AmberAsylum
is a filmic fusion of modern classical and post-rock, where arias and art songs
meet in a pale field of electronic disturbance. Recognized for their
contributions on albums from such luminaries as Neurosis, Swans, and Today Is The Day, AmberAsylum plumbs the
crevasse between noise and beauty and thrives on the tension and balancing act
between classical, post-rock and metal. Equally at home in the opera house or
the smoky, raucous din of an underground metal show, AmberAsylum’s
romantic, effect driven electric strings and traditional rock rhythm bed craft
a sound that is progressive and uniquely their own.
“Amber Asylum: If Cradle of Filth have
taught the world anything, it’s to never underestimate the appeal of beautiful
women to a crowd of metal geeks. Sure, Japanese-born porn star Saki St. Jermaine was signing
DVDs in the back, but here were four lovely ladies engaging in a dark fusion of
neoclassical and somber gothic minimalism in the middle of the second day, on
the big, brightly-lit Crash stage no less. Looks or no, Amber Asylum sculpted a
mood in that sweaty hall more bleak and intense than many of the fest’s
purveyors of comic book “evil,” born from a desolate yet firm-handed emotional
space that sure felt like funereal doom metal if it didn’t sound like it.
Percussive electric cello, tender and fierce electric violin sawing and a
syrup-immersed rhythm section draped around sweet vocals for the perfect
antidote to the cavalcade of pissed off males. Not that there’s anything
objectionable about pissed off males at a metal festival, but Amber Asylum’s
brief respite reminded the respectful crowd that there are many paths to one
darkness.” – Jeff Pizek,
AmberAsylum Line-Up:
Kris Force: guitar, electric violin, and voice
Jackie Perez Gratz: guitar, electric
cello
Sarah Wiener: drum kit, percussion, and piano
AmberAsylum Discography:
GardenOfLove/AutonomySuite/StillPoint/Serenade 2006, EP, Codebreaker
Records
GardenOfLove/AutonomySuite/StillPoint 2005, 10” vinyl, Bio-Fidelic
Frozen in Amber 2003, reissue with additional tracks, Neurot Recordings
The Supernatural Parlour Collection 2000, Release Entertainment/Relapse Records
Songs of Sex and
Death 1999,
Release Entertainment/Relapse Records
The Natural
Philosophy of Love
1997, Release Entertainment/Relapse Records
Avenging and Bright/I
Have a Bonnet 1997, 7”
vinyl, Eishaus
Frozen in Amber 1996, Elfenblut/Misanthropy
Looking Glass 1995, 7” picture disc, Fireball
AmberAsylum Contributions to
Compilations:
Tribute to Dead Can
Dance: The Lotus Eaters, 2004
Black Lotus Records,
Various Artists: Neurot Recordings I 2004, Neurot Recordings
Slight Touch of Grace
2003, Release Entertainment/Relapse
Infernal Proteus 2002, The Anja Offensive
Funeral Songs 2001 Crowd Control/Release Entertainment
Contaminated V 2001, Relapse Records
Songs to A Goddess: A Tribute to Tori
Amos 2001Cleopatra
Deprogramming Music 2001, Sacred Sound
Seireenia 2000, Projekt
Presumed Guilty 1998, Misanthropy
The World and
Everything In It 1997, Tursa
Other Contributions and Collaborations:
The Gault, Even As All Before Us 2005, Amortout/Flood
The Earth
Ludicra, Another Great Love Song 2004, Alternative Tentacles
S.Q.E., The Abyss Stars Back 2004, Influx Communications
Two Gallants, The Throes 2004, Alive Records
Culper
Ring, 355 2003,
Neurot Recordings
Dimlaia, Dimlaia 2003, Life Is Abuse/Stonehenge Records
Today Is The Day, Sadness Will Prevail 2002, Relapse
Lost Goat, The Dirty Ones 2002,
Tee Pee
Weakling, Dead
As Dreams 2001, Tursa
Neurosis, Sun
That Never Sets 2001,
Relapse
Steve Von Till,
As The Crow Flies 2001, Neurot Recordings
Neurosis, Times of
Grace 1999, Relapse/Play It Again Sam
Tribes of Neurot, Grace 1999, Neurot Recordings
Matmos, The West 1998,
Deluxe Records
Body Lovers Number
One of Three 1998,
Young God Records
Swans, Swans
Are Dead 1998, Young God Records
Swans,
Soundtracks for the Blind
1996, Young God Records
Neurosis, Through
Silver in Blood 1996, Relapse/Play It Again Sam
Tribes of Neurot, Silver Blood Transmission 1995, Release
Entertainment
Neurosis, Enemy of
The Sun 1994, Alternative Tentacles
Neurosis, Souls at Zero
1992, Alternative Tentacles