SQUIRRALYPSE FEST PT. I

SA, 02.11.2024

DYNAMO / ZÜRICH

15:00

ALCEST

Alcest were founded in the year 2000, and with “Le Secret” (2005) and “Souvenirs d’un autre monde” (2007) they established the Post Black Metal / Shoegaze Black Metal / Blackgaze genre. Over the years Alcest made this music popular beyond genre borders, and today they are the protagonists of the music genre they invented.

HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY

Harakiri For The Sky is an Austrian extreme metal band formed in Salzburg and Vienna in 2011 by vocalist JJ (Michael V. Wahntraum) and multi-instrumentalist Matthias Sollak. They have released four studio albums – Harakiri for the Sky (2012), Aokigahara (2014), III: Trauma (2016), and Arson (2018) – via German label AOP Records.

UADA

A decade ago, Uada emerged in Portland, Oregon, with a fierce ambition. Their first album, ‹Devoid of Light,› released in 2016, received widespread acclaim and positive reviews.

Their music, deeply influenced by pagan rituals and natural surroundings, blends the powerful style of bands like Dissection and Mgla with the tuneful essence reminiscent of Iron Maiden. In their second album, ‹Cult of a Dying Sun› (2018), the tracks are expansive, incorporating elements like acoustic guitar and piano to introduce more diversity. By the time their third album ‹Djinn› came out in 2020, any parallels to Mgla were definitively cast aside. Uada is forging a distinct path in melodic black metal, though ‹Djinn› also explores genres like post-punk and thrash. The band’s onstage attire, featuring hoods and jackets, contributes to their enigmatic stage presence. Their fourth project, ‹Crepuscule Natura,› initially set for a 2022 release, was delayed as the band chose to redo it in pursuit of perfection. Finally, in 2023, they achieved the exact sound they were striving for.

GHOST BATH

Ghost Bath, a blackgaze/post-metal band from North Dakota, blends melodic guitars, blastbeats, and screamed vocals. Their 2014 debut ‹Funeral› combined gothic elements with electronic textures. ‹Moonlover› in 2016 was a mix of aggressive blackgaze and complex post-metal. The 2017 album ‹Starmourner› integrated dark melodies, atmospherics, and subtle electronics, refining their sound. ‹Self Loather› followed in 2021.

Originally claiming to be from Chongqing, China, Ghost Bath was formed in Minot, North Dakota, in 2012. Their Chinese backstory, later revealed as a hoax, created buzz in the metal community. Frontman Dennis Mikula said the band aimed to connect universally through music, not personal identities. Their rise in the extreme metal scene led to a deal with Northern Silence Productions and later Nuclear Blast. ‹Starmourner›, produced by Josh Schroeder, received critical acclaim for its aggressive yet melodic sound. Ghost Bath toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe, gaining recognition. In 2018, Nuclear Blast reissued their back catalog, and in 2021, they released ‹Self Loather›, engineered by Xander Moser and mastered by Jack Shirley.

CLOAK

Cloak’s third album, «Black Flame Eternal,» defies societal norms, advocating for spiritual empowerment beyond the binary of good and evil. Frontman Scott Taysom highlights a shift from exploring dark spirituality to using these insights for assertive growth. The album represents a broader spiritual message, contrasting with Cloak’s more private previous themes.

Rejecting societal pressures to conform, Cloak’s music combines influences from Motörhead’s raw energy, Danzig’s gothic tones, and the chaotic essence of Swedish black metal, crafting a unique identity. «Black Flame Eternal» symbolizes their evolving sound, emphasizing internal inspiration, particularly significant in a band’s third album.

Following 2019’s «The Burning Dawn,» the pandemic halted promotion, but the band used this time for intensive writing, reflecting on the period’s challenges and opportunities. The creation of «Black Flame Eternal» took over a year, showcasing Cloak’s dedication to their craft.

Since late 2021, Cloak has been touring North America, their performances a mix of ethereal and chaotic energies. As they embark on this new chapter, «Black Flame Eternal» marks Cloak’s independence and creativity in the metal scene, promising a significant impact.

ANOMALIE

Anomalie, a Post-Black Metal band from Leobendorf, Austria, was established in 2011. Primarily a solo project by Marrok, Anomalie includes session members Thomas Dornig on bass and Lukas S. on drums, with a separate lineup for live performances.

The band’s lyrical themes delve into psychology, life, dreams, emotions, and the impact of the modern world on nature. Their music is a reflection of these complex interactions.

Anomalie’s debut album, «Between The Light,» was released on January 27th, 2014, marking the band’s first significant foray into the metal music scene.