The Axis of Perdition

The Axis of Perdition is a British cinematic industrial black metal band, from Middlesbrough. They are signed to Code666 Records.

Music

The Axis of Perdition's output comprises black metal experimentation with industrial music and dark ambient textures. The Axis of Perdition's debut album decreed that "Axis of Perdition plays something there isn't words for yet (exclusively)", though their music can be accurately described as a combination of black ambient and industrial metal.

Their sound is primarily based on distorted guitars, with black metal vocals, programmed drums, and discordant sound effects including screams and static. The black metal aspects of the music are digitally distorted, interspersed with atmospheric soundscapes formed by synthesizers and field recordings. The Axis of Perdition's tracks tend to feature shifting free-form arrangements that lack a typical verse-chorus structure and tend toward lengthiness (one such track, from "Deleted Scenes from the Transition Hospital", is over twelve minutes long).

Tapping inspiration from H. P. Lovecraft, Ramsey Campbell and the Silent Hill games (their EP "Physical Illucinations in the Sewer of Xuchilbara" is named for the dark deity in the games) as well themes of urban decay and mental illness. The Axis of Perdition are often compared to groups like Anaal Nathrakh [http://www.bnrmetal.com/groups/aop.htm] and Blut aus Nord [http://www.bagatellen.com/archives/reviews/001523.html] for their similar grim, urban industrial metal aesthetics.

Current line-up

* Brooke Johnson - Vocals, Jazz Guitar, Ambience. (also member of the band Mine(thorn))
* Michael Blenkarn - Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Keyboard & Piano, Programming, Ambience.
* Ian Fenwick - Bass Guitar. (also member of the band Mine(thorn))
* Dan Mullins - Live Drums & Percussion. (Also a member of The Raven Theory and Bal-Sagoth, amongst others)
*Leslie Simpson - Flotsam. (also actor: Films: Dog Soldiers (film), The Descent, Doomsday and Stage: director/actor threeovereden

Related bands

The Axis of Perdition is the focus of The Urban Desolation Collective, a loose grouping of like-minded bands drawing inspiration from run down urban environments and industrial sprawls. Such bands are thought to include Mine [thorn] , The Kult of Eihort, Phaleg, Sardaukar, and Undying.

Discography

*"Corridors" (demo, 2002)
*"The Ichneumon Method (And Less Welcome Techniques)" (album, 2003)
*"Physical Illucinations in the Sewer of Xuchilbara (The Red God)" (EP, 2004)
*"Deleted Scenes from the Transition Hospital" (album, 2005)
*"Urfe" (album, 2008)

External links

* [http://www.theaxisofperdition.co.uk/ The Axis of Perdition official site]