Album Highlights
THIS IS THE REPRESS of the London based world doom visionaries LOWEN 'Do Not Go To War With the Demons of Mazandaran' via Church Road Records (UK) and Lay Bare Recordings (EU).
First pressing their sophomore album that came out on 4th October 2024 SOLD OUT IN A SEC!
GRAB YOURS BEFORE THEY ARE GONE!
The record comes in 2 variations heavy weight vinyl w/ a 8 pages booklet. The amazing cover artwork is made by the renowned oil painter Hervé Scott Flament
Clear w/ transparent green splatter (Europe, Lay Bare Recordings) and Clear w/ transparent orange splatter (UK, Churchroad Records), Lowen will have both variations available.
Lowen is a London based Middle Eastern progressive doom band composed of Nina Saeidi and Shem Lucas on guitar, with a full band joining the fold for live shows. The band mainly focuses on the displaced identity of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Nina Saeidi, who was born into exile from Iran in the UK. In Iran playing metal is illegal and women singing unaccompanied risk execution. The ancient world as well as its arts and languages form a backdrop for an exploration of the pain and longing of the diasporically dispossessed. Saeidi uses traditional Tahrir vocals, unique to Iran amongst her mournful wails.
'Do Not Go To War With the Demons of Mazandaran' was recorded with producer Lewis Johns and Kel Pinchin (Ithaca, Rolo Tomassi, Svalbard). Lyrically the album is based on one of the many fables of the Shahnameh, the Persian book of Kings, concerns the folly of rulers who jealously extend their empires despite the warnings of their own people. It is during this tale that he is warned not to go to war with the demons of Mazandaran. This chapter of the book forms the concept of the album. The songs Corruption on Earth and Waging War Against God are named after and written about the death sentences placed on women protesting against the Islamic Republic of Iran during the ongoing Woman Life Freedom movement that began in 2022.
Lowen have dominated the live scene with appearances at Desertfest, Doomlines, Masters of the Riff and Uprising Festival. They have also recently supported Zakk Sabbath in Europe.
Track 2 features Farsi and Sumerian lyrics, track 3 is entirely sung in Farsi, and track 6
contains a Neo-Babylonion ghost summoning incantation.
Track 5 contains a guest cello performance by Arianna Mahsayeh
Credits:
Vocals and lyrics: Nina Saeidi
Guitar and bass: Shem Lucas
Drums: Cal Constantine
Cello: Arianna Mahsayeh
Produced by: Lewis Johns and Kel Pinchin
Mixed by: Lewis Johns
Tracked by: Kel Pinchin
Mastered by: Grant Berry at Fader Mastering
Corruption on Earth
Najang Bah Divhayeh Mazandaran
Waging War Against God
The Seed That Dreamed Of Its Own Creation
May Your Ghost Drink Pure Water
Ghazal For The Embrace Of Fire