Sophist – Betrothal To The Stone: Conception of Mephisto (EP)
For fans of Anaal Nathrakh, Mayhem, Napalm Death
Release Date: August 16, 2019
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby
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Highlight: #3 on Top 10 National Loud Charts – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, September 17, 2019 (Earshot)
“They’ve produced the music in a way that creates a dense, murky sound and a chilling atmosphere, but not so dense as to obscure the sulphurous riffs, the fast-changing drum rhythms, or the ear-lacerating impact of the vocals… Betrothal To the Stone… is a rough and raw piece of work, a necrotic, alchemical creation that does indeed sound like it was spawned in Hell.” – No Clean Singing
“The three songs proper here do a great job of putting vibe first (seriously, try to remember anything more than “harsh atmosphere” after this EP ends), and I like the band’s blinders-on approach to creating extremely ugly, grinding, raw BM. ” Bravewords
“Inspired by some of the greatest names of the Black Metal and Grindcore scene, this Canadian duo is ready to disturb our peace of mind with their unholy and blistering fast creations. Best moments of the album: Choke on Your Own Bile. Worst moments of the album: None.” – The Headbanging Moose
“In a caustic mashing of grindcore and black metal, Sophist comes storming through the gates of the netherworld to grace us with a truly skin ripping and flesh tearing sound. Their upcoming offering Betrothal To The Stone features six unbridled and unhinged offerings of grinding blackened malevolence that is sure to twist your neck leaving your head screwed on backward. Nearly from the onset you come face to face with pure brute force savagery that is never to relent until the last gnarled note pierces through your ear drums. Ever ripping, buzzing and maiming, Sophist offer up a terrorizing wall of noise one track after the next that devastates and scorches earth. ” – Cadaver Garden
“Exquisite DIY homemade hideousness.” – Metal Bulletin Zine
“SOPHIST have cleverely entwined grind & black metal like venomous snakes mating on a bed of putrefying flesh. Dive deep into this EP and your reward shall be deathly sweet.” – TrveNorthReviews
“Voici les ingrédients de leur metal : le riffing peut être épais, ou glacé,mais ils savent poser des plans de guitare répétitifs qui ont le don de vous choper le cervelet pour ne plus vous lâcher comme sur Betrothal to the Stone :Conception of Mephisto ou Choke on Your Own Bile…au final, le rendu de leur musique, plutôt « bélier » a quelque chose de viscéral, de profond, de souterrain. ” – Metal France
“« Choke On Your Own Bile » poursuit par de cauchemardesques cavalcades. Rapide mais contenant pas mal de variations, ce titre repose sur un riff principal bien entraînant derrière lequel se trouve le chanteur, tel un monstre s’élevant du blizzard (aux inspirations occultes venant principalement d’un texte d’alchimiste intitulé « Hermaphrodite Child Of The Sun And Moon »…la musique de Sophist est toute aussi insidieuse ” – Eklektik Rock
EP Title: Betrothal To The Stone: Conception of Mephisto
Release Date: August 16, 2019
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby
Track Listing:
1. Betrothal To The Stone: Conception of Mephisto (3:15)
2. Choke On Your Own Bile (5:10)
3. A Captive of Saturn’s Scythe (2:52)
4. Betrothal To The Stone: Conception of Mephisto (Bonus Instrumental Version) (3:15)
5. Choke On Your Own Bile (Bonus Instrumental Version) (5:10)
6. A Captive of Saturn’s Scythe (Bonus Instrumental Version) (2:52)
EP Length: 22:37
• All songs performed by: Sophist
• All songs written by: Michael K Sparks, Davis R Hay
• Produced by: Davis Hay
• Mixed by: Davis Hay
• Mastered by: Davis Hay
• Album Artwork by: Unexpected Specter
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)
• Album Band Line Up: Davis Hay, Michael Sparks
L-R – Michael K Sparks – Bass, Guitars, Davis R Hay – Programming, Vocals
Photo Credit – Stephanie Bell
SHORT BIO
Sophistry – noun – the use of clever but false arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving.
There is no deceiving with Edmonton, Canada’s SOPHIST, however, the duo of Michael K. Sparks (bass/guitar) and Davis R. Hay (programming/vocals) are straightforward with their approach to grinding black metal and as the name suggests, they are like the locus of negativity.
Conjured in June of 2019, the duo of Sophist have just begun their musical journey, diving straight into recording their debut EP “Betrothal To The Stone: Conception of Mephisto”. Obscure riffs are plentiful in this blasting grinding, black metal necrosis.
Dauntless, SOPHIST have continued to move at ‘frightening speed’ to write more esoteric and occult music, which will be revealed in the future.
LONG BIO
Sophistry – noun – the use of clever but false arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving.
There is no deceiving with Edmonton, Canada’s SOPHIST, however, the duo of Michael K. Sparks (bass/guitar) and Davis R. Hay (programming/vocals) are straightforward with their approach to grinding black metal and as the name suggests, they are like the locus of negativity.
Conjured in June of 2019, the duo of SOPHIST have just begun their musical journey, diving straight into recording their debut EP “Betrothal To The Stone: Conception of Mephisto”. Obscure riffs are plentiful in this blasting grinding, black metal necrosis.
Both veterans in the local music scene, Sparks and Hay keep the writing process simple, with Hay defining the drums and song structure followed by Sparks overlay of bass and guitar. Lyrics and synths are layered on top and the finished product is recorded. The result are songs that fall together with the feel of grindcore and black metal that is very fast but still has flavour.
Dauntless, SOPHIST have continued to move at ‘frightening speed’ to write more esoteric and occult music which will be revealed in the future.
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