Novae Militae | Topheth | 2020

French Orthodox/Occult Black Metal

April 23rd marks the death date of Elephant’s Foot aka Topheth. What started in December 2009 was buried today after careful consideration.

I’ve realized I did a full circle with this project of mine that started as an experiment - it evolved from a small noise act Arachnofobia Asylum and with the last album and “Campos de ✞“, it returned to noise. Full circle. I don’t know where to go from this point and it’s not the question of (lack of) inspiration - it seems it’s a logical thing to stop right now before I decide to create an album just for the sake of album creation. It doesn’t work that way for me.

So, I bid you farewell. I’ll leave the e-mail and Bandcamp intact, but this TUMBLR page and Facebook page will be deleted at some point. As a parting gift, I’ve set up all the releases, including latest album to be name-your-price download.

Thank you all for a great ride that lasted more than five years.

It's been more than a year since the last update on this site. I was quite busy with other artistic projects, but now, the wait is over, the new album will be available soon - prepare for "Santísima Muerte"! TOPHETH's fifth release, fourth full-length album "Santísima Muerte" will indeed be something different. Of course, the main vein of TOPHETH's records will be left untouched; I'll stay true to ambient, atmospheric tracks, but I will dwelve deeper into uncharted musical territories.  Also, thematically, this album may be a bit different than those that came before it - while the first four releases were about ancient mythology, this one will venture into the (under)world of Mexico and it will be the ode to wonderful, yet maybe strange customs of certain population of Mexican people. More information about the album will be available when the time comes.

In less than 24 hours, first digital copy of "ALO" was sold. This is pretty remarkable and I will use this space to explain why. 

First of all, I need to send a huge thanks to Melaney who bought it (and guess what, I don't even know the person and I didn't persuade the person to buy it), it means a lot to me from a different perspectives. Looks like music talks on its own and it talked straight to her.

This purchase done by Melaney is actually the second one in Topheth's history. Only one person before her pinched up some cash to support Topheth. I don't mind... releases are offered as they are.  

But here comes the questions that some people already asked: why is this first Topheth's release that's not been offered for free or at least as no-minimum-name-your-price download?

When I've started working on Topheth back in 2009, first of all, I've wanted to make as many people as possible know about this one. I wasn't really into selling it, because it was an experiment (still in development) and I couldn't really pinpoint what it will become of it and it woule be cheating in my honest opinion if I advertised it as this or that. Therefore, I let people judge and download or not.

As the time passed, my vision became more clear, more effort was put into this and I was working harder on releases. While I was constructing "ALO", or to be more precise, while I was brainstorming it, Sean Fitzgerald also joined in as creative force behind the awesome cover. He created one of the best covers I've seen in my life and probably one of the top 3 of any Bosnian rock'n'roll (speaking loosely) act. 

Strivve Recordings joined in later and wanted to help out Topheth by finally releasing its music in hard copy. When small label picks up a release, its owner cash out the money (no matter how much, we're talking about effort here) to publish the release. It would be unfair toward the label if I offered people a free release before actual hard copies are made, wouldn't it?. There is no doubt in the fact price might get lowered down when the hard copy release is sold, but then again, not to make Melaney as the first (and hopefully, not the last) dissapointed, you've helped me as an artist in every way by purchasing a digital copy. 

It's not about the money, it's about attitude and the will to support and help out the artist you love. I don't know about you, but here in the Valley of Hinnom (Bosnia and Herzegovina), 3 euros are equal 2 beers or 3 coffees. Two packs of cheapest ciggarettes. And when you buy an album, it's something worthy. I always consider music the most important. Before t-shirts and any other merch, music is what we are all here for. 

Therefore, I will not bother you anymore and I will express my deepest gratitude to whoever today, in these dark times, supports Topheth or any other band by paying and playing their music. You are not the reason why we play, but you're certainly ONE HUGE MOTIVATION for all of us!

 Recorded over the span of three months with a few months of preparation, "ALO" represents Topheth's dive into droning soundscapes inspired by Native American mythology. Describing this album as collection of soundscapes can be done in a very loose way. More than a soundscape, it is a wall of sound continuously pushing forward. 

Three tracks with distinctive sound all tell their own tale... ALO was in no way limited by any kind of genre nor production values, only by feeling and atmosphere. 

For the first time ever, specially limited double tape set including "ALO" and previous three works by Topheth will be available soon via Strivve Recordings. Find out more at: 

www.strivverecordings.bigcartel.com  www.strivverecordings.bandcamp.com  www.strivverecordings.tumblr.com 

And don't forget... 

MAXIMUM VOLUME YIELDS MAXIMUM RESULTS! 

ALO cover ART by Sean Fitzgerald 

Visit Sean at the following: 

www.sfitzgerald-art.tumblr.com  www.baloroftheevileye.tumblr.com  www.cvltnation.com 

Sean's e-mail: [email protected] 

Telecaster guitar and Rickenbacker bass were abused during the recording process.