A prescient track, Bury Your Head is the second single to be released from Final Coil frontman Phil Stiles’ solo EP, The Anchorite. Detailing the way in which the deliberate polarisation of society by national governments has been aided by the desire of an exhausted public to simply ignore the turmoil, the lyrical content reflects the ongoing crisis of Western democracy.
Musically, the track nods to Massive Attack, The Cure and Nine Inch Nails; the pulsing synthesisers and incisive guitars swirling around a distorted vocal to create a darkly atmospheric track that is as thoughtful as it is menacing.
The lyric video, created by Lee Waters, taps perfectly into the paranoia of the piece, the heavily glitched imagery recalling the work of Rob Sheridan circa Year Zero.
WATCH THE VIDEO VIA UNDERGROUND N’ PROUD HERE.
THE EP
The Anchorite is the debut solo EP from Phil Stiles. Whilst the socio-political lyrical themes of Final Coil remain; the music diverges, drawing from a range of electronic influences to create a darkly ambient soundtrack for Phil’s tales of social decay. Eerie dissonance abounds, especially on the atmospheric Intro, which combines stately guitar with the cold, inhuman hum of subterranean machinery. Elsewhere, the rhythmic pulse of mangled samplers recalls the claustrophobic nightmare of Massive Attack, whilst the muscular guitars of Antipathy brings to mind the industrial nightmare of
Godflesh.
Recorded in the wake of Final Coil’s acclaimed sophomore album, The World We Left Behind For Others, and set against the backdrop of the UK’s fateful decision to leave the EU, The Anchorite portrays the seismic societal shift that is occurring around an increasingly turbulent world.
Recorded and mixed by Phil, the EP was mastered by the legendary James
Plotkin (ISIS, Khanate, Earth, Sunn 0))), Pelican), and the result is an EP that treads a fine line between cold industrial, progressive rock and somnolent trip hop.
The track is TAKEN FROM acclaimed EP THE ANCHORITE, AVAILABLE NOW VIA Epictronic Records
PRAISE FOR THE ANCHORITE:
“The Anchorite is everything it promises to be given the
circumstances it was written in: introspective, critical and wickedly
wintry… Phil Stiles may have a day job as a rock musician, but he
could ably carve out a second income from a career in electronic
music.”
THE INDEPENDENT VOICE EZINE
_“Overall – A morose, but effective EP, ‘TA’ invites serious
contemplation of the contents therein, via its carefully cultivated
thematic narration and consistent solemn accompaniments. Food for
thought, presented in a precisely performed fashion.”_
ROCK QUEEN REVIEWS
_Even if it is a “simple” ep, the anchorite is the subject of
considerable commitment, as demonstrated by the highly effective
production… Despite its brevity, the anchorite represents an
excellent viaticum for a career to be developed.”_
VER SACRUM
_I loved this EP. I mean how could I not? It is unique and it draws
from so many elements and styles that I love. The whole experience is
very well put together and really nails the tone and emotion that they
are wanting to deliver.”_
UBER ROCK
_“…batters down the synapses and ensures the listener is really
thinking about what’s being said and delivered.”_
MEDIAN MAN
_“The Anchorite” pleased me from start to finish, its tracks
complement each other very well, it maintains a linear and creative
segment and portrays the seismic change of the society that is
occurring, not only in the UK, but around the world…”_
ROCK VIBRATIONS
