AN NCS PREMIERE: SIMULACRO — “ECO II”

 

Simulacro are a talented trio based on the Italian island of Sardinia. They released their debut album, Fall of the Last Idol, in 2013 and an EP named SuperEgo this past March. In September, the UK-based label Third I Rex will release the band’s second full-length, bearing the title Echi Dall’Abisso (“Echoes From The Abyss”). The album includes eight “echoes”, denominated by Roman numerals, and today it’s our pleasure to premiere the second one in the sequence, “Eco II“.

While Simulacro’s roots are in black metal, the sound of their creations has been evolving. The conceptual approach of this new album was explained by the band’s drummer and backing vocalist Anamnesi:

 

 

“The album’s atmospheres mainly arise from ideas of introspection, meditation, and self-analysis. We use these ideas to better understand our place in this world, and our own individual spirituality. As a result of this introspection we try to foresee what we become when we let the events, our passions or mere conformism dictate our behaviour; what happens when we don’t strive for control of our actions and thoughts. these are all nefarious visions, that bring no solace. Yet, there’s hope in facing the lethargy afflicting the soul.

“The spiritual quest for truth, so personal, intimate and sacred, becomes one with life. We need to seek it far from light and from external influences so that our senses won’t be overwhelmed by excessive information.”

“Eco II” is rumbling, discordant, unpredictable, intoxicating. It seethes and pulsates with arcane energy, persistently ratcheting the tension, and yet proves to be mesmerizing and highly addictive despite the atmosphere of incipient derangement.

It’s also a song that’s richly textured and produced in a way that allows the listener to engage with each element of the music on subsequent listens — from the galvanizing and inventive drum performance, to the warm heartbeat of the bass, to the kaleidoscopic guitar patterns, to the inflamed, abrasive proclamations and angry muttering of the vocals.

“Eco II” is a highly intriguing glimpse of an album that has unexpectedly vaulted onto our list of the fall’s most eagerly anticipated releases. We will keep you posted as further excerpts become available for listening.

 

 

Echi Dall’Abisso will be released by Third I Rex on September 26. The album includes guest vocal appearances by Thorn (aka Gionata Potenti) (Acherontas, Fides Inversa, Blut Aus Nord, Frostmoon Eclipse) and Satya Lux Aeterna (Streben, Nahabat), and it features the visual creations of photographer Valeria Spiga and graphic designer Francesco Gemelli.

The album can be pre-ordered on CD at a 50% discount off the cost once it is released; pre-orders will also receive a free download of the album on the release date.  Orders can be placed via the first link below (and to obtain Simulacro’s previous releases, visit their Bandcamp page, also linked below):

https://3rdirex.bandcamp.com/album/echi-dallabisso
https://simulacro-band.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/simulacroband/

For a further glimpse into the album, you can also check out the video teaser below our stream of “Eco II”.