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This is the world premiere of uncut audio and artwork from Negative Plane’s Stained Glass Revelations.
You can hear “Angels of Veiled Bone”, the third song on the album, below.
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“Angels of Veiled Bone”
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It gets better with every listen. From what I’ve heard of Stained Glass Revelations (the first four tracks), it ups the psychedelic aspects of 2006’s Et in Saecula Saeculorum. (EiSS was one of the first records I ever reviewed here (rather ineptly).) Organ and piano are prominent, and the melodies have a stronger psych/prog feel. I first felt this vibe two years ago from Hiems’ Worship or Die (commentary here), and I thought it strange then. Now it’s less so, as black metallers seem to be revisiting and drawing from their Mercyful Fate and old psych rock records (see, e.g., Ghost, The Devil’s Blood, perhaps Nachtmystium from ‘06 to ‘08).
But Negative Plane are trend-proof. They’re too iconoclastic to do anything vis-à-vis anyone else. They just do. Et in Saecula Saeculorum is one of the top five black metal records made after 2000. What I’ve heard of Stained Glass Revelations suggests an organic progression with a completely convincing atmosphere. It just feels right.
The album cover, on the other hand, is a head-scratcher. Did the mighty Timo Ketola – the guy responsible for Opeth’s “O” logo, Watain’s Casus Luciferi and Sworn to the Dark, Teitanblood’s Seven Chalices, and Deathspell Omega’s Fas – Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum, among many others – really create this underheated image? An out-of-focus photo plus leftovers from a Watain layout? Huh??? EiSS had some of the best liner notes I’ve ever seen for any record, so I have high visual hopes for this one. Had?
We’ll find out shortly. Stained Glass Revelations is out soon on The AJNA Offensive / Invictus Productions. You can pre-order it on Amazon here
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NEGATIVE PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS
MySpace fanpage
Village Voice feature
Pre-order Stained Glass Revelations
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This is the best thing from 2011 I’ve heard so far. Absolutely picking this up when it comes out.
Mmmm, this sounds good, thanks for sharing.
This band has flown under the radar for waaaay too long, Im very happy to hear that they have a new one out soon!
Sorry to nitpick and I wholly acknowledge the distinction that clee makes but it is still horrible to see these cartoon bands (ghost, etc.) listed in the same space as a wonderful band that consciously eschews theatrical mugging for profoundly engaged and subtly crafted music. It is like relating Leonard Cohen to the Archies, Waylon Jennings to C.W. McCall, etc. Not to say that there isn’t any art in being a cartoon (see king diamond) but a more relevant set of references–say dark prog bands like Jacula or Antinous Rex–would be more than welcome to flesh out a more meaningful discussion of this truly exciting music.
That the cover art offers more visual restraint than it does reward seems perfectly in keeping with the musical premium that this band has to offer. However underheated this image may seem, many of ketola’s work has been produced for considerably “overheated” bands—bands whose total absence (DSO, TTNBLD) or spectacular presence (watain) greatly necessitate intricate visuals. That Negative Plane walks a third road in terms of artistic visibilty between their Ajna labelmates (correct me if ajna simply distributes noevdia releases…), it is clear that a subtler visual approach is required.
The music is clearly up to something, really digging, though, not so sure of the vocals and how they are delivered.
Having the same digesting problems that I tend to have with Drudkh.
Great song! Can’t wait for the full-length to finally come out. I think the cover art look fantastic and really fits the mood of the music.
I think I’ll stick with Inquisition…
Magoose needs to shut the fuck up and go back to reading Carl Sagan.
These guys are up to something.Thank you for the recommendation.
I listened to about half the album last night and it really started to grow on me… At first I wasn’t crazy about the vocals, but they definitely start to click after a few listens.
Nameless void is also in new york based band ‘occultation’. weird?!
Guy, what in the WORLD am I hearing?>> That Jaguar leading into surfened Black Metal? Blackened tiki-type shit…this is hot already.
FUCKING AWESOME TRACK!
Ordering the cd from AJNA asap.
MCS
WTFFF!!!!! this cant be nameless void. Doing a Cure cover?
http://www.myspace.com/dancingshadowsinthedark
Well I like the first album. Not sure if I am digging this new song.
Best and most original black metal band in the US right now, easily.
got this one in , no thanks , I’ll stick with there debut ‘EISS’. highly let down on this one. too much hippie elements.
Just got this and gave it three listens over the last 2 days. Amazing massive album with an even more distinctive style than the last one, and the reverb soaked production sounds incredible! This will be hard pressed to be surpassed this year, but I’ll look to the upcoming SABBAT & NECROS CHRISTOS to try at least. Heh.
“too much hippie elements”
Yes, nothing says peace & love like the opening riff to Lamentations & Ashes. Get a grip.
‘Dan Finny and other names
You are probably a hipster who does nothing more than listen to bands like, Dead can Dance And post comments on your own such band and forums. Also pretending to be older to feel accepted in a retro oriented scene. Therfore your opinion is not valid. I am perfectly entitled to my own view and writing it no doubt on here It is a dissapointing album in my eyes no less. Some will dissagree. I will not say Its good for the mere fact of over the top promoting everywhere and forums spreading the word. My point being said. Along with another statement. I prefer the first release and there demo Surreality over this junk. Negative Plane’s Debut was a masterpiece of pure occult elegance and creativity that captures deep emotions of nameless voids mind and soul and putting it to music. Probably my favorite piece was the organ works. Stained glass revelations the album is very stagnant and fake with too many effects trying to capture a evil vibe which its very much lacking of course. Nameless Void should find his misery again to fuel his creative fire. My cd SGR is on sale on ebay for 1.00. If you would like we can discuss this at a Negative Plane show whenever that may be. And I do hope they play the old songs live. Did I hurt your feelings?
This album blew my fucking mind. I was scared to see how it would follow EiSS, as that is (in my opinion) one of the greatest metal albums of all time. But then I heard “Angels of Veiled Bone”, and right from the psychedelic start, I knew it was going to be good. Beautiful and superbly evil.
its ok but not really. just cant dig it
TREND PROOF? = I beg to differ.More like this whole Retro Trend movement thats goin’ on
now we can all see what nameless void really looks like yeah! the man behind the negative plane masterpiece’s here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttinzuNeV5E
stained glass is good album, quit hating
Thanks for the comment up thread re: Inquisition. Sick vocals. Still love Negative Plane, though. Hippy shit and all.
Negative Plane is like audio anesthesia. Seriously, i hate this style of pretentious black metal