WAER009
Full length CD, 8 Tracks, Sacred Gothic Atmospheres
This is occult inspired instrumental music (except on "The witch") inspired by the so called evil Simon Magus who fought Simon Petrus. The music is all sacred with hints of great dark temple halls, demons, mystical rites and churches.
Instruments like piano, farfisa organ, dark ritualistic drums, keyboards, harps and various string instruments are heard on the CD. Recorded 60 meters below the central of Stockholm in a long forgotten chamber among the tunnels.
Tracklist
1. Spritus Arma
2. Prophecy
3. The Witch
4. Deadman
5. The Garden
6. Arcane Knowledge » Listen to MP3
7. Simon Magus
8. Petrus
Reviews of Simon Magus (click highlighted text for full review)
"...Abnocto managed to seemingly effortlessly produce yet another stunningly unique and voyeuristic glimpse in their own domain of ultra dark music, which is as you'd expect as perfect as it is haunting. All ambient/industrial/experimental fans should add "Simon Magus" to their collections."
- Ivan Racheck - Chain D.L.K.
"I sit here now with the album beside me and cannot help smiling to myself. Abnocto makes me dream away in my mind into the darkest corners of the Christian church. Into the satanic and the ritualistic."
- David Purdie - Musical Zone Japan
"The very core of Abnocto are atmospheres that makes you feel like standing in front of immense monuments, experience true ancient magic and satanic melodies! An astonishing album. "
- Spirit of metal - Irma
"...defintely recommended to check if you like spherical dark music"
- Gothtronic - TekNoir
"Listen with headphones and be carried away by the music. Perhaps images of old cultures will enter your mind. An epic album full of mystery. Hopefully this is not a one-off project."
- Tas3 Radio - Dj Kotone
Full Reviews:
Chain D.L.K - by Ivan Racheck:
Grade: 5/5 stars
Abnocto and the debut "Simon Magus" is something I can listen to over and over again.
To say I was looking forward to hearing "Simon Magus" is somewhat of an understatement - amongst the numerous other groups that inhabit the more spiritual side of the dark ambient genre, Abnocto are probably the best of them all!
Simon Heath (Za Frûmi, Atrium Carceri) and Simon Kölle (Za Frûmi, Musterion) have with Abnocto managed to seemingly effortlessly produce yet another stunningly unique and voyeuristic glimpse in their own domain of ultra dark music, which is as you'd expect as perfect as it is haunting. All ambient/industrial/experimental fans should add "Simon Magus" to their collections.
Abnocto recorded the album 60 meters underground Stockholm. That is
something insane but I am sure it gave something to the music. The
underground and the solitude bring the recording to a very unique level.
The only negative and sad thing with this CD is that it should have been
released years ago (as it was recorded some years back). The music is beyond time for sure but I can only dream of what the duo could do with Abnocto today!?
I would consider this disc good accompaniment for reading your favorite
horror, sci-fi or fantasy novel.
Musical Zone Japan - by David Purdie:
A new star on the dark ambient horizon.
Abnocto is the name of the star.
I have waited for this release several years now and almost gave up. Earlier this year I heard the rumors though about a release.
A couple of years ago I wrote articles on the European and USA underground music scenes. In my article about the avant garde I had the pleasure to get to listen to raw material of what later would be this finished release.
I then made what I called a "pre review" (should have called it Preview) of Simon Magus. As I read that review now I must say I agree with it but also like to add a couple of things.
Here is the pre review:
(From Musical Zone Japan issue 46)
Pre review of Abnocto - Simon Magus
"Abnocto is yet another of Simon Kolle and Simon Heath’s side-projects. The music of Abnocto is not as ground breaking as Za Frûmi. It’s one of the bands in the so called "garde".
After have said that I would like to make this pre review to an homage.
Abnocto use a couple of instruments and (as far as I hear) stick to them.
The instruments are an organ, harp, lute, piano and only a few more. The music is timeless really but the feeling is the late Middle Ages.
Simon Magus was a mage who fought Simon Petrus! When I read about Simon Magus I understood the background to the choir’s and the music made by Abnocto. I understood it was about demons, devils, satanic orders, witches and great halls of churches and temples. This is Gothic music folks! In one song they break up and do what the two Simons do best: Create avant-garde music. It’s a haunting song I don’t want to listen to late at night. It’s like the song talks to me and suddenly it’s not great halls or dark orders the music is all about. No it’s about me here in Japan; it’s about the ghost’s that roam here at night.
I wish Waerloga records release Abnocto - Simon Magus very soon."
They did not release it soon after my pre review but now in 2007. I agree with my earlier writing that the music is very much timeless and everything else but maybe not so much that Abnocto is a band in the so called "garde" and not "avant". I was wrong.
I sit here now with the album beside me and cannot help smiling to myself. Abnocto makes me dream away in my mind into the darkest corners of the Christian church. Into the satanic and the ritualistic.
Simon Heath and Simon Kolle have together created an extremely dark sound sculpture.
The record as a whole is very well structured. The atmosphere stays extremely dark and threatening from the very beginning to the end.
Simon Magus is certainly a pleasant album to listen to. It is well produced and contains some strong tracks and enough variation. As always with Simon Kolle and Simon Heath the artwork is top notch!
Spirit of metal - by Irma:
Grade 18/20
Simon magus is a very good and dark Waerloga records release.
I've been really impressed with everything I've heard from Simon Kölle and
Simon Heath (both known from Za Frûmi but also other projects) in the past, so I was eagerly awaiting this new album and project. I had heard them on some compilations and every time wanted to hear more!
This is, as expected, just as impressive. Abnocto's music is gothic, very
beautiful and moving. The melodies are primarily influenced by folk and
sacred music, with elements of classical also. The dark atmosphere is always present and I just love the organs and the choirs. Two songs got vocals on some short parts singing in Swedish and Latin (I think). No translation is given which makes me curious.
The very core of Abnocto are atmospheres that makes you feel like standing in front of immense monuments, experience true ancient magic and satanic melodies!
An astonishing album.
Gothtronic - by TekNoir:
Grade: 7,5/10
Abnocto is a neo-classical dark ambient project of Simon heath (also Atrium Carceri and Za Frumi) and Simon Kolle (Za Frumi, Musterion). The album is dedicated to Simon Magus, also known as Simon of Gitta, who in early christian times was active in the area of Samaria with a cult of his own and formed a threat to christianity in the eyes of many early christian
philosophers and writers. By his followers he was seen as a human
incarnation of God. In later times he was labeled the cultural equivalent of
Merlin the sorcerer because of his supposed magical powers. It is also
stated that Simon Magus actually is the apostle Paul. According to passages in the bible in the book of Acts, Simon supposedly offered money to the apostle Peter to obtain the gift of the laying of hand to invoke the holy spirit. Since then his name has become symbolic for someone who practices heretical acts or more specific someone who pays for influence and a position in the church. The album Simon Magus is divided into 8 parts with titles such as ‘The Prophecy’, ‘Arcane Knowledge’, ‘Simon Magus’ and‘Petrus’ and breathes a dark atmosphere with oriental sounding samples, Gregorian choir singing and ritual sounds. The album beside that also has more classical organic elements with a combination of piano and violin sounds that go well together with the light percussion and dark ambient drones.
Abnocto is more neo-classical and gothic oriented compared to the
fantasy/medieval Za Frumi and the very dark industrial dark ambient project Atrium Carceri, but of very good quality and defintely recommended to check if you like spherical dark music.
Tas3 Radio - by Dj Kotone:
Simon Magus was created and recorded in the underworld of Stockholm!
Simon Heath and Simon Kölle are highly prolific soundscape-composers.
The result is quit cinematic, being able to stimulate your fantasy.
Take your time for this album, it’s worth your attention. Listen with
headphones and be carried away by the music. Perhaps images of old cultures will enter your mind. An epic album full of mystery. Hopefully this is not a one-off project. |
