The Phoenix archetype, representing profound transformation through trials and renewal, resonates powerfully with New Orleans dark duo The Palace of Tears on their sophomore album Veiled Screen, Woven Dream. This mythical bird, perpetually reborn from its ashes, mirrors the band’s own cycle of creative destruction and rebirth.
The duo, composed of Leah Kahn, also known as LV Darkling (vocalist, lyricist), and Erick R Scheid (guitars, electronics, engineering), first crossed paths in Germany in 2018. After meeting at the illustrious WGT Festival where Erick performed with Mercurys Antennae, they embarked on a long-distance songwriting venture. Following their debut album Of Ruination in 2020, Erick relocated from the Bay Area to join LV in New Orleans, further fusing their artistic spirits in a city steeped in musical alchemy.
Veiled Screen, Woven Dream delves deep into the psyche, exploring hidden truths, personal loss, and the soul’s dark journey. The album’s creation, marked by unforeseen tragedy, ultimately played a pivotal role in transforming grief into a path toward healing. The album combines somber beauty with hypnotic electronics, heavily processed guitars, and operatic contralto vocals into an ethereal mix that defies time.
The record serves as a profound exploration of the shadow-self, navigating through realms of darkness and the layers of the unconscious just beyond our everyday perception. With elements of ethereal wave, gothic rock, shoegaze, dark ambient, and electronica, the songs on this album provoke deep reflection on the soul’s passage beyond the mortal realm, touching on the mysteries that linger at the boundaries between the visible and invisible worlds.
The album opens with Black Obsidian Beyond Oblivion, a journey of self-discovery and acceptance within a cosmic, dark universe. The song delves into personal depths, confronting despair and emerging transformed, revealing the profound truths of the soul mirrored in the infinite expanse of stars and darkness. This is followed by the heart-shattering An Echo In Time, which portrays the profound grief and lingering echoes of a loved one who has passed away. Left to sift through the tangible remnants and memories of a shared life, this poignant reflection prompts a deep internal struggle over what to retain or release in complex journey of mourning.
The Embers Of Your Being Glow Still, symbolized through the imagery of dragon fire and golden wings, talks about the miracle of spiritual awakening. This rebirth is celebrated as a triumphant ascent toward the sun, embodying vigor and renewal, and affirming that in death, there is the potential for profound change and new beginnings. Cimetière de l’Absinthe no. 333 – channeling the intensity of Klaus Nomi and Diamanda Galás – follows – a ghostly operatic soundscape that brings chills to your spine.
A creature of delicate beauty embarks on a mystical journey through a dark and enchanted sky, traversing the realms of dreams and twilight. This voyage illuminates a hidden world teeming with rebirth and unseen mysteries, beckoning an embrace of the night and its transformative experiences: Lair of the Undying begins with a mournful cello, blossoming into a resplendent choral and synth pad arrangement.
Veiled Screen, Woven Dream, delves into the realms of concealed realities, personal anguish, and the profound path of the spirit. The lyrics convey a deep sense of longing and melancholy, blending the ethereal with the tangible. They capture the duality of light and shadow, touching on themes of transformation, memory, and the cyclical nature of relationships.
Finally, The Serpent Bearer captures the eternal cycle of creation and destruction beyond our mortal realm. As the cosmic serpent weaves through the pillars of creation, a prophetic priestess observes our spirits in the vastness of night. Time sifts like sand as new stars emerge and shine, and the serpent bearer uncovers hidden truths. With each ending, a new beginning is unveiled, revealing the transformative essence of existence.
New Orleans native Darkling, with roots deep in the realm of performance, is a classically-trained dancer and vocalist who infuses her music with a rich and diverse texture. Drawing on her extensive background in the performing arts, she brings a dynamic and layered dimension to her singing and songwriting, seamlessly blending influences from her various disciplines.
“This album is dedicated to my brother, best friend and soulmate Kirk, who left this Earthly realm last October,” confesses Darkling. “I would be remiss to not mention my own recent personal loss, as I would be denying and omitting the special place that it holds in the journey of the making of this album. I truly have never known grief until now. There are songs on this album that remain difficult for me to listen to, let alone actually perform and sing, as I usually end up in tears….As vulnerable as it is to share some of this here, I am propelled by the deep spiritual connection that he and I held throughout our lives. He is inherently a part of this work, perhaps collaborating with us from beyond. I hope that by channeling this and honoring those we love, it can provide a healing catalyst and human connection can be unearthed.”
Erick r Scheid, the driving force behind Mercurys Antennae on Projekt Records, has an impressive discography with three albums and two EPs to his name. His band has graced stages at notable festivals such as Whitby Goth Festival, All Tomorrow’s Ghosts, and WGT. A self-taught recording engineer, Erick has been active in the music scene since 1989, contributing not only to his band but also to film soundtracks and live scores for dance performances, with extensive tours across the US.
Veiled Screen, Woven Dream is out now, available on CD, limited edition vinyl and digitally.
Having toured the USA, The Palace of Tears has shared the stage with artists such as Kaelan Mikla, Pink Turns Blue, AL1CE, Solar Fake, Rosegarden Funeral Party, The Veldt, Slow Crush, Pilgrims of Yearning, Astari Nite, The Waning Moon and The Neuro Farm, in addition to performing at Dark City Festival (New Orleans) and Dark Castle Festival (Louisville).
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