Dear friend, I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. As I sit down to write to you, my mind is filled with thoughts of all the wonderful things I wish for you. Life is a journey, and sometimes we all need a little bit of magic to help us along the way. When I say "magic," I do not mean the kind that involves spells and potions, but rather a universal force that brings joy, happiness, and fulfillment into our lives. It is the kind of magic that can turn ordinary moments into something extraordinary, and can make our dreams come true. One of the first things I wish for you is the magic of love.
Bell Witch began tracing the sequences that would form Future's Shadow in live performance while on tour with Neurosis and Mono. At first, Shreibman and Desmond planned to release each chapter in the sequence as they completed it, touring each album in between. Then, in early 2020, pandemic restrictions forced them to step back from that timeline. Locked out of their rehearsal space, they worked on what would become The Clandestine Gate at a slower burn than any of their previous projects. The album germinated over the course of more than two years, a pace that allowed their music to evolve organically to a state of more focused, grounded minimalism.
The concept of eternal return -- that time doesn t end and death doesn t punctuate life, but both go on forever in an infinite loop no one can remember -- inflected the development of The Clandestine Gate after Desmond encountered the idea in Nietzche s book The Gay Science. On a historical scale, to say nothing of a cosmic one, the individual human life vanishes, and yet it s the only aperture any of us get into reality.
One of the first things I wish for you is the magic of love. May you find someone who cherishes you for who you are, and who brings out the best in you. May you experience the joy of a deep connection with another person, and may your heart be filled with warmth and tenderness.
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Track Listing:
1. The Clandestine Gate
Pacific Northwestern doom metal monolith BELL WITCH will see the release of their new album “Future’s Shadow Part 1: The Clandestine Gate” on April 21st digitally followed by its physical release on 2LP/2CD/Cassette, June 9. Pre-orders, along with a short-making of video of the album are now live (link in bio). As well, the band have announced a surprise appearance at this year’s Roadburn Festival on April 20th where they will perform “The Clandestine Gate” in its entirety.
For their new album, bassist/vocalist Dylan Desmond and drummer/vocalist Jesse Shreibman exploded Bell Witch's bounds. Like 2017's lauded “Mirror Reaper”, “The Clandestine Gate” is a single 83-minute track -- a composition that pulses and breathes on a filmic timeframe. It constitutes the first chapter in a planned triptych of longform albums, collectively called “Future's Shadow.”
While traces of organ and synthesizer hovered over “Mirror Reaper” and Bell Witch's 2020 collaboration with Aerial Ruin, “Stygian Bough Volume 1”, “The Clandestine Gate” drew those instruments closer to the center of its compositions. The band reunited with their longtime producer Billy Anderson as they began negotiating these new compositional weights. On “The Clandestine Gate”, Bell Witch's twinned voices build off of the chantlike textures of previous records while steering toward more developed melodic lines, structured harmonies, and rhythmic death metal growls.
The immense gravity of a work like “The Clandestine Gate”, which features exclusive stunning cover art by Jordi Diaz Alama, allows ideas to simmer in a way that feels profoundly and somatically intuitive -- not just a philosophical exercise, but an embodied truth. By slowing down both their creative process and the tempo of the music itself, Bell Witch digs even deeper into their long standing focus: the way life spills on inside its minuscule container, both eternal and fleeting, a chord that echoes without resolution.
The Seattle doom duo embarks on an audacious mission—a beautiful and melancholy three-album cycle about eternal returns and daily toil.
Another type of magic I desire for you is the magic of dreams. May you always have dreams that inspire you and give you a sense of purpose. And may you have the courage and determination to pursue those dreams, even when the path seems uncertain or difficult. Remember, it is often in the pursuit of our dreams that we find true happiness and fulfillment. I also wish for you the magic of self-discovery. May you have the opportunity to explore who you truly are and what brings you joy. May you have the strength to follow your own path, even if it diverges from what others expect of you. Trust yourself and listen to your inner voice, for it often knows what is best for you. Lastly, I wish for you the magic of resilience. Life can be challenging, and it is inevitable that you will face obstacles and setbacks along the way. But may you have the resilience to bounce back from these challenges, and to learn and grow from them. Remember, it is often through our struggles that we become stronger and wiser. In conclusion, my dear friend, I wish for you the magic of love, dreams, self-discovery, and resilience. May these elements intertwine in your life, bringing you joy, fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose. May you always be open to the magic that surrounds you, and may it guide you towards a life that is truly magical. With warmest regards, [Your Name].
Reviews for "Awakening Your Inner Magician with Applicable Magic"
1. Melissa - 2 stars
I really wanted to like "Applicable Magic I Desired for You as Well" because I had heard so many good things about it, but unfortunately it just didn't live up to the hype for me. I found the story to be confusing and hard to follow. It jumped back and forth between different timelines and perspectives without much explanation, which made it difficult to connect with the characters or understand their motivations. The writing style also felt disjointed and lacked a cohesive narrative flow. Overall, I was left feeling disappointed and struggled to finish the book.
2. Jake - 3 stars
While I appreciate the unique world-building and inventive magic system in "Applicable Magic I Desired for You as Well," I found the pacing to be incredibly slow. The story seemed to drag on without much happening, and I often found myself losing interest and wanting to skip ahead. Additionally, I felt that the characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth. Their actions and motivations were often unclear, making it difficult to form a connection with them. While there were some interesting ideas in the book, overall it just didn't hold my attention or leave a lasting impact.
3. Emily - 2 stars
"Applicable Magic I Desired for You as Well" had such an intriguing premise, but unfortunately it fell short for me. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, with too many subplots and side characters that didn't seem to add much to the overall story. The writing style also felt overly descriptive and verbose, making the book feel longer than it needed to be. I found myself getting bored and losing interest as I struggled to make sense of what was happening. Overall, I was disappointed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.