(written by Islander)
Some emissaries are open about the powers they represent, others are secretive or deceptive or simply misunderstood. The biblical Gabriel made quite clear who he represented. “The prince of the power of the air” had agents who were more secretive about their fiendish missions. We all know that big wooden horse was filled with Greek soldiers, but the Trojans thought it was a parting gift.
The Barcelona band Emissary are open-faced about their musical mission. The name they chose for their debut album — Eldritch — further signifies where they want to lead us: In their music they act as agents of cosmic horrors, beckoning us into “a labyrinth of shadowed realms where the unknown reigns supreme,” guiding us toward “a descent into madness” that “blurs the lines between reality and nightmare”.
Those are among the words offered to listeners on behalf of Fetzner Death Records, which released Eldritch in March of this year. We have some words of our own to offer, along with our premiere of a video for a song off Eldritch called “Hobb’s End“, which we hope will help spread the word of this Emissary to new listeners.
In Lovecraft-inspired lore “Hobb’s End” is a town existing on the border between reality and madness, and thus provides a very appropriate setting for Emissary‘s conceptual mission. Their song of that name is also a fitting introduction to the methods they use for the fraying of sanity.
The piercing notes that ring out the song’s overture quickly create an atmosphere of both splendor and perilous eeriness, and then madness reigns. Feverish fretwork, brazen chords, and vividly thumping beats provide a bridge to maniacally skittering riffage, urgently pulsating bass tones, and demonic snarls.
The song amalgamates thrash-powered gallops, dual-guitar frenzies, a clear-toned solo with hallucinogenic properties, and arpeggios of mystery and menace, all of it backed by pulse-pumping rhythm-section performances and continually fronted by ferocious vocals.
The song does indeed sound fiendishly eldritch, a diabolically electrifying display of thrash that’s both elaborate and embedded with hooks. And the video of the band’s performance enhances the thrills.
EMISSARY on Eldritch:
Michel Regueiro: Guitar / Vocals
Philip Graves: Guitar
Hlib Overchuk: Drums
(Emissary’s current lineup now includes bassist Cosme Martin.)
Eldritch was recorded and produced by Jaume Perna and was mixed at Moontower Studio by Javi Felez. The cover artwork was done by Alex Shadrin at Nether Temple Design.
We have also included a full stream of the album below, along with links for more info about Emissary and Eldritch.
EMISSARY:
https://www.instagram.com/emissary_bcn/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565501303870
FETZNER DEATH:
https://fetznerdeathrecords.bandcamp.com/album/emissary-eldritch
https://www.instagram.com/fetzner_death_records/
https://www.facebook.com/FetznerDeathRecords