Recording Update: Drum Recording - Summer 2016

September 7, 2016
Now we are again at the studio recording drums for our fifth full-length. He is the short excerpt of M.'s drumming.

 

ALBUM RELEASE: Epitimia - Memories, Devoured by Noise & Echoes

December 4, 2014
Epitimia releases new album "Memories, Devoured by Noise & Echoes"

The first compilation after 6 years of existing from Russian atmospheric/post-black metal band Epitimia. It consists of fully re-recorded and re-arranged material, so it is not inferior to band's full-lengths in importance. All the material was rethought and is more closer to Epitimia's last works. So, it is powerful, post-rock-oriented atmospheric black metal with various types of vocals. Beautiful artwork was done by Denis Mati and Alex from Mayhem Project.

Epitimia's re-recorded compilation "Memories devoured by noise & echoes" has been released today on Maa Productions, the side label of the prolific and impressive Japanese label Zero Tolerance Records.



01. Overture
02. Chapter I - The moment of the Last Spring
03. Chapter II - Penance
04. Chapter III - Shine of Algol
05. Chapter IV - Halfway to Eternity
06. Chapter V - Jamais Vu
07. Chapter VI - Lethe 




You can hear one song "Penance" (re-arranged and re-recorded) at the moment: 



Hypnotic Dirge will be receiving copies of this album directly from Maa in January. We will have 10-20 copies delivered so if you would like to reserve a copy ahead of time, you can email: hypnoticdirgerecords@hotmail.com. 

 

Mute Ocean - "Overcoming the Void" album released!

July 9, 2014
Epitimia members have started a new side project called Mute Ocean. You can listen to the full debut album entitled "Overcoming the Void" on Bandcamp already! This project shows a much more chaotic and raw side from these musicians, expect an onslaught of black metal!





Bandcamp Link
Facebook Page

Mute Ocean is looking for a label to release their debut album as a physical release. If you are a label or know a label who is interested, get in touch with them through their facebook profile!
 

Epitimia Interview with Black Phoenix Rising Forums [May 11, 2014]

May 15, 2014
Epitimia Interview with Black Phoenix Rising
Published: May 11, 2014

1. For the benefit of any of our members who might not be familiar with Epitimia, can you briefly introduce yourselves and describe your sound?

Hello there! We are Epitimia, a band from Saint-Petersburg, Russia. We are playing atmospheric/post-black metal with influences from many other music styles. 

2. How did the band members first meet and what made you decide to form Epitimia?

A. and K. know each other from school times, when we first started to make music. At first it was a kind of joke, because we had not any instrument playing skills. Our first “serious” project was melodic black metal band “Autarchy”, where M. played on drums. (Later she became the third Epitimia member) But soon, after the first demo “Autarchy” disbanded and we decided to play something more atmospheric. So in early 2008 we formed Epitimia.
After more than 6 years, four full-lengths and a couple of splits we became a four piece band (I. joined the band in 2013). The music changed from depressive/atmospheric black metal into post-black metal with many influences and experiments.

3. What is the significance of the name 'Epitimia' and why did you decide on this to name your band?

Epitimia is a Greek word with the meaning “penance”. I just can’t say, why we chose this word for the band name, we just thought it was good and original. So there was not any big reason for this choice. But after that we understood that it also suits the music conceptually, it reflects perfectly what we want to say in our music. It is covering many themes connected with the inner experiences and struggles of a man. And that is the main lyrical concept of our project.

4. It's clear that Epitimia has a vast range of musical influences, which artists in particular would you say have been
the biggest inspiration for you?

Despite the fact that we are listening to lots of music, we can’t pick out a couple of bands that we are inspired with. There are hundreds of brilliant bands and projects we are excited with, but the true inspiration for us is our thoughts and emotions. 

5. You've recently released '(Un)reality' through Hypnotic Dirge Records, described as your 'magnum opus' and certainly an immense and epic undertaking. How was the vision for this album first conceived and is the finished album as you'd expected it would be when you first started?

When we first started working on the album we could not imagine that it will be divided into two parts. We just started to compose very different songs, the conception was born a bit later. And that happens really often – we just start with the single riff and develop it into a thought-out work.

6. Can you briefly describe some of the lyrical themes explored on (Un)reality?

 “(Un)reality” is a continuation of our previous album’s conception. We turn to the idea of person’s loneliness, but we examine it from a different angle.  We pay more attention to a memories and their role in human life. We think that the album’s conception was perfectly described in the press release from the Hypnotic Dirge records: 
“(Un)reality is like limbo, the world where the hero lingers. His day life here is infinite and artificial, but his dreams fill his mind with bright new images, odd flashbacks, and the reminiscence of his other lives. These visions are the keys to understanding what is happening to him, and may be the only chance to escape. “Delusion” contains the dark images of objective reality while “Illusions” is a moment in which all his dreams merge: hope, love and most importantly – the desire for truth, by which he will be free forever.”

7. How did you find the recording process for the album?

All the work on the album was done at home. The music was made by A. with the help of I., that helped with some acoustic parts. After that K. made the lyrics and recorded vocals. On “(Un)reality” you can hear the work of a session musician D’Arcy Molan, saxophonist, that performed great sax solos on “Delusion” part.

8. Thinking back to your previous albums, what similarities would you say there are between (Un)reality and those earlier albums, and what are the significant differences?

Every our new album is a result of a bands’ progress. We always try to develop the sound quality of our music and conception, we try to grow as musicians, training our playing skills. We try to make something fresh, so we often do experiments, what is a quite risky in such a conservative style as black metal.
But there are lots of similarities in all our works. We always are interested in the inner human problems, his mentality, isolation from society – all this themes we examine in every our album.

9. The album hasn't been out long, but are you happy with the reception it has received so far?

We really like the reception “(Un)reality has. We receive really good feedback from the listeners and critics. And we think that is it our most successful release by far.

10. Over the six years or so Epitimia has been around are there any particular high or low points from your career?

Yes, six years have passed. In 2008 we hardly could imagine that it will last for so long period. Talking about “highs” and “lows”, the biggest our hit is the beginning of the cooperation with “Hypnotic dirge records”, the biggest disappointment – is the working with the “Beneath the fog productions”.

11. Do you have much interaction with the metal scene or other metal bands in Russia, and if so how would you describe your 
relationship with them?

We have relations only with the bands, that we collaborated with. They are Windbruch, Gmork from Russia. We also have some connections with St-Petersburg’s underground black metal scene, but these connections are not that close to announce.

12. What do you see and hope for in the future for Epitimia, and what's next for the band after (Un)reality?

Now we are working on the compilation of our old songs, that will be re-recorded exclusively for this work. The songs will be performed in more “blackgazish” sound. We hope to finish all the works this summer.

I'll finish with a few questions on a lighter note...

13. What is your favourite album of all time?

The favorite album of K. is “The Pearl” from Harold Budd & Brian Eno.
The favorite album of A. is “Wish you were here” by Pink Floyd.

14. Worst album you've ever bought?

We try to buy only the albums we like. We try to pre-listen the recording before spending money on it, so in our collection we have no bad items.

15. Which other bands have impressed you most recently?

This year we are impressed with new releases from Walk Through Fire, Aenaon, Animals As Leaders and Woods of Desolation.

16. If you could have written any one song by any other band which would it be any why?

Oh, so much songs fit this description!) Let it be "Empyrium – Wassergeister: Die Schwane im Schilf" as an example of a great song.

17. Finally do you have anything else you'd like to add or say to the members of Black Phoenix Rising?

Thank you for your questions! Wish your readers new great music experiences!
 

Epitimia Interview with Rock Vault Webzine [March 23, 2014]

March 25, 2014
Epitimia Interview with Rock Vault Webzine
Published: March 23, 2014
Original Link [Turkish]

Hi from Rock Vault Zine to Saint Petersburg! What’s happening in the Russia music scene these days?
Hi there! Musical scene in Russia is intensively developing. There are many interesting bands in various genres and their amount is rising. 

For our readers not familiar with Epitimia, can you give us a brief history of the band?
In 2008 A. And K. decided to close the melodic black metal project “Autarchy”. There was no motivation for us to do such kind of music, so we wanted to create something new.  The first song we recorded was “Миг последней весны” and it gave birth for our new project with new conception and music. Soon the band got its name – “Epitimia” and the first demo tape “О, ты, чье имя мрет на трепетных устах (Demo MMVIII)” was out on Self-Mutilation services.  
Six years have passed and the music of Epitimia changed from ambient/depressive black metal to post-black metal filled with experiments. Four full-lengths were recorded, including the double-album “(Un)reality”, two split albums were made. Now Epitimia consists of four members, M. joined the band as drummer and backing vocalist and I., who performs various guitar parts. 

"(Un)reality" came on the February 15th. How do you feel about the album and what are your expectations for this album?
(Un)reality is a result of our two years of work, so it is quite ambitious album. It is also very complex and it is definitely a step forward in band’s evolution. We like the album’s sound and we like that it contains various musical influences. Glad that many people notice these little experiments. We hope that we will reach wider audience with this work.

How does "(Un)reality" differ from the previous one and how has your music changed?
First of all, this is the longest album we’ve ever made; it has 18 tracks and about 2 hours of total playing time, so it is a big challenge for a listener. It has more complex conception and more interesting storyline than our previous albums. Also the sound became better as we are developing our playing technique and sound engineering skills. But everything goes as it used to be – we always are changing, so we think that it is one of the distinguishing features of Epitimia.



Where did you record the new album and how did the recording process go?
All the work on the album was done at home. Usually we met together and jammed till some good riffs appeared. Some guitar parts were made by A. by himself and then arranged using drum machine and some synths.  “(Un)reality” is the first album where we used saxophone as additional instrument. It was recorded by D’Arcy Molan with a great help of Terry Vainoras from death-doom band “Subterranean Disposition”. Then, when all the music was done, we recorded the vocals. 

What sort of themes are you dealing with on the album and what topics do the lyrics cover?
The main theme we deal on the album is alienation and isolation of the individual from the society. So, on the new album we continued the main idea of our last album “Faces of insanity”. But this isolation is also a self-contemplation and the search for the absolute truth by the lyrical hero. 

What's happening with the album's cover artwork and how does it connect to the music?
The front cover art of “(Un)reality” describes the moment when the hero finds this absolute truth in the end of the story. It depicts his spiritual insight.

Are you satisfied with Hypnotic Dirge Records?
We totally satisfied with Hypnotic Dirge Records and really appreciate what they done to bring our music closer to large auditory audience. 

What's coming out in ambient black metal that you are looking forward to in the near future?
Every year we became farther from ambient black metal scene and more into post-black metal scene. So, we are looking forward mostly for some atmospheric and post black metal albums. The last ambient black metal album that impressed us was “Wind” from Russian band Melankoli. The album in this style we are waiting for I think is only “Echoes From η Carinae” by Alrakis.

What’s your upcoming schedule looking like?
Now we are working at the compilation with our old songs re-recorded and re-arranged in more “blackgazish” way. We also have some plans for our side project “Depicting Abysm”. 

What are your picks for best releases of 2013?
Talking about the best albums of a year we can definitely choose 
Wedrujacy Wiatr - Tam, gdzie miesiac oplakuje swit,
Gris - A l'ame enflammee, l'ame constellee...,
Deafheaven – Sunbather,
The Ocean – Pelagial,
Heiden - A kdybys uz nebyla, vymyslim si te,
Leucosis – Leucosis,
Darktrance – Pessimum,
Errata - L'autre hemisphere,
Csejthe – Réminiscence,
Redwood Hill – Descender,
Paysage d'Hiver - Das Tor,
Rorcal – Vilagvege,
Thaw – Thaw,
Watain - The Wild Hunt

Who are your top 5 Russian metal bands of all time?
Very hard question) There are some albums we are raised on, for example Butterfly temple’s album “Сны северного моря”. And it is a perfect example of Russian metal music. There are also many bands that we really like: Откровения дождя, Abstract Spirit, Оргия Праведников, Hieronymus Bosch, so may be that they are in top-5 for now.

What do you know about my country Turkey (Istanbul)? Would you play in here?
Well, we know some basic facts about Turkey from geography lessons. Also, you have killer exploitation movies and some great directors with their own masterpieces. For example “Yol” from Yilmaz Güney. Some Turkish bands are also known in Russia: splendid post-rock band “Kafabindunya”, interesting depressive black metal project “Cragataska”, death metal band “Thrown to the Sun” and death doom band – “Acedia”.

What can you say about Rock Vault Zine?
Well, we tried your official page, but we did not understand much, due to the Turkish language. But your mission– introducing musical bands and projects to the Turkish auditory - is very important.

Anything else you'd like to mention or promote? Thanks for your answers.
Thank you for your interest and your questions! Keep supporting music and people who are involved in making it!

 

ALBUM RELEASE: Epitimia - "(Un)reality" double-album 6 panel digipack

February 14, 2014

Epitimia's new double-album "(Un)reality" is a culmination of over a year's hard work for the Saint-Petersburg based band which has been working on an expansive and ambitious follow-up to their last album "Faces of Insanity" released in the summer of 2012. "(Un)reality" includes lots of new innovations and interesting ideas on both the musical and conceptual sides and could easily be considered their most accomplished effort to date. Tortured black metal screams alongside a progressive and experimental cacophony of sounds combine to create a truly memorable and complex album taking various elements from many genres including post-rock, black metal, blackgaze, ambient, and jazz to create the sonic palette for this conceptual story. Female vocalist “M.” is also present on the album once again as well as very interesting session work from the saxophonist D’arcy Molan (from the debut Subterranean Disposition album) whose contributions appears throughout the album. Released in a deluxe 6 panel digipack with an additional 12 page booklet and augmented with artwork from Mayhem Design in Russia, this is certainly Epitimia’s magnum opus! 



The album is certainly Hypnotic Dirge's most ambitious release to date in scope and presentation to this date and will serve as our last release for a while before we take a bit of a break (more on this soon!)
(Un)reality can be ordered for $12.00 + shipping in the HDR Webstore.

Epitimia describes the (Un)reality album: 
“(Un)reality is like limbo, the world where the hero lingers. His day life here is infinite and artificial, but his dreams fill his mind with bright new images, odd flashbacks, and the reminiscence of his other lives. These visions are the keys to understanding what is happening to him, and may be the only chance to escape. “Delusion” contains the dark images of objective reality while “Illusions” is a moment in which all his dreams merge: hope, love and most importantly – the desire for truth, by which he will be free forever.”

The tracklist for (Un)reality is:

Delusion:
01 – Birth
02 - Delusion I – Escapism
03 - Delusion II – Ataraxia
04 - Delusion III – Frustration
05 - Delusion IV – Contemplation
06 - Delusion V - Post scriptum
07 - Delusion VI - Mors putativa
08 - Delusion VII – Elysium
09 – Metanoia

Illusion:
01 - A Flash Before Death
02 - Illusion I – Muse
03 - Illusion II – Oath
04 - Illusion III – Foretime
05 - Illusion IV – Reflection
06 - Illusion V – Far Away
07 - Illusion VI – Fracture
08 - Illusion VII – Catharsis
09 - Rebirth



Links:
Order CD
Stream/Download - Bandcamp
Stream - Youtube
Epitimia Profile
Epitimia Facebook

Bandcamp Player:
 

PRE-ORDER: Eptimia - (Un)reality 2CD

February 5, 2014
Epitimia - "(Un)reality" double-album digipack available to pre-order!



Epitimia's new double-album "(Un)reality" is a culmination of over a year's hard work for the Saint-Petersburg based band which has been working on an expansive and ambitious follow-up to their last album "Faces of Insanity" released in the summer of 2012. "(Un)reality" includes lots of new innovations and interesting ideas on both the musical and conceptual sides and could easily be considered their most accomplished effort to date. Tortured black metal screams alongside a progressive and experimental cacophony of sounds combine to create a truly memorable and complex album taking various elements from many genres including post-rock, black metal, blackgaze, ambient, and jazz to create the sonic palette for this conceptual story. Female vocalist “M.” is also present on the album once again as well as very interesting session work from the saxophonist D’arcy Molan (from the debut Subterranean Disposition album) whose contributions appears throughout the album. Released in a deluxe 6 panel digipack with an additional 12 page booklet and augmented with artwork from Mayhem Design in Russia, this is certainly Epitimia’s magnum opus!
 
The double-album can be pre-ordered for $9.00 + shipping. Upon its release on February 15, the regular price will be $12.00 + shipping. A new track from the album entitled "Delusion IV - Contemplation" has also been uploaded to Bandcamp for free streaming/download, the fifth song to be made available for streaming/download on the album!



Epitimia describes the (Un)reality album: 
“(Un)reality is like limbo, the world where the hero lingers. His day life here is infinite and artificial, but his dreams fill his mind with bright new images, odd flashbacks, and the reminiscence of his other lives. These visions are the keys to understanding what is happening to him, and may be the only chance to escape. “Delusion” contains the dark images of objective reality while “Illusions” is a moment in which all his dreams merge: hope, love and most importantly – the desire for truth, by which he will be free forever.”

The tracklist for (Un)reality is:

Delusion:
01 – Birth
02 - Delusion I – Escapism
03 - Delusion II – Ataraxia
04 - Delusion III – Frustration
05 - Delusion IV – Contemplation
06 - Delusion V - Post scriptum
07 - Delusion VI - Mors putativa
08 - Delusion VII – Elysium
09 – Metanoia

Illusion:
01 - A Flash Before Death
02 - Illusion I – Muse
03 - Illusion II – Oath
04 - Illusion III – Foretime
05 - Illusion IV – Reflection
06 - Illusion V – Far Away
07 - Illusion VI – Fracture
08 - Illusion VII – Catharsis
 

Song Premiere: Epitimia - Illusion III - Foretime

January 22, 2014
Song Premiere: Epitimia - Illusion III - Foretime

A new track from the experimental and eclectic Russian Blackened Metal band is now available for free streaming and download, and the long-awaited release of the (Un)reality 2CD is not far behind! The track, entitled "Illusion III - Foretime", from the second disc and "Illusion" side of the album also includes female vocals from "M.", and could be considered one of the more "accesible" tracks on the double-album.  (Un)reality is scheduled for release in a 6 panel digipack on February 15 this year. Another song release and pre-orders will commense shortly!



Epitimia's new double-album "(Un)reality" is a culmination of over a year's hard work for the Saint-Petersburg based band which has been working on an expansive and ambitious follow-up to their last album "Faces of Insanity" released in the summer of 2012. "(Un)reality" includes lots of new innovations and interesting ideas on both the musical and conceptual sides and could easily be considered their most accomplished effort to date. Tortured black metal screams alongside a progressive and experimental cacophony of sounds combine to create a truly memorable and complex album taking various elements from many genres including post-rock, black metal, blackgaze, ambient, and jazz to create the sonic palette for this conceptual story. Female vocalist “M.” is also present on the album once again as well as very interesting session work from the saxophonist D’arcy Molan (from the debut Subterranean Disposition album) whose contributions appears throughout the album. Released in a deluxe 6 panel digipack with an additional 12 page booklet and augmented with artwork from Mayhem Design in Russia, this is certainly Epitimia’s magnum opus! 



Epitimia describes the (Un)reality album: 
“(Un)reality is like limbo, the world where the hero lingers. His day life here is infinite and artificial, but his dreams fill his mind with bright new images, odd flashbacks, and the reminiscence of his other lives. These visions are the keys to understanding what is happening to him, and may be the only chance to escape. “Delusion” contains the dark images of objective reality while “Illusions” is a moment in which all his dreams merge: hope, love and most importantly – the desire for truth, by which he will be free forever.”

The tracklist for (Un)reality is:

Delusion:
01 – Birth
02 - Delusion I – Escapism
03 - Delusion II – Ataraxia
04 - Delusion III – Frustration
05 - Delusion IV – Contemplation
06 - Delusion V - Post scriptum
07 - Delusion VI - Mors putativa
08 - Delusion VII – Elysium
09 – Metanoia

Illusion:
01 - A Flash Before Death
02 - Illusion I – Muse
03 - Illusion II – Oath
04 - Illusion III – Foretime
05 - Illusion IV – Reflection
06 - Illusion V – Far Away
07 - Illusion VI – Fracture
08 - Illusion VII – Catharsis
 

Song Premiere: Epitimia - Delusion I - Escapism [From upcoming album: (Un)reality]

September 24, 2013
New track from Epitimia entitled "Delusion I - Escapism" from upcoming double album (Un)reality online now!

A new track from the atmospheric black metal/post-rock band Epitimia from Saint-Petersburg, Russia is now available for free streaming and download! The track, entitled "Delusion I - Escapism" is from the forthcoming double album (Un)reality which will be released in January 2014 on Hypnotic Dirge Records in a luxurious 6 Panel digipack accompanied by a 12 page booklet.


Band members had the following to say specifically about this track:
"Delusion I - Escapism represents an illusory world of the main lyrical hero, where he tries to live the rest of his days with his own fantasies and hopes. But this world is fragile, and the objective reality that surrounds him starts to destroy it."

The new album "(Un)reality" is a culmination of over a year's hard work for the band which has been working on an expansive and ambitious follow-up to their last album "Faces of Insanity" which was released in the summer of 2012. This new album, which has been the subject of lots of careful deliberation and attention to detail is now recorded and the design of the artwork is in its last stage. "(Un)reality" includes lots of new innovations and interesting ideas by this eclectic post-rock, atmospheric black metal band. Tortured black metal screams alongside a progressive and experimental cacophony of sounds, even including guest saxaphone across the album from D'arcy Molan. (Guest sax player of the Subterranean Disposition album as well, released on HDR in October 2012) Epitimia continues to show tremendous growth and maturity through their years and "(Un)reality" is certainly a plateau for them so far and their most accomplished effort yet!



Artwork on this release was created by Mayhem Design from Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
Mayhem Design has previously designed artwork for bands such as Paganland, The Sullen Route, Munruthel, Frozen Ocean, Aborted Fetus, and Atmosfear Magazine among many others.
You can also find them on VK.

The tracklist for (Un)reality is:

Delusion:
01 – Birth
02 - Delusion I – Escapism
03 - Delusion II – Ataraxia
04 - Delusion III – Frustration
05 - Delusion IV – Contemplation
06 - Delusion V - Post scriptum
07 - Delusion VI - Mors putativa
08 - Delusion VII – Elysium
09 – Metanoia

Illusion:
01 - A Flash Before Death
02 - Illusion I – Muse
03 - Illusion II – Oath
04 - Illusion III – Foretime
05 - Illusion IV – Reflection
06 - Illusion V – Far Away
07 - Illusion VI – Fracture
08 - Illusion VII – Catharsis
 

Epitimia - (Un)reality, the new double-CD coming in January 2014

July 23, 2013
Throughout late 2012 and 2013, Epitimia has been working on an expansive and ambitious follow-up to 'Faces of Insanity' their last release from July 2012. This new album has been slowly taking formation and will be entitled "(Un)reality" a new double-album release! The new record includes lots of new innovations and interesting ideas by this eclectic post-rock, atmospheric black metal band. Tortured black metal screams alongside a progressive and experimental cacophony of sounds, even including guest saxaphone across the album from D'arcy Molan. (guest sax player of Subterranean Disposition as well) Epitimia continues to grow and mature throughout the years, (Un)reality is definitely a plateau for them so far and their most accomplished effort yet!



The recording is nearly completed now and is scheduled for a release in January 2014 in double-CD digipack on Hypnotic Dirge Records. A song from the album will be released sometime in August!

Artwork on this release was created by Mayhem Design from Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
Mayhem Design has previously designed artwork for bands such as Paganland, The Sullen Route, Munruthel, Frozen Ocean, Aborted Fetus, and Atmosfear Magazine among many others.
You can also find them on VK.