Joy Shannon and the Beauty Marks are set to release their 7th studio album this Spring. The concept album was inspired by the ancient Celtic and Nordic mythologies about death and rebirth into the afterlife. It is called “Aes Sidhe”, which in Irish means “people of the mound” or spirits, ancestors or people who have passed over. The ancient Irish buried their dead in a mound, which symbolized the pregnant belly of the goddess, who would rebirth the dead into the otherworld. This album explores the ancient view of the dying process, the darkness in between when one awaited rebirth and then the various parts of the afterlife, called by many names and envisioned in a variety of ways, from the land of youth “Tír na nÓg” to the land of honey “Mag Mell”. There is even a tribute to Tolkien’s reimagining of Nordic and Celtic mythological afterlives, in the “Grey Havens” song.
Paul Romano (www.workhardened.com), best known for his artwork for album covers for the band Mastadon, created the incredible album art for “Aes Sidhe.” Also contributing is the guitar work of Xasthur, guest backing vocals by Sera Timms of Black Mare and the Ides of Gemini, and distorted guitar work by Daryl Hernandez from Deathkings. The album was produced by Sammy Fielding from Ancient Owl Audio and the band Noctooa, and mastered by Mark Sheppard of the Offering in the UK.
To be released in partnership with Cloister Recordings and Triple Goddess Records.
