Twilight Twilight/Monument to Time End (2-CD)

Often described as a "black metal supergroup", TWILIGHT has featured in it's ranks, at one point or another, members of Xasthur, Draugar, Krieg, Leviathan, Lurker of Chalice, Minsk, The Atlas Moth, Nachtmystium, Old Man Gloom, Isis & Sonic Youth. Through the band's diverse cast of musicians, they broke out of the traditional black metal blueprint, opening the style up to broader interpretation with a deft artistic vision. The self-titled debut clearly bows to the Scandinavian genre icons of the 90ies, yet with an attempt to radicalize it even more, pushing the genre to it's boundaries. Relentlessly hypnotic drum patterns, eerie sawing tremolo guitars and anguish ridden vocals - paired with a filthy, almost low-fi production, occasional sparks of beautiful melodies and vast atmospheres that make this record a terrifying, yet cathartic experience. Sophomore, "Monument to Time End", features vastly epic tracks through a genre-crossing approach and cast. Flattered by a transparent, warm yet powerful production, the record still follows an overall black metal aesthetic, although flirts with elements of postrock, doom, industrial and all sorts of aural psychedelia. Enhanced by supreme, utterly creative performances on all instruments, and elaborate layering, this record could be seen as visionary. One might say they perform post black metal by it's most literal meaning, before it became a genre. Today, Prophecy reissues the debut and sophomore recordings from this U.S. black metal collective via a double CD hard cover Artbook, that is double-sided, containing two different stories (you read one side, then flip the book over and read the other one). 36 pages featuring expanded unseen personal photos, detailed liner notes, 5 bonus tracks, along with completely new and original cover artworks by Jef Whitehead (Leviathan/Lurker Of Chalice). "From such a haphazard beginning: recording in apartments and hotel rooms with nothing but the intent to create something together into a coherent work-space with a (somewhat) more coherent vision, Twilight's first two records represent a strange and uneasy time in all of our lives spurred on by personal growth and personal misfortune," comments vocalist / bassist Neill Jameson (aka N. Imperial), who infamous mostly for his work with US Black Metal pioneers Krieg.