Prolific Swiss Black Metal band AARA announces the release of a new digital EP, entitled “Phthonos“, via Debemur Morti Productions. Created separately to the ongoing Melmoth album trilogy, the two tracks of this release originate from the artists’ desire to experiment with a slightly different approach to Black Metal without disturbing the coherence of the three-part Triade.
Guitarist and composer Berg notes:
“Both songs have been composed and recorded between the albums “Triade II” and “Triade III“. It is rare that we develop tracks which are not planned for a specific release. These two pieces on “Phthonos“, however, were so different that they did not fit on any of the AARA long players we are currently preparing – neither on the last part of the Melmoth trilogy nor on the already planned follow up album. As a nice side effect, this gave us the chance to experiment with the production of these two compositions since they did not have to be used in a specific album context in which all tracks should, of course, sound pretty coherent.“
These experiments in the sound of the band show in the choice of the sound engineer. AARA worked, for the first time in the band’s history, with an outside producer. “Phthonos” was mixed and mastered by well-known German artist & sound engineer Markus Stock (ALCEST, EMPYRIUM, SCHAMMASCH).
Conceptually, the new EP focuses on ancient Greek mythology and their understanding of human nature. Berg narrates:
“Each composition of the EP is inspired by fables of Aesop which are famous for their moral/ethical messages. We chose two stories which assign negative human emotions like envy, impatience and credulity to animals. These characteristics lead the animals directly into destruction. Most interestingly, these lyrics were crafted parallel to the ones for the third part of the Melmoth trilogy which will also deal with very sinister emotions and the phenomenon of death. Although the literary foundation of the two releases are very different stylistically, one can definitely draw connections between the stories per se. The tale of the mouse which, due to her credulity, is led to her demise by the trickiness of the frog can allegorically be compared with the tragic death of Immalee and her love for the selfish Melmoth.“
Tracklist:
01. Phthonos I
02. Phthonos II
“Phthonos” will be released digitally on October 7th.
Switzerland’s AARA was founded in 2018 by vocalist Fluss and multi-instrumentalist Berg to create art highly influenced by atmospheric Black Metal. Sporting an epic, classical feel, their sweeping compositions aim to take the listener through the darkest alleys of human existence.
Soon after releasing their debut record “So fallen alle Tempel” in early 2019, AARA joined forces with Debemur Morti Productions, releasing their mosaic EP “Anthropozän” that same year.
Barely a year after their debut, AARA unveiled a new full-length record in April of 2020. A conceptual look into Europe’s Age of Enlightenment, “En Ergô Einai” sees AARA take their accomplished sound to new heights of mature artistic expression. Opened with a haunting acoustic intro courtesy of Vindsval (BLUT AUS NORD), “En Ergô Einai” is a triumph of fluid melodic euphoria and classical elegance, setting an even higher watermark in a bright, young discography. The third album and beginning of a trilogy, namely “Triade I: Eos“, was released in March 2021. In this epic and dramatic new work of art, AARA are interpreting the Gothic novel “Melmoth The Wanderer” (1820) of Irish writer Charles Robert Maturin.
Venturing forth into the next chapters of Maturin‘s work, AARA crafted the second part of their trilogy, “Triade II: Hemera“. The six tracks of brutally melodic, top-tier Black Metal will be released on May 13th, 2022. Recordings for the third and final album of the Melmoth trilogy have already begun.