Asbest & Lord Kesseli & the Drums collaborate on Altari

In a twist of fate, a virus led to a unique collaboration. When the pandemic halted concerts, St. Gallen’s music club ‘Palace’ became a haven for artist residencies. ASBEST’s Robyn Trachsel and Judith Breitinger joined forces with LORD KESSELI & THE DRUMS’ Dominik Kesseli and Michael Gallusser. The result: powerful compositions that would have remained underground, now facing exponential exposure.

The upcoming EP ‘Altari,’ set to release in summer 2023, reflects the bands’ signature style—far from light-hearted. Opening with a contemplative intro, it transports listeners to an oblivion-like realm. ‘Détruisez Tout!’ follows, its screeching guitars and haunting voices soaring above a noisy rhythm section. The longest track, ‘Anarchitect,’ clocks in at nearly nine minutes, starting with doom and noise before transitioning into a menacing piano melody. The EP concludes with ‘Levitate into the Ground,’ where Dominik Kesseli’s clear vocals guide us towards a grand finale, accompanied by heavy breaths reminiscent of an animal or machine.

ALTARI delves into themes of doom, destruction, and retribution—an impactful creation born during an extraordinary phase in the world. Yet, it also carries a sense of hope, as the pandemic has brought us closer to the possibility of genuine, lasting change.

ALTARI not only signifies friendship between the two bands and Palace St. Gallen but also showcases a collaboration between the labels A Tree In A Field and Irascible Records, uniting them on multiple levels.