E.K. Wimmer, the creative force behind Albuquerque’s dark post-punk outfit Blood Relations, is renowned as a film composer with an extensive portfolio that spans various short films, commercials, podcasts, and six feature films. Notably, he composed the score for the 2018 documentary Scary Stories, which delves into the chilling world of the 1980s children’s horror book series Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
In his ventures beyond music, E.K. Wimmer embraces the avant-garde as an experimental visual artist, engaging with collage, photography, and video installations. His work has earned recognition in the art world, leading to solo museum exhibitions worldwide. With Blood Relations, Wimmer expands his arresting visual storytelling, particularly through the eerie and surreal video for the single As This Darkness Takes Hold.
The track weaves a spellbinding aura, underscored by its sorrowful synths, frenzied guitar, and vocals that lament in a haunting chant. Yet, it’s the masked figure’s enigmatic blood ritual in the desert that strikes a chord, resonating with both universal and arcane themes. Whatever spirit it’s conjuring out there, let’s hope the prayers are answered.
Watch the video for As This Darkness Takes Hold below:
Ritual, the sophomore LP from Blood Relations, unfolds as a concept album, intricately blending the dark energy of post-punk, European folk music, Native American culture, the depth of goth rock, and the mystical ambiance of dungeon synth. The album opens with the mysterious, solemn The Unraveling, bringing to mind the procession scene of The Wicker Man, and moves into the ethereal, simply poetic Be My Sight. After the title song, things get more heavy with All Is Mine, with its plodding guitars and echoing vocals. Go Forth My Shadow follows this trend, with a shoegaze haze enveloping the mournful vocals. The album closes with Final Moon, a droning, shamanistic-flavoured number, sure to hit you square in the third eye.
Listen to the album below, and order here.
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