Equimanthorn for Progressive Electronic

Founded in 1991, Equimanthorn were a North American ritual ambient band based in Plano, Texas. Over the years, Equimanthorn's expansive lineup has featured Melechesh's Nadim Khoury (aka Moloch), the Soil Bleeds Black's Mike and Mark Riddick, Black Seas of Infinity's Jhon Longshaw (aka Set-Heru) and Absu's Raymond Dillard Heflin (aka Equitant), Michael Brandon Kelly (aka Shaftiel) and Russ Givens (aka Proscriptor). Fitting for a group containing so many members of Absu, Equimanthorn continues their thematic obsession with occultism and Sumerian mythology. Their unpredictable combination of industrial dark ambient, pseudo-SWANA folk music, tribal rhythms and grand, menacing spoken-word recitations greatly calls to mind the music of Contrastate and Coil, and Equimanthorn have also been critically compared to John Carpenter, Lustmord, Yen Pox and Goblin.

After a series of five demo cassettes between 1992 and 1993, Equimanthorn made their debut with 1994's Nindinugga Nimshimshargal Enlillara, after which three more full-lengths followed on labels like Unisound Records, From Beyond Productions and most recently Black Montanas. 1999 saw the release of Lectionum Antiquarum, a selection of tracks from Equimanthorn's early demos, showcasing their more minimal, pre-prog beginnings. Since Equimanthorn's last LP, 2011's A Fifth Conjuration, the band's status is unknown.

This track encapsulates the band's aesthetics perfectly:

"Nindinugga Nimshimshargal Enlillara" (1994)

"Second Sephira Cella" (2004)

"Exalted Are the 7 Throne Bearers of Ninnkigal" (2007)

"A Fifth Conjuration" (2011)