Sonic Cathedrals Mixtape Series Vol. 1
Curated By
Altar Of Plagues

Today CVLT Nation starts the Sonic Cathedrals Mixtape Series, with each volume being curated by some our favorite bands and people. This series allow our curators to paint audio portraits of the sounds that have touched their lives & inspired their creations. We are super excited that Ireland’s Altar Of Plagues , the creators of this year’s epic album Mammal, have curated Volume I. They actually made two different parts, so that you can hear the fullness of their creative spirit, and each part is a true journey in sound. Find the complete tracklists for Parts 1 & 2 after the jump. Please read the words below from Altar of Plagues about what inspired these mixes:

Part 1 is comprised of black metal, without which Altar of Plagues would not exist. The theme running throughout this portion of the ‘mixtape’ relates to music I have been listening to recently when looking at Mark Rothko’s ‘Maroon’ series. I have always loved to listen to music in suitable environments (I invite everyone to sit and listen to Deathspell Omega’s “Si Monvmentvm Reqvires, Circvmspice” in their nearest cathedral).
This selection of tracks goes hand in hand with the dissonance, loss, and distance I feel when looking at those paintings.

Part 2 represents music which influences Altar of Plagues in some way. For me, these tracks communicate beauty, distance, disconnection, freedom, intensity, and both female and male energy.

Sonic Cathedrals Mixtape Vol. I by Altar of Plagues

Part 1 Stream & Download Here.

Sonic Cathedrals Mixtape Vol. I by Altar of Plagues

Part 2 Stream & Download Here.

Part 1 Tracklist:

Orrery. Untitled. Ruin (2008)
Arizmenda. Beyond the Shadows of Emptiness and Nothingness. Crepusculo Negro (2009)
Archaicus. Escaping the Deterioration of this Earth. Independent (2003)
Myrkr. Beadles of the Last Twilight. Drakkar Productions (2005)
Katharsis. Eden Belovv. Norma Evangelium Diaboli (2006)
Wrath of the Weak. Chapter III: What We Learn From Spending 120 Hours in a Downpour. Profound Lore (2008)
Vulvark. Lay Down and Die, Goodbye. V·n Records (2009)
Wold.An Habitation of Dragons and a Court for Owls. Profound Lore (2007)
V.L.E. …Of Woods & Waters. Independent (2003)

Part 2 Tracklist:

John Cage. In A Landscape (exerpt). RCA (1948)
Storm & Stress. Guitar Cabinet Stack Way High Is Freedom Or Gravity Gives Us Rhythm (exerpt). Touch and Go (1997)
John Coltrane. The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghose. Impulse! (1965)
Lowlife. A Sullen Sky. Nightshift Records (1987)
In Camera. Fragments of Fear. 4AD (1992)
Nirvana. Milk It. SubPop (1993)
Kate Bush. Hounds of Love. EMI (1985)
Irezumi. Untitled. Snowblood (2008)
Wollny/Kruse/Schaefer. Irradians. The Act Company (2006)
Bat for Lashes. Moon and Moon. Parlophone (2009)
Pandit Ram Narayan.R‚ga Kirvani. Ocora (1971)
L.V & Untold. Beacon. Hemlock Recordings (2010)
Addison Groove. Fuck Tha 101. Hessle Audio (2011)
Blawan. Fram. Hessle Audio (2011)
Burial. Versus. Planet Mu (2006)
Amon Tobin. Chomp Samba. Ninja Tune (1997)
Lightning Bolt. Assassins. Load (2003)

Cover Image copyright Altar of Plagues 2010.
Selected and Compiled by Altar of Plagues 2011.