BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL (Split update)

AT THE HEAD OF THE WOODS

"Here I Stand" (24:12)

BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL

"Visions Of Strix Nebulosa" (25:19)

Hey folks, an update in relation to June's posting regarding the forthcoming split CD with At the Head of the Woods. Both James & I have finished mastering our respective offerings on the 9th with Mell Dettmer. Said master recordings have been sent off to www.handmadebirds.com for release. Initially, we had planned for an Autumnal Equinox release date, but now we are focusing upon the later half of October. James is diligently finishing up the outer cover spread, an exclusive illustration for this release.

I cannot stress enough, speaking for us both, how wonderful it is to finally find closure, seeing this chapter (the split offerings) come to a close. "Here I Stand" as well as "Visions Of Strix Nebulosa" were all captured during the 2008 "A Banishing Ritual (Into white)" recording sessions. Sessions from a very intense & specific time period within both of our lives.

As some of you may already know, James contributed a significant amount of performance & composition towards my 3rd full length offering "A Banishing Ritual (Into white)." During those sessions, James also helped to establish & strengthen the foundation for visions "I & III" for  an offering that initially existed as three separate spirits. The first (formerly entitled "Hibernation") & third (formerly entitled "Minutiae") movements, or "Visions" as I prefer to call them. Spirits captured of what now is to be known as "Visions Of Strix Nebulosa."

I'll hopefully have cover art to work with soon, so I may begin the design & layout process for the release. For now, for those interested, here are the written spells for "Visions Of Strix Nebulosa." Once again, offered from the spirit of brother Daniel Ellis-Smith Harrod's written word within three Visions for the flight of Strix Nebulosa...thank you for taking the time to read...More to come folks.

VISION I

Sleep now my friend...

Hibernate...

Dream your dreams...

Nestle (Hibernate),

deep in your soil.

Hibernation...

Hibernate,

The snow will fall,

& encrust the ground.

Slopes,

hills,

plains covered.

Hibernate...

It covers your trails...

In existence.

Hibernate,

Let your slumber wander,

into the forgotten spaces...

Hear silence,

& see without eyes.

Hibernation...

Converse with the ones who left long ago...

Hibernation...

Drink deeply...

Hibernate...

Drink deeply...

Ancestral waters.

Become without age,

without flesh.

Sleep,

Hibernate,

Sleep,

now my friend.

Hibernate until the final hours.

And then crawl,

into the light,

of your wisdom...

VISION II

Awaken...

Awaken...

Awaken...

Awaken.

VISION III

...Minutiae...Intolerable...minutiae...
The ever growing, unrelenting obsessions,
Obsessions.
That keep us scraping in the dark.
For those infinitesimal scraps of light.
To few and far between.
Or not at all

So I eat the Moon...
In an effort to digest sleep.
I invite IT!
To become my sweat...

Much less blind (now).
We can sink,
into bottomless oceans.
With the knowledge of stars and planets,
Beat one with the other.
Exhail the mist of time to animals.
With whom, I now swim and understand...

So I eat the Sun...
In an effort to digest thought.
I invite IT!
To become my eyes...

The universe is at a loss for words.
Totems...of paralell worlds and time.
Totems...
Are made as sentinals.
Totems...
Sculptures erected,
in the deepest of waters.
Totems...
The psychic web created...
Connected through speech of dreams...

Totems...
Totems...
Totems...

So I eat the moon...
Totems...
In an effort to digest sleep.
Invite IT...
Totems...
To become my skin.

Totems... 

BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL...

"Light the Fires! is at once, calling in desperation for a communal manifestation! The collective awakening of an inherent connectedness to all & the crucial ignition of need fire. A sacred flame lighting the path & re-connecting the primal spirit within us all. For the time has come, as our folk look upon these final days, spiraling towards a new age. It is this spirit, battered & bruised, suppressed & spiritually bred out, that belongs to no particular gender, race, age, system or path. Its only prerequisites are awareness, dignity & respectful participation...Listen...Act...Rise & Shine oh beautiful flames!"

In BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL news, a fourth full length collection entitled "Light the Fires!" looks to be released sometime during mid year 2011. No official release date has been set & I'm quite humbled to announce that both www.bindrunerecordings.com & www.handmadebirds.com will join together in sending this voice out into the void. The collection will be released as a deluxe spot UV, "Old Style" Stoughton 5" gatefold CD. A double 180 gram 12" Stoughton gatefold LP, will also be made available through both Bindrune & Handmade Birds later on this year. The vinyl will feature an exclusive opening ritual to the format. Please view the teaser trailer here:

A look at the overall cover sigil for "Light the Fires!" & the format(s) track listings can be found below:

BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL'S "Light the Fires!"

CD FORMAT (Stoughton Deluxe Gatefold)

I. CALLER OF SPIRITS (13:10)
II. WIND EYE (5:09)
III. RISE & SHINE (13:36)
IV. SUNDROJAN (7:30)
V. TWO RAVENS AT THE TREE LINE (10:27)
VI. SOIL MAGICIANS (13:03)
VII. DISGUST & THE HORRIBLE REALIZATION OF APATHY (10:21)
_____________


2xLP FORMAT (Stoughton Deluxe Gatefold)

SIDE A:
I. SPIRIT CANOE (HAILING FATHER SKY)
II. WIND EYE
(19:13 roughly)

SIDE B:
III. RISE & SHINE
IV. SUNDROJAN
(21:08 roughly)

SIDE C:
V. TWO RAVENS AT THE TREE LINE
VI. SOIL MAGICIANS
(23:41 roughly)

SIDE D:
VII. DISGUST & THE HORRIBLE REALIZATION OF APATHY
(10:20 roughly)
_____________

FINALLY I'm really excited to announce there will also be a CD split with James Woodhead's AT THE HEAD OF THE WOODS spirit released this Autumnal Equinox via www.handmadebirds.com. The release will feature an exclusive 25 minute composition from both James & myself. Both of which were captured during the "Banishing Ritual" sessions respectively...Track listings:

AT THE HEAD OF THE WOODS

"Here I Stand" (24:24)

BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL

"Visions Of Strix Nebulosa" (25:19)

James will be crafting exclusive artwork for this release & we master these two offerings early this July with Mell Dettmer once again! More to come folks...