Fretless guitar visionary Tom “Fountainhead” Geldschläger, known for his work in OBSCURA’s Akróasis era, his live work with DEFEATED SANITY, BELPHEGOR and many others – is now spearheading his very own project: CHANGELING.
Together with core-band members Morean (ALKALOID, DARK FORTRESS), Arran McSporran (VIRVUM, VIPASSI) and Mike Heller (ex-FEAR FACTORY, MALIGNANCY), CHANGELING are at the forefront of a new era of progressive death metal. Following the release of the debut album’s first two singles “Abyss” and “Falling in Circles,” today Season of Mist is releasing the almost 7” title track.
The newly released piece serves as the turning point in the album’s psychedelic concept narrative, chronicling the protagonist’s journey to the outer realms of the psychedelic experience. Inspired by Lovecraftian horror, existential philosophy, and the bizarre hallucinations of a consciousness torn apart, the song’s progressive structure mirrors the chaotic beauty of its lyrical themes, pulling the listener into an unsettling yet mesmerizing new dimension, though the use of microtonal synthesizers, ritualistic vocals, oriental percussion and a full choir.
“Void and vengeance shall beget
A child from below
A changeling of clandestine soul
Comes usurping the holiest of hearts
And no one shall know”
Morean sings, as the intricate but catchy fusion of progressive death metal, avant-garde jazz, and world music influences creates a surreal and immersive listening experience. The dissonant harmonies distort reality, producing an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.
Geldschläger explains: “This song came from a few musical themes that I had written on the oud.
“From those few humble notes, it turned into quite the monster – a monster where I think everybody in the core-band shines equally. At that point in the album’s story, we’re beginning to take the frame-work of tech/prog death metal into uncharted territory, so it seemed appropriate to give this song a unique, winding structure where a shorter pumping mid-tempo banger is book-ended by intensely psychedelic blast-beat driven parts that are building towards a quasi-black metal frenzy at the end. It also has some of my favorite Morean-lyrics of all time. Not only does he paint a vivid picture of a strange, unfamiliar dimension through his signature wordplay – he also quite literally takes us there in the song’s mid-section breakdown, were we envisioned a strange jungle-ritual evoking some dark cosmic entity, somewhere between Lovecraft and Peter Jackson’s “King Kong”.
“And, as usual, the man took it to another level by adding a multitude of eery, slithering voices, which are making the song feel almost like it’s breathing. Oh, and this piece also has some of my favorite RIFFS (in capital letters) that I’ve ever written, as well as some quite extreme guitar shenanigans that I called “layers of cosmic horror” during production. Get out your best headphones for this one!”
Changeling is out April 25th via Season of Mist.
Changeling track listing:
1. Introject (1:56)
2. Instant Results (4:33)
3. Falling in Circles (3:47)
4. World? What World? (6:43)
5. Metanoia Interlude (00:57)
6. Changeling (6:57)
7. Abyss (8:06)
8. Cathexis Interlude (1:19)
9. Abdication (9:05)
10. Anathema (16:51)
Core Lineup:
Tom Fountainhead (ex-Obscura, Amogh Symphony, Belphegor, Defeated Sanity) – Fretted & fretless electric & acoustic guitars, oud, keyboards, composition and arrangements.
Mike Heller (Fear Factory, Malignancy, Raven) – Drums.
Arran McSporran (Vipassi, Virvum) – Fretless bass.
Morean (Alkaloid, Dark Fortress) – Lead vocals & lyrics.
Guest Musicians:
Bill Hudson (Trans-siberian Orchestra, Doro, I am Morbid) – Guest guitar solo
Jason Gobel (ex-Cynic, ex-Monstrosity)- Guest guitar solo
Andy Laroque (ex-Death, King Diamond) – Guest guitar solo
Yatziv Caspi (ex-Orphaned Land) – Tabla, hangdrum, dabouka, riq & shakers
Ally Storch (Subway To Sally)- Violins, viola & cello
James Dorton (The Faceless, NeObliviscaris, Black Crown Initate) – Spoken words
Alexander Kerski (Vianova)- Backing & harmony vocals
Matthias Alexander Preisinger – Piano and glockenspiel, violins & viola
Martin Matiasovic – Horns & Wagnerian Tube
Jan Ferdinand – Vibraphone & marimba
Chris Rützel – Flutes
Ivar Ludvig Nitzler – Cello
Shiho Murano – Tuba
Juliane Erding – Wagnerian tube & horn
Eduard Cortez – Wagnerian tube & horn
Tillmann Schulz – Wagnerian tube & horn
Ava Bonam – Female vocals
Moran Magal – Piano
Cydney McQuillan-Grace, Lauren Gill, Shannon Bedford, Sara Robalo; Tenor and Bari – Ben Francis, John Schaffer, Alice Williams, Cyd McQuillan-Grace; Alto – Lauren Gill, Sara Robalo; Tenor and Bass – James Schouten & John Schaffer – Choir vocals
Krassimir Jossifov – Trumpet
Brandt Attema – Trombones & bass trombones
Kristian Petkov – Bassoon
Stefan Prost – Church organ
Seonghyeon Park – Clarinet
Arnfried Falk – Oboe
Rouven Haliti – Upright bass
Dalai Cellai – Cello
Source: metaladdicts.com
