Friday, October 8, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
"This Is Our Society" Press Release
Extant Novartis:
This Is Our Society
Extant Novartis returns to continue his onslaught with the troubles plaguing moden cultural acceptances with his second album "This Is Our Society". Taking cues from what has been occurring the past decade; things we've (as a society) turned a blind eye to, ignored, and ultimately feel rather uncomfortable about, he has written a scathing review of the current state of affairs. This album continues from where his debut, "Halo", left off. Originally intended as a single disc album, it quickly expanded to two discs, clocking in at nearly two hours.
From the get go, he intends to unsettle us with "With A Flick", about suicidal immortality and how he is here to stay. "At World's End" captures the chaotic world as it was and is. "Indictment" is ultimately an attack at the hypocrisies of religion. "Spit Blood" is the biggest tell off that most of us want to give, but are afraid to. "Parental Advisory: Explicit Content" rails against our prudish nature by challenging "who says what fits what f**king standards". "Forget You" goes against what is considered dead weight in our lives, culture, and accepted society. "Pendo Irritus" (Latin for "Void of Value") deliniates from the norm, but stays on cue with the statement that ignoring simplicity becomes 'void of value'. "AB.SYNTH" is the first of two musical interludes. "jack.trades" scathingly chastises those who buy into a false and deceptive message. "Intermission I" begins the intermission as the first of two discs ends.
"Intermission II" picks things back up by getting us back into the album in progress. "Uncomfortable Silences" decries the state of people being blind followers, as they become nothing more than "another notch on the wall". "Liebe mich" (German for "Love Me") represents a take on a nice guy who is tired of finishing last and being alone. "Original Sin" again attacks religion for the misogyny that exists and the notion that we have sinned by just being born. "Just Be" is the first uplifting song on this album, by being rather staunchly anti-suicide (a value that Extant completely stands for). "Deafening Scilence" is another deliniation from the norm set by the album's theme, but stays on course with it's support of true artistic musical ventures. "Avarice" strikes against the corrupted and greed based society of which we've kind of rolled over and accepted. "Overture" is the second of the two musical interludes. "Our Better Angels" finally asks for reason and understanding by going against the negative influences within our society. "Curtain Call" ends the album with a fictional newscast of which isn't very far off of what is possible in today's heated climate.
The songs "Forget You" and "Liebe mich" appear on a free sampler released by Extant Novartis' two labels, Biohazard Music Records and Velocita Records. "jack.trades" will appear on a future fundraising compilation, details not available as of press time. The album is currently available for purchase through the artist's blog (http://extantnovartis.blogspot.com). Also available is his debut album, "Halo". Samples of the album can be heard through the artist's channel on last.fm (http://www.last.fm/music/Extant+Novartis/This+Is+Our+Society).
- The Biohazard Music Records Group
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Halo : a glimpse into the aura
The foundations of what would become Halo began some time in 1999. While being influenced by the works of Biohazard, Anthrax, Marilyn Manson, and alternative rock, I knew that I wanted to get into music but knew very little about it outside of what little I learned in Junior High band class. I did however have a penchant for writing, and most of it was poetry. After repeated listenings of Marilyn Manson's album "Mechanical Animals", I started to write the initial draft of "Digital Soul". It mostly, from what I can recall' was about the merger of man and machine. I had revised it twice and created a second version, or sequel if you will, of the piece. These had been updated from time to time, as I continued to find myself spiritually.
In 2000, the influence of Manson's work continued to press me to write darker, heavier, and more scathing pieces in concerns to what are now somewhat unfounded ideals of spirituality. Ultimately "Digital Soul" was revised again, this time after becoming familiar with the work of A Perfect Circle. This where the draft moved from harsh to somewhat melancholy. This was also the time when my research into Azrael began.
In 2001, I had relocated to Texas and was introduced to a great deal of new music. It was in this year I became a fan of Dido, Poe, KMFDM, and started to listen to classical music. My horizons were being broadened, and with that, my poetry shifted to being more lyrical and cynical. By this time, I had become quite content with the spiritual route I was going to take in life, so "Digital Soul" was transformed into "Machina". The drafts of Digital Soul however have been completely lost in a major upgrade performed on my computer. It was also during this time that "Knowledge", "Cancer", "The Failure", "Azrael", and "Temptations" were first drafted.
In 2002, the full effect of KMFDM and Nine Inch Nail's work had taken place with my writing. My listening of music started to become more focused on between the lines of the songs. Creatively, I was still a newbie, but the work that I've done was quite masterful. I finished what I knew what I wanted to be my first album. The title "Halo" had come from a song of the same name by an English artist named Texas. The title track, Halo, was written about salvation in the wake of the event a year before. Alas, I failed to take notice on the most important factor in a album's creation, becoming music literate.
As I've dabbled in music in the years after finishing "Halo", I've decided to get started on the album. In 2008, I started drafting ideas of how I wanted it to sound like, as I kept updating the lyrics, all seemed to become quite clear...this was officially shite. The music didn't seem appropriate for the material, frustrations compounded, and ultimately "Halo" was shelved.
In 2009, after trying to restart my creative engine, I soon realized what I had to do...research. It was also in this year that the Australian EBM band Angelspit had posted "Blipverts" (video clips of inspiration, simply). After taking cue from what was said, I started to reformulate my work and get back to "Halo". After an encounter with Angelspit's Zoog Von Rock, after the KMFDM/Angelspit show, I had asked questions about composition. In a matter of speaking, he said KISS (keep it simple stupid) when coming up with ideas, "keep what works and ditch the rest". That did the trick. Three weeks later, I had a new vision for the album. Nine months of recording, editing, deleting, revising, listening, recycle, "Halo" was finished.
After eleven years, a single concept, gave birth to an entire album. "Halo" is my most proudest crowning achievement that I have ever made. Something I gave blood, flesh, sweat, and tears for had come to fruition.
Now, I share with you the product of much of my toil, "Halo".
In 2000, the influence of Manson's work continued to press me to write darker, heavier, and more scathing pieces in concerns to what are now somewhat unfounded ideals of spirituality. Ultimately "Digital Soul" was revised again, this time after becoming familiar with the work of A Perfect Circle. This where the draft moved from harsh to somewhat melancholy. This was also the time when my research into Azrael began.
In 2001, I had relocated to Texas and was introduced to a great deal of new music. It was in this year I became a fan of Dido, Poe, KMFDM, and started to listen to classical music. My horizons were being broadened, and with that, my poetry shifted to being more lyrical and cynical. By this time, I had become quite content with the spiritual route I was going to take in life, so "Digital Soul" was transformed into "Machina". The drafts of Digital Soul however have been completely lost in a major upgrade performed on my computer. It was also during this time that "Knowledge", "Cancer", "The Failure", "Azrael", and "Temptations" were first drafted.
In 2002, the full effect of KMFDM and Nine Inch Nail's work had taken place with my writing. My listening of music started to become more focused on between the lines of the songs. Creatively, I was still a newbie, but the work that I've done was quite masterful. I finished what I knew what I wanted to be my first album. The title "Halo" had come from a song of the same name by an English artist named Texas. The title track, Halo, was written about salvation in the wake of the event a year before. Alas, I failed to take notice on the most important factor in a album's creation, becoming music literate.
As I've dabbled in music in the years after finishing "Halo", I've decided to get started on the album. In 2008, I started drafting ideas of how I wanted it to sound like, as I kept updating the lyrics, all seemed to become quite clear...this was officially shite. The music didn't seem appropriate for the material, frustrations compounded, and ultimately "Halo" was shelved.
In 2009, after trying to restart my creative engine, I soon realized what I had to do...research. It was also in this year that the Australian EBM band Angelspit had posted "Blipverts" (video clips of inspiration, simply). After taking cue from what was said, I started to reformulate my work and get back to "Halo". After an encounter with Angelspit's Zoog Von Rock, after the KMFDM/Angelspit show, I had asked questions about composition. In a matter of speaking, he said KISS (keep it simple stupid) when coming up with ideas, "keep what works and ditch the rest". That did the trick. Three weeks later, I had a new vision for the album. Nine months of recording, editing, deleting, revising, listening, recycle, "Halo" was finished.
After eleven years, a single concept, gave birth to an entire album. "Halo" is my most proudest crowning achievement that I have ever made. Something I gave blood, flesh, sweat, and tears for had come to fruition.
Now, I share with you the product of much of my toil, "Halo".
Saturday, July 17, 2010
EN: Halo
Hey, what a way how to begin a new blog, by selling something. Yay! Right? Well, that is what I'm going to do here. My debut album "Halo" has just went on sale today (via digital distribution). So, here is the details you might want to know:
Tracklisting:
Oh, did I not mention the two bonus tracks "Halo" and "Saint Existé"? No? How foolish of me. They are in there.
Tracklisting:01. Intro
02. Knowledge
03. Cancer
04. Fatal Democracy
05. The Failure
06. Azrael
07. Energy
08. Machina (Featuring Ophelia Aoki)
09. Simple
10. Calling Out Loud
11. Fuck You (An Ode)
12. Genocidal
13. Temptations
14. Star
10% of all album sales will go to the Make-a-Wish foundation. This will be done on a monthly basis.
You can click the "Buy Now" button for immediate download after payment, and in about a month it will be made available for purchase through BandCamp.com (higher quality), and down the road on CD.
Cost: $10
Oh, did I not mention the two bonus tracks "Halo" and "Saint Existé"? No? How foolish of me. They are in there.
If the above button doesn't work, PayPal $10 (USD) to extantnovartis(at)gmail.com and I will make sure you get the download link within 24 hours of payment.
I can be found on Facebook (click the "Like" button), follow me on Twitter (@extantnovartis), last.fm, and soon at http://extantnovartis.bandcamp.com, VampireFreaks.com, and http://www.extantnovartis.com.
Thank you, and stay tuned.
- Extant Novartis
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