Raison D'Etre and related

[Zeno Marx]

I was listening to Tales from the Tabula Rasa (Early Works 1988-1991) today, and at some point early on, it was reminding me of beginnings Endvra, though Endvra was far better at it.  It's quasi gothy, crude neo-classical electronica.  Maybe neo-medieval would be more appropriate?  I'm such a sucker for the timpani, even if it is sampled and not real.  Being a big, BIG Endvra fan, it's fun to run into other stuff like them, though Tales From pre-dates Endvra by a handful of years.  Both also becoming greats of dark ambient too.

[Phenol]

Yeah, Endvra were quite popular back in the 90s as far as I remember, both in metal and neofolk circles. I got Black Eden and the Elder Signs compilation from back then, both released by Red Stream so probably the releases with the widest distribution. Should revisit...I listened to Mise En Abyme and Alchemeia by RD a few times now on Spotify and especially the latter seems to be growing on me. I like the dark and brooding atmosphere with long build ups and the trademark gregorian samples and metallic clatter, of course, so will no doubt end up buying it, probably just the CD version unless there's a good reason to the the vinyl.

[excruciation]

I do really love the early material and the early 2000's material but haven't delved into anything of the last 15 or so years, but maybe that will change now. Is there any real stand outs from his last few years of output?

[re:evolution]

The last/latest album Daemonum is up there as a standout of the the current era. Either that or Alchymeia are your best bets. Links below.


https://raisondetre.bandcamp.com/album/daemonum

https://raisondetre.bandcamp.com/album/alchymeia-2

[Manhog_84]

The last/latest album Daemonum is up there as a standout of the the current era. Either that or Alchymeia are your best bets. Links below.


https://raisondetre.bandcamp.com/album/daemonum

https://raisondetre.bandcamp.com/album/alchymeia-2

This thread made me revisit his discography. My previous critic about the "bloated soundscape" seems to mostly concerns the Empty Hollow Unfolds. It's still not my favorite, but I can second that these two albums are excellent.

[re:evolution]

The last/latest album Daemonum is up there as a standout of the the current era. Either that or Alchymeia are your best bets. Links below.


https://raisondetre.bandcamp.com/album/daemonum

https://raisondetre.bandcamp.com/album/alchymeia-2

This thread made me revisit his discography. My previous critic about the "bloated soundscape" seems to mostly concerns the Empty Hollow Unfolds. It's still not my favorite, but I can second that these two albums are excellent.

I have noted many hold Empty Hollows... in highest regard, but it is my least listened to in his discography. I guess 'bloated' is a reasonable description of that album not balancing its elements as well as other albums.

[Into_The_Void]

Did somebody buy the "Après nous le Déluge" 2CD and can tell me if it's well done or it's just a plain digipack?

[gusnan]

Is it just me that holds Metamorphyses as Raison D'êtres best? I just love the droning that in some tracks slowly evolves into pretty noisy elements. And to some extent we got more of just that on Stratvm Terrors "This is my own hell" but in kind of another environment.

Of course after that one I really like (is it the two previous) The Empty Hollow Unfolds and In Sadness Silence and solitude that has more of the "classic" Raison sound with monk choirs and church bells but mixed with some ominous rumbling. I guess Metamorphyses came in just the right time, when I thought that just that classic raison sound started to get a tiny bit boring.

[BatteredStatesofEuphoria]

Is it just me that holds Metamorphyses as Raison D'êtres best? I just love the droning that in some tracks slowly evolves into pretty noisy elements.

I don't think you're the only one, but it is a not too common opinion, at least among a lot of Peter's fandom. I think its a lot easier to swallow Metamorphyses if you enjoy noisier sounds, and for a lot of people that had followed Raison up to that point and weren't necessarily into his more industrial/noise side projects, it was a bit of a hard pill to swallow. No choirs, chants, melodies, etc. I wouldn't call Metamorphyses my favorite, but it has grown a lot on me over the years as my tastes have gotten more abstract.

[gusnan]

I don't think you're the only one, but it is a not too common opinion, at least among a lot of Peter's fandom. I think its a lot easier to swallow Metamorphyses if you enjoy noisier sounds, and for a lot of people that had followed Raison up to that point and weren't necessarily into his more industrial/noise side projects, it was a bit of a hard pill to swallow. No choirs, chants, melodies, etc.

That is indeed a valid point.

[Manhog_84]

Raison D'Etre and Stratvm Terror shows at XX CONGRESSO POST INDUSTRIALE

[Phenol]

I think I'll be going to the Congresso this year. There are many good events this year, and I have a lot of FOMO as many of them simply can't fit into my schedule, but this one fits perfectly + I know quite a few people in Italy and this is a nice opportunity to catch up. As said earlier RD was very enjoyable on the latest tour and I've never seen him perform with ST, so that'll be interesting. 

[xdementia]

Fucken GOAT as far as I'm concerned. I had the pleasure of releasing a Stratvm Terror record on my label too!

As far as raison d'etre the older stuff always rang my bell more than the later.