watching it all
crumble and fall
machine now stall
you had the gall
lighting the match
open the latch
let it go
let go, detach
the world shall catch
your pin-pulled grenade
catch a-flame
warming our limbs
from the same
your flame
of distain
remains
your “fame”
masses
of lame
masses
crawl in shame
yeah, somehow
you have a wolfpack of your own
but they will also burn
and they’ll be forced to learn
and perhaps voice concern
nah…
they’ll just return
kissing your ring
admitting nothing
kissing your ring
still admitting nothing
nothing
nothing
still nothing
admitting nothing
oh… nothing
your flame
of distain
remains
your “fame”
to burn
never to learn
no end
burn
never to learn
why never learn
only to yearn
and burn
burn
burn
oh, i’m watching your flock
sheep wading in
into the bloodbath
that is this your crimson world
your world
you created this world
watching it all
catch a-flame
warming our limbs
oh, from the same
the fucking countless masses
the fucking countless masses
of the lame
most of them crawling in shame
as they whisper, as they whisper your name
feed me discomfort
i will swallow
lead me into the darkness
and, oh, i will follow
fill me with lies
for you, i will, i’ll stay hallow
remind me of despair
but i won’t, i’ll not wallow
luck
i’m lucky
luck
somehow i’m lucky
it’s luck
donno how
luck
hold me, i’m lucky
no matter what life throws at me
i’ve caught it, collected it
no matter what you throw
i’ll catch it, represent it
oh
i suppose it’s luck
it’s luck
ah man, it’s true
i’ve been given my lumps
and when it rains
it most certainly dumps
when it rains
it most certainly dumps
chains, blades and bullets
come down
but luck could run out
luck could run out
feed me discomfort
i will swallow
and lead me into the darkness
and, oh, i will follow
follow you
hold me, i’m lucky
hold me, i’m lucky
i’ll bring luck
even when stuck
i’ll bring luck
luck
luck
luck
i’ll bring luck
oh yer outta coins
nothing left
never to trust
oh no
step back
distrust
hold back
you must
trust in me
hold fast
keep calm
let the past
move on
trust in me
hold me
take me
love me
trust me
hold me
take me
love me
trust me
feed me discomfort
i will swallow
lead me into the darkness
and, oh, i will follow
now that i’ve tasted war
now that i’ve tasted war
tasted war
i’ve tasted war
there’s nothing more
i’ve tasted war
everything’s shifting in place
now that i have a true taste
no more time to waste
carnage of the human race
now that i have a taste
for war
i want more
fighting nerves
at their core
misery, i adore
no matter what’s in store
please sir
may i have another
bring me more
more
“change the outcome”
change what outcome?
how can i
change direction now?
move
it’s always my move
weaker still
you disapprove
move
it’s my move
please do not pass
you shall not pass
in this cavern, vast
you shall not pass
please do not pass
bound
i squirm through broken glass
i’m bound
gagged, hands tied
i gasp
but fuck
it’s always my move
but i’m stuck
blood soaked
in this impossible groove
but i’m a glutton
all of a sudden
developed a taste
for gore
now that i’ve tasted war
i can’t help it
i’m craving more
rotten to the core
blood lust
i adore
a taste for the gore
now that i’ve tasted war
i hear the horns of war
calling…
about
All instrumentation, vocals, and audio sensations were performed and executed by Aaron D.C. Edge. This collection of tracks was also recorded and mixed with Aaron at the helm at Myelin Studio in Portland, Oregon.
Aaron of TBATB: Why did you agree to donate your paintings to "The Burden and the Blessing" project, without knowing what they will be used for?
Michael: Curiosity mostly, just knowing your diversity in your vast amount of projects. It truly means a lot that you thought of me for your project and for that I'm very grateful. I've probably given away more pieces than I've sold and that's just how I am. I just want to have a small legacy for people to remember me by. I love to share my works as I like others to see what makes me "me".
Aaron: What does the project name mean to you (knowing that you have yet to hear any of the music)?
Michael: The "Burden and Blessing" is the strange times we are living in. Covid is indeed the Burden. It's constantly changing how we live our lives. Normalcy is still at a far reach. The blessing of this pandemic is we are shown who and what not to take for granted. Another blessing of a quarantine is artists and musicians are given even more time in which to be creative.
Aaron: You have some health problems, would you mind sharing them with us today?
Michael: I was born with Marfan Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. It affects the heart, eyes, blood vessels and skeleton. I have been affected by all of these with the heart and spine being the most severe. I was a near death survivor of a traumatic brain injury when in college. 5 years ago, I sustained a stroke or neurological attack that has left me with bilateral Trigeminal Neuralgia. My hardest to date. Some doctors say I had a stroke and others say Multiple Sclerosis is possible. Undiagnosed, as of now. I really don't care anymore. I just want to take care of my symptoms and keep on keeping on! I want to paint! Play guitar and bass! Creativity drives me!
Aaron: Do you find it comforting to be creative or is it more of a discipline?
Michael: It is both. I started painting again after a long absence right after my neurological incident. Painting became comforting as a means of pain management. It is a great distraction from my chronic pain. In doing so it became both a joyful and frustrating discipline. I am my own worst critic at times. What we practice grows stronger.
Aaron: Please list three favorite artists, three favorite musicians/bands, and why/how the six move you?
Robert Motherwell
I love the openness in his work, his broad brushstrokes and shapes and how his works are minimalistic. I checked out a book of his works at the public library so many times I lost count.
Clyfford Still
I love the starkness of his colors, how his works have movement and again I'm drawn to his minimalism. A professor once said my early abstracts reminded him of Clyfford Still. I had no idea who he was so off to the library to check him out.
Mark Rothko
I was drawn to his "Color Field" paintings for what I see as a dreamlike moodiness. Yet again the minimalism attracts me to his pieces. Minimalism is something I've always been trying reach in my work.
Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Meshuggah, Isis, Neurosis, Deftones
They are great examples of progressive rock/Metal to me anyway. Listen to any early album from these bands and then listen to any later album. You hear that? That's called progression. It's what I hope any artist or musician is going for. I'm often known as a Pink Floyd but or Metalhead but truth is I've open ears. Classic Rock, blues, jazz, classical and Metal is how I roll. Eclectic? Yes but I wouldn't have my music any other way. Pick 3? Impossible!
Aaron: How has Covid released inner demons via your creative process?
Michael: My creative process has always been a great coping mechanism. Always a good thing to have as depression and anxiety often go hand in hand with chronic illnesses. In December of '19 I was at an extreme low point in regards to my mental health and was a danger to myself. I sought help but professional help wasn't available until March of last year. My behavioral health journey began right as Covid hit. From then it was intensive outpatient therapy until October. I was encouraged by all of my therapists to use my painting to release the darkness from within to get it out and confront it. Also I was told my creativity would be a great distraction from my physical pain but I knew that already. 2020 with Covid will go down as a tumultuous year. Yet one positive is the Intensive outpatient program for behavioral health. They saved my life.
Aaron: What is your artistic background, schooling-wise?
Michael: I studied art at Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa. I wanted to be a graphic designer but sometime in my second year I realized I didn't really have the discipline and or talent needed for graphic design. My professor even said "You spend too much time on 3rd floor” (the painting studio). Instead of dropping out of school, I just focused on studio arts with painting, drawing, printmaking and photography. I received a BFA in the studio arts with a minor in art history and an independent study of photography.
Heavy solo material via producer, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist Aaron D.C. Edge
• • •
(of The Lumbar Endeavor, Process Black, Bible Black Tyrant, Akit Evlleh, Ramprasad)
If you're going to go out in apocalyptic style you might want to have the 40 minute title track playing loud at your side. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 12, 2013
Former members of the great band SubRosa return as The Otolith, and their debut LP finds them at the peak of their mighty powers. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 24, 2022