Country : United States Label : Profound Lore Genres and styles : Doom Metal / Folk metal Year : 2020

Stygian Bough Volume I

· by Steve Naud

Composed of bassist Dylan Desmond and drummer Jesse Shreibman, Bell Witch trades in funeral doom, one of the most skeletal branches of the great metal tree. On the other hand, Aerial Ruin is the pseudonym used by singer and guitarist Erik Moggridge for his dark folk cantilenas. Stygian Bough is the new banner under which these beautiful people have joined forces. 

This isn’t the first time these dark fellows have collaborated, as Moggridge has lent his voice to the funeral chants created by the Seattle duo since their beginnings. This time, however, the Portland, Oregon folk artist isn’t relegated to the role of guest singer. The three musicians conceived their new compositions together. Thus, ghostly laments and monoliths of electric gravity sit side by side on this record, sometimes in a single song. 

Stygian Bough is a meeting that turns to the advantage of each of the parties involved. While the acoustic pieces that bear the Aerial Ruin signature shine more brightly thanks to the bass, percussion and Hammond organ played by the two members of Bell Witch, the heavier passages sketched by the duo gain in richness from the contact with Moggridge’s electric guitar. The production by Randall Dunn, one of the most renowned experts in the field of heavy rock, magnifies this marriage. The feeling of confinement that is usually conveyed by the music of one or the other of the two metal entities involved is all the greater for it. A union from which we can’t wait to see what happens next.

Latest 360 Content

Queenie | An Artist to Look Out For

Queenie | An Artist to Look Out For

Jazz at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal explained by Modibo Keita

Jazz at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal explained by Modibo Keita

FIJM 2025 | Programming Explained by Modibo Keita (part 2)

FIJM 2025 | Programming Explained by Modibo Keita (part 2)

Montreal Chamber Music Festival | But it was a nice concert…

Montreal Chamber Music Festival | But it was a nice concert…

Montréal Baroque 2025 | 4 seasons: welcome to the 21st century and the climate crisis, Mr. Vivaldi

Montréal Baroque 2025 | 4 seasons: welcome to the 21st century and the climate crisis, Mr. Vivaldi

Montréal Baroque 2025 | Zarzuela, my love

Montréal Baroque 2025 | Zarzuela, my love

Francos | The Candor and Kindness of Aliosha Schneider

Francos | The Candor and Kindness of Aliosha Schneider

Francos | Back in Time With Saïan Supa Celebration

Francos | Back in Time With Saïan Supa Celebration

Festival d’art vocal de Montréal | What’s On July 2-27 at Salle Claude-Champagne?

Festival d’art vocal de Montréal | What’s On July 2-27 at Salle Claude-Champagne?

Francos | Cardinal at The Foufs

Francos | Cardinal at The Foufs

Piknik Elektronic | Nadim Maghzal, Laylit Co-Founder : MTL Middle East Arabic Electronic Refinement, Pleasure, Fun!

Piknik Elektronic | Nadim Maghzal, Laylit Co-Founder : MTL Middle East Arabic Electronic Refinement, Pleasure, Fun!

Suoni | Sanam, Beirut’s Eloquence on The Brink of Danger

Suoni | Sanam, Beirut’s Eloquence on The Brink of Danger

Francos | Honoring Slam With Grand Corps Malade

Francos | Honoring Slam With Grand Corps Malade

Orford Musique | A Common Thread: Beethoven

Orford Musique | A Common Thread: Beethoven

Suoni | Watch that ends the night records Quinton Barnes + Jason Doell & Naomi McCarroll-Butler + Liam Cole + Alex “Bad Baby” Lukashevsky

Suoni | Watch that ends the night records Quinton Barnes + Jason Doell & Naomi McCarroll-Butler + Liam Cole + Alex “Bad Baby” Lukashevsky

Francos | A Montreal 1st for Emma Peters

Francos | A Montreal 1st for Emma Peters

Suoni | My Thursday at the Suoni: Alex Lukashevsky, Cabaret Noir…

Suoni | My Thursday at the Suoni: Alex Lukashevsky, Cabaret Noir…

My musical garage: interview with Ziya Tabassian for the 11th edition of Garage Concerts

My musical garage: interview with Ziya Tabassian for the 11th edition of Garage Concerts

Suoni | Chik White and Ky Brooks raise their voices (but not Jessica Ackerley)

Suoni | Chik White and Ky Brooks raise their voices (but not Jessica Ackerley)

Francos| A Heatwave for Tiken Jah Fakoly

Francos| A Heatwave for Tiken Jah Fakoly

Francos | Ariane Roy’s Rock Aura

Francos | Ariane Roy’s Rock Aura

Beirut – A Study of Losses

Beirut – A Study of Losses

Orchestroll – Corrosiv

Orchestroll – Corrosiv

Subscribe to our newsletter