INTO THE SUNLESS MERIDIAN is my FIRST solo-project (one-man-band).
It began in late 1993/early 1994 out of a dissatisfaction with the direction
that Buried Beneath (the band I was in at the time) was going in. I wanted
more black metal elements as well as more of my earlier influences in the
music, and that was not present in Buried Beneath's music. So ITSM began
as a way to create more of the sound that I wanted in the music I was creating.
I performed all of the instruments, and I could make every aspect of it
the way that I wanted it to sound. And at NO time whatsoever have I EVER
used a fucking drum machine! Only authentic instruments will be present
in ITSM. The first demo "XXIX A.S." came out in April 1994. It was raw
and primitive atmospheric black metal with old school influences. The second
demo "Sex Magick" came out in September 1995 and with this demo I began
to experiment with the merging of power, black, speed and death metal genres.
It encompassed a wide field of influences, and I experimented alot with
the vocals and guitars. It ended up being a testing ground for ideas that
later would evolve into Night Conquers Day (ex-Buried Beneath). I made
pro-copied cassettes of these 2 demo's and sold them through the mail and
swapped them through the tape-trading circuit. (This was before MP3's and
internet).
In the Spring of 1997
I completed a debut album and sent rough mix promos to several labels,
eventually gaining the interest of friend Tobbe, who ran Near Dark Productions.
A final mix and mastering was done at Watchmen Studios at the start of
1998 and the debut CD "Into The Sunless Meridian" was released in August
1999. There were plans do to a picture disc release, but this never culminated.
I have a few copies of the CD in stock and for sale for$12 (world). The
album culminates the experimental elements of the demos while also bringing
together a blend of power/atmospheric black/speed/true death metal. There
are undeniable comparisons to older Voivod and Mercyful Fate (of which
a cover of "A Corpse Without Soul" appears as a bonus track). The vocal
styles vary alot from song to song. You will not find much remaining the
same from song to song. There are occasional avant-garde interlude pieces
experimenting with strange sounds and effects. The CD booklet is graced
by photos of different phases of an annular eclipse of the sun taken by
Evil Eye in 1994. One might hear similarities with Night Conquers Day &
Tearstained, but remember ITSM was the predecessor to both. This album
was recorded (drums) in 1996 and (everything else) summer 1997. Tearstained
was borne from ideas realized in ITSM, and ITSM ideas eventually manifested
in NCD.
This is NO retro-thrash
requiem! I've been into this music since 1985 and over 20 years of living
for metal music has influenced what I create.
In the summer of 2000 the record label Near Dark Productions ceased. Instead, it is now a record store in Sweden. So there will be no 2nd ITSM CD on Near Dark. I have composed most of the 2nd album: a concept album titled "Neo-Barbarian". I am seeking an interested label. For more info, CLICK HERE.
INTO THE SUNLESS MERIDIAN "Into
The Sunless Meridian"
debut CD - US$12.00
Trades are accepted, but write first with your offers. For wholesale,
contact the record label, not me!
PayPal: vaalkoth@yahoo.com
ITSM has remained quite dormant. The 2nd album is composed, but there is no rush in recording it. Right now I have been quite busy working on other projects. Eventually the time will come when I get refocused on ITSM. Near Dark has even shown some interest in doing the 2nd album again. Time shall tell....