This Friday, De Onderbroek, one of the most revered squats in the Gelderland province of The Netherlands is hosting its first event under the «Ultra Grotesque» banner. While we could not find a further description for this series, its participants surely suggest many evenings of drone to come. The fact that the performances will take place in the rather atmospheric basement of the left-wing haven, often packed, smoke filled, and usually boasting a very efficient sound for the heavier occasions is definitely a strong favourable point for events such as this.

The first of the two acts to take the small stage is Paean, one of the entities stemming from the Nijmegen based Haeresis Noviomagi collective, whose roster also includes Turia, Lubbert Das, Iskandr, and Solar Temple. While its colleagues delve amidst the many shapes and forms of black metal, Paean takes a noisier approach, opting instead to explore drone-ridden soundscapes with a strong focus on their ambient and atmospheric side. The first record of the duo, the «Bloemfontein» EP released last year in cassette form, focuses highly on guitar drones and feedback surges. However, the performance we witnessed from them at this year’s North Dissonant Voices was a considerably different affair. Stripped of the electronics that pervade the EP, their approach relied initially solely on guitar loops with strong cinematic overtones, to which T. added some intensely harsh vocals in the last section.

Headlining the evening are Common Eider, King Eider, the collective created by Rob Fisk, of Badgelore and formerly of Deerhoof fame, in which musicians such as Vicky Fong, Andee Connors, Andrew Weathers, and Baline Todd. The music offerings that have sprung under this banner are always dark and with a heavy leaning towards nature worshipping. Lest one confuses this description with some new age pretentiousness, it should be made clear that Common Eider, King Eider delivers on its premise with drones, eerie chant-like vocals, and complex ambiances. Earlier this year, Sentient Ruin Laboratories (tape) and Cold Spring (CD) jointly released «Shrines for the Unwanted, Respite for the Cast Aside» earlier this year, a record which features A.C. Way of Sutekh Hexen in its monumental fourth track «Litha». The dark drone weavers are now touring Europe for the second time this year in its promotion.

The event is set to begin at 20:30, with the entrance marked at 5€.

Further information: in this location, you can find the other dates of the current European of Common Eider, King Eider. Their latest LP «Shrines for the Unwanted, Respite for the Cast Aside» can be ordered on digital, tape, and cd formats on their bandcamp page, where one can also find the majority of their discography. Information on the releases by Haeresis Noviomagi can be found in their facebook page and online store. Finally, given the overt political leanings of the venue, its perhaps worth quoting the following statement from Common Eider, King Eider:

Common Eider, King Eider is in direct opposition to the Trump Administration. We are against racism, fascism, bigotry, misogyny, and xenophobia. We celebrate diversity. We celebrate and advocate for women’s rights, LGBT rights, housless people’s rights, environmental protection, and indigenous rights and indigenous land struggles. We celebrate creation through destruction.

We will be donating 100% of all digital sales to various organizations that represent these ideas, starting with the Oceti Sakowin Camp at Standing Rock. We will announce donation amounts and when the receiving organization will change. Thank you for all of your support. Love one another, take care of one another, and help those who need help. Blessings!!!