A//TAR Perform “Arcana” Live at Ceremony of Sludge
~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~
By Billy Goate
It was the last live performance I attended in 2020, before orders were given by the Governor of Oregon to shelter in place. I'd heard about the novel coronavirus outbreak and the still mysterious disease it caused, COVID-19, but was crossing my fingers it hadn't spread too far into Portland yet. This was, after all, the annual Ceremony of Sludge! A tradition for nine years and counting, organized by Witch Mountain's Justin Brown. It brought together some of the most impressive new and long-standing heavy underground acts that the Pacific Northwest had to offer.
Everyone was in good spirits. No one had yet heard about the notion of social distancing, wearing masks, or taking that occasional sip from your buddy's beer. For one brief night, we could let our hair down (well, some of us who still have hair to boast of) and have a good time, as naive as that may sound in retrospect.
Four incredible bands took the stage on that March 6th eve at the World Famous Kenton Club, where I've shot many a show. On this Friday evening, I decided to leave the Canon at home and just let myself enjoy the music first hand, as so often my experience of live performances is through the lens (which I rarely peel my eyes from).
Today, Doomed & Stoned is premiering footage from that very night, revealing the song "Arcana" from A//TAR (or Alltar, should you prefer). If you haven't encountered them before, their sludgy-doom and post-metal stylings, with touches of atmospheric mysticism and Near-Eastern sound, establish the five-member outfit as truly one of a kind.
You'll recognize some of the members from other bands around town: Hound The Wolves, Tigers on Opium, Sixous, to name a few. The Portland scene tends to cross-pollinate a lot, which I suppose accounts for the creativity behind Alltar's unique sound.
I asked Frontman Juan Carlos Caceres about how these remarkable doom fantasias (and "Arcana," in particular) spring to life:
We have a pretty set in stone approach to writing our music. The musicians will compose riffs and string them together into a loose arrangement. However in this band, one of the creative choices we make is that Tim will title the arrangement. Once the music has a flow or is sounding like a song, they will pass it along to me and I will take that “title” and use it as the inspiration for the lyrical content and story of the song.
From there I’ll come in with arrangement ideas and help produce the song into its final arrangement by adding vocals/synths, and ultimately shaping how the song plays out from anything like needing things to be repeated for a certain length, to adding other sections that help the music sound like a song and not a string of riffs.
This can make for a long process to the end result, however with “Arcana” it actually came together very quickly. If I recall correctly it was two rehearsals. The song originated from a riff Colin brought to the table and the band spent a rehearsal coming up with some parts. They emailed it to me along with the title “Arcana”. I was deeply intrigued by this title and the fact that the word means secrets/mysteries. I quickly dove into writing the lyrics and had a full working version ready to go for the next rehearsal.
Deep in our genetic makeup, are the stories of centuries, the stories of evolution, the stories of failure, and the stories of progress. I gravitated quickly to this thought process and used the concept “Arcana” to tell the story of a message hidden deep within us, that guides us, whispers to us, but we are only aware of it through intuition and practice.
As to the meaning of "Arcana" and the influences driving the four songs on the setlist for the forthcoming album, 'Live At Ceremony of Sludge IX' (2021), Juan adds:
One of my favorite books is 'The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind' by Julian Jaynes. He proposed that the human brain existed in a bicameral state until about 3000 years ago. The theory is widely disputed but nonetheless I find the concept of our growth of consciousness fascinating.
There are hints of this in the lyrics, along with hints of evolving further into our next state of being. I really like to use phrases that portray a strong visual imagery that the listener can perhaps interpret in several ways. With this song, I wanted the listener to be curious whether we are in the past, present, or future.
Are we conscious automata? Are we free willed? Are we guided by things planted deep in our subconscious and genetic make up? Unlocking the mysteries of our consciousness and our DNA to propel ourselves into the next cycle of life, is what this song is about.
Performance Stills by Stephanie Savenkoff
Deep thoughts indeed to guide this deep cut from an album that will surely leave its mark upon you. "Arcana" is rich with esoteric atmosphere, enhanced by thoughtful instrumental details, brimming with attitude, carried by transcendent vocals that stir the heart with its cryptic creed.
Out February 12th, Alltar's Live From Ceremony of Sludge IX can be gotten on compact disc, as well as in digital format (pre-order here).
Give ear...
A//tar - Arcana
Lyrics
Messenger Show yourself Deep your roots plant themselves Further than time itself Unfolding
Whispering in my ear Only things I can hear Forever unknowing Unfolding
Library Circuitry Loops caught infinity Only you only me
Unfolding Unfolding Unfolding Unfolding
Mystery hidden deep in the sea Buried underwater effigy There is a message carved onto it Only one human can know of it Only one human can know of it
Open ocean Part ways for us all Open ocean Part ways for us all
All knowing Arcana Genetic permanence
DNA AND palindrome Mirrors speak in parables Offering miracles Unfolding
Splice open chromosomes Rewire what we know Binary in revolt Unfolding
46 deep in me 46 let me be Shadow step out of me
Unfolding Unfolding Unfolding Unfolding
Mystery hidden deep in the sea Buried underwater effigy There is a message carved onto it Only one human can know of it Only one human can know of it
Open ocean Part ways for us all Open ocean Part ways for us all
All knowing Arcana We are genetic permanence
All knowing Arcana
Some Buzz
Bring your pain, your loss, and your love and place it on the Alltar, as we honor those that came before us. Emerging from the Pacific Northwest region, Portland’s Alltar set out a two-fold reminder: one, of the potency behind a doom, sludge, and post-metal blend; and two, of just how good live music will be once it returns. After the successful release of their début Hallowed, the quintet’s next move is to release a live record commemorating a stunning set at Ceremony of Sludge in their hometown, which saw a stacked bill including Usnea and Brume shake The World Famous Kenton Club back in March.
“Ceremony of Sluuuuudge, baby!” comes booming through the speakers from vocalist Juan Carlos Caceres, whose amiable attitude contrasts with both the Ozzy-like wailing and harsher screaming - both of which hitting impressive peaks on “War Altar”. The lyrics draw from a wide range of topics; in the bands’ words, “the triumphs and tribulations of human-kind. From the technical and artistic birth of society’s achievements in art and technology, as well as the rise of power, war, destruction, and the control of humanity.”
Live at Ceremony of Sludge by Alltar
One unusual feature of this release is just how damn good the mix is for such a young band in a festival format. Aside from the vocals soaring and shrieking, the drums pop and crash, the bass rumbles with menace, and the cavernous rhythm guitars are hypnotic. The five work seamlessly to stir the genre-melding pot, the contents of which contain pinches of Neurosis’ Souls at Zero, Amenra’s Mass series, latter-day Elder, and Cult of Luna.
The record itself is akin to a beast that awakens - it starts with smooth guitar lines interwoven with Moog synthesizers on “Arcana”, while by the time “Cantillate” rolls around, there’s an unfolding crescendo of crunch. And then, just as the audience recovers from the devastating closer, a simple “thank you, we’re Alltar, Glasghote is up next!” It’s over in a short space of time, but that’s the beauty of live albums - there’s always the replay button.
Alltar is:
Nate Wright - drums (Hound the Wolves, Tigers On Opium)
Tim Burke - guitars, samples (ex-Boneworm, Hound the Wolves, Electric Ring, ex-Skull Island)
Colin Hill - guitars, samples
Juan Carlos Caceres - vocals, Moog synthesizers (Tigers On Opium, ex-Sioux, Hound the Wolves, The Hungry Ghost)
Casey Braunger - bass (He is Me)
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