Via Dangerous Minds

Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw called La Danza de la Realidad (“The Dance Of Reality”), Chilean cinematic trickster Alejandro Jodorowsky’s first film in 23 years, “a triumphant return, which mixes autobiography, politics, torture and fantasy to exuberant, moving effect.”

La Danza de la Realidad was shot in Jodorowsky’s hometown of Tocopilla, deep in the Chilean desert. The film, which premiered at Cannes tells the story, sort of, of the his Communist father, Jaime Jodorowsky, with whom the director obviously had a very complex relationship:

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Now this is just totally fucking AWESOME…some of my favorite musical heros have been given a superhero make over! Brazilian designer Butcher Billy re-works the images of Siouxsie Sioux, Mark Mothersbaugh, Ian Curtis, John Lydon, Morrissey, Robert Smith and Billy Idol as comic book superheros. His series is entitled The Post Punk/New Wave Super Friends! Jump on a dirty bassline and check it out!

Text & Photos via The Heavy Mental

Scarful has an aura around him. If you know him well enough you understand what I am talking about. It’s a thick, shiny cloud floating around him probably because his odd-shaped skull is filled with wisdom nectar. Even though he is usually a very peaceful creature, if the cloud is dark and stormy, you better stay away or you can get blasted by his thunder. His knowledge on occult arts and crafts is enormous and he is constantly experimenting with them in his studio in Tor Pignattara, in the suburb of Rome. Alessandro Maida, also known as Scarful has done with inks and drawings pretty much what Sasha Shulgin has done with psychedelics. Fertile as Gengis Kahn in conceiving artwork for record covers, posters, and fanzines, he is a Belzebub of cross-media collaborations. He wears black and has asthma like Darth Vader.

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Wrekmeister Harmonies is a project from Chicago helmed by JR Robinson, and his new album You’ve Always Meant So Much to Me is an experiment on the outer edges of heavy music. I could list all of the unreal humans that contributed to this record, but I won’t. This sonic vision into another reality will be released via Thrill Jockey Records on June 11th. Right now check out this 11 minute video of Simon Fowler drawing the cover art…Space is the Place!

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The Baphomet sigil has become one of the most ubiquitous symbols of the “dark side” in our culture today, second only to the inverted cross. It adorns our bodies in the form of jewelry, t-shirts, leggings, hats and other clothing good or bad. It’s almost like the Che Guevara of metal – people who have no idea of its meaning or history plaster it all over themselves. In the interests of staying informed about one of the most important images in metal culture, check out the informative essay about the history of the Baphomet below, taken from Angelfire.com, home of the Joy of Satan Ministries. They outline its pagan roots, ties to Christianity through the Templar and the Inquisition, and it’s evolution as the logo of the Church of Satan. It’s a good read and for some of you may be enlightening about this almost “pop culture” symbol.

When we got Cloud Rat’s LP Moksha in to the CVLT Record Store, both Sean and I were like, who did the art for this? Who created this stunning dark and beautiful scene, taking a bird as light and airy as the hummingbird and somehow imbuing it with the intensity and heaviness of Cloud Rat’s music? The answer – Brian Uhl. Uhl is an artist who takes his craft seriously, and eschews modern digital techniques for traditional, tangible ones. He works in ink to create furious texture and movement in his surreal scenes. While some of his work is overtly dark in its theme, much of it is symbolic in both its subject matter and in the strong shapes he creates. At times Uhl uses the space of his canvas to frame his compositions so that they float in a tarry abyss like sigils for Hades nobility. For other pieces he fills his page with dot work, creating tactile, gloomy scenes. Below find a selection of his work…

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Text & Art by Glyn Smyth

When starting out on a work commission I’m always looking for new ways to tackle the subject matter. Whilst it’s always tempting to jump on the first or most obvious idea that springs to mind, I’ve come to realise it’s always more rewarding to view the artwork process as an “exploration” of the idea. That allowing yourself the freedom to wander off the most direct path, uncertain of your exact destination makes for a far more interesting journey with a greater prize at the end…

I was fortunate in the fact that both Caleb and the label seemed receptive to a fresh approach and were happy to entrust me with a great deal of creative control from the outset. After some brief initial discussions I received the album tracks, lyrics and the title – “Savage Masters”. Whilst familiar with earlier Zozobra material these new songs were faster, leaner and more aggressive. Images of wild creatures immersed in fierce combat sprang to mind. A tangle of beasts fighting over a crown. The unhindered savagery of the animal kingdom.

Yet the lyrical content told a different tale. The lyrics hinted at an internal anguish and being subject to forces beyond ones control. References to serpents, venom and weaponry was suggestive of ritual more than that of warfare.

And there were repeated references to an unidentified female force…

“Screaming hear left defenceless..offer my seed to her sword”
“Drink from her rain when it’s burning and acid”
“And the goddesses weave wicked spells…”

In this light, the original etymology of the Spanish word Zozobra (meaning ‘anxiety’, ‘anguish’ or ‘worry’) seemed more relevant than references to the communal catharsis experienced by the burning of “Old Man Gloom” in Santa Fe each year. Nevertheless, this relatively modern ritual (the first Zozobra burning was in 1924) has roots in “The Burning Of Judas” festival once practiced widely in many orthodox Catholic countries but perhaps today most strongly associated with Mexico…

At this point the identity of this unseen female entity became apparent to me. The goddess in her dark aspect…whether appearing as the Santa Muerte of recent popularity, Mictecacihuatl of Aztec culture or as the Lady Of Guadalupe. She arrives from the West and may represent death, though is something more than this. An arbiter of divine justice. A shape shifting Divine Mother who’s chthonic nature is revealed by the light of the moon. An inverted cross of orthodoxy suspended over a river within Mictlan. The High Priestess. A savage master.

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A friend of mine for over 30 years, Dan Clements of EXCEL, is selling something that he never thought he would – his hand-drawn Suicidal Tendencies button down created by Ric Clayton RxCx is up for auction on Ebay for $3,000. I know that many people reading this will say, why so much? Because this is really a one of a kind piece of punk rock history. Back in the day, having a shirt created by Rick was way more than just a badge of honor! These shirts were just as important to us as a biker’s cut is. If I had the money, I would buy it from from Dan and then put it in the L.A. Punk Museum. Read a recent interview with Dan below, plus check out the details behind this auction…Venice for LIFE!

100% AUTHENTIC, ORIGINAL OWNER, ORIGINAL HAND DRAWN SUICIDAL TENDENCIES BUTTON UP DRESS SHIRT. THE SAME ONE WORN ON THE LEGENDARY 1983 DEBUT ALBUM, THIS ONE IS DISPLAYED ON THE BACK COVER IN ALL IT’S GLORY. ARTWORK BY RxCx aka RIC CLAYTON, WHO CREATED THE ENTIRE VENICE DOGTOWN SUICIDAL IMAGES THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME. THIS PIECE WAS ON IT’S WAY TO THE LOS ANGELES PUNK ROCK MUSEUM BUT DUE TO A PERSONAL EMERGENCY, I MUST SELL THIS TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. INCLUDED IN THIS AUCTION IS THE ORIGINAL FIRST OFFICIAL RELEASED T-SHIRT 1982 AND THE VERY FIRST STICKER 1981. THIS IS A ONE OF A KIND AUCTION NEVER TO BE REPEATED. I HAVE HELD ON TO THIS MEMORY FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS AN ORIGINAL HAND DRAWN SUICIDAL SHIRT LEFT OF THAT ERA…Words from the seller…
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CVLT Nation’s creative comrade Natvres Mortes Illvstration is re-stocking his Cloven Hoov webstore with new tees, sweats, patches and pins featuring his artwork. All of his pieces are very limited so make sure to get yours quick. I’m sure the Cloven Hoov crews and tees will not last long! Even better, all of his garments are printed in the USA! Check out some photos of the gear before and after the jump…

We have covered artist/tattooist Scott Move in the past, and we are big supporters of his artistic vision. So we are stoked to hear about the show he has curated, Absence of Light, which opens this Thursday the 11th at The Circle in Soho, London, at 7pm. He has put together an amazing group of UK artists and no doubt it will be a dark and despicably excellent event! Check out the flyer below and represent at 21 Noel Street!