The Ritual Fires of Abandonment
Encyclopedia
The Ritual Fires of Abandonment is the second full-length album by Chicago-based post-metal
band Minsk
. It was released in February 2007 as the band's debut on Relapse Records
. Bruce Lamont, of Chicago
-based band Yakuza
, performed all the saxophone
parts as guest musician. The lyrics are inspired by the works of Lebanese-American philosopher Kahlil Gibran; in fact he is credited as an author of the lyrics in the CD booklet. Musically this album doesn't detach itself too much from its predecessor, being dark, heavy and intricate, but the psychedelic side of the music is more elaborated and complex here, giving it a more "spiritual" vibe. Upon the album's release, bassist and producer Sanford Parker had this to say: "OK, finally the Minsk album titled The Ritual Fires of Abandonment is done, due out on Relapse Records Feb. 20th 2007, and its 59 minutes and 06 seconds long. Can you say psychedelic?......we can."http://www.thesoundofminsk.com/spframes.html
Post-metal
Post-metal is a music genre, a mixture between the genres of post-rock and heavy metal.Hydra Head Records owner and Isis frontman Aaron Turner originally termed the genre "thinking man's metal", demonstrating that his band was trying to move away from common metal conventions...
band Minsk
Minsk (band)
Minsk is a doom metal/post-metal band from Peoria, Illinois founded in 2002. They are signed to Relapse Records. Self described as "psychedelic metal", their songs tend to start out as slow and simple, and become heavy and complex towards the end...
. It was released in February 2007 as the band's debut on Relapse Records
Relapse Records
Relapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
. Bruce Lamont, of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based band Yakuza
Yakuza (band)
Yakuza is an avant-garde metal band, formed in Chicago in 1999. They have been acclaimed for their incorporation of jazz and world music elements.-History:...
, performed all the saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
parts as guest musician. The lyrics are inspired by the works of Lebanese-American philosopher Kahlil Gibran; in fact he is credited as an author of the lyrics in the CD booklet. Musically this album doesn't detach itself too much from its predecessor, being dark, heavy and intricate, but the psychedelic side of the music is more elaborated and complex here, giving it a more "spiritual" vibe. Upon the album's release, bassist and producer Sanford Parker had this to say: "OK, finally the Minsk album titled The Ritual Fires of Abandonment is done, due out on Relapse Records Feb. 20th 2007, and its 59 minutes and 06 seconds long. Can you say psychedelic?......we can."http://www.thesoundofminsk.com/spframes.html
Track listing
- "Embers" – 13:49
- "White Wings" – 5:34
- "Mescaline Sunrise" – 4:43
- "The Orphans of Piety" – 14:41
- "Circle of Ashes" – 4:37
- "Ceremony Ek Stasis" – 15:39
Personnel
- Christopher Bennett – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - Timothy Mead – synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
- Sanford Parker – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Tony Wyioming – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Bruce Lamont – saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...