Amos/Anon Newsletter Interview

Since 2005 [amos/anon], brainchild of this newsletters editor Peter-James Dries, have remained in obscurity, covertly planting their music around the country, hiding their albums and waiting patiently for unsuspecting victims to stumble upon it. The music, variously described as Progressive Doom Metal and Gothic Industrial, is dark, haunting and brooding. Thanks to Peter for answering the following questions:

What is new in the world of [Amos/Anon]?

Last year saw the release of Thanatos, which was an album I was really proud of. Beneath the Pound of Flesh has just been released. I had planned to work with Paraffin on their debut release, but life got in the way.

Now I’m having a bit of time to myself to kind of refresh and recuperate.

Tell us about the new album

Beneath the Pound of Flesh is [amos/anon]’s third stripped back, semi-acoustic release and the third to feature artwork from Jessicka Cannibal at Visceral Photography.

It’s a thematic sequel to the last acoustic release, Songs of a Tortured Soul. Where Songs of a Tortured Soul was about throwing away the world and descending into darkness, Beneath the Pound of Flesh is about leaving the vicious cycle of self-destruction.

I’d just finished all the tracking when I lost my youngest brother. The album is dedicated to him.

How was the recording of this album?

After finishing Thanatos last year I took time to look back over everything I’ve done, especially the unreleased stuff, and saw things through new eyes, with a different perspective and found I still feel the same.

Looking back Beneath the Pound of Flesh was a lot easier than making Songs of a Tortured Soul and Thanatos. It took the least time to record out of anything else to date, but that’s because some of those songs have been around for so long. Songs like Somaticate, which I wrote back in 2010 during the recording sessions for the Lachrymist, and I wrote Saturnine in high school. It was the second song I ever wrote.

What is your long term goal?

I never started out with a particular goal in mind. If you expect nothing then everything that comes is a pleasant surprise. I know I’m not striving for fame. I came to terms with the fact that my music isn’t for everyone. [amos/anon] will never gain mainstream acceptance. I’ve got a small but dedicated fan base, who I am grateful for, and I’m pleased to share pieces of my soul with them, five or six songs at a time.

What can we expect to see from [amos/anon] over the next year?

Next year, I’ve been doing this whole [amos/anon] thing for ten years. I know the day is coming where I have to decide what I want out of life and out of this project. Do I hang up the guitar and grow up, or do I keep putting pieces of myself out there in the search for something nameless and unattainable?

Beneath the Pound of Flesh is available for stream and download from the [amos/anon] Bandcamp (http://amosanon.bandcamp.com/).