KROKMITËN IS SIMLEV'S EXPERIMENTAL DEATH METAL STUDIO PROJECT

Formed in 1991 as a full-fledge gigging band, Krokmiten was shelved by Simlev in 1995 and reactivated in 2005 as a studio project exclusively. Orchestrating the project within his Montreal studio, composer Simlev intricately partners with thoughtfully selected session musicians for every project iteration. Krokmitën specializes in conceptual and experimental one-track albums built from the ground up like a movie score or a classical piece. While rooted in Death Metal, Krokmitën fearlessly delves into enigmatic cinematic and and dark atmospheric realms, seamlessly navigating across musical boundaries. Favoring a DIY approach and releasing music for free is part of Krokmitën's concept and ideology.

[pronounced croc-me-ten] Definition: Cajun phonetic spelling of the french word "croque-mitaine". An abstract, imaginary entity wielded by adults to instill discipline in children through fear tactics. Syn; Boogeyman, Bonhomme sept-heures, El ogro, El coco, Böögg, Monstret under sängen, Der schwarze Mann, Bicho Papão, Mörkö, Alploochra, Antchoutka, Bouloulou, Namahage...

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THETA is currently available on KROKMITËN's website, www.krokmiten.com, as free high resolution download. The album is also available on all major digital music platforms, including YouTube, YouTube Music, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, and more.

KROKMITËN “THETA” (Full Album Lyric Video)

Simlev, the driving force behind KROKMITËN, shared this insight on the album release: “I’m extremely pumped to be releasing THETA today. That monstrosity has spawned from the pandemic, it is very instinctive, primal, and raw: some parts are literal improvisations or first takes. The lyrics reflect and mock the pervasive doomsday ambiance of our era, propelled by the increasing absurdity of a world rife with religious extremists, tyrannical dictators, and extreme political ideologies. Once again, this opus is also a single-song album. I still enjoy writing in this lengthy format so far.“

Regarding the lyric video for the entire album, Simlev commented, “I always strive to push boundaries with each release. As someone deeply invested in graphic design and video editing, I found crafting an ominous artistic piece for this lyric video to be a satisfying challenge. Overall, I'm quite satisfied with the result. I recommend viewers take 34 minutes of their time, sit down in front of their TV, and experience the full intensity of THETA.'“

THETA is currently available on KROKMITËN's website, www.krokmiten.com, as free download and on Youtube. The album will be added progressively to all major digital music platforms, including YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, and Amazon in the upcoming week.

Simlev, the creative force behind Krokmitën, offered this thought on this performance video: “This is the exact guitar take that ended up on the album for the first chapter, Beg. Many of the guitar parts on THETA were first takes or pure improvisations. My goal was to make this album feel very instinctive and primal, resulting in a super raw vibe.“

You can watch the playthrough video here:
Simlev plays Krokmitën "THETA" Chapter One: BEG

A few week ago, Simlev provided a glimpse into the upcoming release: “Previous album, TAU, was the most experimental and slow-paced Krokmitën release to date. In contrast, THETA is the complete opposite. It's undoubtedly the fastest, most brutal, and least experimental Krokmitën album ever. Simply put, it's 34 minutes of non-stop, bone-crushing death metal. The music was composed during the frustrations of the pandemic, while the lyrics draw inspiration from today's pervasive apocalyptic atmosphere. They are fueled by the increasing absurdity of a world filled with religious zealots, megalomaniac dictators, and extreme ideologies from both the right and the left. The album will be released with a lyric video for the whole album to ensure a maximum punishing experience. Bands often claim their upcoming album is the heaviest, but this time it's true, with John Longstreth behind the kit (Origin, Hate Eternal, Malefic Throne, Neurectomy), you know what you're getting. I think fans are going to love this fifth opus, and I can’t wait to unveil it.“

THETA is being created and engineered at the Krokmitën Studio on the island of Montreal, Canada. THETA is scheduled to be released this Québec’s national day on June 24, 2024 and will be available on Krokmitën’s website, www.krokmiten.com, as free download, and on all major digital music platforms, including YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, and Amazon.

Providing a glimpse into the upcoming release, Simlev, the driving force behind Krokmitën, offered this insight: "Previous album, TAU, was the most experimental and slow-paced Krokmitën release to date. In contrast, THETA is the complete opposite. It's undoubtedly the fastest, most brutal, and least experimental Krokmitën album ever. Simply put, it's 34 minutes of non-stop, bone-crushing death metal. The music was composed during the frustrations of the pandemic, while the lyrics draw inspiration from today's pervasive apocalyptic atmosphere. They are fueled by the increasing absurdity of a world filled with religious zealots, megalomaniac dictators, and extreme ideologies from both the right and the left. The album will be released with a lyric video for the whole album to ensure a maximum punishing experience. Bands often claim their upcoming album is the heaviest, but this time it's true, with John Longstreth behind the kit (Origin, Hate Eternal, Malefic Throne, Neurectomy), you know what you're getting. I think fans are going to love this fifth opus, and I can’t wait to unveil it."

THETA is being created and engineered at the Krokmitën Studio on the island of Montreal, Canada. THETA is scheduled to be released this Québec’s national day on June 24, 2024 and will be available on Krokmitën’s website, www.krokmiten.com, as free download, and on all major digital music platforms, including YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, and Amazon.

Simlev, the architect behind Krokmitën, shared his insight on the drummer change. "It's bittersweet news. I hoped to collaborate with Guyot for this album, but conflicting schedules made it impossible. Guyot's involvement in three bands and his role as director of Montreal's largest music store added to the challenge. We’re still good friends and it's important to note that each Krokmitën project stands independently so there's a chance he may return in the future if the stars align."

Continuing, Simlev elaborated on the situation. "Guyot is undeniably a highly skilled drummer. So, where do I go from here? How about getting one of extreme drumming pioneer, John Longstreth? This opportunity fell into place coincidentally, and things happened swiftly. His style of play seamlessly aligns with the vision I had for THETA. John's dedication to his craft is truly inspiring. He has recorded half of THETA already, but had to pause for a tour with Origin. Recording will resume upon his return. He has poured his heart and soul into THETA and the result speaks for itself. His precision and intensity is elevating the Krokmitën sound to new heights and I can't wait for the fans to experience it."

Last week, Simlev revealed the new album artwork for "THETA" and suggested an early summer 2024 release date. "I’ve been working really hard lately on Krokmitën’s fifth album THETA. While fourth album TAU was the most experimental, slow, cinematic, and doomy Krokmitën release yet, THETA is the complete opposite, brutal, and straight to the point. There’s not much experimentation happening on this one, it’s simply a 34-minute slab of non-stop bone-crushing Death Metal. With drums nearing completion and mixing will soon follow, I’m aiming for an early summer 2024 release date. Let’s see how it goes."

THETA is being created and engineered at the Krokmitën Studio on the island of Montreal, Canada. Upon release THETA will be available on krokmiten.com and on all major streaming platforms.

Krokmitën leader Simlev has this say about the new release: "Exploring new dimensions while crafting the upcoming full death metal album THETA led me to create an eerie experimental soundscape. This unconventional track can infuse an ominous undertone into even the most exuberant spaces. While it doesn't fall within the bounds of a typical Krokmitën release, this little side project I've crafted is a canvas for my unfiltered creativity in a parallel universe where I explore, innovate, and let imagination reign."" —Simlev

Stream TERRE on YouTube or on Krokmitën's official website www.krokmiten.com

Krokmitën leader Simlev has this say about the new release: "Journey back to the early '90s, a time when Krokmitën was a burgeoning thrash metal band. Our second demo was a raw, DIY creation that fueled our performances around the greater Montreal area. Some keen-eared listeners might recognize riffs from this demo, later reimagined for the Alpha-Beta and Omicron-Omega albums. Originally confined to cassette tape, this remastered version aims to enhance its listenability. Featuring yours truly and Mathz, who rocked the drums on Alpha-Beta. Tune in and relive the energy of our early days!"

Stream Follow the Rain on YouTube or on Krokmitën's official website www.krokmiten.com

Krokmitën leader Simlev has this say about the new release: “Today, I’m happy to finally unleash this strange 32-minute dystopian death/doom track! It’s not exactly what you’d expect and it’s without a doubt the slowest and most experimental Krokmitën album to date but built amidst the pandemic, TAU reflects my state of mind during this ordeal.“

TAU has been recorded and mixed by Simlev at the Krokmitën Studio on the island of Montreal, Canada and has been Mastered by Thiago Pinheiro at AudioSpa in São Paulo, Brazil. Following his stint on HETA, Guyot is back behind the kit for TAU. Guyot Bégin-Benoit is known for his work on Beyond Creation's first album The Aura and Brought By Pain's Crafted by Society.

TAU is available now as free download on Krokmitën’s website, www.krokmiten.com, and on all major digital music platforms, including Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, and YouTube.

Simlev has a few words to say about the project: “Omicron was my first experience at mixing in 2014. Since then, I’ve learned so much and I felt I could bring this album closer to my inial vision sonically. On top of it, it was about time to post Krokmitën’s catalog on all the streaming platforms but I wanted to remix Omicron from the ground up beforehand. In a nutshell, that’s where the idea came from. I’m still a student at mixing and will always be, but I feel this version will be indeniably clearer and punchier.”

Once finished, Omicron-Omega will replace the current version on Krokmitën’s website, www.krokmiten.com, as free download, and on all major digital music platforms, including Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, and YouTube.