FARSOT reveal the lyric video single ‘Descent‘ taken from the Germanavant-garde black metal outfit’s forthcoming fourth album “Life Promised Death“, which is chalked up for release on February 16, 2024.
Please see below for cover art, tracklist, and further details of “Life Promised Death“.
The despair-filled lyric video ‘Descent‘ is available for immediate publication via this link: https://youtu.be/cxVASJmlHsU
Pre-sale link: http://lnk.spkr.media/life-promised-death
FARSOT comment: “The concept of ‘life’ is elusive – as there is no single definition that encourages reflection on the circumstances, which constitute life in a generally accepted truth”, vocalist X.XIX contemplates. “In a world, in which people are preoccupied with self-centered strife, while suffering from mental distress and adverse behaviour patterns, the essence of life seems to be slipping from our grasp. Life seems to gradually drop out of context and enters the territory of uncertainty.”
Tracklist
1. Nausea
2. Buoyant Flames
3. Into Vertigo
4. Chimera
5. Stray Dogs
6. Descent
7. Lost Momentum
The world of FARSOT is a bleak and harsh place. This pitch black realm is ruled by warring kings that are named Death, Fear, Grief, and Hatred. The Germans’ signature musical handwriting has always been reflecting these dark avatars and their fourth album “Life Promised Death” is no exception.
“Life Promised Death” is the true heir of all that FARSOT have done so far. What makes this album different is a higher density of sound and harsh riffing as well as surprisingly captivating songs that even border on being catchy. According to the band, this is due to Grunge having been a major source of inspiration for “Life Promised Death”. What seems unlikely at a first superficial listening becomes audible at a more intense engagement with the album.
Lyrically, FARSOT are spinning a suitably dark yarn that runs as a thematic thread throughout “Life Promised Death”. The album revolves around life slipping out of hand. The reasons are manifold, often appearing in opposing pairs, and explored in the songs: lethargy and excess, depression and hedonism, delusions of grandeur and utter selfishness are only some of the topics touched upon. The artists dissect and break down such motifs to their essentials. They are aiming for the heart of the matter, while navigating through the complex present reality.
If there is an echo of such protestant ethics as sobriety and moderation, it comes hardly surprising as FARSOT emerged from the reformatory East German city of Gotha in Thuringia in 1999. This also turns 2024 into the band’s 25th anniversary year. Considering the long successful history of this avantgarde black metal act, it is quite remarkable that of the five current members, three are still from the original founders of FARSOT and four of them have been playing together for more than 20 years.
In the wake of two early demos “Im Zwielicht meines glanzlos’ Lebens” (2001) and “042103Freitod” (2004), FARSOT emerged full-fledged and as an already well-matured entity with their debut full-length “IIII” in 2007. Right from the start, the band’s members were and are only identified by a coded string of ciphers, which have meanwhile morphed into a system of Roman numbers. The Thuringians have always followed their own artistic pace and taken all the time needed until results were just as perfect as their own critical minds demanded. This approach entailed that their sophomore album “Insects” came out four years later in 2011 and it took until 2017 before the third full-length “Fail·Lure” appeared. Yet FARSOT‘s creative diligence also meant that each album was greeted with massive praise from fans and critics alike.
Again, FARSOT have taken long years to create their fourth masterpiece. The beautifully bittersweet fruit of all the hard work and creative blood, sweat, and tears was worth the effort: “Life Promised Death” is the perfect soundtrack for these dark and disturbing times of trouble.
Release date: February 16, 2024
Style: Avant-garde black metal
Label: Lupus Lounge
Line-upX.XIX – vocals, lyrics
III.XXIII – guitars
I.XVI – guitars
XX.VIII – bass guitars, keys
XIX.XVII – drums & percussion
Guest musicianV. Santura (TRIPTYKON) – additional keyboards, shaker, tambourin
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Victor Bullok at Woodshed Studio, Landshut (DE)
Drum recording by Victor Bullok at Q7 Studios, Inning am Holz (DE)
Artwork & layout by X.XIX
Links
www.farsot.de
www.facebook.com/farsot.official
www.instagram.com/farsot_official