The Storm Before the calm
Undaunted and unscathed by studio software/hardware meltdowns and the unprecedented global pandemic shutdown; here is our new album. I am in complete awe of the amazing artists; old and new that have lent their talents to make this record possible. And I am eternally grateful to our growing BIC FAMILY that continues this journey with us ….
Michael Ciravolo / Curator
1. THE OUTSIDE
(Nyte / Ciravolo)
Musically, this was the first track I had written for the album and it certainly set the ‘tone’ I heard in my head. As with the other three songs I have had the pleasure to write with Ashton, our process was painless and amazingly creative. The openness of the music perfected and suited Ashton’s vocal sound and style. He’s a fantastic lyricist … really poetic in his writing. Always delivering lyrical imagery that stands as cornerstones of what I want Beauty In Chaos to be. MC X
Michael reached out to me with the instrumental of what would become “The Outside” at a rather tumultuos time in my life. My wife and I were in the process of moving house, while I was feverishly preparing to leave on a mammoth 36 date European tour with Wayne Hussey and still recovering from a near death altercation with a pile of bricks. Such is my love for Michael, his work and what we have created together on the previous Beauty In Chaos releases, that I climbed off the treadmill, adjusted my bandages and wrote the lyrics and vocal melody for The Outside immediately. It is yet another one of those songs we have written together that seems more poignant in our current state of pandemic dystopia than it did when writing it. Once again, Michael’s sonic canvas proved a fertile and inspiring catalyst for me to do what I do best and I think the song was completed in 24 or 48 hours, much like “Storm” on the debut album. Here’s to Michael and the BIC family!
“As we say goodnight and dream of the outside” … Ashton Nyte
2. ALMOST PURE
(Seibold / Ciravolo)
The music to this one was part of my original writing output when I sat down to write what I planned to be a ‘darker, linear’ EP. When I got the vocal demo back from longtime friend, Steven Seibold from HATE DEPT. and heard ‘these flowers have no scent or color …’ I knew I picked the right writing partner for this soundscape! Cool minor-key guitar and synth ‘call and answer’ overlays the dark, repetitive drone bass line. The song ebbs and flows without getting overly grand. I have always been a fan of Seibold’s quicky biting industrial whit and delivery; and he intergrates himself seemlessly into what turned into ‘Almost Pure’. MC X
“What a great honor to write with such a longtime friend. It makes sense though. Michael and I have always been crazy about much of the same music. Not to mention, as supportive of one another as we could possibly be. This track came to me as a lush and tragic sounding plea for love. Every single one of my favorite songs are love songs. They don't have to be hopeful and sweet, especially from guys like Michael and I. This one is torn apart and weeping over what once was and the lyrics just dripped out like the last IV bottle in the ward.” … Steven Seibold
3. TEMPLE of DESIRE
(Pearlman / Ciravolo / Rozon)
Once ‘Stranger’ was written, it was clear this record would no longer be an EP, but a ‘full album’ in the context of vinyl. Most of my favorite ‘dark’ albums have a track that at first seems a bit out of place yet sits perfectly in place in context to the album’s mood and feel. So I set out to create something a bit left of center … using a string of minor and major chord progressions. Michael Rozon’s theory knowledge glued this one together beautifully. Both he and our mutual friend, film composer and Marilyn Manson guitarist Tyler Bates have sung the praises of Rafe, so I took their advice and reached out. I was NOT disappointed. Not many singers could follow and move their melody through this chordal minefield! MC X
I was so stoked to get an email from the Michael’s about singing on one of the Beauty In Chaos tracks while I was on tour in Mexico…an unexpected treat. The first lyrics that came were “Worn by the storm…” which I suppose is how I felt after that tour. Lyrics always are a bit mysterious to me, revealing their deeper meanings over time and looking at them at this moment they have a whole other meaning to me…in a dark waters we are no doubt…and always we have to keep our sights on that golden dawn. I’m thankful to be a part of making music with these kind and strong souls. May we continue to make beauty within the storm… Rafe Pearlman
4. A KIND CRUELTY
(Mackey / Ciravolo / Rozon)
My ‘demo’ of this track was a bit slower and based around the guitar riff. When Michael Rozon came up with this bass line, it took the track into a different realm! More upbeat and dare I say into a ‘goth anthem’??? Long time friend, Hate Dept. singer Steven Seibold made the intro to Curse (who it turns out I actually knew). Curse’s visual lyrics are one of the highlights of this record to me, and it sure lead to a bombastically fun video to make! - MC X
“When I first heard the instrumental version sent to me by Michael I was immediately captivated by the driving bassline and uplifting musical chorus. For the lyrics I was inspired by a PT Barnum quote referencing electricity and to “put a little of it into your blood and we will beat the world”. So that quote was the literal spark that fueled the rest of words. I just imagined being in the desert under the stars conjuring the energy to face the world. I’m excited to be a part of the Beauty in Chaos project, and to work with Michael and Tish. I admire them both as artists and entrepreneurs and to also be on a record with Wayne Hussey of The Mission UK and Seibold of Hate Dept. and the many other talented artists involved gives me a warm fuzzy feeling and I’ll take all those I can get!” … Curse Mackey
5. THE DELICATE BALANCE OF ALL THINGS
(Hussey, Ciravolo)
I was adamant about releasing something new... I wanted the new record to be a bit darker and brooding. I sat down with a drum machine and blasted out several ideas that seemed to convey the overall 'tone' I wanted for the record. I knew Wayne was busy preparing for his solo European tour, but he said to send the tracks over and he would see if anything struck him.
In typical Hussey fashion ... he said he was 'empty on words', understandable since he did just finish his 'Salad Daze' book. To my surprise, he sent back all of the vocal tracks a few days later, saying he had the title of 'the delicate balance of all things' that he thought about using for a future Mission record... and the lyrics basically poured out. Sonically and lyrically, I think this song perfectly sets the 'feel' I wanted 'The Storm Before The Calm' to have. It became the album’s first single and video! MC X
I was busy preparing for my mammoth solo European Salad Daze tour and didn’t think I’d have time and, to be frank, I did feel ‘collaborated’ out…..if I was to work on new music, I figured, it should be new material of my own rather than someone else’s. The tracks arrived. First one up - whilst I was thought it was okay it didn’t really grab me. Same for the next one. And then the third. I immediately started humming along, I liked this one. Despite the piece of music being very angular and broken into essentially 3 sections - all in different keys - the challenge for me was finding a vocal melody that sounds like it stays in the same key. I rose to the challenge. I had the title of ‘the delicate balance of all things’ previously and was considering even possibly using it as an album title at some point (may still do) but it seemed to fit perfectly for this new tune of Michael’s. I scrabbled some lyrics together and recorded a vocal and sent it to Michael. He wasn’t, at first, sure about it because of the low register that I sang the song in - I think he prefers it when I’m straining at the top of my range - but this music was dark and heavy and I just loved the juxtaposition of a more laid back vocal against that noisy background. I stood my ground and insisted that it would work. Eventually Michael, and his creative partner Michael Rozon, deferred to my persuasive argument. I have to say that of the 5 tracks I’ve been involved in with BIC this new one is my favourite, being closer to my spiritual home. And Michael plays some great guitar on the outro and there ain’t a chug to be heard…. Wayne Hussey
6. STRANGER
(Leon / Ciravolo / Rozon)
This gorgeous song resonates with me much like ‘Storm’ and ‘I Will Follow You’ from ‘FBIC’. One of those ‘a few in a lifetime’ moments for an artist. I truly believe things happen for a reason, as I literally stumbled on Kat’s band Holy Wars when they supported my friends Papa Roach. I thought she had an amazing voice and was a very captivating performer. What stood out the most to me was how she poured her pain and heartache into her lyrics. Lots of her ‘story’ intersects with mine. MC X
It was such a pleasure to be a part of writing this song with Beauty In Chaos. When Michael first reached out asking me to be a guest singer and songwriter on his new track, it was an honor to be included and I was so inspired by his work. As soon as I heard the instrumental , it gave me such a vibe and it was so beautiful as I heard something so heartbreaking in the song as well . This inspired me to write something very personal lyrically to give it the life it deserves.
I chose to speak about the feeling of grief and feeling completely disconnected from myself and from life itself after the loss of my parents. And how long that feeling tends to linger even years after their passing. Hearing the finished song was incredible and brought tears to my eyes.  I can’t wait for this song to be released and speak to others who may be feeling the same way….Kat Leon
7. The Storm Before The Calm
I - The Gathering
II - The Storm
III - The Calm *
(Ciravolo / Rozon)
Not sure yet if this is a creative masterpiece or total self indulgence; maybe a mix of the two! Honestly, I have always wanted to score a horror or apocalyptic film. This is how this soundscape came to be… I do like the idea of a ‘title track’, which we didn’t yet have. Since this album is a shorter slice of music than our previous releases, I hated to see what I self-justified as a ‘waste of about 30 minutes of CD space’ if we just included the album’s 6 tracks, I had thought briefly about adding a couple of remixes or alt-versions, but decided I would rather hold those for a full-fledged ‘re-envisioned style’ album later in the year. So that sparked the idea of this long ambient piece that morphed from the gorgeous outtro of ‘Stranger’. Sort of a ‘twin peaksesque’ evolving soundscape broken into 3 ‘moments’ to fill out the CDs running time. Something to just let play in the background and maybe discover something new with each listen. Or maybe, just shut it off in about 20 seconds! I recorded most of this at my home studio with lots of electronic toys. Thank God for Michael Rozon’s skill and patience, as he sifted through my sonic ramblings and pieced this together. A cool surprise is the addition of an operatic piece written and sung by Adrienne LaVey. She’s a popular goth YouTube Blogger that I met when she was reviewing ‘finding beauty in chaos’. She mentioned she sung opera and I thought that would be a great addition to this record. I had originally thought about short interludes inbetween the songs, but once this instrumental; concept took shape; her haunting “Lasciatemi morire!” sung in her dramatic mezzo-soprano fit beautifully into the ‘Calm’* movement of this piece. I do hope everyone will at least give this a listen at least once; especially under the ‘enhanced' influence’ of your favorite mind-opening libation. MC X