It can be easy to forget that musicians are people. I don’t mean in the sense that they are human but more in the sense that they have multifaceted interests beyond just music. Some celebrities are huge sports fans, others have interests closely related to travel, a number of musicians are also poets and authors. It turns out (to the surprise of virtually no one) that Hunter Hunt-Hendrix, frontman of “transcendental black metal” band Liturgy is a fan of opera.
Liturgy, one of the most innovative metal acts currently making music, and one of the major pillars in the argument that metal should be taken just as seriously by music critics as indie rock, hip-hop, and other more popular genres, has never been one to hold still. After crafting their masterpiece (to date) Aesthetica the brooklyn based metal outfit rapidly began working with new sounds, including electronic and even hip-hop. This boundless creativity was exemplified in their 2015 album, polarising The Ark Work. The album itself received mixed reviews but even those who disliked it praised the willingness of the band to work in new, exciting styles that they had previously not utilized.
Now, we reach the pinnacle. On November 16th Liturgy will perform their new opera Origin of the Alimonies at REDCAT. REDCAT’s site describes the show as follows “The opera, which collides metal, classical, and trap music, is a meditation on the origin of all things. It follows OIOION and SHEYMN, a pair of divine beings whose thwarted love tears a wound from which civilization is generated, producing the Four Alimonies of the intelligible universe and the task of collective emancipation. This performance, the prologue to a multi-part opera cycle titled OIOION, will feature video, choreographed movement and a twenty-piece amplified chamber orchestra comprising Liturgy and the Sonic Boom ensemble. To begin, Sonic Boom will perform an excerpt from “The Integration of JC Meyers” by Echo Rose.”
Whatever the show ends up being, this is a can’t miss opportunity for fans of Liturgy or fans of metal as a higher art in music. Maybe even expect some new music from Hunter Hunt-Hendrix who released his latest track “God of Love,” the first Liturgy release since 2015, and may portend a new record.
Liturgy will also be playing another show on Sunday November 10th, at Zebulon – an excellent smaller venue that is sure to provide an incredible, intimate experience. Tickets can be purchased here, starting at $13.
Location: REDCAT
Address: 631 West 2nd Street Los Angeles, Ca 90012
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