There are 2 bands by the name Clemency 1) Clemency is a Brazilian death metal band now based out of the UK. Their brand of thrash-influenced death metal borrows from acts such as Morbid Angel and Crimson Thorn. In 1998, they released their first demo, entitled "Satan's Funeral." The band then followed up with the album "Spiritual Domination" in 1999. After a good number of years the band released "Divine Legions at War."
1) Clemency is a Brazilian death metal band now based out of the UK. Their brand of thrash-influenced death metal borrows from acts such as Morbid Angel and Crimson Thorn. In 1998, they released their first demo, entitled "Satan's Funeral." The band then followed up with the album "Spiritual Domination" in 1999. After a good number of years the band released "Divine Legions at War."
At first, the band consisted of three members: Luis Carlos (vocals, guitar), Aramis (bass guitar, vocals), and Marcelo Lopes (drums). Currently, Marcelo Lopes is the only active member.
The band's lyrics are rooted deeply in Christianity.
2) The evening sky often looks like rain this time of year, but tonight there is a light on the horizon. The lyric, "My heart is the eastern horizon; you are the sun. You come light up my life," somehow brightens the mood, making the sky seem more open yet intimate just the same. So it is throughout the latest EP from alternative rock duo Clemency.
Brothers Jason and Paul Watkins, natives of Yukon, Oklahoma, have been making music together since high school. After relocating to Nashville in 2005, the band formed a relationship with Grammy award-nominated producer Brent Milligan and eventually began work on what would become 2008's VAPORS. The record received a warm response for its clever use of lo-fi instrumentation and unpretentious blend of vibey pop and ambient rock.
Since then, Clemency has returned to the studio with Milligan to create their follow-up, MY HEART IS THE EASTERN HORIZON, which released Jan. 3, 2012. The five song EP finds the band at their honest best, a collection of songs simple in construction yet rich in texture and meaning.
With this project, the band desires to move beyond the traditional listening experience and has developed a concept film around each song. "The videos really add another level to the imagery of the songs," says vocalist and guitarist Jason Watkins. "We have worked really hard to not only capture beautiful shots for these films but also to tell a compelling story in each one. We can't wait for everyone to see them." The films released in the same order as the EP tracks, the first in June with a subsequent video each month up to the EP's release in January.
The opening track, "The Wild Wind," finds Watkins considering a divine mystery. "Like some wild wind that sweeps the plain, I can't see you but I know your name. And I can't touch, but I can feel you just the same." The meditation is sublime, resting against pads of keys and ethereal guitar. As bassist Paul Watkins enters with a syncopated rhythm over a sparse loop, the form takes shape. A moment's pause and the song breaks open; drums and aggressive guitars transform the introspective moment into a celebration.
The momentum carries into "Reach," an up-tempo number marked by prominent piano melodies and triumphant gang vocals. The moody title track, "My Heart is the Eastern Horizon," follows as a careful reflection on the need for love, told through images of air, sand, and sea over cello and finger-picked acoustic guitar. "Take Your Place" gives a nod to early Death Cab for Cutie, showcasing the brothers at their indie pop best while the final track, "Boys' Choir," closes the EP with a decidedly west coast feel, propelled by acoustic guitars, staccato drum work, and the voices of children.
From start to finish, MY HEART IS THE EASTERN HORIZON showcases what Clemency does best: honest music, pure in heart, and beautifully executed. It's the wistful cry of a heart bound to earth but fixed on the sky, and I can't stop listening to it.
By Whit Stiles, author of the blog, "Walk Without Noise".