HONORING LISTS OF MMXI...

Hey folks, yeah I felt like it would be fun to jump upon the old bandwagon regarding the whole years end list thing. Anyhow, these lists are not necessarily specific to a release or publishing that occurred within the year of 2011, but more of a personal musical year in review...what got us through & kept us going. Not simply on a musical level either, but in relation to all "events" from said year in review.

My warmth & may MMXII cycle into light with these resonating words from my spiritual mentor Loren Cruden: "When you have let go of everything, seen what is in deepest shadow & kept moving in your alignment with good, you know something that is truth.".

--chet

CHET W. SCOTT (CYCLE OF THE RAVEN TALONS / BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL)

TOP MUSICAL EXPERIENCES THAT MOVED ME THROUGH 2011 (in no particular order after POPOL VUH!):
POPOL VUH "Absolutely everything all of the time!"
TENHI "Saivo"
STEVE VON TILL "Absolutely everything all of the time!"
PULSAR "Pollen / Strands of the Future / Halloween albums"
PENTANGLE "Everything!"
PHURPA "Trowo Phurnag Ceremony"
PINK FLOYD "Echoes" (Original 1970 "Meddle" version)
THIRD EAR BAND "Alchemy / Abelard & Heloise / Macbeth albums"
YATHA SIDHRA "A Meditation Mass"
NEUROSIS "A Sun That Never Sets" ("Souls At Zero" being my all time favorite album on earth, I'd say this album from the tribe is by far most absorbed through out the years & I really needed it in 2011.)
WINTER "Into Darkness" (Witnessing one of my favorite albums from high school LIVE from beginning to end!)
PATRICK WALKER "Solo acoustic offerings & 40 Watt Sun live!
40 WATT SUN "The Inside Room"
WARNING "Watching From A Distance"
NOVEMTHREE (Collaborating with these gentlemen for a live performance)
YOUR CELL : YOURSELF  "Reflections Through Flame: A Fire Tender Manifestation."(Could very well be the most rewarding live performance thus far for me!)
ARNICA "Everything" (So looking forward to our collaboration gentlemen!)
ARKTAU EOS (Absolutely everything!)
HALO MANASH (Absolutely everything!)
WARDRUNA "Runaljod Gap Var Ginnunga"
COYOTZIN "A Mystical Saga within 3 discs"
LONGING FOR DAWN "Between Elation & Despair"
HEIRESS "Early Frost" (Advanced copy-thank you guys for allowing us to capture the visual element of your debut full length...Beyond Fevering is the BEST TRACK HANDS DOWN!)
THE GAULT "Even As All Before Us"
SOLSTAFIR "Kold"
PRIMORDIAL "The Gathering Wilderness"
BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL "Light the Fires!" (I thank Great Mystery everyday for this gift to become an offering...in 2012 may it be shared.)
CEDAR SPIRITS (Such a heart warming & truly moving collaboration! Thank you guys so much & I love you both...in 2012 may it be shared.)
ALETHES (Private unreleased full length...Perhaps one day I'll be allowed to release & share this crucial offering to you all?)
ECHTRA "Paragate"
FEARTHAINNE "Knowing" (Deeply humbled & quite honored to contribute drum & percussion work towards one of the most beautiful gifts of music in years...in 2012 may it be shared.)
AT THE HEAD OF THE WOODS "Here I Stand" (So good to finally see this offering made available.)
BIRCH BOOK "A Handful Of Days"
BETHLEHEM "Dark Metal"
SARKE "Vorunah"
KUDSI ERGUNER & DERYA TURKAN "Chemins"
MIDLAKE "The Courage Of Others & Fortune ep"
DORDEDUH "Valea Omului" (Have been anticipating the full length for all of 2011...WTF! The documentary regarding the making of it was a wonderful appetizer though...Thanks Doru!)
FUNGAL ABYSS "Bardo Abgrund Temple"
KEY "Everything!"
WARREN ELLIS & NICK CAVE "The Road & Proposition" film scores.
SANGRE DE MUERDAGO "Sangre De Muerdago"
CODEINE "The White Birch"
SYVYN "Everything" 
________________________

RACHEL BOAZ SCOTT (CEDAR SPIRITS / GLASS THROAT VISIONS)

MUSIC:

1. Ringing in 2011with NEUROSIS 2 nights in a row. Doesn't get any better than that.
2. 40 WATT SUN - LIVE (I think I listen to the the live version of This Alone just about every day since the show...)
3. WINTER - LIVE :) Amazing!!! :)
4. CEDAR SPIRITS - Thank you Chet and Pythagumus for the encouragement and support to give something new a try. Can't wait for it to finally go to press...
5. BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL - Light the Fires! ("Two Ravens at the Treeline")
6. SANGRE DE MUERDAGO - Thank you for bringing in the light during some of my darkest days this year.
7. HEIRESS - Early Frost ("Damaged New Wind" (LIVE)
8. SOLSTAFIR - Kold
9. TENHI - All, anytime...so excited for Saivo to finally come out. 
10. KEY - All 
11. PENTANGLE - now available on my ipod - such a happy girl, thanks John!
12. MIDLAKE "The Courage Of Others & Fortune ep" 
13. ARNICA - All, anytime..."Ilmatar"

2011 favs...
Quinault Rain Forest and the Olympic Peninsula...
Rediscovering my love for photography and in that discovering a new passion for photographing wildlife...

Thanks to all my friends and family (especially Chet) for taking care of me and being by my side during one of the most challenging years of my life.
xox : I love you all : xox 
________________________

MARTY RYTKONEN (BINDRUNE RECORDINGS)

MUSIC:
1. ARCH/MATHEOS - Sympathetic Resonance
2. OBSEQUIAE - Suspended in the Brume of Eos
3. TAAKE - Noregs Vaampen
4. DISMA - Towards the Megalith
5. ICS VORTEX - Storm Seeker
6. FALLS OF RAUROS - The Light that Dwells in Rotten Wood
7. VEKTOR - Outer Isolation
8. INQUISITION - Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm
9. SEIDR - For Winter Fire
10. FOREST OF THE SOUL - Restless in Flight
________________________

AUSTIN LUNN (SEIDR / PANOPTICON)

MUSIC:
FALLS OF RAUROS "The Light That Dwells In Rotten Wood (Hiking in Norway with Ray and Aaron from falls...Climbing mountains while listening to Bathory's "hammer heart") My absolute favorite North American band. 
AMEBIX "Sonic Mass" (Epic, emotional and intelligent....an album 20 years in the making and worth the wait.) 
FAUNA "Whole discography" (This band has been an endless source of inspiration for me.) 
TOWNES VAN ZANDT "Rear View Mirror" (This was the record I listened to the most while I was living abroad. Townes was the greatest poet in recent history.) 
BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL  "Light the Fires!" (One of the most moving records to be recorded last year. A spiritually awakened journey.) 
WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM "Celestial Lineage" (Brilliant and blazing atmospheric black metal, the way it should be.) 
SEIDR / LAKE OF BLOOD / FALLS OF RAUROS Tour: (Some of the best times I can remember.) 
DARK CASTLE / YOB LIVE IN OSLO (Crushing doom gig. Yob is absolutely stunning live.)
WALDGEFLUSTER "Femundsmarka" (Brilliant new full length from this incredible German act. Jan is a true artist and friend.) 
BLODSBAND "Gammelnordisk Bersvärjelser" (Shredding heathen black metal from Sweden)
CAMEL "Moon Madness" (One of the best prog albums ever...always soothes me when I am stressed from traveling.) 
KóLGA (Doing a new, more spiritually focused black metal project with my closest friend, Jack Hannert.) 
BINDRUNE RECORDINGS (One of the best labels in American metal, run by one of the best dudes in metal.) 
SEIDR (Working on new album with my brothers is always a joy)
THE STATE OF KENTUCKY (The subject of my new album, set to be released in spring...and the most beautiful place in the world, in my opinion. It will ALWAYS be home, no matter where I am." 
HAAND BRYGGERIET (The Norwegian Brewery I worked at late summer and fall, interning as a brewing apprentice. My hands down favorite brewery in the world, and a true honor to learn from these masters.)

and by far the best event of the year:

Laying Eyes on my now unborn son, HOKAN LUNN for the first time via ultrasound. I am so eager to hold him and learn who he is, as he discovers who he is.

Thanks to Chet & Glass Throat.
Skål!
_______________________

 HENRY LAUER (HEX MAGAZINE / IRONWOOD)

Top Ten Sanity Saving Albums for 2011 (Not necessarily 2011 releases):
+ The Curious Tide (Michael-John Azzopardi) - Sublime trance folk that nourishes both my heart and my inner music nerd. This man's subtlety and inventiveness never cease to amaze me; and his interpretations of traditional folk songs are truly liberating.

+ Ghosts of Memory (The Veil) - Long awaited debut by Australian doom/shoegaze/neofolk/black metal/new wave geniuses. I've seen these songs performed live so many times over the years and they've carried me through some dark times. Its wonderful to finally have them on a CD.

+ Heritage (Opeth) - The more progressive these giants get, the more I love them. Totally out of this world atmosphere, composition, performances...

+ Loki Bound (Greed & Rapacity) - Well it won't be available until 2012 (on Milam Records) but co-creating this voyage into insanity was a profound honor; getting to perform it live (even the passage of 64 bars with each a different time signature!) was truly epic. I feel sick every time I hear it, which is precisely the intended effect.

+ Storm Over Sea (Ironwood) - Our most recent release and a point of reference I return to again and again as I dream my way into a new life over the raging, sublime sea.

+ Pentangle (all of it) - Burt Jansch died this year, but what a profound legacy he has left behind.

+ Time Is The Sulphur In The Veins Of The Saint (Abigor) - Can anyone say Magnum Opus? Will this band ever fail to outdo itself? If only one per cent of the black metal bands out there had this group's level of passion, creativity, vision, and integrity...

+ Silver Moon Slumber (Key) - This Finnish excursion into folky hypnagogia just plain makes me feel happy - and sad - and happy - and sad - in just the perfect equilibrium.

+ Cult of Youth (Cult of Youth) - The furious passion and boundless energy of this album - its atmosphere, courage, and relentless joy de vivre - truly inspires. And seeing them live - wow! Surpassed all of my (stratospheric) expectations.

+ Lateralus (Tool) - This album will always be the watershed of my musical existence. I know it is fashionable in the underground to hate Tool for their success and I don't care; for me they are the Masters. Once again Lateralus has been my sensei, guru, and healer.
________________________

CARLES J. (ARNICA)

For Àrnica, this year has been like a wonderful travel full of experiences, music, new lenguages and old friends.

-Javier entrance to Àrnica, providing wonderful guitars and stunning drums.

-Our trip through Europe. From Portugal to Lithuania, stopping at Aveiro (Portugal), València (Spain), Toulousse (France), Erdmannlistein (Switzerland), St. Koloman (Austria), Poznan (Poland), Vilnius (Lithuania) and Barcelona (Spain) supporting Death In June.
 
During this trip we had the chance to share amazing and magic moments with Luis, Cela, Pedro, Santi, Wences (The Wyrm), Adam (Pesanta UrFolk), Rodolfo (Berkana), Isaac and Marta (L’Horrible Passion), Avencio (Gradual Hate), Andi and Christoph (Fräkmundt), Max (Sturmpercht), Jay and Bia (Traum’er Leben), Andrew King, Uwe and Frank (Barditus)Radbor & the Horde (Slowianski Mit), Michael, Anabelle, John, Robert (Blood Axis), Max, Sebastian, Julien, Marjory (the Kings in Toulousse). A special mention to Lasher Keen with who we share stage in Toulousse. All our love and admiration to our brother and comrade Gerhard Hallstatt (Allerseelen): there is more path to walk, brother!!

-Musically, the works by:

ALLERSEELEN

STURMPERCHT

KULGRINDA

ANDREW KING

BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL / AT THE HEAD OF THE WOODS (SPLIT)

BLOOD AXIS

PERCIVAL

SANGRE DE MUERDAGO

THE WYRM

REO

STILLME…

-Best thing of 2011 is that we are closer to Kali Yuga’s zenit. Looking forward for a grand 2012 full of exciting collaborations, trips and music!
________________________

 

JAMES WOODHEAD (AT THE HEAD OF THE WOODS / ELEMENTAL CHRYSALIS, THE)

This is a list of everything that kept me going, musical and otherwise and in no real order other than alphabetical while reading down my iTunes list.

First, before that even starts the top things are:

Celebrating my daughters first birthday with family.

Having the At the Head of the Woods / Blood of the Black Owl split finally see the light of day!

MUSIC:
(A) STORY OF RATS: Tour EP
AELTER: Alter III lately but all is incredible
ALDA: Tahoma
BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL: ALL ALL THE TIME! Especially "The Banishing Ritual (Into White)"
CERBERUS SHOAL: Homb
ECHTRA: Paragate
FAUNA: The Hunt
FEARTHAINNE: Fearthainne 2xcd
FLYING CANYON: Flying Canyon
THE FREEDOM ORCHESTRA (Bobby Beausoleil): Lucifer Rising Soundtrack
KLAUS SCHULZE: ALL
LESBIAN: Stratospheria Cubensis and Forest Television Live!
MEZEKTET: Demo (Collaboration between Wolvserpent and (A) Story of Rats
MIDLAKE: The Courage of Others
MOONSORROW: Viides Luku- Havitetty
NEIL YOUNG: ALL
NEUROSIS: ALL ALL THE TIME but especially "A Sun That Never Sets" has helped shape me more than most things.
OWLTIAN MIA: The Greatest games ever played 2x7" Rediscovery from old vinyl collection that is kicking my ass.
PHURPA: Trowo Phurnag Ceremony
PINK FLOYD: ALL especially Wish You Were Here (album) and Echos
POPOL VUH: EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER HEARD
REACH OUT: 7" and Split with Honeywell another rediscovery of one of my all time favorites
SACRIFICIAL TOTEM: ALL
SIGUR ROS: ()
STILL LIFE: ALL ALWAYS
TENHI: ALL
THE PULSAR: ALL especially Halloween lately
WARNING: Watching from a Distance
WOLVSERPENT: ALL
YATHA SIDHRA: A Meditation Mass

________________________

 

DANIEL ELLIS SMITH HARROD (CONTRIBUTING LYRICAL WRITER FOR BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL)

MUSIC:
CRO-MAGS: The Age Of Quarrel
MISFITS: Everything 1978 to 1983
BLUT AUS NORD: Odinist
DARKTHRONE: The Cult Is Alive
SAMHAIN: November/Coming/Fire
BENEATH THE LAKE: Silent Uprising
PUNGENT STENCH: For God Your Soul, For Me Your Flesh
MADNESS: The Rise And Fall
ULVER: Nattens Madrigal
THE EXPLOITED: Horror Epics
ANTHRAX: Among The Living
________________________

BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL (Split now available for purchase)

I now have 50 copies of my Blood of the Black Owl split with At the Head of the Woods available for purchase. I'm selling it for $13.00(US) & $20.00(World) postage included & if purchasing through Paypal, please add an additional 10% to your total. My Paypal address is: chet@glassthroatrecordings.com

Here is what the label had to say:
Since 2005, collaborators Chet W. Scott and James Woodhead have fashioned incredibly moving and innovative music as The Elemental Chrysalis. During this time, each has made his mark exploring a deeply personal journey as solo artist- Chet as Blood of the Black Owl, and James as At the Head of the Woods. With both projects creating incredible snapshots into their respective journeys, here, on a split crafted over a long period, and arriving at the cusp of new full length material from both, the presence of these long time pioneers could not be felt in a more rich and inspiring way. This is a limited release, featuring art by James Woodhead.

Track I: AT THE HEAD OF THE WOODS
"HERE I STAND" 24:12

Track II: BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL
"VISIONS OF STRIX NEBULOSA" 25:19

Also, a reminder that I still have 10 copies left in stock of Echtra's "Paragate" offering. I'm selling it for $13.00(US) & $15.00(World) postage included. Again, please add an additional 10% processing fee if purchasing the work through Paypal.

 For more information regarding the Echtra release, please check out my June archive within this blog.

CEDAR SPIRITS...

A warm Solstice & beautiful Yule to you all. Before I head into a five day retreat, I wanted to share a sneak peak into the forthcoming debut full length CD, from my collaborative voice with Pythagumus Olaf Marshall (Novemthree) & Rachel Boaz-Scott,

known as the Cedar Spirits.

Thank you for taking the time folks & much warmth to you all.

--Chet W. Scott

CYCLE OF THE RAVEN TALONS (Press Release forthcoming album "An Offering to Mystery: A Medicinal Musical Part I"

"The integration of medicine-wheel consciousness into daily awareness brings medicine-wheel teachings and power into the moments beyond ceremonial occasion. When this happens, the wheel is more deeply experienced as a mandala that can guide ordinary outlook into sacred awakening."

***UPDATE***
"An Offering to Mystery" is now being considered for a DVD/Blu-Ray format due to the lengths of each coinciding ritual piece. Not to mention the formats optimal sound quality. This is not confirmed as things still need to be worked out. But I'm looking at the potential of 4 hours of craft here.

 For the first time anywhere folks, I'm deeply humbled & quite honestly overwhelmed to officially set this in motion, announcing to the world the first medicinal musical offered under the new moniker of Cycle of the Raven Talons (Formerly known as Ruhr Hunter). Over six years in the making now since the release of "Moss & Memory," I will look to complete this offering come MMXIII. I have provided cover art, which I imagine will not come as a shock to most of you, as well as the title & track listings for the double CD release. Each disc will be roughly 70+ minutes in length & in addition to the standard Glass Throat six panel gate fold, "An Offering To Mystery" (A Medicinal Musical Part I) will also be packaged within a limited edition Grandfather Elk (Moose) hide sleeve, hand sewn & adorned with my sacred Raven talon sigil. This version, like the "Moss & Memory Den box" in 2006 will be exclusively available through Glass Throat Recordings only. My brother Jason Craban over at www.laughingcrowe.com will craft these sleeves & I'm honored to collaborate with such a visionary & beautiful spirit. Jason had also crafted the full Moose hide banner that some of you may remember from my first live ritual back in 2009. I'd also like to mention along with Rachel's wonderful & deeply moving assistance within this work, there will also be (for the first time) a guest musician handling some of the Northern ritual elements within the four quartered perspective of this musical wheel. I can say this individual has been a HUGE inspiration & guiding light since 1990. I've never felt such an honor, a blessing, the energy forged will certainly make my heart sing & help strengthen the balance of this sacred offering to Mystery.

Thanks for your time folks, much more to come...
--Chet W. Scott

Cycle of the Raven Talons
“An Offering to Mystery”
(A Medicinal Musical Part I)

(Disc One)

Ritual :I: Embrace Mother ~Earth~

Ritual :II: Eastern Altar ~Rising~
Ritual :III: Southern Altar ~Spiraling~

(Disc Two)

Ritual :IV: Hail Father ~Sky~

Ritual :V: Western Altar ~Setting~
Ritual :VI: Northern Altar ~Being~


 "Often in moving on a spiritual path obstacles arise, seemingly becoming larger and more frequent the further you travel. Spiritual maturation is not an absence of difficulties. It is a deepening of equanimity that uses difficulty to guide awareness to what needs attention or healing."

GLASS THROAT RECORDINGS...

Hey folks, I wanted to take a moment to mention that I'm forced to postpone the previously scheduled MMXI Winter Solstice releases of the debut Cedar Spirits full length (GTR-017) & Fearthainne's "Knowing" (GTR-018) till further notice. MMXII looks to provide many new offerings from our Glass Throat family. I appreciate your patience with this folks & I can safely say you will all find the wait well worth it. So much more to come!

My Warmth,

--Chet / Cycle of the Raven Talons 

BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL (Split Pre-Order from HMB))

Pleased to finally announce the At the Head of the Woods / Blood of the Black Owl limited edition split CD is now available for Pre-Order directly through www.handmadebirds.com Below you'll find previous information regarding the release from an older posting. I'll have 75 copies shipped to me in the next couple of weeks which will become available for purchase directly through me.

AT THE HEAD OF THE WOODS

"Here I Stand" (24:12)

BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL

"Visions Of Strix Nebulosa" (25:19)

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 parallel worlds and time.
Totems...
Are made as sentinels.
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...