Ensoph

Italy · formed 1997 · last active 2009

Ensoph is an Italian avant-garde gothic/industrial metal project from Venice, active from 1997 (emerging from the prog-doom band Endaymynion) into the 2010s and signed at various points to Cruz del Sur Music. Their name, Hebrew for 'infinity,' signals the band's abiding interest in esotericism, Kabbalah and apocalyptic theology, filtered through a sound that moved from dense avant-garde gothic metal on early records toward techno/industrial-driven arrangements by 2009's Rex Mundi X-Ile. Critics likened aspects of their sound to The Kovenant and Marilyn Manson, though the arrangements were often described as 'busy' to the point of overcrowded.

SCORE PROFILE

JazzyBalkanHardcoreSurfBarbershopDeathBlackTechnicalGlitchTheatricalFolkDoomDroneShoegazeAmbient8-bit
Jazzy3
Balkan0
Hardcore0
Surf0
Barbershop0
Death3
Black2
Technical5
Glitch5
Theatrical6
Folk0
Doom2
Drone0
Shoegaze0
Ambient0
8-bit0

Accent numbers counted towards the index. Hover an axis — or hold it on a phone — for what it means.

WHY THOSE SCORES

  • Jazzy 3Founding keyboardist Leonardo Castellani (Next-X@nctum) contributed accordion alongside keys on the band's early avant-garde gothic metal records, lending a cabaret coloring to the arrangements (BNR Metal Pages biography; Last.fm wiki).
  • Glitch 5Later albums, especially Rex Mundi X-Ile (2009), are described as driven by techno/industrial programming, including a techno cover of an Alice in Chains track (BNR Metal Pages biography).
  • Theatrical 6Guitarist Giuliano Marzola and drummer Zenone founded the project (from the ashes of prog-doom band Endaymynion) out of a shared passion for 'esotericism, theatre, philosophy and gothic culture,' carried through concept albums built on Kabbalah, apocalyptic and apocryphal-literature themes (BNR Metal Pages biography; Last.fm wiki).

MEMBERS

  • Nicola Favarettovocals (as N-Ikonoclast)
  • Giuliano Marzolaguitars, programming (as Xraphael)
  • Leonardo Castellanikeyboards, accordion (as Next-X@nctum)
  • Massimobass (as KKTZ)
  • Zenonedrums (as Xenos)

CONNECTIONS

label

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