percussion to the composition of the album, as well as completing the mix and master based on an initial mix by bandmate Sky Black. 

Released by Melbourne based Hyperchaos Tapes, the initial pressing was highly limited to 15 copies, which are all currently sold out. The album can still be heard on Bandcamp and purchased digitally there.

Sky Black 

L'Amour 

Sova Locus 

w/ 

Jon Smeathers- Saxophone 

Yono B- Trumpet 

Produced by Primal Regression Therapy in 2022, Tasmania. 

Mix Construction by Sky Black 

Mixed/Mastered by Sova Locus 

Released on limited edition cassette by Hyperchaos Tapes. 

Cover by L'Amor/Black 

Thanks for listening. 

Volito Skies Debut Album 'TRANQUILLUM' Released by Soft Intricacies (Digital)

'Tranquillum'

by

Volito Skies 

Released by Soft Intricacies (Digital) 

https://volitoskiessound.bandcamp.com/releases 

Volito Skies is a new (but old) project which started as an untitled, un-promoted and intentionally un-Bandcamp/Spotify album created and mixed throughout 2019. The main intention behind the album was to create an atmospheric/soothing set of sounds and songs which could either be focused on or left hanging in the background whilst meditating, cooking, reading, studying or just generally relaxing. It was used purely for that purpose for a few years. It was also occasionally sent or copied for friends on various handmade CD's or on longer mixtapes. All those who heard the album prior to a proper release seemed to enjoy it, so recently SL sat down to re-listen. 

'Tranquillum' consists of four long-form soundscape pieces rife with smooth, bright textures and long, sustaining passages of keyboard notes and tones. Designed to be comforting, all pieces were written with the intent of being more a structure of warm sound, as opposed to a distinct 'song' or descript 'piece'. Generally all tracks feature a structured keyboard passage, accompanied by FX-manipulated additional keys, and, on occasion, subtle electronics. 

This album was released by Soft Intricacies (Overall- 7, Digital- 6) and is available via Bandcamp, as well as also being available on Spotify.

The following statement features on Discogs/Bandcamp: 

'This album was created to be played as the basis of meditation or to help focus whilst studying, reading or relaxing. 

Volito Skies aims consistently to release albums for FREE where it is possible'

All sounds created using keys and electronics 

Written, performed, mixed and mastered by Sova Locus

Released by Soft Intricacies 

Thanks for listening,

VALAGNOR Debut Album 'The Warmth of Distant Firelight' Released (Digital)

 

https://valagnor.bandcamp.com/album/the-warmth-of-distant-firelight

'The Warmth of Distant Firelight'

by

Valagnor

The debut album by Sova Locus' dungeon synth/ambient project Valagnor is out now, via Soft Intricacies (Digital). 

Taking inspiration from a combination of older school DS music (Old Tower, Secret Stairways) and newer releases (Ozeregroth, Chaucerian Myth), 'The Warmth of Distant Firelight' showcases a diverse range of ambient keyboard music, placed firmly within the aesthetics of the dungeon synth genre. 

Many thanks and much love to all those who inspired (artistically and otherwise) the creation of this project and album. 

Written, Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Sova Locus 

Art Direction by Locus Design/Layout by L. Kenna

Released by Soft Intricacies (Digital) (8-7)

Thanks for listening, 

ARCANUM AZF/K​Ø​VVNS SPLIT (TAPE/DIGITAL) Released by High Mage Productions (US)

 

https://highmagetapes.com/album/k-vvns-x-arcanum-azf-split

'Split'

by

Arcanum AZF/K​Ø​VVNS

Arcanum AZF have released a brand-new split with US based ambient soundscape/dark ambient project KØ​VVNS (based in Portland, US) via High Mage Productions (Colorado, US) on small edition tape and digital. 

AZF's three tracks continue the sonic explorations of black and sludge metal whilst furthering the projects experiments with noise and dark ambient elements explored on 'Ades Draconis'. O.M. provides vocals on the opening track, amid washes of black metal inspired noise. 

The singular KØ​VVNS track explores ritualistic dronescapes, incorporating wide ranging string and 'traditional instrument' playing with field recordings and electronic sounds. Together, the four tracks show unique yet interconnected approaches to marrying sound art with music. 

High Mage Productions have put together an amazing print of tapes (limited to 20), available through their Bandcamp page. The split is also available to purchase digitally. 

'Split'

by

Arcanum AZF/KØ​VVNS

O.M.- Vocals, Pedalboard, Guitar, Electronics

Sova Locus- Electronics

Mixed and Mastered by Sova Locus (Tracks 2-4)

Art by O.M.

Track 1 by KØ​VVNS

Tracks 2-4 by Arcanum AZF

Pressing/Layout Design by High Mage Productions

Edition of 20. 

Thanks for listening,

Thanks for listening, 

AKANDA debut EP 'Luciferian Majesty' (Digital) Additional Mixing by Sova Locus

 

https://akanda.bandcamp.com/album/luciferian-majesty

'Luciferian Majesty'

by

Akanda

The debut EP 'Luciferian Majesty' by Blackwave/electronic act Akanda is out now via the band's Bandcamp page. It is also available to listen to on Spotify and via the YouTube channel 'Antifascist Black Metal Network'. 

'Luciferian Majesty' combines elements of raw black metal (screaming, riffs and aesthetics) with sonic qualities of electronic music. All songs, rather than featuring guitar and 'traditional' black metal instruments, featuring programmed beats, synths and a combination of clean and metal vocals. 

Sova Locus completed rough additional mixing on the EP, in the members of Akanda's kitchen, mirroring the aesthetic lo-fi qualities of the album. Listen-backs were completed on a cheap Bluetooth speaker. 

Akanda features members of Primal Regression Therapy, Arcanum AZF and many other projects. 

All songs written and produced 

by

Akanda

Additional Mixing by Sova Locus

Thanks for listening,