ANCIENT PLAGUE

This page is in the process of being updated. Thank you very much to Gedaliah for the help so far!

 

^ Early logo ........ v Newer logo

 

^ First demo ....................... ^ Some later release

BAND NAME: Ancient Plague
GENRE: Black Ambient/Drone (early), Experimental/DSBM (later) (see notes)
STATUS: Split up
LOCATION: International (United Kingdom / USA / Puerto Rico)

-- "Demo" and "Middle of Solitude" are drone/ambient with some black metal influences.
-- "Archaic Kingdoms" is a very strange mix of depressive black metal, gothic/symphonic metal in an almost funeral doom sense, ambient, dungeon synth...
-- "Litany of Scars" is fairly similar to "Archaic Kingdoms" but emphasizes the metal side of it a lot more.

A couple places online state that they changed their name to Litany of Scars. Apparently they considered this, but never did it. Tujhik joined during this time, but nothing else was recorded. They split up afterward: "The process for *Litany of Scars* was slow and challenging, which ultimately led to the band splitting up. Alexis wasn’t happy with the direction we were headed, and Olias had personal issues that further delayed things for both Alexis and me. During this period, I was going through significant struggles with my mental health. I channeled those feelings into the band, and as a result, the lyrics became more focused on themes of depression and suicide, rather than the earlier Christian influences."

Formed in 2007 by Gedaliah, and was inspired primarily by Azazel (Absum, Dusk, etc). Gedaliah tried to record something by himself, but wasn't happy with it, and the project went on hold. In summer 2009, he heard music Alexis was doing, and asked him to join the project. This means Alexis had another band before this one, but I don't know what it would have been.

Apparently the band name has two meanings: The first is describing sin (ancient, and a plague). The second is a reference to the bubonic plague of the 1340s.

Lineup:
Jim "Gedaliah" (Infectious Apostasy) - Everything (first 2 releases), Vocals, Drums (later)
Olias - Guitars
Tujhik - Guitars, Bass

Past members:
Laura "Sakara" Marshall - Vocals
Alexis Lamboy - Keyboards

Links:
YouTube
Apple Music
iHeartRadio
Pandora
Deezer
Amazon
Bandmix (Gedaliah)
Myspace
Myspace @ archive.org
Facebook

Discography:

"Ancient Plague" / "Demo" (year uncertain, Blabber Download)
Format: Digital / MegaUpload

link expired

 

Note that this was recorded solo by Gedaliah. The bottom 2 images were somehow added after the demo was already released. (Neither Gedaliah or I are quite certain how that happened.) It was previously said online this was released in 2008. However, the Blabber Download page was published on 20 May, 2009. Realizing those colored images were added after release, I'm not certain anymore when this was released...

1) Intro...
2:24, lyrics:
This is what the sovereign Lord says, "My anger and My wrath will be poured out on this place, on man, on beast, on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground; and it will burn and not be quenched." - Jeremiah 7:20

2) The Pagan Winds of a Forgotten Funeral
4:58, lyrics unknown

3) Glory, Honor and Power
4:09, lyrics:
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.” - Revelation 4:6b-11 (NIV)

4) Resurrection of the Dead
2:56, lyrics:
"But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." - 1 Corinthians 15:12-14 (NIV)

5) ...Outro
2:28

6) The Vicar’s Last Prayer (bonus)
3:37, might be instrumental?

Archaic Kingdoms (album, February/March?, 2010, Sullen Records)
Format: CD, limited 250 copies, hand-numbered
sold out

Metal Archives says February 2010. Amazon says 6 March 2010.

The lyrics for track 7 seem to be... mashed together and incoherent. Can anyone help with that?

Despite being released after "In the Middle of Solitude", this was actually recorded first.

From the interview on Myspace:
MBR: What is the title of your upcoming release? And how many tracks are going to be included on the album?
Gedaliah: Ohh thats a tough question really, we haven't fully decided on the name yet, but the way the album is shaping out, something to do with Ancient Cultures, but i won't say anymore, not to throw away the surprise haha. And the number of tracks, we are planning on around 10-11, maybe more, we are just seeing how everything pans out, picking the best of the bunch

1) Chant of the Plague I - Summon the Celestial Gods
3:04
2) Lord, Help Me Set This Fire
5:32
3) The Spirits of Kyöpelinvuori
3:30
4) The Elysian Àraich
7:29
5) Chant of the Plague II - Svartálfaheimr
2:53
6) 1348
5:29
7) Gospel in the Dark
5:05, lyrics
A lonely stage is set for my life; only the moon is ours to love the mountains; my only friend the stars - my comfort. I have so much life in my savior will there be no one to share it with where is my soul is there another like me so cold, so lonely will the clouds of my life clear I sing the gospel in the dark I pray the gospel in the light so cold, so lonely...
8) Of Nothingness and the Void
4:29
9) Chant of the Plague III - The Rainbow Serpent
3:44
10) Ragnarok
4:39, partial lyrics:
"It sates itself on the life-blood of fated men,
paints red the powers' homes with crimson gore.
Black become the sun's beams in the summers that follow,
weathers all treacherous. Do you still seek to know? And what?
Brothers will fight and kill each other,
sisters' children will defile kinship.
It is harsh in the world, whoredom rife
- an axe age, a sword age - shields are riven -
a wind age, a wolf age - before the world goes headlong.
No man will have mercy on another." (Prose Edda)

So brothers, I give you this advice:
["Lay down all weapons in peace"?]
Bow down to God's will
May God have mercy on all of us
May His love shine through the heavens onto us
For the end is near (not sure where this is from)

"The sun turns black, earth sinks in the sea,
The hot stars down from heaven are whirled;
Fierce grows the steam and the life-feeding flame,
Till fire leaps high about heaven itself." (Prose Edda)

In the Middle of Solitude (EP, 2010, Independent)
Format: Digital / MegaUpload
link expired

Digital-only release with cassette-style cover so fans could print their own copies if they wanted.

According to Discogs, released via a forum thread on Blabberboard.

1) Disconsolateness
9:10, instrumental

2) Supersynchronous
9:42, lyrics unknown

Litany of Scars (album)

Left:
8 April, 2011, UMS Records (RIP-OFF LABEL), CD-R in DVD case
Not sure which artwork was used:
July, 2011, (not on label?), Digital / Blogspot, link expired
Right:
25 September, 2012, Swampkult Productions, CD

This album focuses more on depression and struggles Gedaliah was facing, instead of outright Christianity.

The left artwork is cropped. The actual artwork is rectangular / vertical. That version version may have been a limited edition. The [old label website] mentions "50 units in stock", but it's not clear if that means it was limited, or if the label just happened to have 50 units printed at that particular moment.

The Blogspot version is confirmed official in some of the band's video descriptions, like [here].

The Swampkult version was announced [here] on 20 September 2012. That might also have been limited, not totally sure. Gedaliah describes the Swampkult version thus: "The front cover for the swampcult release was the image of the train tracks and upside down woman's fade. The CD was black, the interior image was [me self harming]".

1) The Inner Dyad
00:58
2) Death by a Thousand Wounds
8:22
3) The Manifestation
6:10
4) Litany of Scars I
6:28, partial lyrics:
(sample, supposedly from something called "Gottwerdung")
[. . .] Meiner Meinung nach wäre die Welt besser dran ohne mich ich bin das Nichts, keiner hört mich, weil ich das Nichts bin keiner sieht mich, weil ich das Nichts bin keiner versteht mich, weil ich das Nichts bin dann höre ich diese wunderschöne Melodie und ich gehe zu ihr, ich tanze mit ihr und fühle mich wohl. Ich tanze und tanze und erkenne zu spät, dass dies mein letzter Tanz im Leben sein wird. Mein Tanz mit dem Tod doch keiner wird mich vermissen, keiner wird je meine Geschichte erfahren, weil ich das Nichts bin.
5) Animus
3:29
6) The Herd
8:45
7) Litany of Scars II
6:06

BONUS, SWAMPKULT ONLY
8) The Ancient Plague
track length / lyrics unknown

9) (title unknown)
"another remix of several demo tracks, created by a friend"
track length / lyrics unknown

Diminishing Diabolical Strongholds Vol. 2 (compilation, December 2010, UMS Records (RIPOFF LABEL))

Format: CD

14) Ancient Plague - Death by a Thousand Wounds 8:20

______________________________
IncompletePage, CouldUseBetterImages, UncertainInfo, SimilarTo, ArtistConfirmed
INFO:
1) Missing lyrics for all albums. 2) When was the first demo released?
IMAGES:
"In the Middle of Solitude" (I feel like there has to be a higher-quality version out there.)

 

Miscellaneous stuff:
Left: Myspace background. It seems the symbol on the top left/right was planned to have more significance in the band's early days. It can also be seen prominently in the layout for the 2009 demo.
Right: Wallpaper included with the 2009 demo (1200x942)

 

Similar to: [SECULAR] Xasthur, Heirdrain, Winds of Sorrow, Maugrim, Aghast (Nor), [CHRISTIAN] Heztael, Eternal Rest, Bedeiah, early Betheos Abshalom, (add more later)

Existing info confirmed accurate by Gedaliah as of 13 Sept 2024