photo by Lenore Romas
Philadelphia-based instrumental/progressive post-metal duo SARATTMA presents a new video for “Sciatic Haze,” now playing at The Sleeping Shaman. The video was created for one of the foundational songs on the band’s debut LP, Escape Velocity, released last Summer on Nefarious Industries.
SARATTMA is drummer Sara Neidorf (Mellowdeath, ex-Brian Jonestown Massacre, Aptera) and guitarist Matt Hollenberg (Cleric, John Frum, John Zorn, Titan To Tachyons). Escape Velocity sees the duo delivering an entrancing, psychedelic, apocalyptic journey through extraterrestrial landscapes through an intricate fusion of modern improv, punk, jazz, djent, avant/psych-rock, and prog, calling to mind the works of Frank Zappa, John Zorn, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Dysrhythmia, Don Caballero, Stinking Lizaveta, and more. Their visually arousing music is a cinematic space punk anthem for those grimy enough to have survived the end of days.
Dedicated to Jill Neidorf (1957-2020), SARATTMA’s Escape Velocity was recorded in July 2019 at Black Spine Studios, mixed and engineered by Matt Hollenberg with additional mixing from Steve Roche, guitar re-amping engineered by Kevin Antreassian at Backroom Studios (The Dillinger Escape Plan) and mastered by Colin Marston at The Thousand Caves (Dysrhythmia, Gorguts). The striking cover artwork was created by Caroline Harrison and the layout handled by Erich Kriebel.
Neidorf reveals, “Escape Velocity is a lot about illness and pain as an alien invasion of the body, and the journeys one has to go through in coping with that. While Matt and I wrote and recorded the album, my mother had stage 4 cancer, and I was coming to terms with that and preparing for grief. ‘Sciatic Haze’ is definitely one of the darker tracks, one that reminds me of doctor’s visits, side effects from medication, witnessing rapid change to the body. As part of my processing through these times, I was also relating my feelings about invasive illness to my own physical problems, such as the chronic pain in my lower back that I’ve had for more than ten years, and even if it’s not killing me, it does take over my life sometimes. Along with editor/director Anastasia Cazabon, we gathered some archival footage that juxtaposed the body, invasion, medical examination, interplanetary travel, takeover, and changes of physical state overlaid with heavy machinery. It’s a lot about overwhelm, the extremes that our bodies go through via pain and illness, the attack from within, and then how medical procedures and chemicals can feel like another form of invasion, even when they’re supposed to be what will heal you. Although there are plenty of good things to say about physical existence, sometimes having a body can be horrific and otherworldly.”
With the video’s premiere, The Sleeping Shaman writes, “…after watching the latest video from the instrumental post-metal, prog rock and jazz fusion dynamic duo that is SARATTMA with the track ‘Sciatic Haze,’ you could very well feel sonically traumatized from both the sound and vision you’re about to bear witness to.”
Watch SARATTMA’s “Sciatic Haze” video first at The Sleeping Shaman RIGHT HERE.
Escape Velocity is out now on Black vinyl LP and through all digital providers via Nefarious Industries where the “Socotra” video is also playing HERE.
While the members are currently separated by the Atlantic Ocean, tour plans on US soil are being contemplated for later this year. Stand by for updates in the months ahead.
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