Khonsu to release first digital single and clip for "A Jhator Ascension"

KHONSU is a groundbreaking and innovative extreme metal band hailing from Bergen, Norway that features guest appearances by members of KEEP OF KALESSIN and MANES. Their music has a distinctive dark futuristic twist and delivers a sinister blend of metal and electronic elements. On November 18th, KHONSU release their second, upcoming new album "The Xun Protectorate" via Jhator Recordings/PHD.

Today, the band releases their first digital single "A Jhator Ascension".

Enjoy it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/E5_iwqCsiIg

Order it digitally here: https://itunes.apple.com/no/album/a-jhator-ascension-single/id1155939648?l=nb

"When I wrote the track "A Jhator Ascension", it started with playing the theme of the first riff on keyboards. I thought that this could fit both as a high speed riffing part, but also just as a slow and electronic part. Therefore, as people will hear when the album is released, the intro is the same theme as this first riff", explains S. Gronbech and continues: "I am very satisfied with this song. It's compact, flows very naturally and has a strong sense of wholeness. Besides that, it is probably the most traditional black metal track on the album, and a great opening track as well. As people might have realised by now, I really like mixing the beautiful and tender with the brutal and raw. Mixing these different elements, beacame typical for Khonsu."

The album as a whole is about a city in space, and “A Jhator Ascension” is about the process of justification for the protagonist of the story as he is about to drive this vessel into the sun. Some sort of religious delusion also grows in him, as he realises he has power over life and death.

Jhator is the name of a Tibetan burial practise called 'sky burial'. In this funerary practise a human corpse is placed on a mountaintop, exposing it to the elements and animals – especially predatory birds.

KHONSU - "The Xun Protectorate"

1. Desolation City (Prologue)
2. A Jhator Ascension
3. The Observatory
4. Liberator
5. Death Of The Timekeeper
6. The Tragedy Of The Awakened One
7. Visions Of Nehaya
8. A Dream Of Earth
9. Toward the Devouring Light
10. The Unremembered (Epilogue)

Release: November, 18th

The album concept was written by S. Gronbech and Torstein Parelius (MANES, CHTON), who also wrote the storyline and lyrics. "It's a concept album set several centuries into the future, after earth is gone and human kind continues it’s existence on a sort of space station or “city” in orbit around the sun", commented S. Gronbech and continues: "It’s a dystopian setting and a story about the end of mankind, when this cosmic city is driven into the sun by a clone who starts to feel he has a special mission to accomplish."

"The diversity of ideas on this album is probably unlike anything heard before in the metal world", added Gronbech. "One moment one may be listening to the most hellish Black Metal with screams of torture, while in the next beautiful and mystic passages inviting melancholic contemplation."

The artwork was created by Adrien Bousson and reflects the many faces of KHONSU. "Expect a monumental record that will challenge even the most open minded listeners. It should be enjoyed without prejudice and mental limitations, and it’s an hour-long journey of dark, strange, and desolate atmospheres where you never will be able to predict what's coming next."

More on "The Xun Protectorate":

• Teaser #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pglis3IXzNs
• Teaser #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mniPiDBbZTE
• Video Clip "Visions of Nehaya": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7i7GoFBkkQ

Three weeks ago, KHONSU released a strictly limited edition of 300 copies of their "Traveller" EP from 2014 on black vinyl.

KHNOSU - Traveller" EP:

1. Traveller

2. Ix

3. Army of Me

4. Visions of Nehaya

5. The Malady (Traveller mix)

Watch a teaser for the "Traveller" EP here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLZwOxW1AC0

About KHONSU:

The band name KHONSU is taken from the ancient Egyptian god of the moon and literally means "he who travels across the night sky", which fits perfectly with it's suggestion to mystery, darkness, and the cosmic. In 2012, KHONSU signed with French label Season of Mist - sharing the roster with bands like MAYHEM and ROTTING CHRIST - and released their debut album "Anomalia", which had Thebon from KEEP OF KALESSIN on vocals, the year after. The album was praised for its high level of creativity, originality, and musicianship and was considered a fresh breath into a genre that kept repeating itself. Two years later, KHONSU self-released an EP entitled "Traveller", which will be reissued on a limited vinyl edition, available for pre-order now.

Today KHONSU consists of two main members: The masked and mysterious mastermind S. Gronbech and vocalist T'ol from Norwegian Death Metal acts CHTON and KILLING FOR COMPANY. Before creating his own dark and twisted world with KHONSU, S. Gronbech had contributed on the highly acclaimed KEEP OF KALESSIN EP "Reclaim" back in 2003, which had Atilla Csihar from MAYHEM on vocals. In addition to these two main members, the new album also has Rune Folgerø from MANES and ATROX on clean vocals and the abovementioned Arnt Gronbech on solo guitar on several tracks. KHONSU has been working on and perfecting their new album for three years.