Araphel – Old comet transition (MC)

Conjured by multi-instrumentalist Santo (bass/drums/vocals)—known for his prior involvement in notable Italian underground acts such as Demonomancy, Into Darkness, and Thulsa Doom—this project explores the inherent solitude of being and the scenes of abject absurdity projected around us. With this EP, entitled “Old Comet Transition,” Araphel announces its presence with three songs that, taken together, are as much a philosophical manifesto as a musical one. The EP opens with the title track, evoking the path of an ancient comet across the celestial dome as a portal to gnosis. It represents both a beacon of knowledge and a humble reminder of the possibility to change and coexist in a world that does not fit our being, changing and refusing the toxic traits of living, leaving apart the “ephemeral fires” that consume us. The second track draws upon the myth of Sisyphus, as examined by Camus, in which for a fleeting instant at the top of the hill, the condemned man, unburdened by the great stone, revels in his fleeting freedom before repeating the agonizing, endless, and futile act of lifting it once again. As Sisyphus fights against the absurd, Santo finds both relief and power in seeing the world from a different perspective, embracing the absurd and feeling contempt for those who do not have the will to break the chains that hold them prisoner to an oppressive reality. The demo closes with a nod to Zemial—one of Araphel’s clearest sonic antecedents—by way of a faithful cover of “Fullmoon Necrophilia” from the band’s 2003 MLP “Face of the Conqueror.” Recorded in the studio and featuring contributions by members of Into Darkness and Extirpation, “Old Comet Transition” is a well-produced, superbly composed demo that foreshadows the impending arrival of an upcoming full-length release by this phenomenal new project.