JEX THOTH – A Message From The Queen Of Doom For Psychorizon!

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Amon Düül II, Black Mountain, Black Sabbath, Blood Moon Rise, Blue Öyster Cult, Brandon Newhouse, Daniel Gonzalez, Desert Fest Belgium, Earth, European Tour, Hammer Of Doom, Heart, I Hate Records, Jessica Thoth, Jex Thoth, Keep Your Weeds, Kult Temple Oberhausen, Matt Jacobs, Mitchell K. Johnson, Nick Ray Johnson, Pink Floyd, Psyar, Psychorizon, Randall Dunn, Rock Hard Festival, Sunn O))), The Four of Us Are Dying, The Places You Walk, Witness

Nothing Left To Say…

Ever since the announcement of the ongoing European leg of JEX THOTH’s 2014 tour, which will be concluded tonight at Desert Fest Belgium in Antwerp, I have been most looking forward to catch up with the Queen Of Doom herself again. Our last encounter at the 2013 edition of German Hammer Of Doom festival was truly magic – an enchanting live set featuring tracks from the latest release “Blood Moon Rise” – Psychorizon’s Album Of The Year #2 – the “Witness” EP as well as the eponymous 2008 record “Jex Thoth“, dusky lights, candles and fumes of ancient Palo Santo wood filling the inside of the venue. Finally after the show we got together and talked the hours away.

Very happy me with the very lovely Queen Of Doom

This time around, luck wasn’t on my side and after hoping for the long to attend the Stuttgart show on October 09th, 2014 I had to pull off in the end after all. But would life be without awesome friends that will pull all strings to have a personal message delivered from the one and only Jex herself. So I find myself receiving a picture from last nights’ the show at Helvete Metal Club, Oberhausen – thanks a billion to DJ Iron Fist for this! Even if I’m not there myself, my spirit will always be around – and to quote Jex for some final words of wisdom: rivers are wide, don’t slide ‘neath the water…

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JEX THOTH – Blood Moon Rise

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Amon Düül II, Black Mountain, Black Sabbath, Blood Moon Rise, Blue Öyster Cult, Brandon Newhouse, Daniel Gonzalez, Earth, Heart, I Hate Records, Jessica Thoth, Jex Thoth, Keep Your Weeds, Kult Temple Oberhausen, Matt Jacobs, Mitchell K. Johnson, Nick Ray Johnson, Pink Floyd, Psyar, Randall Dunn, Rock Hard Festival, Sunn O))), The Four of Us Are Dying, The Places You Walk

Deep in the woods, hidden from reality and unseen by mankind only she comes to bury her prey underneath the withering oak. As the dusk arrives, she sees the blood moon rise, as red as her untamed crest. Calling forth and thither, the hymn echos through the night. She kindles the flame to see the least, arousing fumes of ancient sandalwood. Hope alludes while she follows path that will guide her to the places you walk – keeping her save from harm, yet not lasting for long. For the trail diverges into two traces, the divide from humanity is inevitable. Once the divide is implemented, only a pale apparition is left, leaving all behind, uncovering the secrets that lurk across the mountain and will lead her into a sleep, deeper than any men has ever felt. Tumbling henceforth, the soil depraved, skies blacken and the river ran dry. Cursed by mother nature, trying to keep the weeds from souring becomes an unending journey. Dragging away the redeeming rest, the promising forest and anything she holds dear – in the end only death is for certain and reliable…

“Blood Moon Rise”, the second full-length album of JEX THOTH creates an entire realm, which inherits the spirit of BLACK SABBATH, AMON DÜÜL II, PINK FLOYD, HEART and BLUE ÖYSTER CULT. The visionary yet timeless song craft combines catchy doom ballads with a flowing tapestry of jinxed, psychedelic Rock. Blurry sightings let past and future merge into each other, breaking the barriers of time and space.  Between shamanic tales and clairvoyance, produced by Randall Dunn (EARTH, SUNN O))), BLACK MOUNTAIN), JEX THOTH – featuring Danny Gonzalez (Bass), Matt Jacobs (Guitar), Brandon Newhouse (Guitar) and Nick Johnson (Drums) – spawn a piece of addictive, timeless art. Released via I Hate on June 16th, 2013.

Tracklist:

1. To Bury

2. The Places You Walk

3. The Divide

4. Into A Sleep

5. And The River Ran Dry

6. Keep Your Weeds

7. Ehjä

8. The Four Of Us Are Dying

9. Psyar

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JEX THOTH – RUHR RITUAL MMXIII

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Axolotl, Blood Moon Rise, Brandon Newhouse, Daniel Gonzalez, Gloryful, Helvete Oberhausen, Jessica Thoth, Jex Thoth, Kult Temple Oberhausen, Matt Jacobs, Mitchell K. Johnson, Nick Ray Johnson, Nothing Left To Die, Rock Hard Festival, The Devil's Blood, The Places You Walk, Warrior Woman

Having witnessed several live appearances of the Queen of Doom and her instrumental entourage, both in dark, smoke-filled clubs and in brought daylight on festival stages, it is easy to say that JEX THOTH is a band one best enjoys in an overcrowded hall with lacking oxygen, arguable sound and something of a colourful arrangement the venue owner might even pay a light engineer for. Almost a year to the day has passed since the pale, yet radiant mistress has proven her honours to the city of Oberhausen, playing a show at Kult Tempel with its sacral seeming interior and just shortly after entering the 2012 edition of Rock Hard Festival. Back than, the “Purify With Pyra”-show was fairly visited, giving the audience much room for a pleasurable live event. At present, the new setting at one of the Ruhrareas’ most popular venues, Helvete, a most uncommon sight awaits the entering guests as the night not only holds room for rocking and rolling, but also for one of the countries’ favourite sports: Soccer. With a live broadcast, many a metalhead in the upper bar room is as quite as they won’t be for the rest of the year, at least in public.

Front row view towards the sound creation

Downstairs one leaves the lifelessness far behind to your usual saturday night metal club, which is filling up fast after the soccer match has ended. For one, the choice of support acts of this show is beyond me, featuring two local Power-Metal acts that open up for the leading lady of the Occult Scene…well, whatever caused this match made in hell – or wherever and for whatever reason – both AXOLOTL and GLORYFUL are not unknown to the residential spectator. Suspicions that some of the, specially younger concert guests are only around to watch those two, won’t be far from the truth. Nevertheless, with the upcoming and for quite a number of people, including myself, long-awaited JEX THOTH encounter right ahead, the space before the stage gets literally invaded – memories of my first time at a ritual of THE DEVIL’S BLOOD come to mind: It was the same place, herbal fumes made everyone a bit more relaxed and the entire world turns into slow-motion. With their latest record “Blood Moon Rise” not even officially released – but tonight available on a special white vinyl tour edition – vocalist Jessica Thoth, guitarists Brandon Newhouse and Matt Jacobs, drummer Nick Ray Johnson and bassplayer Daniel Gonzalez clearly feed off previous publications, specially the self-titled debut from 2008.

Guys, bend down as the mistress kindles the flames!

Those who saw last years’ show and / or have the advantage of owning a promotional copy, have heard at least some of the new material, which appears very sophisticated. Within a year the musicians obviously merged together as a band, acting in a noticeable union. In addition “Blood Moon Rise” has a continues concept and its songs are well-received tonight. The evening starts with the gloomy album intro “To Bury” and my current new favourite “The Places Your Walk”. True sparks between the five apparitions on stage and the countless eyes in front of it do spray with the intonation of indispensable hits, such as “Warrior Woman”, “Nothing Left To Die” and of course “Seperated At Birth”. Weather its their tunes or the magic of their redheaded vocalist and emcee, illuminating a bit of the present darkness with burning some Palo Santo wood, the enchantment of JEX THOTH is ever present and bequeath a sweat soaked and fully bewitched audience.

All pictures courtesy of Daniel Kühne

JEX THOTH – Road Rites

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Brandon Newhouse, eclipsed, Jessica Thoth, Jex Thoth, Kagemni, Kult Temple Oberhausen, Luna Moth Speaks, Matt Jacobs, Metal Archives, Nick Johnson, Nico Kain, Nothing Left To Die, Obsidian Night, Psyar, Purify With Pyra Tour, Queen of Doom, Raven Nor The Spirit, Roadtrip To Outta Space, Rock Hard Festival, Ruhr Ritual MMXII, Separated At Birth, Slow Rewind, Stone Evil, Stoned From The Underground, The Places You Walk, Totem, Warrior Woman, Witness

In The Year Of MMXI

Taken at STONED FROM THE UNDERGROUND 2011, this picture was first published on my original blog and appears to be so popular, I even found it at austrian venue page Roadtrip To Outta Space.

The Queen of Doom clearly pleased at SFTU 2011

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL MMXII

The US-based band surely wins a bunch of new admires and as we get to know a few days later, this day turns out to be one of the most successful shows of their “Purify With Pyra” Tour. Another thing a true fan would have to miss is the notorious ritual burning of sandalwood, vocalist Jessica likes to perform, but it was hot enough anyway! The setlist includes a mixture of older and brand-new songs and my favourite “Warrior Woman”, well done.

Setlist Jex Thoth – Rock Hard Festival 2012:

Kagemni
Stone Evil
Obsidian Night
Raven Nor The Spirit
Slow Rewind
Eclipsed
Separated At Birth
Nothing Left To Die
Warrior Woman

Ruhr Ritual MMXII

One of my very favourite shots – taken at the Purify With Pyra Tour

The former club Saint with its sacred seeming interior is more than just appropriate for tonight, it is perfect. Besides this, the audience has to wait for the band to arrive for about an hour and a half. All musicians appear tired and worn out from touring Europe for almost a month by now. But patience sure is a virtue and worth while: After the mandatory soundcheck and the mistress still missing, lights turn low and from the first tone one can tell we have a bunch of professionals on stage. Burning candles, red&blue light and wooden fumes fulfill the audience and create an almost transcendent atmosphere. Though more heads are moving slowly and wont let the long hair fly high the show is enthusiastically accepted by all. By the time “Separated At Birth” is alluded, the entire hall fully lives in the moment. Just the right moment to leave for a short break before the encore…

This one was even good enough for Brandon – latest addition to the Jex stall back in 2012 – himself handing it in for his profile at the famous Metal Archives – what an honour!

The setlist included songs from the two EPs „Totem“ (2009) and „Witness“(2008), their self-entitled full length debut album (2011) and three new tracks. For those present that have witnessed other rituals the fact that vocalist Jessica likes to light antique sandalwood is not the news, but eating and offering REDISH to the audience was quite a surprise to most of them (including myself). Furthermore she transforms her spirit onto her fellow musicians: Drummer Nick Johnson, Guitarist Matt Jacobs, Bass player Danny Gonzalez and Brandon Newhouse, replacement for the most sympathetic swiss dude Nico Kain.

JEX THOTH – RUHR RITUAL MMXII

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Danny Gonzalez, Jessica Toth, Jex Thoth, Kult Temple Oberhausen, Matt Jacobs, Nick Johnson, Nico Kain, Purify With Pyra Tour, Rock Hard Festival, Secret Stage Management, Totem, Wittness

The heat and dust of famous Rock Hard Festival hardly fell on the landscape surrounded by industrial culture as the Queen of Doom was due to enter a true cult temple just a few townships away from the city of Gelsenkirchen. Oberhausen was one of the last destinations scheduled for the „Purify With Pyra Tour 2012“, presented by Stage Secrets Management, on this rainy thursday concluding the month of may. As a – more or less – local support Cologne’s Gallons Of Mud have been confirmed shortly for the settled date and the regional underground scene between the rivers Rhine and Ruhr arose with such great an honour.

For once luck was not on everyone’s side and after some sick maniac stole all FOUR tires of GOM’s drummer further complications had to be faced with the threesome forced to bring all their own equipment. To make this already long story short(er): The band did not make it to the gig due to a lack of transportation options.

Expectations where still high, for those who saw Jex Thoth play a few days earlier alongside the Rhine-Herne Chanel with a rather mushy sound and for all those who had to wait for way too long to witness a ritual in an appropriate surrounding. The former club Saint with its sacred seeming interior is more than just appropriate for tonight, it is perfect. Besides this, the audience has to wait for the band to arrive for about an hour and a half. All musicians appear tired and worn out from touring Europe for almost a month by now.

She is really heating things up!

But patience sure is a virtue and worth while: After the mandatory soundcheck and the mistress still missing, lights turn low and from the first tone one can tell we have a bunch of professionals on stage. Burning candles, red&blue light and wooden fumes fulfill the audience and create an almost transcendent atmosphere. Though more heads are moving slowly and wont let the long hair fly high the show is enthusiastically accepted by all. By the time “Separated At Birth” is alluded the entire hall fully lives in the moment. Just the right moment to leave for a short break before the encore.

The new guy: One for the ladies!

The setlist included songs from the two EPs „Totem“ (2009) and „Wittness“(2008), their self-entitled full length debut album (2011) and three new tracks. For those present that have witnessed other rituals the fact that vocalist Jessica likes to light antique sandalwood is not the news, but eating and offering REDISH to the audience was quite a surprise to most of them (including myself). Furthermore she transforms her spirit onto her fellow musicians: Drummer Nick Johnson, Guitarist Matt Jacobs, Bass player Danny Gonzalez and the replacement for a most sympathetic Swiss man Nico!

Pretty from the back: “Sexy Jexy”

Two things remain absent: Guitarist Nico Kain and “Warrior Woman”. Nonetheless it was a really great evening for the band and their fans!

Setlist:

Obsidian Night

Kagemni

Luna Moth Speaks

Places

Raven Nor The Spirit

Slow Rewind

Nothing Left To Die

Eclipsed

Separated At Birth

Encore:

Stone Evil

Psyar

JEX THOTH – Purify With Pyra Tour 2012

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Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen, Heavy Days In Doom Town, Jex Thoth, Kult Temple Oberhausen, Purify With Pyra Tour, Rock Hard, Rock Hard Festival 2012, Sound Of Liberation, Warrior Woman

Just three days to go, make sure to catch a show nearby!

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