1

VISCERA was crafted by Byla (the guitarists Colin Marston and Kevin Hufnagel) and
Jarboe. There are cameo appearances by the guitarist Mick Barr and an anonymous
mosquito credited on the sleeve. No drums or percussion are used, it’s only guitars,
vocals and sampled vocals.

The music of the three long tracks consists of waves of guitar squalls and feedback
infused with Jarboe’s sometimes sonorous sometimes monstrous vocals. The
chiming sound in the middle of the first track might be the sampled voice of the
mosquito.

2
Contrast is created by two gentle intermezzos separating the guitar storms with
delicate acoustic picking. Their soothing arpeggio chords are a mirror opposite of
the frenzied tremolos of the three tempests.

Jarboe’s range of articulation encompasses hums, growls and rhythmic in-

/exhalation at the start of the first track (15:35). The vocal undertow of the
thundering guitar drone resembles the gentle murmur of My Bloody Valentine on
the album Loveless. The malevolent tone of the third track (10:58) derives from
Jarboe’s inhuman growling amid the industrial uproar.

3
The first intermezzo is brief with only the barest of vocal effects, while the second
(06:41) brings a soothing melody and matching vocals.

The third dronestorm (19:45) zig-zags at first, seemingly changing gears or direction
while the mournful tones of a choir fill the air. Then the tension starts building
rapidly, the tightening texture compressing the choir to a vocal drone and squeezing
the guitars for more ferocious feedback. It culminates in a brief outpouring of
ecstasy before giving up the ghost.

4
The closest correspondences to Viscera in Jarboe’s oeuvre might be her work with
Veil of Thorns, recorded in 2015. Ritualistic pieces like Atmospheric Conditions, Dust
Storm and Sun Falling resonate with Viscera’s metaphysics and equal the intensity of
Byla’s expression.

5
LINKS

https://ink19.com/2008/04/magazine/music-reviews/byla-jarboe

http://brainwashed.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6599&Itemid=55

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscera_(Byla_%2B_Jarboe_album)

www.allmusic.com/album/release/viscera-mr0001405066

www.discogs.com/Byla-Jarboe-Viscera/release/1350076

www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=6219

www.thelivingjarboe.com/about/media-kit/resonating-visceral-interview-