It’s been a few years since the latest album from Cleveland-based gothic / alternative electro trio Dispel but they have announced that they will be sharing a new collection of tracks with the word on what is their sophomore album. Titled ‘Inferno’, this long-player will be released on October 10, and it will not just be available digitally. Fans of physical music carriers can delight.
As for us, we can too as we have the dark thrill of presenting ‘Glasya’s Heresy (Acoustic version)‘, a deep crystal offering accompanied by a saga-laden video, for which the band chose an unusual place to film their latest video – in South Africa.
Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Dispel is a trio made up of Ravensea, Sean Gallows and Scott Dispel, a founding member of the ld- school hardcore band Face Value. A studio engineer and producer, in 2005, he was voted Cleveland’s best nightclub DJ by Scene Magazine.
Here, Ravensea is accompanied on piano by Kate Farquharson on what is a haunting, huge piano ballad. While dark and certainly laden with heavy emotion, here Dispel soars defiantly. This feels incredibly confessional and sincere, while at the same time, we realize the lyrics are based on a scenario that is part of Dispel’s fantasy-based meta-universe. Highly melodic, this song emits incredible talent.
This penetrating taster previews an album where she sings of the sorrows, temptations and fascinations of this forbidden dominion. Laced with dark melodies, vocal depth and spiritual quests, Dispel creates a unique musical narrative, channelled through the prism of historic lore, mythology and mysticism.
Produced by Dispel, this album was mastered at The Cage Studios in Coventry, UK by Martin Bowes of Attrition, well known for his work with Nine Inch Nails, Psychic TV and Steven Severin of Siouxsie & the Banshees. Earlier this year, Dispel also released ‘Journey Into Limbo’. Like the new single, this music ought to be a big pleasure for fans of goth rock, darkwave, gothic metal, neo-classical rock, dark fantasy and dark electronica
On ‘Inferno’, Dispel follows Dante and his guide Virgil down to every layer of the Nine Hells, awarding each level of mortal sin its own song. Based on lyrics from Dante’s original literary masterpiece, sprinkled with additional source material and diabolical personalities from old school Dungeons & Dragons, this undertaking took two years to complete.
“Influenced by an equal mix of darkwave beats, Medieval literature, and conceptual rock albums, the music behind Dispel was born. But sSoon after the completion of our debut album ‘Lore’, the world went on lockdown! So we headed back into the studio to create another conceptual album, but we had to up the ante. A spiderweb-ridden bookshelf held the key – “Dante’s Inferno” in its timeless glory,” says Scott Dispel.
“Putting a literary masterpiece to music was no small task, we had to do it justice through attention to detail, utilizing actual texts and adding mythological personalities, herein combining rock music and world literature.”
Dispel has roots in the early 90’s hardcore punk scene, when a German underground goth-Industrial club inspired Scott Dispel to transition from performing with Face Value to pursuing electronica. Inspired by Sisters of Mercy, Clan of Xymox, Depeche Mode, VNV Nation and Blutengle, he formed Dispel after completing a music degree and recording studio internship.
Inspired by fantasy gaming, mythology and mysticism, this music took form upon meeting Ravensea, a Berklee vocal performance / music therapy major with a powerful voice and insight into music’s power to transcend language and cultural barriers.
‘Glasya’s Heresy (Acoustic Version)’ and ‘Journey Into Limbo’ are out now, available across online music platforms, includingApple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On October 12, the full ‘Inferno’ LP will be released on CD, vinyl (with full color insert) and digitally. It can be ordered at www.dispelmusic.com/pre-order-inferno-fb or digitally via Bandcamp at https://dispelmusic.bandcamp.com/album/inferno
CREDITS
Ravensea – Vocals
Scott Dispel – Drums & Keyboards
Sean Gallows – Vocals & Bass
Leonard (Maldurin) Kemenani – Guitar
Jamie (Valkyrie X) Baisden – Bass
Kate Farquharson – Piano
Joe Cilento – Acoustic Guitar
Barry Gelderblom – Vocal Narrative
Keith Farquharson – Production (special thanks)
Recorded and mixed at Dispel Studios US
Mastered by Martin ‘Attrition’ Bowes @ Cage Studios UK
‘Glasya’s Heresy’ cover artwork by Klaudia Bezak
Artist photo by Eric Olsen (Adventure Photography)
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