The Sagittarians

“To truly understand The Sagittarians, you have to be prepared for a reality more than slightly off-kilter. When they're claiming, ‘Spiritual Enlightenment,’ we're witnessing blatant malevolence.”–Eddie Smash.GME. During the winter of 2003, Neil Busch (formerly of And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead) and Alan Rosetti (formerly of VIET NAM) escaped the small-town stranglehold of Austin, Texas in a whirlwind of heat and exasperation. Only a select few were informed of these plans, leaving most with roundabout bits of information to collect and piece together at will. In the two and a half years following their departure (these have been referred to as the “dark ages”), the boys abandoned the United States (as well as each other) in search of solitude and spiritual cleansing. A chance encounter while visiting a Haitian brothel resulted in their much needed reunion. A few recruits were made, and in less than one month, the first incarnation of The Sagittarians was born. The Sagittarians first live performance, in the capital city of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, was a huge success among the Natives. This was a major concern to The Sagittarians as, The Historical Context of Vodou (most commonly known as “voodoo”) was studied extensively by the boys during their time in exile. The Rhythms, The Sacred Texts, and The Rituals of Vodou Culture were heavily embedded within Sagittarians music; it was only natural to anticipate the Honor and Respect of the Natives. After two small tours of South America, the founding members decided to relocate to the States in an attempt to, “resurrect the Death Organ Genre from the depths of obscurity.” The boys were forced to start from scratch, this time with a more minimal approach to their music. Simply put: The Sagittarians are an amalgamation of Elegiacal Voice, Death Organ, and Vodou Drumming.