"FUNERAL NATION: 10 Years Of HORTUS ANIMAE". Limited Edition Boxset (100 copies), featuring: "The Blow Of Furious Winds" CD+DVD / "Waltzing Mephisto” Demos, different audio mix-master, alternative artwork and signed by the band (RARE!) / “Pentagram” T-Shirt (“The Melting Idols” T-Shirt on request) / Metal-pin / Band Photo / Hortus Animae mug / Artwork by Niklas Sundin-Cabin Fever Media.
HORTUS ANIMAE, the garden of the soul, was formed
in 1997 by Martyr Lucifer (lead and backing vocals / bass), Thomas (drums),
Shred Blast Hypnos (guitars) and Bless (keyboards), as the original line-up,
uniting with the aim of creating something that brought forward their passion
for extreme metal, but contemporarily moulding it with their other musical
inspirations and passions. The result started to take form almost immediately.
Hortus Animae's sound can be often described as a melting pot, proposing a true
and instinctive blend of black metal, 70s prog rock, gothic and finally arriving
at new forms of extreme and modern art. Not much passed before the band recorded
their first demo-tape "An Abode for Spirit and Flesh", which was very
well reviewed by all major specialised magazines and smaller fanzines, and
emphasised immediately not only a musical knowledge and culture unknown to many
others, but also a true taste in lyrical and conceptual characteristics. After
exactly 2 years, the line-up went through several changes as Hortus Animae
searched for the exactly right musicians. Proceeding in their artistic flare,
they proceeded to compose and record their first self-produced full length
album, namely "The Melting Idols" which circled a new essence of the band
who now pushed down the accelerator and added more aggressiveness to their
music, however maintaining their greatly melodical and progressive breaks. This
emphasised the artistic contrast of their music even more, and gave birth to a
genre very few known bands perform. Shortly after, as second guitarist, Iarsa
joined the band having played in numerous gothic and extreme metal acts and
after a few supporting gigs to bands the like of Napalm Death, Konkhra, Lacuna
Coil and Ancient, the band started to feel the urge to push their career forward
and began writing and orchestrating the material for their biggest opus,
"Waltzing Mephisto", the ultimate blend of all their artistic and musical
branches. It was as if Hortus Animae united all of their efforts and past
experiences both musical, artistic and professional, and gave birth to their
ultimate offspring. Iarsa left for personal reasons and the band continued the
research for the right musicians to complete an official line-up. Moreover
drummer Thomas left Hortus Animae, due to musical divergences and, for this
particular recording, the band had the chance of the availability of Diego GroM
Meraviglia, drummer of the notorious Metal Blade Recs. act Ancient and the
DragonHeart Recs. act DoomSword, working as a respected studio session musician
and adding a great further growing point to the band's sound and impact. After a
while GroM decided that he was interested in joining the band as an official
full time member and the line-up was therefore completed. Hortus Animae released
their promo album "Waltzing Mephisto" and sent it to various record labels,
receiving great comments and a lot of interest from many companies. A numerous
amount of offers came in and finally the band chose to sign for Black Lotus
Records in October 2002, preferring their offer above many others. The
Waltzing Mephisto album was released in April 2003 and it received great
responses from both press and fans worldwide, including Japan and South America.
After this release a new member, Amon 418 (from the cult death metal band
Baratro), joined Hortus Animae and the band started to work on a Dead Can Dance
cover version entitled "Windfall introducing Summoning Of The Muse" in
cooperation with Liv Kristine Espenæs Krull, ex Theatre Of Tragedy and current
Atrocity / Leaves' Eyes singer. This cover version is featured in a tribute
album (released by Black Lotus Records) that also includes artists like
Nightfall, Ulver, Antimatter, Monumentum, Trail Of Tears, Ataraxia, The
Gathering and Anathema. The year 2004 sees the band involved in different
side-projects, like the death metal band Opposite Sides featuring Martyr
Lucifer, S.B. Hypnos and Amon and the black metal band Hate Profile, Amon
418s one-man-band (with the collaboration of GroM on drums) and the great
release of Ancient's new album "Night Visit". Hortus Animae also started
to write, arrange and record the material for their second official release.
"The Blow of Furious Winds", Hortus Animaes well awaited sequel to their
debut release, shows a progression and evolvement that emphasizes the bands
desire and character to explore further beyond the border line of musical clichés.
Not only has Hortus Animae evolved technically, but they have further
highlighted their compositional and experimental capabilities, releasing an
album that encompasses not only all forms of Metal genres and sub-genres, but
dwells into the depths of music in general as a universal concept, incorporating
styles, influences and sounds that are common to artists producing genres of
music well outside the metal boundaries. Indeed living up to their name, the
garden of the soul. "The Blow of Furious Winds" will sound like an
encyclopaedia of music itself, without any presumption, clearly as an evidence
of Hortus Animae's artistic and technical potential and leaving the listener
with an anxious sense of whats to come and what is still to be seen, from a
band that since its debut, has not failed to positively surprise and entertain.
Between 2005 and 2008 side-projects and collaborations have been developed: Hate Profile, Opposite Sides, Space Mirrors. With the coming of the year 2008 the band celebrates 10 years since the recording of their 1st demo-tape “An Abode for Spirit and Flesh” and the limited edition boxset (100 copies) “FUNERAL NATION / 10 YEARS OF HORTUS ANIMAE” is released.
Discography:
An Abode For Spirit And Flesh (demo-tape, 1998)
The Melting Idols (self-produced CD, 2000)
Waltzing Mephisto (Black Lotus Records, 2003)
The Lotus Eaters / Tribute To Dead Can Dance (Black Lotus Records, 2004)
The Blow Of Furious Winds (Sleaszy Rider Records, 2005)
Funeral Nation / 10 Years Of Hortus Animae (Sleaszy Rider Records, 2008)
"The Blow Of Furious Winds" is still available on double digipak edition
with 'Making of...' DVD and 2 bonus tracks!! Featuring Liv Kristine Espenaes
(Theatre Of Tragedy, Leaves' Eyes, Cradle Of Filth) on guest vocals!