Click here to listen to ‘Another War’ off Pyramids with Nadja.
Pyramids are a fascinating band, although this reflection isn’t purely based on their music - there is little to no information about them available anywhere. I mean, we know they are a four piece; they’re from Texas and... Well, that’s about it. That the band are from the lone star state is largely interesting insomuch as it has historically been a breeding ground for musicians who have almost thrown different genres and styles together haphazardly (see: Roky Erickson, Ornette Coleman, EITS...).
Beyond this curtain of secrecy the real interest is clearly found in their sound which exists somewhere roughly between shoegaze and black metal. Although, to think this explanation sufficient would be lazy - for example they have little of the rhythmic trappings so identifiable in these genres playing largely in free time.
Their eponymous debut, released in 2008 on Hydra Head, was a brilliantly unnerving listen skipping between the terrifyingly-haunted and lush-warm sounds that swirled around the record. One of the features that made it such an intriguing listen was the contrast between the heavily treated guitar and drums in relation to the human voice. Vocals are an integral part of Pyramids’ sound, though not through any message – there are no lyrics – but through their textures.
Pyramids also proved with their first release a huge potential for collaboration with a second disc of remixes from Blut aus Nord and Jesu among others. This all leads us neatly to 2009 and Pyramids with Nadja – again Pyramids eschewing a title – and one of the most natural pairings I’ve probably ever heard, a really impressive release that even included *some* decipherable lyrics. I asked r. loren from the Pyramids a little about this project.
“Collaboration is what we enjoy most. Making something out of nothing in tandem with artists that inspire us to create to begin with. Nadja are currently one of the most prolific groups trotting the globe, and I personally have been very touched by their music. The pairing just felt natural, and the idea had arrived prior to the release of our debut album. The physical album was in the making for over one year ... Each band was responsible for initiating two tracks. One was to be almost finished, and the other barely started. That way, we could each put finishing touches on a piece the other had a heavy hand in, as well as build our own piece based on a foundation laid by the other. We recorded in our various spaces across the US, and Nadja in Canada. Initially, we were each to make sure one track was "heavy" and the other more "ambient," but it did not really end up that way. Regardless, we are thrilled with the result.”
As a final note, I asked what music he was listening to at the moment to give anyone interested an opportunity to explore some other artists...
“Currently, I still cannot stop listening to Katatonia's ‘Night is the New Day’, also playing is Celestiial's ‘Desolate North’, There Will Be Blood soundtrack, The Blood Brothers ‘Young Machetes’, Prurient, Portal, Marissa Nadler's ‘Little Hells’.