Bell Witch and Aerial Ruin announce new collaborative album ‘Stygian Bough Vol. II’
BELL WITCH and AERIAL RUIN have announced their brand new collaborative album!
Titled Stygian Bough Vol. II, the upcoming album from the revered avant-garde doom acts is scheduled to be released on November 14th via Profound Lore Records. The album follows 2020’s Stygian Bough Vol. I, and continues the duo’s exploration of mysticism, worship, and sonic depth across four expansive tracks clocking in at just under an hour.
Recorded with Billy Anderson [AGALLOCH, PALLBEARER], the album explores transcendent experiences through various forms of worship. Over the course of four songs, the record examines “the connective threads that shape and influence the culture, mythology, and customs of all human societies throughout time in unique, localized ways,” says BELL WITCH‘s Dylan Desmond.
The cover artwork, painted by Denis Forkas [BEHEMOTH, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM], features symbolic imagery that complements the album’s thematic depth. Speaking about the artwork, Desmond says, “Denis Forkas‘ cover art immediately spoke to me with the symbolism of the severed head. In conjunction with Stygian Bough‘s aligning with James Frazer‘s book The Golden Bough, the branch of symbology concerning severed heads throughout human societies is fascinating. No doubt, this fascination has been shared by many of our ancestors as well as those yet to come; it is something of our identity.”
Alongside the album announcement, the bands have released the lead single Waves Became The Sky. Speaking about the new single, Desmond says, “we’re thrilled to unveil Waves Became The Sky today. It is a well-rounded introduction to Stygian Bough Volume II, with lyrical references to several albums in our catalog. Most predominately it recalls Rows (of Endless Waves) from BELL WITCH’s debut Longing which is, fittingly, where BELL WITCH and AERIAL RUIN first collaborated.” Erik Moggridge of AERIAL RUIN adds, “[the song] ponders the battle of scientific thinking compared to superstitious thinking.”
Listen to Waves Became The Sky here:
Also, you can view both the track list and artwork for the upcoming new album below:
Track List:
- Waves Became the Sky
- King of the Wood
- From Dominion
- The Told and the Leadened
To support the release, BELL WITCH and AERIAL RUIN will embark on a European tour this winter with support from 40 WATT SUN. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
Tour dates are as follows:
26th January – Voodoo, Warsaw, PL
27th January – Łącznik, Wroclaw, PL
28th January – Kabinet Muz, Brno, CZ
29th January – Arena, Vienna, AT
30th January – Feierwerk, Munich, DE
31st January – Club Pushkin, Dresden, DE
1st February – Sputnikhalle, Münster, DE
3rd February – Backstage By The Mill, Paris, FR
5th February – The Dome, London, UK
6th February – Cluny, Newcastle, UK
7th February – Stereo, Glasgow, UK
8th February – Corporation, Sheffield, UK
9th February – Rebellion, Manchester, UK
10th February – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, UK
12th February – Magasin 4, Brussels, BE
13th February – Doornroosje, Nijmegen, NL
14th February – Cafe Glocksee, Hannover, DE
Stygian Bough Vol. II is set for release on November 14th via Profound Lore Records. Pre-orders are available now and can be purchased here.
For more information on BELL WITCH and AERIAL RUIN like their respective pages on Facebook.
