SCHÖNESENDE is the solo project of Matthew Bunkell, known for his work with LIGHT BEARER and MOMENTUM. With the exception of Jack Riddleston’s vocals on the song »Rise, Moloch«, spoken words by Joanne and Gary Bunkell and a the voice of postman-turned-poet Charles Bukowski and others, Matthew has written and recorded his debut album »Schönesende« all by himself.
The endeavour, started in 2012, marks Matthew’s exploration of philosophical as well as psychological themes. Over the course of almost 70 minutes, »Schönesende« does not only musically explore different facets of Black Metal, Folk and abstract experimental music, but also immerses its listeners in a multi-disciplinary philosophical discourse revolving around questions about the human condition. Matthew, who in the near future intends to publish a collection of short stories and a novel which tie into the themes of the Schönesende project, cites authors such as Ernest Becker, Allen Ginsberg, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, John Fante and Bukowski as influences for his art. Becker’s work – in which the cultural anthropologist postulates that the denial of one’s death or mortality is a driving force for human behaviour of all types – resonated so profoundly with Matthew that he decided to explore this topic further with Schönesende.
Just like Schönesende’s music open-minded and diversified approach to Black Metal and its playful interaction with other genres, Matthew’s lyrics transcend simplistic dualistic concepts. »No one perpetrates evilness for the sake of evil. We live in an existence of subjective truths which we will never truly universally share and are trying to make sense of«, Matthew says in regards to the considerations which have informed Schönesende. He is free to admit that while he naturally opposes any form of oppression, he recognises that we are all »attempting to create ideological structures that benefit us and most regularly rob others of their basic human rights.«
»Schönesende« is as much a critical evaluation of ideological constructs – ranging from religion to capitalism and so forth – empathetically approached from the perspective of those who fall prey to them as it is a skilfully executed artistic work of art in which Matthew’s talents as both a musician and a writer are tied together seamlessly.
:: Record Information ::
:: 300 copies on 180gr, BLACK vinyl w/ black inner sleeves
:: matte heavy cardboard gatefold sleeve cover
:: co-release with MOMENT OF COLLAPSE records
:: including downloadcode
:: pre-order package-bundle available at out bigcartel store (LP and T-Shirt - all sizes are possible! -
:: Releasedate: 17th september 2015
Includes unlimited streaming of SCHÖNESENDE s/t 2xLP
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
...more
ships out within 1 day
€20EURor more
T-Shirt/Apparel + Digital Album
Includes unlimited streaming of SCHÖNESENDE s/t 2xLP
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 1 day
€25EUR
T-Shirt/Apparel + Digital Album
Includes unlimited streaming of SCHÖNESENDE s/t 2xLP
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
supported by 7 fans who also own “SCHÖNESENDE exit smiling”
Hearing the songs while reading the narrative behind the lyrics, I felt overwhelmed by this tragic story in which humans and artificial intelligence couldn't coexist side by side. Their reciprocal annihilation was inevitable. Except one "sole survivor, in a ship filled with memories. She had become the proof of Earth, proof that life had existed there, a voice for all the species and beauty we once knew". A dystopian concept dressed up in brilliant musicianship! @Slevin, thanks, I owe it to you! Umbra Cornuta
If you've still got a gas station jacket hanging in your closet, you may love the '90s Olympia punk churn of Soggy Creep. Bandcamp Album of the Day Feb 10, 2017
Toronto band Respire deliver a post-hardcore tour de force on the largest scale possible, orchestrally rich and incessantly uncompromising. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 6, 2021