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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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's driving force, Simlev, reflects on the forthcoming endeavor "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."

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.