photo by Martin Gustafsson
Cadabra Records, purveyors of nightmares on vinyl, presents Serpents In The Fields Of Sleep, the stunning new LP from Swedish instrumental cinematic/horror music outfit ANIMA MORTE. The label has issued its cover art, track listing, preorders, and more, as The Sleeping Shaman premieres an incredible video for the LP’s lead single, “Blood Of The Iconoclast.”
ANIMA MORTE started in 2004 when Fredrik Klingwall invited Stefan Granberg to join him in creating music that was inspired by the atmosphere of classic horror movies, drawing influences from early Italian films and the influence of Fabio Frizzi, Goblin, and others, as well as American composers/artists including John Carpenter and Wes Craven. Having been raised on horror films, the members missed the great, immersive atmosphere these composers/films provided. They began creating songs that focused more on actual themes and melodies, and distinct instrumentation that was ahead of its time and has since become timeless, utilizing equipment from Mellotron, Minimoog, Hammond, Solina, Rhodes, and other classic instruments and amplification.
Following several demos through Myspace and the like in the early 2000s, ANIMA MORTE released their debut 7” EP, Viva Morte!, on Last Entertainment. The duo expanded the lineup with the addition of guitarist Daniel Cannerfelt and drummer Teddy Möller and the band caught the attention of Razorback Records who had launched their ambient/cinematic sublabel Deadbeat Media and released ANIMA MORTE’s debut LP, Face The Sea Of Darkness.
By the time they began work on the follow-up LP, Nightmare Becomes Reality, former Änglagård drummer Mattias Olsson was brought on board where he has since remained, including on the third album, Upon Darkened Stains.
ANIMA MORTE has also amassed a lengthy list of additional releases, including a collaboration with Cripple Bastards, splits with the likes of Fabio Frizzi, Hooded Menace, and Antigama, in addition to having scored a plethora of H. P. Lovecraft stories and other titles for Cadabra Records, including Dagon, Cats Of Ulthar, Music Of Eric Zann, The Call Of Chtulhu, The Statement Of Randolph Carter, and The Unnamable.
Serpents In The Fields Of Sleep was produced by David Castillo and ANIMA MORTE, engineered and mixed by David Castillo with engineering assistance from Iñaki Marconi at Studio Gröndahl in Stockholm between October 2018 and May 2021, with additional recordings handled at Roth-Händle and Uninvited Studios. The record was mastered by Thomas “Plec” Johansson at The Panic Room and completed with striking cover artwork by Randy Ortiz, design by Eric Adrian Lee, and photography by Martin Gustafsson. In addition to the full-time ANIMA MORTE lineup, a wide cast of guest musicians also provide brass, woodwinds, strings, electric and orchestral percussion, and much more, resulting in the band’s most diverse, epic, and captivating material to date!
The first single from Serpents In The Fields Of Sleep arrives in the form of a mesmerizing performance video for the track “Blood Of The Iconoclast,” filmed in the studio and edited by Martin Gustafsson. Here, fans can experience one of the album’s defining and standout movements while watching the band performing on an extraordinary array of vintage equipment.
With the video, the band offers, “We’re very proud to share ‘Blood Of The Iconoclast’ as the video premiere to introduce our new album Serpents In The Fields Of Sleep. Directed by our dear friend Martin Gustafsson who has documented our studio work for over a decade, it made total sense to let him capture this song visually with glimpses of its creation in Gröndahl Studio.
“Musically, it features what we feel are some of the hallmarks of our sound. Several strong musical motifs performed on what we find classic elements contrasting the Guitar like Mellotron, Minimoog, piano, and strings blending equal parts atmosphere and groovy sections.”
The Sleeping Shaman is hosting the exclusive premiere of “Blood Of The Iconoclast,” writing of the video, “Calling all horror soundtrack fans who must take note of Sweden’s truly awesome ANIMA MORTE, a collective that meticulously follow the cinematic instrumental prog rock path whose foundations were laid down by the likes of Goblin and John Carpenter.”
Watch ANIMA MORTE’s incredible “Blood Of The Iconoclast” video now at The Sleeping Shaman RIGHT HERE.
Serpents In The Fields Of Sleep will see digital release on October 28th. However, the album will be available on LP in multiple colors/variants packaged in a deluxe tip-on gatefold jacket as well as a limited CD, both of which will ship next week. Find ordering options at the Cadabra Records website HERE.
Serpents In The Fields Of Sleep Track Listing:
1. Leaving Redemption Behind
2. Pathogenesis
3. Seeds Of Trepidation
4. A Perfect Void
5. Blood Of The Iconoclast
6. Colors Of Incrimination
7. Serpents In The Fields Of Sleep
8. The Underworld Beckons
9. Night Of The Final Act
Serpents In The Fields Of Sleep Lineup:
Daniel Cannerfelt – electric/acoustic guitars
Fredrik Klingwall – mellotron, synthesizer, electric/acoustic pianos, organs
Teddy Möller – drums
Gustaf Hielm – bass
Mattias Olsson – electric/orchestral percussion, glockenspiel, vibraphone
Hanna Ekström – violin, viola
Anna Dager – cello
Lars Åhlund – saxophones, clarinet
Erik Palmberg – trumpet
Kristian Persson – trombone
Roger Öjersson – guitar solo on “The Underworld Beckons”
Thomas Ohlsson – additional electric/orchestral percussion on “Night Of The Final Act”
Stefan Granberg – co-composer of “Night Of The Final Act”
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