Botanist (band)

Botanist is an American black metal band based in San Francisco. The band was founded by American musician Otrebor who formerly ran the online music magazine Maelstrom.[2]

Botanist
OriginSan Francisco, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active2009–present
LabelsThe Flenser, Totalrust Music[1]
MembersOtrebor
Websitebotanist.nu

Musical characteristics and lyrics

In a departure from traditional black metal instrumentation, Botanist uses distorted hammered dulcimers and no guitars (aside from bass). Otrebor states he does not digitally edit his drumming recordings, in which he is purposely "playing as close to the edge of my ability as I can," to "hear the warts in my playing."[3]

Botanist "entity"

According to Otrebor, "When Botanist music gets recorded, I channel an entity within me that's been named 'The Botanist', a character whose perspective dictates the content of the music and lyrics." The Botanist holds a "romantic worldview in which plants reclaim the earth after humanity has killed itself," and he is "trying his damnedest to bring about the end of humanity because humanity is destroying the natural world and the natural world must prevail."[3]

Influences

Black metal band Ulver piqued Otrebor's interest in "black metal that's grown out of the worship of the forest." Dictionary-reading inspired Otrebor's use of complicated plant and insect names in lyrics and song titles, which he calls "in a way ... a tribute" to the extreme metal band Carcass.[4]

An interview on Botanist's website states, "influences can differ from album to album, but artists that seem to consistently shape or inspire Botanist are The Ruins of Beverast, Stars of the Lid (and side projects), Ulver, Immortal, Pagan's Mind, Antonio Vivaldi, J.S. Bach, Arvo Part, Edenbridge, Helloween, Angra, Martyr, Bolt Thrower (Whale era)."[5]

Reception

Botanist received spotlight coverage from NPR, wherein journalist Lars Gotrich praises the albums I: The Suicide Tree and II: A Rose from the Dead as "surprisingly dynamic and hypnotic. The hammered dulcimer rings out and cuts like a blast-beated piano pounding paradiddles in some kind of black-metal drumline. ... Botanist has created an alternate world where black-metal tropes — buzzing sound, croaked vocals, bleak aesthetics — exist, but are sonically limitless."[4]

Band members

Botanist has existed mainly as a one-man project, however various lineups have been assembled for touring and collaborative albums.

  • Otrebor – vocals, drums, hammered dulcimer
  • Daturus (2017–present) – drums
  • Tony Thomas (2019–present) – bass

[6]

Former members
  • D. Neal – hammered dulcimer (2013–2016)
  • A. Lindo – vocals, harmonium (2013–2016)
  • R. Chiang – hammered dulcimer (2013–2016)
  • Balan – bass (2013–2016)
  • Toorpand – bass (2017–2018)
  • Cynoxylon – vocals (2017–2019)
  • Davide Tiso – bass (2018–2019)

Discography
  • 2011: I: The Suicide Tree
  • 2011: II: A Rose From the Dead[7]
  • 2012: III: Doom in Bloom
  • 2013: IV: Mandragora
  • 2013: The Hanging Gardens of Hell (EP split with Palace of Worms)
  • 2014: VI: Flora
  • 2015: EP2: Hammer of Botany
  • 2016: EP3: Green Metal
  • 2017: Collective: The Shape Of He To Come
  • 2017: Collective: Setlist
  • 2019: Ecosystem
  • 2020: Photosynthesis

References
  1. "Totalrust Music". December 15, 2006. Archived from the original on December 15, 2006. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  2. "Maelstrom Zine :: covering the world's metal and independent music scenes :: Issue No 74". December 15, 2013. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  3. "The Quietus | Features | In Extremis | 'Humanity Is Doomed': The Botanist Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  4. Gotrich, Lars (September 2, 2011). "Botanist: One-Man, Hammered-Dulcimer Black Metal (No, Really)". Npr.org. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  5. "An Interview with Black Metal's Green Prophet (of Doom)". May 24, 2017. Archived from the original on May 24, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  6. "Botanist – Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives".
  7. "10 metal tracks even non-metal-heads will love". Salon.com. December 7, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
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