Botanist, the self proclaimed green metal band whose lyrics are largely comprised of nature driven subject matter, have released the 12th consecutive album since its first extensive two disk compilation in 2011. Titled Paleobotany is an album that offers an ode to the age of the dinosaurs and the native flora that existed millions of years before humans inhabited the Earth.
Botanist’s key and founding member is composer, lyricist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist known as Otrebor. He had a clear vision and concept for what Botanist would be from the very beginning and while many of the subsequent albums were Otrebor’s “one-man band”, over the years he has invited in a wide range of carefully selected musicians to join the troupe. Featured on Paleobotany is Otrebor playing the hammered dulcimer and keyboards, Daturus on drums, Tony Thomas playing bass, and vocalist Mar.
An utterly unique outfit, Botanist’s ever-changing members represent an eclectic repertoire across metal subgenres and incorporate a compelling catalog of instruments. Within this new album is an array of vocal styles consisting of both Nordic black metal melodies and harsh death metal guttural chants. Uncharacteristic of most American metal groups, Botanist prominently use percussion-stringed instruments called hammered dulcimers which are often digitally manipulated for the recordings.
According to Otrebor, he created a world behind the creation of Botanist and gave it a lore that would become the basis for all the music produced under the moniker.
“The Botanist is characterized as a possibly deranged man of science that lives in self-imposed exile to stay far away from humanity’s crimes against Nature. In ‘The Verdant Realm,’ his sanctuary of fantasy and wonder, ‘The Botanist’ surrounds himself with plant life to find solace in the company of the natural world…his lyrics are equally informed by scientific nomenclature as they are inspired by Romantic-era poetry, art, and philosophy.”
For those who have not had the pleasure of exploring the auditory universe that is Botanist, I highly suggest you take a deep dive, there is a lot of ground to cover and all of it is exceptionally stimulating. Paleobotany is available as a 60-page hardcover 2CD artbook including bonus tracks, a Gatefold black vinyl LP, and as a limited Gatefold transparent Lupine blue vinyl LP. The link to purchase is here.
Tracklist
1. Aristolochia
2. When Forests Turned to Coal
3. Magnolia
4. Archaeamphora
5. The Impact that Built the Amazon
6. Sigillaria
7. Strychnos Electri
8. Wollemia Nobilis
9. Dioon
10. Royal Protea
Bonus CD (artbook only)
01. Lampenflora
02. Xerophyte
03. Terraforming
04. The Beat That Rocked the Amazon
05. Teardrop
Photo courtesy of Wyman Choy
