Joseph D. Rowland / Hosianna Mantra, photo by Elizabeth L. Cline
Pallbearer bassist and songwriter Joseph D. Rowland has launched a synth-based solo project, Hosianna Mantra, with a seven-song album, Particle Mythology.
Hosianna Mantra is a definite sonic departure from Rowland’s work in Pallbearer, though it touts the same exploratory sonic approach. The project showcases Rowland’s affinity for progressive electronic music and modern recording technology.
Indeed, the musician shared a long list of the gear used on Particle Mythology (which can be seen below), and it’s a serious collection that undoubtedly takes some engineering savvy to operate. Taking a step toward the electro-acoustic pioneering of Daniel Lanois, Rowland has proven himself to be just as worthy a soundscapist as he is a metal bassist.
Previously Rowland appeared as a solo act playing synth-based material opening for bands such as YOB, Spirit Adrift, and Thou. Pallbearer albums, especially their most recent album Forgotten Days, have also used synths tastefully albeit in a more subdued sense, often played on those recordings by Rowland. With Hosianna Mantra, however, he has eschewed the doom metal template for a looser form of expression incorporating elements of ambient, krautrock, and minimalism.
Editors’ Picks
It adds to a fine year for Rowland and Pallbearer. The latter’s aforementioned 2020 album, Forgotten Days, placed favorably on Heavy Consequence’s year-end list for both songs and albums.
Particle Mythology is already available digitally via Bandcamp or Amazon. Stream the album and check out the art/tracklist and Rowland’s list of gear below. For more on Rowland, check out our recent interview.
Particle Mythology Artwork:
Particle Mythology Tracklist:
01. Timeline Incursion
02. Palatial Radiance
03. Mechanical Ancestry
04. Particle Mythology
05. Retrogradient
06. Psychladic Artifact
07. Retinal Echoes
Equipment utilized on Particle Mythology:
Akai AX60
Akai XR10
Arturia Keystep
Analogue Solutions Europa
Behringer Pro-1
Boss DR-110
Boss DR-220A
Boss DC-2w
Boss RPH-10
Craig 910
DBX 160VU
DBX 160XT
Electro-Harmonix Small Stone
Ensoniq DP/2
Eurorack modular system (12u)
Eventide H3000B
Kawai K3
Korg MS-20
Korg SQ-1
Lexicon LXP-15II
Meris Mercury7
Moog MF Delay
Morley Sapphire Flanger
Oberheim Matrix 6R
PAIA FatMan
Roland Alpha Juno 1
Roland JU-06
Roland JX-3P
Roland SDE-2500
Sequential Circuits Six Trak
Sony DPS-R7
Sony MXP-29
Symetrix 501
Symetrix 606
Yamaha CS01
Yamaha D1500
Yamaha PM-180
Yamaha QX5
Yamaha RX11
Yamaha SPX90
Yamaha TX81Z
