Cocytus (The Pit)

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:35:19 -0700

Malebolge

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:34:15 -0700

Phlegethon

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:32:46 -0700

Acheron (Ante Hell)

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:15:56 -0700

Inferno cover

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:04:44 -0700

Photo taken with iPhone at Fairmount Cemetery on July 29, 2007 at 8:59pm

Welcome to Hell

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 01:45:37 -0700

I remember reading (scanning, really) my father's copy of Dante's inferno when I was a child; I think it was the one with the illustrations by Blake. Like most childhoods, mine was a hellish existence populated by demons of my own and others invention, relieved by occasional spells of euphoric delirium. Yeah, like most, I'm sure. I'm in the mid-point of my life, like Dante was when he became lost and met Virgil who took him through Hell. I am going through a hell of my own and others invention, and the songs of Inferno reflect that pain, misery, suffering and despondent hopelessness. I'll write more about specific songs later. Each song contains a single inspiration or main idea, but can be treated uniquely in each instance. Overall, I composed this music while organizing a novel structure around a mood: I would try something I've never tried before as a form. Then, I would improvise more layers and see where inspiration (or desperation) would take me. Then, I'd re-visit the structure, and try to extend and support the original intent. Finally, I'd add EQ and effects and levels, sometimes re-arranging or adding a few elements (but not editing very much, as I hope that each performance is as "live" as studio recording permits without punching or dubbing; every layer is a single take - sometimes after several attempts or practice sessions).

Pain. Misery.

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:52:54 -0700

The very depths of my soul could not be any blacker.

Chris Pitchford