Photo by Caro Fernandez
The second full-length effort from Mexico-based Phendrana, Cathexis, is the kind of album best experienced in its entirety, so we’re giving you full access to it, just prior to its February 6 release. Phendrana is the project of Syrian-Lebanese multi-instrumentalist Anuar Salum who provides vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, grand piano, as well as writing and orchestrating the compositions. On Cathexis he is aided by Swedish drummer Richard Schill and a host of guest musicians and vocalists who help bring his orchestral and atmospheric black metal pieces to life. The album is a sprawling, emotional and intense collection which moves from quiet melody to crashing, dissonant harshness.
Cathexis was produced by Alonso Huerta and Anuar Salum. Drums were recorded by Rob Kukla at Obsidian Recording, Sweden; guitars were recorded by Manuel Mena at SMS Studios, Mexico; and mixing and mastering was done by Jens Siefert at Rama Tonstudio, Germany. It’s set for release on CD and digitally on February 6. Place preorders here.
Anuar Salum had this to say about Cathexis:
“Cathexis is an avant-garde prog-metal experiment that embodies the existential journey through the states of the soul, when the mind becomes a battleground for oneself.”
