Elend | Artist

Elend is a dark ambient/neoclassical band formed 1993 in Paris, France, by composers and multi-instrumentalists Iskandar Hasnawi of France and Renaud Tschirner of Austria. Extending the core duo, the current lineup includes additional members Sébastien Roland (programming, keyboards), David Kempf (violin), Esteri Remond (soprano vocals), Klaus Amann (trumpet, horn, trombone), Shinji Chihara (violin, viola) and Laura Angelmayer (soprano vocals). The band's name is German for "misery" and their music can be described as a combination of contemporary classical music and gothic, including some elements of electronic and industrial music. Their early sound utilized samplers and synthesizers to create a dense and horrifying orchestral sound. In their later albums their sound has broadened, relying almost entirely on acoustic instruments and chamber orchestras. Commenting on the album The Umbersun one reviewer summed up the experience succinctly: "The most unsettling album ever recorded. Seriously. Listen to this stuff in the dark and weep.. As beautiful as this album can be in some points, it's also a very dark ride down to hell. Very eerie and creepy, filled with lush orchestration coupled with very animated and diverse vocal approach." The band has released seven studio albums, the last in 2007. Standouts include Les ténèbres du dehors (1996), The Umbersun (1998), Winds Devouring Men (2003), Sunwar the Dead (2004) and A World in Their Screams (2007). Hasnawi and Tschirner are also active in a new project Ensemble Orphique.

Artist Website: elend-music.org

Featured Albums: Elend

Related Artists: Mercyless, Misanthrope