Equilibrium Music was raised with the intent
of providing a breeding ground for Darkwave, Neo-Classical, Medieval,
Dark Folk, Ambient music and related genres in Portugal.
We have initiated our activities in August 2000 as a distribution company,
initially carrying titles from labels such as Iris/Prikosnovenie, Cold
Meat Industry or Palace of Worms, and we have issued our first release
- a Digipak MCD which also sets the debut for Portuguese Ethereal/Neo-Classical
acoustic act
Dwelling
- in September 2001.
In the year 2002, our releases were restricted to the release of Portuguese
female-fronted Gothic/Wave sensation
Aenima's
"Never Fragile" CDEP (over 30 minutes playing time!), presented in yet
another impressive deluxe packaging.
Late in the following year,
Dwelling's first full-length release,
"Humana", was finally finished, and officialy released on the 6th October,
with a presentation show taking place at the Lisboa Water Museum. The
album has received excellent reviews worldwide, and was recently licensed
for an Hong Kong release through Orpheus' Music.
Surprisingly enough, the beginning of 2004 brought us the opportunity
to work together with
Ataraxia
and
Autunna et sa Rose, for the release of a very special live
recording from an acoustic live concert that both artists held at a
church, in Rovigo, and yet another fine surprise landed on our lap thanks
to Mr. Roger Karmanik of
Cold Meat
Industry, who told us about
Lupercalia, a former
World
Serpent artist who were seeking a new label for their album... After
hearing a couple of songs, we contacted this talented project immediately,
and a couple of months later
Lupercalia's
"Florilegium"
would be released, offering a stunning blend of medieval and neoclassical
music with eastern-influenced melodies.
Yet another addition to the
Equilibrium Music group is Mr.
Vittorio
Vandelli, better known for his work with
Ataraxia, where
he plays guitar. Vittorio's first solo album, "A Day of Warm Rain in
Heaven", was released in September 2004.
The last months of 2004 brought us in touch with the Swedish
Puissance,
and an agreement was finally reached for the re-issue of their classic
debut, "Let Us Lead", previously announced on numerous occasions through
various labels which ended up never materializing. This deluxe edition,
in matte-black Digipak, complete with UV-spot varnish, completely re-designed
artwork, is now available, and features also a bonus track and re-mastered
sound.
2005 would bring to our attention
The
Moon and the Nightspirit and
Íon,
two debutant projects who have since joined Equilibrium Music. Hailing
from Hungary, the duo
The Moon and the Nightspirit have presented
a delicate jewel of Ethereal Folk, whereas the Irish-based
Íon,
headed by former
Anathema and
Antimatter musician Duncan
Pattersson, are preparing a very personal trip to the darker reaches
of the Celtic spirit.
Our debut on vinyl format came in early 2006, with the release of
Arditi's
"Destiny of Iron", a limited edition 7"EP which should serve as an appetizer
to their third album, "Standards of Triumph" also released via Equilibrium
Music later that year.
The past year of 2007 was the busiest since the inception of Equilibrium
Music. January met us straining under rigorous discipline, as we prepared
the return of the warmachine, the release of
Puissance's
"Grace of God", their latest album in 4 years. "Back In Control", their
second album, and also
Arditi's debut "Marching on to Victory",
were also released at the same time.
Still during the first semestre, not only did we have the opportunity
to accomodate the comeback of
Dwelling for their second long-awaited
album "Ainda é Noite", but also release the brilliant "Regö Rëjtem"
album by
The Moon and the Nightpirit. The latter had its official
release held at the "Trolls & Legendes" festival at Mons, Belgium,
where the band received an award as the most promising act of the year.
During the early days of the Fall, two debutants on our roster marked
their official releases. The Italian combo
Hexperos,
spawned out of the ruins of
Gothica, released their "The Garden
of the Hesperides". And meanwhile, the German/Dutch duo who conquered
distance through proximity of heart,
Poets to their Beloved unearthed "Embrace the Fool".
Still to come is the new opus by
Arditi, "Omne Ensis Impera",
hopefully before the next Winter Solstice.
We hope you enjoy our efforts - feel free to
contact
us.