Striborg

Striborg is a black metal / ambient project of Australian musician Russell Menzies. The project first began in 1994 under the name Kathaaria and during this time the stage name "Vvelkaarn" was used. The name Kathaaria was adapted from a Darkthrone song titled "Kathaarian Life Code".[2]

Striborg
OriginSnug, Tasmania, Australia
GenresBlack metal, dark ambient, industrial (later work)[1]
Years active1994 – present
LabelsRazed Soul Productions
Displeased
Southern Lord
Asgard Musik
Finsternis Productions (Sin Nanna's own label)

Three full-length albums were released as Kathaaria; one each year from 1995 to 1997. Following the release of the third album, Menzies grew dissatisfied with the direction of the project and the first album under the name "Striborg" was released later that year. With this change, he also adopted the new stage name "Sin Nanna".

From 1997 the Striborg sound solidified around a singular lo-fi black metal style combined with ambient pieces, with all instruments and vocals primarily recorded by Menzies at his home. Releases were prodigious - often two or more per year. Formal releases were initially on the Asguard and Finsternis labels, moving to Displeased and Southern Lord Records as international recognition grew.[3]

In 2018 Striborg moved away from black metal with the release of Blackwave, a full-length LP in a dark ambient/new wave style. Menzies announced that he intended to pursue this musical direction on future releases. His live performances after the release of Blackwave increased and showcased this new synthesiser-heavy style.[4]

Menzies' lyrics reveal a fascination with forests, darkness, night, misanthropy and death. The names "Striborg" and "Sin Nanna" are the names of a Slavonic wind god (of which the correct spelling is "Stribog") and Mesopotamian moon god, respectively.

Line-up
  • Sin Nanna – All instruments and vocals

Discography

Note: asterisk (*) indicates that the album has been re-released.

Compilations
  • 2003: A Tragic Journey... / Through the Forest...
  • 2003: Isle de Morts / Cold Winter Moon
  • 2003: Misanthropic Isolation / In the Heart of the Rainforest*
  • 2003: Nocturnal Emissions / Nyctophobia*
  • 2004: 10 Years of Roaming the Forests (94-04)
  • 2006: Misanthropic Isolation - Roaming the Forests
  • 2008: In the Heart of the Rainforest / Through the Forest to Spiritual Enlightenment
  • 2016: Purifying the River of Tears

Albums
  • 1995: A Tragic Journey Towards the Light (as Kathaaria)
  • 1996: Through the Forest to Spiritual enlightenment (as Kathaaria)
  • 1997: Isle de Morts (as Kathaaria)
  • 1997: Cold Winter Moon
  • 1998: Misanthropic Isolation*
  • 2000: In the Heart of the Rainforest
  • 2004: Spiritual Catharsis*
  • 2004: Mysterious Semblance*
  • 2005: Black Desolate Winter / Depressive Hibernation*
  • 2005: Trepidation*
  • 2006: Embittered Darkness
  • 2006: Nefaria
  • 2007: Ghostwoodlands
  • 2007: Solitude
  • 2008: Autumnal Melancholy
  • 2008: Foreboding Silence
  • 2009: Perceiving The World With Hate
  • 2009: Southwest Passage
  • 2015: This Suffocating Existence
  • 2016: Spiritual Deprivation
  • 2017: A Procession of Lost Souls
  • 2017: Instrumental Trans-Communication
  • 2018: Blackwave
  • 2019: Leave the World Behind
  • 2019: An Existential Burden
  • 2019: In Deep Contemplation
  • 2020: Unknown Entities

Singles
  • 2019: "A Perpetual Struggle of Restless Minds"
  • 2019: "Dead Inside (Blackwave Version)"

Split releases
  • 2007: "The Epitome of Misanthropy" (with Xasthur)
  • 2007: "Psychedelic Nightmare" (with Scurshahor)
  • 2009: "Florestas de Perpétua Solidão" (with Defuntos)
  • 2009: "Black Hatred in a Ghostly Corner" (with Claustrophobia)
  • 2010: "This Empty Coil" (with Vardan)
  • 2018: "Spectral Shadows" (with Abigorum)
  • 2018: "Striborg / Bosc Fosc / Drakonhail"

Videography
  • 2007: Journey of a Misanthrope

Live shows

In May 2007, Sunn O))) did a Pacific Rim tour with a guest lineup consisting of Oren Ambarchi and Attila Csihar. However upon their arrival in Melbourne, Australia they joined with Sin Nanna for an improvisational performance. The makeshift group took up the name Pentemple and released one live album titled "0))) Presents...".[5]

In January 2014, Striborg played live in the MONA FOMA music festival playing a new song titled "Purifying the River of Tears".[6]

In June 2014, Sin Nanna performed live as Veil of Darkness for the first time supporting Sunn O))) as part of the Dark MOFO festival.[7] He also played an unannounced set as Striborg on the final night of the festival.

Interviews

Until 2010, contact with Sin Nanna has been limited to online interviews on various blogs and fanzine sites conducted via email. Despite Sin Nanna's very anti social and misanthropic view of society, he agreed to take part in the 2010 Vice documentary One Man Metal, in which he further proved his eccentric lifestyle.

References
  1. "Instrumental Trans-Communication, by Striborg". Striborg.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  2. Official Striborg book: Striborg - Music, Art and Lyrics
  3. "A Tragic Journey Into the Future: A Conversation with Striborg's Russell "Sin Nanna" Menzies". Invisible Oranges. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  4. "Striborg: Covering new ground with blackwave | Echoes And Dust". web.archive.org. 23 September 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  5. "Pentemple - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". Metal-archives.com. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  6. "Striborg, MOFO / 15—19 Jan 2014". Web.archive.org. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  7. "SUNN O))) + EARTH + VEIL OF DARKNESS / DARK MOFO". Web.archive.org. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2020.


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