Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio

Conception

Due to outside issues and influences the band needed to write and record a new album in a very short period of time. As a result, the vocalist/songwriter Ben Harris-Hayes began writing in January 2008 and continued until March, when the band was sure they had enough material to proceed.

To accommodate the short time frame, the songwriting process differed from their previous releases, with the vocalist composing all the music and main structures. Using specific music software packages and MIDI sequencing and samples to recreate a full band performance, Harris-Hayes could see how sections flowed and how they would sound with a full band playing the songs.

The band then worked on these songs together, when they practiced three times a week at their Pyres Of Mithrandire studio and rehearsal space. When they were sure that the songs would work as a three piece band, Harris-Hayes started working with The Lost Orchestra to compose and perform the album's orchestral pieces.

With thirteen tracks written and ready to take into the studio, pre-production began at the beginning of July.

Recording

The drums were recorded at The Old Blacksmiths Studio in Portsmouth with the band again working with the Emmy nominated engineer, Rich Tamblyn, who had co-produced the band's A Monument to the Death of an Idea EP. The guitars, bass guitar and vocals were recorded with Josh Eaves and Ross Gill at Rossgill Studios in the city and the orchestral arrangements and recording were completed at Harris-Hayes's home Ethereal Tantrum studio. Recording of the album was completed on 12 October 2008.

The finished recording was mixed and mastered in Sweden by David Castillo, who had co-produced Katatonia's album, The Great Cold Distance, on the Peaceville label as well as mixing the Opeth album Watershed on the Roadrunner records label. It was mixed in Castillo’s recently completed new state-of-the-art recording facility Ghostward and was the first project worked on there.

The artwork for the album was conceived and realized by the Swedish artist Robin Portnoff, who had been introduced to the band by Castillo.

Pre-release

In May 2009, the band placed three of the new tracks, "Apathia", "Movement" and "Waves of Ascension", on their website and Myspace page.

Although the album was not due to be released until August 2009, pre-release copies started to make waves in the industry with the organisers of the ProgPower Europe festival booking them to appear at the 2009 event. Blabbermouth.net quoted the festival organisers who said, "Probably hardly anyone has ever heard of this band, but that will definitely change when they will release their new album in August 2009," and "ENOCHIAN THEORY definitely will surprise many of you."

Distribution for the band's independently released CD and downloads was once again handled by CODE 7/Plastic Head Distribution with the band keen to build on the working relationship that began with their A Monument To The Death Of An Idea and "Namyamka" releases.

In the buildup to its independent release, tracks from the new album received rotation on Kerrang radio and Bruce Dickinson's BBC 6 Music rock show.

Release and reception

The album was released through the band's own independent Anomalousz Music Records label on 3 August 2009 followed with wide press coverage in music publications across Europe including the English, German and Polish editions of Metal Hammer, Classic Rock, Terrorizer, Zero Tolerance, Rock Sound, the German and Greek editions of Rock Hard, Powerplay rock and metal magazine, Big Cheese, the Spanish magazine This Is Rock, the Italian magazine Metal Maniac, the Norwegian magazine Helvete, the Finnish magazine Inferno and the Romanian rock and metal magazine Maximum Rock.

Worldwide re-release through Mascot records

On 29 April 2010, the band announced they had signed a deal with Mascot records. As part of this deal, the album was re-released worldwide through the label on 27 September 2010.

"The Fire Around The Lotus" video shoot

Towards the end of 2010, the band began shooting a completely animated video for their song "A Fire Around The Lotus" which was released online.

Track listing

All music written by Enochian Theory, lyrics by Harris-Hayes

1. Every Ending Has A Beginning… (1:08)
2. The Dimensionless Monologue (6:55):
   - Tedium (i) 2:20
   - The Dimensionless Monologue (ii) 2:59
   - T.D.M (iii) 1:36
3. At Great Odds With… (5:07)
4. Apathia (3:58)
5. Triumvirate (2:35)
6. Movement (5:14)
7. After The Movement (2:53)
8. Waves Of Ascension (6:57)
9. The Fire Around The Lotus (7:15)
10. The Living Continuum (2:22)
11. A Monument To The Death Of An Idea (4:36)

Total running time: 48:59

Personnel