“DEATHSPELL OMEGA, as a collective, works in circles.
The French core of the collective – which, incidentally, is the creative core
and source of music and lyrics – is Bataillian by definition and therefore
completely immune to mundane politics, having deconstructed them a long time
ago”.
Main influencers of DSO have
been Marquis de Sade, Georges Bataille and Friedrich Nietzsche. While it is one
of the best approach to read Sade due to face with ecce homo, taking inspiration from Nietzsche, Bataille develops an
‘atheology’ that, unlike ‘vulgar atheism’, is devoted to the sacrifice of God. So
it is seen, everything is connected somehow. Therefore the tremendous textures
in the lyrics of DSO not only include the unique concept but also give voice to
critical comprehension while eliciting ugly truth beyond.
By focusing on the latest album
references, here are the epiphanies resonates through this dissonant, jazzy, avant-garde
black metal that can only be apprehend in contemplation or never fully get to
the heart of, no guarantee...
Céline, Bloy, Imre Kertész…
“It’s striking, for example,
to read Céline’s ‘Bagatelles pour un
massacre (Trifles for a Massacre)’ and then continue with Imre Kertész’s ‘Kaddish for an Unborn
Child’ – the way both writings echo over the ruins of a suicidal continent
is haunting. Let us digress for a second and add that Imre Kertész was not only
a brilliant writer but a crucial witness of the quintessence of 20th century
Europe: born in Hungary, survived Auschwitz and Buchenwald only to face another
form of oppression behind the Iron Curtain.”
“The whole of which is twisted
by our spiritual perspective and admiration for the rhetorical talent of
pamphleteers such as Bloy or Céline, whose words burn
no less than fire”.
Karin Boye…
“Karin Boye’s ‘Kallocain’ is certainly as relevant today as it was
in 1940, especially given the astounding capacities – notably of predictive
nature – of recent surveillance technology by Palantir Technologies, or their
Chinese counterparts”.
Pierre Bayle
“The multiple references to
the works of Pierre Bayle could also be hinting towards this, since the
philosophy behind what’s now known as the Bayle Enigma is presenting the best
arguments from opposing sides”.
Paul Celan
“Let us refer to Paul Celan again for
illustrative purposes: convoluted rhythms or numerical patterns, certain chord
patterns, or either the use or rejection of melody are just a naturally
occurring language as a means of expression for individuals without formal
musical training such as ourselves. The basics for our songs are always written
on an unplugged Gibson guitar, so as to hide behind neither distortion nor
effects. Just the naked truth of an organic instrument. One might add that our
whole equipment is actually pretty close to a typical 1970s hard-rock band.
What you then hear and read is the projection of a vision.”
Songs of Palingenesia...
“‘Splinters from your Mother’s Spine’ is about so-called
conservative talking points – erosion of the nuclear family and traditional
ideals, separation from cultural roots, and the state’s educational apparatus
seizing control over children’s upbringing”.
“‘1523’ is about the historical rabbit hole, reading about how what
started in 1523 with Thomas Müntzer’s League of the Elect, in a mere decade,
managed to touch the fate of so many people – and in such dramatic fashion –
climaxing with the city of Münster being turned into New Jerusalem at the hands
of Anabaptists”.
“‘Neither Meaning nor Justice’ ends with a modified quote from
Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s 1762 treatise Emile, or On Education: ‘Everything is
degenerate as it leaves the hands of the Author of nature; everything becomes
good in the hands of Man.’ The perspective is inverted by stating whilst God creates all things wretched,
they become pure in human hands”.
Last
words by memorialising Spinoza…
“As Spinoza wrote, Deus sive Natura (God or nature).
Twice, man committed the highest of crimes: by waging an absolutist war against
nature and, therefore, against life itself. And, secondly, by severing the bond
to nature and forging an anthropocentric worldview that places man above
everything else and, therefore, can be used to justify just about anything – no
matter how short-sighted or ill-advised – so long as it appears to serve
mankind’s interests. Extracting man from the natural order, by intent if not in
effect, was a sign of hubris which remains literally without equivalent and
whose resulting devastations will know no equivalent either. Listen carefully
enough and you’ll hear demonic snigger”.
Listen Furnaces of Palingenesia (Full Album)
For
those curious minds, here below find an exclusive interview with DSO done by Niklas
Göransson.
All
citation put in quotes are DSO’s own words taken from this interview.
