Don Anderson and Jason Walton
Known most recently for his work with the band Agalloch, guitarist and songwriter Don Anderson's most personal musical expression remains Sculptured. Beginning in 1996 Sculptured released the three-song demo Fulfillment in Tragedy, followed by their debut The Spear of the Lily is Aureoled in 1998 (The End Records.) On their sophomore release, Apollo Ends (The End Records) the band stripped down their sound and took a more harmonically complex approach to songwriting. This album included a revamped line-up with John Haughm (drums, Agalloch) and Jason Walton (bass, Agalloch, Especially Likely Sloth, Nothing). Shortly after the recording of Apollo Ends the band recorded a cover of the main theme from the film Suspiria to be included on a Goblin tribute CD. Unfortunately, this release never saw the light of day and the final track was included as an exclusive track on Phases, an End Records compilation.
Many years passed while Anderson worked closely with Agalloch recording a collection of releases and performing live with the group. Following the recording of the most recent Agalloch full length album Ashes Against the Grain (The End Records), Anderson completed demos for five new songs that became the band's third album Embodiment. Assisting Anderson this time were returning bassist Jason Walton (Agalloch), and new recruits Dave Murray (drums, Estradasphere, the Deserts of Traun, Tholus), Andy Winter (Winds, Age of Silence) and vocalist Tom Walling. Embodiment greatly expands on the musical vocabulary established on Apollo Ends. The album has exceeded the band’s expectations and promises to be a rewarding and engaging listening experience. Look for Embodiment from The End Records.
To hear more of Don Anderson's work please visit the Agalloch MySpace Page and visit the offical Agalloch website .
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REVIEWS OF EMBODIMENT ARE IN!
"[Don Anderson's] abstract thoughts and words, woven into dark progressive postmodern metal, are artistic expressions that few will understand. More Zombi than Emperor, more Amorphis than Obituary, Sculptured is heavy, dark music for the super-intelligent, weird, insane, or otherwise twisted." - Sue Nolz, Metal Maniacs, Mar/Apr '08
"Embodiment marks their overdue return, a clever and inventive blend of complex melodies and unpredictable math-metal interjections that entice with one hand and bewilder with the other...a succinct, finely-honed slice of cerebral metal that the proggier among you shouldn't miss." - 7/10 Michael Blenkarn, Terrorizer
"Anderson is either a lunatic or a genius. My guess is he's probably a bit of both." - 8/10 rockfreaks.net
"Sculptured's latest album is one hell of a progressive, doomy trip through time. Embodiment is so much more than any of the band's previous releases...Honestly, this is one of those records that you simply feel honored to listen to and I would expect this one high on the best of lists at the end of the year." - 4.5/5 Mouth for War (mouthforwar.net)
"Embodiment is a brilliant fusion of metallic heaviness, technically challenging progressive rock, and infectious melodies, a combination that only a paltry number of bands have ever managed to create." - 9/10 Scott Alisoglu, Blabbermouth.net
"...now after a long hiatus the band cements itself in the forefront of the thinking man's metal movement alongside Ephel Duath and the like." - J. Hauppa, deadtide.com
"A fantastic musical sculpture...it is a great progressive metal/rock album! This has started my list of the best 2008 albums." - 4/5 Assaf Vestin, progarchives.com
"On their 2008 release, Embodiment, the group also adds a healthy helping of tricky prog rock to their sonic stew, making Sculptured one of the few bands that may equally appeal to fans of both Death and Dream Theater." - Greg Prato, Billboard.com
"Weird prog metal, really amazing stuff." - Iann Robinson, nonelouder.com
"Embodiment is an experimental ride, very hard to get into for newcomers but full of first-class things for fans of really experimental music. If you are sick of straightforward three minute tunes, Sculptured is there to cure you. Anybody with some experimental knowledge or avant-garde interest should check this out immediately." - Olivier Espiau, Metal Storm
PREVIOUS REVIEWS OF PAST ALBUMS
"Sculptured is an oasis of originality in a desert of doldrums. If you really want to expand your horizons, shatter your conditioned expectations, and pummel your paradigms, then few bands can satisfy your taste for change the way Sculptured can." - Sue Nolz, Metal Maniacs
"Their marriage of melodic metal and disorienting prog rock is seamless." - James Hinchliffe, Terrorizer
"This band is built on a foundation of musical open-mindedness, romance and almost cinematic thought that attempts to tear at the seams of modern extreme music." - Scott Crinklaw, Ill Literature
"Sculptured is more than just a heavy, eclectic band. They are masters of creating unusual auditory experiences which you'll never forget. This is music for the next level of metal enligtenment." - Explicitly Intense Magazine
"Truth be told, 'Apollo Ends' is one of those records that's so impressive that you won't find many dull moments at all. Don plays some extraordinarily catchy guitar riffs that will remain in your head all day and will have you coming back for more and more." 9.5/10 J. Mlodik, Lunar Hypnosis Webzine
"I'd openly admit that Don is one of the most talented and creative guitarists to grace the metal scene." Review of debut album, 9/10 J. Mlodik, Lunar Hypnosis Webzine
1998 The End Records
2000 The End Records
2008 The End Records
Sculptured complete discography:
Fulfillment in Tragedy self-released demo 1996
Until the End of Time: An End Records Compilation The End Records, 1998
The Spear of the Lily is Aureoled The End Records, 1998
Maiden America: Iron Maiden Tribute 2CD Twilight Records, 1998
White: Nightmares in the End: An End Records Compilation The End Records, 1999
Apollo Ends The End Records, 2000
Phases: the Dark Side of Music: An End Records Compilation The End Records, 2002
Embodiment The End Records, 2008
Don Anderson discography with Agalloch:
From Which of this Oak self-released demo, 1997
Promo '98 self-released demo, 1998
Pale Folklore The End Records, 1999
Of Stone, Wind, and Pillor The End Records, 2001
Sol Lucet Ombibus: A Tribute to Sol Invictus Cynfeirdd 2002
The Mantle The End Records, 2002
Tomorrow Will Never Come 7 EP The End Records, 2003
The Grey EP Vendlus Records, 2004
The Wolves of Timberline 10 EP The End Records, 2004
Ashes Against the Grain CD The End Records, 2006
The White EP Vendlus Records, 2008
The Demonstration Archive 1996-1998 CD, 2008
Related Bands:
Agalloch, Especially Likely Sloth, Nothing, Estradasphere, the Deserts of Traun, Tholus, Winds, Age of Silence
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