Issue No. 2

Unearthly Trance
Trout

"In the beginning there was darkness…" If there is ever an official holy book on metal, that's what it will read. Sure, Metal had its roots in The Kinks, The Stooges, and MC5. But it was those ominous church bells, the thunder and heavier than heavy riffs on the first track of the first Black Sabbath album that set the dark tone. This would be music about things that go bump in the night, things that happen in secret, gatherings and rituals.

When I first heard Unearthly Trance, I had no idea what was about to happen. I was a member of the Southern Lord Record's 7 Inches of Doom club, and their single came free with the latest offering, which I believe was Warhorse. Now for those who don't know, Warhorse is already a heavy and draining experience to listen to, so it wasn't like I hadn't been prepared for what was about to befall me. When the needle caught its groove on the vinyl and the first note wailed out of the speakers, it about blew me through the back wall. Intense, pummeling rhythms and sledgehammer guitar riffs nearly swallowed me as I gasped for air. I was hooked.

To me, Unearthly Trance is about integrity to their sound. When you listen to any number of their records, it's striking how much they sound like they mean it; that each note they play, they've invested their lives in.

Guitarist and "vokillist" Rion Lypynsky recently held court with MagnaPhone:

MP: Tell me about the origin of the band's name.

Unearthly Trance refers to the state of mind we like to achieve in ourselves and with the listener. The "frequency of the skull" gets in tune with the "outerforces". The term itself originates from an old Thralldom song.

MP: How Did Unearthly Trance come to be?

We got together because we shared the same love of doom/sludge/metal/punk: heavy underground music. We had no goals when we started except to crank up the amps, smoke out and riff out. We started UT because we wanted to create our favorite band.

MP: How does the environment of Brooklyn and Long Island contribute, inspire, or take away from the music of Unearthly Trance?

Living in New York greatly inspires the attitude behind this band. Jaded - yes, selfish - maybe, but weak - no! NY is a place of freedom and horror. My eyes have seen a lot already and I have this wonderful place to thank and blame. Long Island is a hopeless shithole for heavy creative music. Unearthly Trance is absolutely unknown where we originate, and the fact that we are invisible allows being creative and limitless with our craft. Brooklyn is the place where we play most of our shows and that is where Unearthly Trance calls home. There is a nice underground vibe there and people still appreciate loud heavy music.

MP: What inspired you to begin writing music?

The guitar. At an early age I became obsessed with the guitar. I was hell-bent on figuring out my voice in forms of songs. As soon I was able to achieve some sort of success with it, it became my life long addiction.

MP: Your earliest influences were KISS, Metallica, Slayer and Sabbath. Do they still inform your music? How?

Hell Yes! Ace Frehley's solos are still magickal to me. His phrasing is just amazing. Old Metallica is the epitome of well-written heavy metal. I always go back and revisit certain albums and they still hold up. James Hetfield taught me how to sing aggressively and down pick like a motherfucker. Old Slayer is just evil fucking music for maniacs. Whenever I need a dose of energy Show No Mercy seems to do the trick till this day. Black Sabbath is the root of Unearthly Trance. The dirty doomy gloomy dark riff. Iommi's riffs are massive. He is a true legend way more than Ozzy in my eyes.

MP: You now cite Melvins, earth, Darkthrone, and His Hero is Gone as influences. Again, how are they informing your music?

Melvins Rule. They blur all the lines of the music world's rules. They are a fucked up-ass kicking. Buzzo's creativity is endless. Crover's drumming is the blueprint for Unearthly Trance's drumming. Darkthrone is the only black metal band that matters. Darkthrone will never die and they are the AC/DC of black metal. His Hero Is Gone is a band that reminds me that a punk band can be a 1000 times heavier than some shitty sounding death metal band any day of the week. Lyrics with meaning and a menacing wall of riffs. One of my favorite hardcore bands ever.

MP: You and Khanate are basically the doom reps of NYC. What is your relationship with them? Do you write/interact artistically?

Stephen O'Malley(of Khanate) is a good friend. I respect his work, art, and mind. He's a great talent. Khanate is pushing the genre in the more 'extreme art' manner and Unearthly Trance is pushing it in the 'fucked up yet catchy' kind of way. I have no problem admitting that hooks still matter even in doom. Even if it is very subtle. We are not interesting in 'out dooming' any other bands and in fact we hope with our new record to remind people that we won't play by the rules.

MP: One of the images/inspirations you return to in your music is Aleister Crowley and his work. Is this a satiric jab at so-called evil bands that invoke him to gain street cred, or are you serious students of Thelema?

I take it very seriously. It's a huge influence in our lyrics and yes some songs are actual rituals in a sense. I make no claims of being anything but a journeyman. Magnetism is my religion. As far as evil I think someone using Crowley for that value may be missing the point altogether. As Aleister Crowley said, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law,"

MP: Tell me about experiences recording your demos and full-length releases. Has transferring your rehearsal/live sound been easy or a difficult birth?

It's been easy until recently. Our new record In the Red sounds the closest to our live sound yet. Very powerful and organic. We have fucked around with other methods, but we've come to terms with the fact that we are a live three piece meant to be recorded live, and that is how we will always do it. Sanford Parker did a great job capturing our 'essence' on our new one.

MP: You have been playing consistently for the past couple of years. To what do you owe your prolifery?

"When I sell you a cult you best pay me in drinks or the box of truth..."

To purchase all of Unearthly Trance's masterful releases, please visit www.UnearthlyTrance.com. This May they head to the UK to tour with English doom giants Ramesses. Go see them at all costs.