American neofolk project BLOOD AND SUN return to the recording methods of their early work with their third studio album, "Aion's Light". Created by Luke Tromiczak, the album was recorded entirely on the same Tascam 414 four-track cassette portastudio used for the band's earliest demos. The release is due out on October 16 via Nordvis on CD and vinyl.

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During the recording of "Aion's Light", the songs were written and recorded in the order in which they appear on the album. Effects were committed directly to tape, while the limitations of the four-track setup, with each instrument narrowing the space available for the next recording, became one of the key elements shaping the album's final form. Tromiczak notes that every decision made within this process left a permanent mark on the recording.

Musically, the album brings together '70s folk songwriting, the spirit of underground black metal, and the eerie atmospheres of B-movie horror soundtracks. The influence of artists such as SCOTT WALKER, OF THE WAND AND THE MOON, WOVEN HAND, SWANS, DAVE BIXBY, EXUMA, LEONARD COHEN, and Norway's STORM can also be felt among the album's musical references. Bass, keyboards, percussion, and vocals are built around guitar foundations, while repetition and the raw texture of the recording itself add weight to the arrangements.

Tromiczak describes "Aion's Light" as a return to the roots of BLOOD AND SUN, while also saying that the album once again tests the limits of the four-track recording approach from the project's early days. The album's thematic arc moves from the darkness of winter to the first flowers of spring, drawing on the pagan currents that continue to run through Tromiczak's life. The artist also expresses his satisfaction at once again partnering with Nordvis for the release.

Three tracks from the album are already available to hear. 'Aion's Light', 'Life Lessons', and 'Gifts of Oneiroi' have been released via Nordvis' official YouTube channel. Presave and preorder options for the album are available here.

The tracklist for "Aion's Light" is as follows:

  1. 'Aion's Light'

  2. 'Life Lessons'

  3. 'Jacob's Ladder'

  4. 'Kiss the Wilds'

  5. 'Horrid Host'

  6. 'Gifts of Oneiroi'

  7. 'Axe and Mistletoe'

  8. 'A Nation Falling'

  9. 'All is Bloom All is Ruin'

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