Everybody loves a power trio, and for good reason: there’s something to be said about excess being the soul of rock and roll, but I think there’s plenty of bands out there who prove that you can do more with less. I don’t know what it is about doom, especially the really experimental stuff, but the minimalism and “less is more” attitude is especially strong in that scene, in duo acts like Bell Witch and Insect Ark. I’ve been a fan of this band for quite a while, and I think they bring so much to the table for just being two people. On Raw Blood Singing, they add even more tricks to their bag.

The Berlin-by-way-of-America duo, as always spearheaded by Dana Schechter and now joined by Khanate drummer Tim Wyskida, has always been at the cutting edge of experimental metal. Honestly, I don’t know how they don’t have more of a name for themselves, what with how much they push the boundaries of what “belongs” in metal. Take, for example, one of Schechter’s main instruments in the band: heavily distorted lap steel guitar. Or maybe the handmade fuzz pedals it’s run through, or the vintage synths used. The list could go on, but one thing is certain: Insect Ark is a project that is bent on pushing themselves to their creative peak. Of course, Wyskida’s drumming adds a signature dynamic and nuanced texture. Khanate are back, and every day we’re thankful, but it’s good to see that he’s not resting on his laurels (Khanate’s or Bling Idiot God’s). Still, for all the two of them manage to throw into the music, between synths, bass, pedal steel and drums, there is one instrument that has never been a part of Insect Ark’s repertoire, until now, that is. Raw Blood Singing is the first album of theirs to feature… well, singing. In addition to lap steel and bass and synths and piano, Schechter now also takes up the microphone and adds her sultry croon to the mix. Stylistically, it makes sense: Raw Blood Singing is an album whose lyrics deal with evolution, change and the dichotomy of conservation and malleability. If you’re Schechter, there’s one really obvious way to apply that concept to yourself, and also considering that most of Raw Blood Singing was written alone by Schechter before Wyskida even joined the band, it stands to reason that your voice would be the option to go with if you want to push your sound even further.

And as long as we’re speaking about the vocals, holy shit. They’re exactly what’s needed on this album. I don’t know why I was expecting something more along the lines of Robin Wattie from BIG|BRAVE, but what I got is nothing like that and everything that Insect Ark calls out for. Schechter’s voice is smooth and smoky, with a hint of a drawl that accentuates her dark and brooding lyrics. Couple that with the heightened focus on deep, pulsing synthesizer tones on the top end and you’ve got an Insect Ark album that sounds very different from its predecessors. If change scares you, one, know that this album is just as killer as anything else they put out, and two, the core of what makes Insect Ark unique is still very much front and center. The ringing lap steel and grinding bass are still the backbone of all the songs on Raw Blood Singing, and it still is as effective as ever at making you believe you’re going crazy listening to this album. Initially, it would be easy to mistake the lap steel for a regular electric guitar, until the microtonality of it seeps in, especially when Schechter plays with feedback and fuzz. It’s sensory overload at times, but that is a feature, not a bug. All the craziness with the synths and lap steel allows Wyskida to be more subtle. Sure, he plods and crashes when the crescendo builds, but I’m most impressed with his restraint on this album and the way he slots in beautifully into a supporting role for Schechter’s sonic assault.

We’ve not yet been fortunate enough to be able to catch Insect Ark live, but the internet is a place where you can definitely watch all kinds of things, Insect Ark live shows being one of them. Watching them has me really eager to see how the duo bring Raw Blood Singing to life. With so many more dynamics and things to keep track of, it’ll definitely be a challenge for the two of them (Schechter especially, who usually does double or triple duty on instruments while on stage) to take these songs to the masses. If Raw Blood Singing is any indication though, they’re up for any challenge thrown at them.

– Ian

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Raw Blood Singing is out now on Debemur Morti Productions.  For more information on Insect Ark, visit their official website.