ARD - Take Up My Bones
The theme that has inspired mastermind Mark Deeks would easily fit into the black metal mould were it not for the holy man. This particularly harsh style has a long history in the wake of BATHORY’s pioneering works of being deeply rooted in the native traditions of their homelands. Countless Norwegian, Icelandic, and Swedish bands referring to the myths, sagas, and history of the Viking age offer a strong case in point.

Yet ARÐ transfer this artistic quest for heritage and identity upon a solid doom foundation, which in itself constitutes a new approach. And while the topics of prophecy, funeral, and hermitage related to St. Cuthbert are quite suitable for the doom genre, which often deals with death, melancholy, and sorrow, the soul-search through history and time on "Take Up My Bones" reaches far deeper than mere gothic ornamentation.

While the early medieval histories of Europe's Scandinavian North and neighbouring Scotland have been rediscovered, glorified, and blended with nationalistic politics during and following the 19th century romantic movement, Northumbria's past has received surprisingly little attention – despite this beautiful land between two seas having been a flowering cultural focal point for centuries; with vectors of influence incoming and outgoing from and to all over Europe and beyond.

The early medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria that inspired ARÐ was far larger than the historic English county Northumberland implies. After the dynastic fusion of the older kingdoms of Deira and Mercia in the early seventh century, Northumbria reached at its greatest expansion in the east from the River Humber, from which it took its name ("North of the Humber") and the river Mersey in the west of what is now Northern England. Its northern territories included the southern half of Galloway and reached westwards to the southern shore of the Firth of Forth above Edinburgh, which later in medieval times became part of the kingdom of Scotland.

Before the Germanic warriors arrived, at first as a part of the Roman armies and later as conquerors, the Romans had subjugated the local population of Brittonic Votadini, speakers of a Celtic language. Rome's legions brought units from across the empire as far away as archers from Syria to what is now the north of England. The name of the Votadini resounds in the Old Welsh poem "Y Gododdin", which describes a battle between the Britons and the Saxon invaders of these lands that the latter named Northumbria. This epic poem might contain the earliest reference to a pseudo-historic character whom the Normans centuries later called King Arthur in the lines: "He fed black ravens on the rampart of a fortress – Though he was no Arthur".

Yet the Romans had left another legacy that firmly took root in neighbouring Ireland and soon began to affect the new Germanic rulers of these northern lands as well as ultimately inspiring the tale of "Take Up My Bones": Christianity. The early medieval coastal monasteries of Whithorn in the west and Lindisfarne to the east bear witness to this transition. It is in Lindisfarne on Holy Island in the time after the devastating Viking attack from across the sea in the year 793 where the story of the remains of St. Cuthbert begins: a 200-year journey that saw the saint's remains finally reburied in the cathedral of Durham. The legends and mystery of the translation of the saint's relics such as the refusal of his coffin to be moved or the lack of corruption upon his corpse after decades shape the core of this conceptual musical tale.

With crushing glacial-paced doom, monastic sounding chants and choirs, and sorrowful yet epic melodies, ARÐ have found the perfect musical expression to tell a tale of their homelands.

Mark Deeks, who earned his PhD in Philosophy on the topic of "National Identity in Northern and Eastern European Heavy Metal", is also a member of leading UK black metal stalwarts WINTERFYLLETH and keeps himself busy as a musical director, arranger, piano coach, and conductor as well as a best selling author. On "Take Up My Bones", Mark is supported by WOLCENSMEN mastermind Dan Capp on guitars and backing vocals. He is also joined by ATAVIST drummer Callum Cox, and a spellbinding performance from cellist Jo Quail (MY DYING BRIDE et al.) delivers the coup de grace.

With "Take Up My Bones", ARÐ offer deep and fascinating doom metal that musically stands out with its monastic soundscapes while also masterfully telling a story rooted in a magic place that has been called home by many cultures, which shaped a modern identity that builds on the rich heritage of centuries.

Release date: February 18, 2022

Tracklist

1. Burden Foretold (6:54)
2. Take Up My Bones (6:19)
3. Raise then the Incorrupt Body (9:01)
4. Boughs of Trees (5:56)
5. Banner of the Saint (6:10)
6. Only Three Shall Know (9:09)