Tag Archives: Cello

ALBUM REVIEW: Jo Quail – Invocation – Supplication

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Invocation / Supplication (By Norse Music), the new offering from experimental cellist Jo Quail, is actually a compendium of two connected three-song cycles. The first, Invocation, features the contributions of Heilung vocalist Maria Franz, plus brass instruments, percussion, bass and a choir assembled from crowdsourced mobile phone recordings of individual syllables. Supplication, on the other hand, is a less embellished affair, with just vocals from Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari and Koen Kaptin’s trombone parts to augment Quail’s cello and sound design. 

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EP REVIEW: Forever Autumn – Crowned In Skulls

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Forever Autumn’s Crowned in Skulls EP (Self-Released) is raw, in many senses of the word. Autumn Ni Dubhghaill, the band’s creative force, seems to be drawing us in to witness an intensely cathartic pain-cleansing ritual over the course of the record’s five songs. Her voice acts as a vessel through which the ritualistic channeling of various primal expressions takes place. It is by turns painfully fragile and terrifyingly ferocious, but always fully saturated with unrefined emotion. 

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PODCAST: Episode #196: Duncan Evans Interviews Jo Quail at ArcTanGent Festival 

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Intrepid artist and writer Duncan Evans interviewed the incomparable cellist/avant-garde composer and metaller Jo Quail at the recent ArcTanGent Festival. Jo discussed her recent collaboration with Emma Ruth Rundle and tour, how her solo efforts and shows differ, the new projects she is currently composing and their possible future releases (including one with Maria Franz of Heilung), how she was commissioned by Walter of Roadburn Festival to create the acclaimed work “The Cartographer” and how she still utilizes music theory.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Darkher – The Buried Storm

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There’s a slow, mournful funeral march coming through the mists, on a still silent plain, on The Buried Storm (Prophecy Productions), the latest release by Darkher. Led by multi-instrumentalist Jayn Maiven, the album at times bears a resemblance to Neurosis or Triptykon at their most quiet and reflective. With each song centred around the vocal layering of Maiven, the instrumentation often stripped to cello and violin backing, it’s an evocative and understated musical landscape. Often bringing to mind Bat For Lashes, one that sings her siren song with a doom folk backing, this is soothing music for people who like it dark. 

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CONCERT REVIEW: Wardruna – Jo Quail: Live at Manchester Albert Hall

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It’s a sight to behold the lengthy queue of hairy Viking looking metalheads snaking around Manchester Albert Hall, assuming of course the snake in question was quite hairy and dressed like a Viking, which I feel is probably stretching the metaphor a bit too far. You’d assume that said hairy, mead quaffing snake (alright, I’ll stop now) was going to be finding its way inside to some sort of very loud and very metal sort of gig. You’d be wrong, as indeed despite the roots of the headliners in Black Metal group Gorgoroth the queue is in fact for the mesmerizing solo cellist Jo Quail, and Nordic Folk legends Wardruna. 

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PODCAST: Episode 19: Mikko of Apocalptyica Talks About Legacy and New Album

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Ghost Cult recently chatted with long-time Apocalyptica drummer Mikko Sirén. The band is in the midst of a multi-year world tour that has seen the band celebrate the anniversary of their 1996 debut album Plays Metallica by Four Cellos (Universal). We chatted about the longevity of the band, performing Metallica covers and other well-known songs live, their song-writing process for originals, his personal pre-stage warm-up rituals, collaborating on the new Sabaton song ‘Fields of Verdun’ and the progress of the brand new Apocalyptica album. Check it out! Continue reading →


Apocalyptica Live at Tennessee Performing Arts Center

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The Tennessee Performing Arts Center rests directly in the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Known for hosting all the Broadway shows that come through Music City, this cultural center is a venue that caters to a variety of performances. Including an occasional Heavy Metal show. The Finnish act, Apocalyptica came to town last Tuesday to celebrate the anniversary of their debut album, Plays Metallica by Four Cellos (Mercury/Universal). This acclaimed group of guys, known for their unique use of the Cello, came out with their first record just over twenty years ago and have been on the road all around the world honoring its notable significance.Continue reading →


EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Jo Quail – “Mandrel Cantus” Live

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If you stick close to Ghost Cult and follow our reviews, we have been extolling the virtues of indie artist and cellist extraordinaire Jo Quail and her new album Exsolve. With a tour booked opening for Myrkur and two exclusive appearances set for the acclaimed Roadburn Festival, her star is surely rising. Today we’re proud to share the premiere of her new music video, a live performance video shot in London earlier this month. Continue reading →


Jo Quail – Exsolve

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One of the strange facts about Metal is how limited the formula can be, at times. The guitar, drums, bass and warbler model stands firm for a surprising range of genres, from Black Metal to Death, to Thrash, to the NWOBHM… So, give cellist Jo Quail a round of applause for trying something new with her new album, Exsolve (self-released).Continue reading →


Watch This Incredible Cover Of Slipknot’s Wait And Bleed Played On A Cello

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Slipknot is currently on a break, working on a new album for 2018, and allowing their various members time to work on other projects. In the meantime check out this amazing cover of their classic track ‘Wait And Bleed’ played on a cello by the mysterious Celloshredder. We don’t know anything else about him, but he clearly rules. Watch it below:Continue reading →