HeavyHardMetalmania: Stroszek Biography/History

sound graveyard bound by stroszek

Stroszek

Formed in 2007 by Claudio Alcara, the guitarist and founder of FROSTMOON ECLIPSE, one of Italy’s original, and longest serving Black Metal bands, STROSZEK marks a complete change in direction. With STROSZEK, C. is able to successfully distance himself from the old-school black metal for which he is better know, and use his considerable skills as a guitarist and song writer to produce music that is richly melodic, hauntingly melancholic, and at times, a crushingly sad commentary on his innermost thoughts and life experiences.

A Werner Herzog's movie (last seen by Ian Curtis before committing suicide) gives the name of the band, when, in 2007, C. decided to gather and give a final form to some tracks which had not found their way onto Frostmoon Eclipse album "Dead And Forever Gone". The idea is to follow the path of musicians like Townes Van Zandt and Mickey Newbury. The first album was released by God Is Myth Records (which had inlcluded the song "The Night Porter" in the comp. "Absence Of Light") and is titled "Songs of Remorse". Later, the song "Land des Schweigens und Dunkelheit" is included in the 2-CD comp. "Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer (Pest.prod / Prophecy Prod.).

Then, in 2009, the band participates in the "Lovecraft Series" of God Is Myth Records, a 3 "(limited to 100 copies) entitled "The Wild Hunt" is released, inspired by the novel "The Hound" of the writer from Providence. Unlike the previous (and the following) stuff, this one features 4 tracks recorded with just guitar and vocals, and a few piano notes. In the same year, the second album (the last for God Is Myth Records) "Life Failures Made Music ", which finally defines STROSZEK's style.

In Mid 2011, Stroszek signed with Hypnotic Dirge Records to release his third full-length album 'Sound Graveyard Bound' in the latter part of the year. Building upon the foundations laid with the first two full-length albums, Sound Graveyard Bound sees Stroszek's vision reach a pinnacle and defining sound. The album mixes atmospheric acoustic soundscapes with harsher guitar tones with beautiful melodies then layered over this mix to create a thick and mature sound, full of substance.

Comments Alcara “I wouldn’t call STROSZEK a ‘side project’ as such, it’s really just my material; something that has been inside me for a long time. The album title “Songs of Remorse” is fairly indicative of the subject matter. A friend asked me to define the style, and when I couldn’t she described it as ‘long drives along deserted highways with just your own thoughts for company’. She nailed the feel of the album exactly”.

Hypnotic Dirge Records signs acoustic project 'Stroszek'

Hypnotic Dirge has added the Italian one man acoustic project Stroszek to its lineup. Stroszek is the brainchild of Claudio Alcara, known for being the bass player in the influential and long standing Italian Black Metal band 'Frostmoon Eclipse'. With Stroszek, Claudio is able to create the music he had always envisioned, stating "I wouldn't call Stroszek a side project as such, it's just really my material, something that's been inside me for a long time." Already at this point, Stroszek has released two full-length albums through the American label 'God is Myth'. Through Hypnotic Dirge Records, Stroszek will release his third full-length album 'Sound Graveyard Bound' in the latter half of 2011 [Pending Release: December 2011] which includes a cover of country artist - Mike Johnson's track 'If the world hadn't gone insane'. Also citing Johnny Cash as an influence, as well as his writing style with Frostmoon Eclipse, there is no denying that Claudio Alcara of Stroszek has eclectic music tastes - something which we encourage through HDR! You can listen to music from Stroszek including tracks from the upcoming album at the new STROSZEK profile. Keep posted to that page as well for new developments as we near the release of the new Stroszek album SOUND GRAVEYARD BOUND.

LINK: HypnoticDirgeRecords Stroszek