BASILICAâ„¢ profile picture

BASILICAâ„¢

They use violins mixed with grindcore

About Me



"To experience the sacred. To know the essence of existence. To create something sacred. To build a structure of being and action from which life, culture, and civilization emanate. This monument, this sacred ground: a basilica.

"This sacred ground, this sacred action. A cathedral of sound is formed around us, above us, below us, encompassing the entire spheres of individual and shared consciousness. The surfaces around us shimmer, the air is charged, alive, and we breathe it.

"Huge arcs of melody and rhythm span the sky, soaring and turning above us, around us, and between us. We are connected by this energy, this sound. Precision: the most focused, the most powerful expression of love, passion."


BASILICA is a virtuoso chamber music group that was founded in 2005 by composer Ben S. Jacob in order to create uniquely powerful and intimate musical experiences. The current instrumentation of amplified string instruments and percussion is the latest step in the evolution of a music that seeks to combine bold rhythms, incisive harmonies, broad yet angular melodies, and towering sonorities into an experience of relentless intensity, a raging discourse on the fundamental emotionality that is at the core of human existence. The team of classically trained musicians that has been assembled for this project is dedicated to the perfection of sound and spirit that yields performances and recordings of uncommon precision, power, and beauty.

In 2006, BASILICA began expansion into the realm of multi-media performance with the incorporation of interactive video projection during live performances. In addition to this new element, BASILICA continues its work in growth and refinement of its sonic enhancement techniques, expansion of the depth and duration of its live performances, international collaboration with composers and other artists, and production of high-quality, high-impact audio and video recordings and other media. Future endeavors include performances throughout North America, including appearances at experimental music festivals and other performance art events.


AUDIO RECORDINGS


the forever victorious unfathomable great mighty one
Compact disc
Duration: 11 min.
Release date: March 10, 2007
Price: $10 (Includes shipping within the United States)

To purchase this item, click here:


Remember the Alamode!
Compilation of various artists from Shut Up! I Love You Records
Includes 1 track by BASILICA
Compact disc
Duration: 80 min.
Release date: January 2007
Price: $7 (Includes shipping within the United States)

To purchase this item, click here:


VIDEO RECORDINGS


Live at the Second Story on August 13, 2007 (Limited edition)
DVD
Duration: 90 min.
Release date: February 25, 2007
Price: $13 (Includes shipping within the United States)

To purchase this item, click here:


T-SHIRTS AND OTHER MERCHANDISE

To order BASILICA t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, buttons, coffee mugs, clocks, and more, visit our CafePress store at:
cafepress.com/basilicaproject

Or just click on the image below:


My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 10/31/2005
Band Website: basilicaproject.com
Band Members: In chronological order:

Ben S. Jacob : Director, composition, guitar
Joe Molinaro : Violin, composition
Derek Johnson : Guitar, composition, international collaboration liaison
Kate Withrow : Violin
Steve Weems : Drum set
Rob Dietz : Video artist
Alex Jacob : Website design
Sarah Atlee : Visual artist
Dylan DeRobertis : Bass guitar
Guilherme Carvalho : Composition
Christian Fillippo : Graphic design
Josh Olivo : Video artist
Federico Nathan : Violin


Influences:

BASILICA would like to thank the following for their support of the BASILICA project:

Evelyn C. Toh
Anthony Joseph Lanman
Stacey Duggan
Adam P. Schweigert
Brad Morgan
James Black
Jeff Stanek


Sounds Like:

From a review of BASILICA's debut CD theforevervictoriousunfathomablegreatmightyone:

“This is perhaps one of the most exciting developments in extreme music I've heard in years. Basilica is an extremely avant-garde, difficult to take in, superelite group of musicians. According to the liner notes, Basilica aims to ‘create the latest step in the evolution of a music that seeks to combine boldrhythms, incisive harmonies, broad yet angular melodies, and towering sonorities into an experience of relentless intensity, a raging discourse on thefundamental emotionality that is at the core of human experience.’ That's quite a mouthful. What do they do to [set] themselves so apart from the rest of elitemusicians?

”They use violins mixed with grindcore.

”If renowned film composer Bernard Herrmann (Psycho) started a metal band, this is what it would sound like. There are layers upon layers of strings,guitar and bass, not to mention blasting drums, to overwhelm and excite the listener. This is most definitely not music for everyone, but it is music thateveryone needs to hear. The basic backdrop is extreme metal, but instead of vocals, you get violins. The violins both [complement] the music and standapart from it. They are most certainly audible at spots and then go into the background to [create] another layer of chaos and dissonance. When they are atthe forefront of the musical attack, they much represent extreme metal vocals. Basilica's approach is akin to Ed Gein (circa It's a Shame… era) butwith a maniacal sense of composure and chaos that Naked City wouldn’t have minded to implement back in the Torture Garden days. Many bandsexperiment with violins to accent their sound, but Basilica is the only one with the vision (and stones) to make it [a] full-blown realization.

”This CD is eleven minutes long and has some very eye-catching, high contrast black and white artwork. It looks like a close-up ofa music sheet, or even some kind of quantum calculation… the amount of professionalism taken with the presentation and the liner notes reveal a band thatis most certainly serious about their art. Fans of the avant-garde, grind, tech metal and especially those of classical music need to buy this CD. Basilica willonly get better and more focused in time. This is a unique and wholly diverse exercise in yet another form of technical progressive music.”

- Chad Coup, The Apparatus webzine, www.grindingtheapparatus.net


BASILICA - From J.S. Bach: Sonata in G Minor; Introduction No. 1

BASILICA - The DVD (Preview) - Goodhands Teamremix

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BASILICA - Part XII

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BASILICA - Part VII

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Record Label: SU!iLY Records, BrutalProg.Com
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Interview with violinist Kate Withrow !

BASILICA violinist Kate Withrow was recently interviewed by The Apparatus for an article entitled "Female Artists in Technical Music" !Click here to read the article:http://grindingtheapparatus.net/ed...
Posted by BASILICA" on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:56:00 PST

BASILICA online discussion forum at THE APPARATUS!

Dear friends,BASILICA now has an online discussion forum!Our friends at THE APPARATUS Technical and Progressive Music Social Networking Community have been so kind as to set up an online discussion fo...
Posted by BASILICA" on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 11:04:00 PST

BASILICA Online Store!

Dear friends,BASILICA has recently launched an online store at our website!  Please visit the store and help support us by purchasing some of the fine recordings and merchandise that we have avai...
Posted by BASILICA" on Sat, 27 Oct 2007 12:02:00 PST

BASILICA CD feature and review

BASILICA's debut CD theforevervictoriousunfathomablegreatmightyone is currently the featured album in The Apparatus webzine!  The Apparatus has also published a review of the CD that you can read...
Posted by BASILICA" on Sun, 07 Oct 2007 01:53:00 PST

BASILICA on television!

If you live in the Bloomington, Indiana area, be sure to tune into Episode 4 of The Devil's Advocate tonight on B-CATS Channel 7 to see a live performance by BASILICA!  This episode will be ...
Posted by BASILICA" on Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:57:00 PST

Interview on WIUX radio on Saturday, June 23

Dear friends, Greetings! Matt Straw of WIUX radio will be interviewing BASILICA's Ben S. Jacob and will be playing some of our music on his radio program The Voice of the Voiceless on S...
Posted by BASILICA" on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 01:50:00 PST

BASILICA on BOWED RADIO !

The music of BASILICA is featured on this week's installment of BOWED RADIO, a weekly podcast program that features music made with bowed string instruments such as violins, cellos, and fiddles. ...
Posted by BASILICA" on Mon, 07 May 2007 07:27:00 PST

BASILICA music for sale on BrutalProg.Com !

BASILICA's debut CD theforevervictoriousunfathomablegreatmightyone is now available for purchase via digital download through BrutalProg.Com !BrutalProg.Com is an online MP3 store specializing in unde...
Posted by BASILICA" on Fri, 04 May 2007 04:15:00 PST

How to order BASILICA music and merchandise!

BASILICA music and merchandise is now available for mail order!Our debut CD theforevervictoriousunfathomablegreatmightyone is available for $10, including shipping & handling within the United Sta...
Posted by BASILICA" on Thu, 03 May 2007 03:51:00 PST

Who we are

We have just posted a new Personnel page on our website! If you're interested in finding out more about the individual members of our group, please click here for all the details!...
Posted by BASILICA" on Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:27:00 PST