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rip Bunny Corcoran, you would have loved chatgpt

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Eruption of the Volcano Vesuvius (detail), Johann Christian Dahl, 1821

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Couch and footstool with carved bone mounts and glass inlays, Roman, 1st-2nd century AD

from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Ionic capital from the Acropolis, Athens, (447-432 BCE).

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Virtual reconstruction of the Village of Hadrian in Tivoli, Italy

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what the fuck

saxo cere comminuit brum

what the actual fuck

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Roman senators have a biological clock reminding them to die brutally by age 65. If you see him getting depressed, violating the law, or causing political problems it's time to KILL HIM or HELP HIM COMMIT SUICIDE. His intestines yearn for the floor

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Apulian rhytons in the shape of animal heads (340ish, BCE)

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was finishing a paper about a mithraic altar and misclicked somehow/the screen just reloaded or something and there was a weird little add, centered in the screen and oddly blurry and surround by black (not a thing i've ever seen on the university website before?) for something about not getting sucked into cults? sponsered by my university and apropos of nothing unless you count the current political environment

so shortly after making a post that mentioned cult indoctrination, while writing a paper about an ancient roman mystery cult (different kind of cult than the modern way the term is used re high control groups, but still), an unexpected anti cult ad/psa(?) apparently from my university popped up on my computer

i feel like i should be making a joke about universities targeting classics students to try to make sure someone doesn't get murdered in a bacchanalian rite in the woods

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was finishing a paper about a mithraic altar and misclicked somehow/the screen just reloaded or something and there was a weird little add, centered in the screen and oddly blurry and surround by black (not a thing i've ever seen on the university website before?) for something about not getting sucked into cults? sponsered by my university and apropos of nothing unless you count the current political environment

so shortly after making a post that mentioned cult indoctrination, while writing a paper about an ancient roman mystery cult (different kind of cult than the modern way the term is used re high control groups, but still), an unexpected anti cult ad/psa(?) apparently from my university popped up on my computer

i feel like i should be making a joke about universities targeting classics students to try to make sure someone doesn't get murdered in a bacchanalian rite in the woods

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I hate it when I talk wistfully about the ancient world and then people are like “you wouldn’t survive back then” yeah obviously I would die immediately but do you think achilles would be able to survive in the modern world if he had to send one polite email? no

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Medieval kittens, from a 13th century English manuscript, (Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 533, fol. 13r) 

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Art in the Age of Digital Puritanism (2022) by Iness Rychlik The artist reposted it in 2024 "because it feels relevant in social media today".

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Et Moriemur Produce Epic Mass of Misery and Death

  ~By Willem Verhappen~  

Recently I made an important decision. A decision about my funeral. Like nearly every decision I ever make, it’s related to music. I recently decided that Epigrammata, the third album by Czech doomers ET MORIEMUR shall be the soundtrack of my inevitable descent into nothingness.

Transcending Obscurity is not known for their boring releases. When they release a record that is based on a Requiem (Mass for the dead), you know it will be something special. The result is a funeral death doom monster which is as brutal as it is haunting. Prepare for a masterclass in death and the ancient rituals to go with it.

The opening track “Introitus” manages to set the mood immediately. Solemn synths paint a brooding picture, while the spoken word of Kostas Panagiotou, whom we know of that other Transcending Obscurity doom monster Towards Atlantis Lights, transports us to a long gone era. Bow your head, for the Mass has begun.

In the following 50 minutes we are presented with funeral doom at its best. The songs crawl forward in a slow, but majestic pace, while vocalist Zdeněk Nevělík bares his emotions in every syllable he sings, moans, growls or screams. This is done mostly in Latin and ancient Greek. The use of these dead languages strengthens the feeling of being present at a funeral Mass. Because the use of English lyrics is sparse, it doesn’t feel out of place, but only emphasizes the passages.

‘Epigrammata’ represents our attempt to cope with the dying or death of those we loved. To create a solemn and classical atmosphere we used lyrics in ancient Greek (the title itself means epigrams) and in Latin, more precisely from the Mass for the dead – the album follows the typical Requiem structure, i.e. Introitus, Requiem Aeternum, Dies Irae etc. – and of course the traditional, unisono male Gregorian chant.’   (Et Moriemur)

Musically, each song is given enough time to grow and build up to its climax. Even though the guitars play an important role on this record, there is also enough room for long-spun classical-oriented parts, where the guitars and drums merely have a supporting role. It is in these moments that Epigrammata shows its true brilliance. The band weaves the symphonic elements with their funeral doom in ways that Dimmu Borgir wishes they could. This creates an organic mixture which fans of both funeral doom and symphonic metal will appreciate.

Although there is a clear theme and structure on this album, there is a lot of variation between the songs. Some songs feel peaceful, such as “Agnus Dei,” which features some hypnotizing recitations, while others hit you more straight in the face. “Dies Irae” is a good example of this, but also “Communio,” which even features some blast beats! As the record progresses, the songs get darker and darker until it reaches its pitch black climax with “In Paradisum.” The short outro serves as a welcome return to the normal world.

It must be said that this isn’t a perfect record. It’s hard to ignore the tacky sections that pop up from time to time, giving a bit of a Ghost-like feel. Also, the organ is sometimes a bit too present in the mix. This wouldn’t be much of a problem if it didn’t sound so cheap. Luckily, these are just a few minor imperfections on the otherwise magnificent canvas that is Epigrammata. Fans of My Dying Bride and Shape Of Despair will certainly enjoy this masterpiece of misery and death.

Follow The Band. Get Their Music.

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