Stygian Tars – Chapters Four and Five

Stygian Tars formed in 1996 by the unexpected reunion in Minneapolis of J.A.B. and Sven Kort (both being members from Milwaukee’s Black Orchid). They quickly joined forces with Kylyra, forming one of the most dynamic improvisational trios ever recorded in the Dark World studios. Using a live audio recording style, these three artists blended experimental, industrial, and gothic influences with grooves and classical melodies to create what critics claimed was “very original … a style and sound truly their own” (Corridor of Cells webmag).
Producer J.A.Bohr returned to the studio in 2007 to edit and remaster two new Chapters in the Stygian Tars saga. Created for digital release, these new collections continue the journey of Kylyra, Sven and JAB in their explorations of rhythm and sound.

Using a live audio recording style, these three artists blended the experimental, industrial, and gothic influences of Milwaukee’s Black Orchid with the groove and classical melodies of Kylyra to create what critics claimed was “very original … a style and sound truly their own” (Corridor of Cells webmag) on their first demo release on cassette in 1997, ‘This Is The Land Of The Shades, Of Sleep, And Of Drowsy Night – Chapter One’. The band’s label, Dark World, was so impressed by the group’s potential a special video was created to appear as the opener to the 1997 North American cable broadcast of Dark World Television: Episode One “tourist”.

After a year of weekly recording sessions culminating in the memorable live show Event622, the band felt they had musically explored all they could together and moved onto other projects, but their music continued to be released in limited runs through their label. Their demo release was followed up with the official limited CD releases of ‘Chapter One’, ‘Chapters Two and Three’, and the digital release of ‘Abridged Edition’. Stygian Tars ‘Chapter Four’ and ‘Chapter Five’ offer worldwide fans yet two more fantastic releases from the band’s unforgettable year of recording.

Tracks on Stygian Tars – Chapter Four:

1. the aliens left fecal matter (4:31), 2. Searching for God’s Jello (5:43), 3. Thanks to these tiny cages (3:46), 4. Phylagree (4:54), 5. My Demons Inside (5:23), 6. How Trees Observe Traffic (4:04), 7. Treveldor the Trickster (4:18), 8. Meridia Kohl (6:47), 9. if rift cliffs drift swift then sift (4:29), 10. Demons in the Cold (3:54), 11. Center of Nothing (5:13), 12. Space Came Before Time (2:40), 13. The Jack and Jill Incident (4:45), 14. In the Bizarre (5:41), 15. IV injury (3:13), 16. temporary crisis (5:16).

Tracks on Stygian Tars – Chapter Five

1. the Molting of the Iron Teridactyl (4:55), 2. Lizard King (6:09), 3. Living Outside of Life (3:28), 4. Level 4 Section 6B (5:49), 5. Ever see a shirt make a phone call (4:24), 6. Silent Black (5:30), 7. Dark Foul and Dank Feet (5:42), 8. the Underwear scare from There (3:31), 9. The Hades Sacrificial Hymnal (3:36), 10. First Flight (4:57), 11. Just don’t piss off the neighbors (4:49), 12. Dirty Liz in the King’s Club (2:42), 13. Beware the Broccoli (7:29), 14. Tuesday Evening (7:01), 15. Watch them Swaddle (3:31).

Credits on Chapters Four and Five:

All songs written and performed by Stygian Tars. Engineered, Produced, Edited and Remastered by J.A.Bohr. The release contains live stereo performances recorded directly to Digital Audio Tape.

Band members:

Sven Kort (vocals, keyboards, samplers, drum machines), J.A.B. (vocals, keyboards, drum machines, guitar) and Kylyra (vocals, keyboards)
Listen to Stygian Tars on YouTube