About

Photo by Novus Obscurum

The Sound

Dispel (dih-spel): Gothic Fantasy Rock – Fantasy Inspired Darkwave – Gothic Metal

Dispel puts the Go in Gothic! Through heavenly vocals, driving beats, booming bass, oscillating keyboard and dark melodies. Dispel seeks to create a musical narrative praising spiritual quests (the Hero’s Journey), Medieval lore (Dante’s Inferno), mythology, mysticism (Tarot), fantasy (Dungeons & Dragons).

The History

From humble beginnings drumming around the campfire as a child, to creating music with a mid-west working class ethic. The musical dues were paid playing drums in Marching Band. Next became an obsession with the early metal and punk scenes. When underground music had a message, ‘Attack your destiny. ’ It’s then that the journey really started; by smashing out beats behind the 90’s hardcore punk band “Face Value.” A relentless practice schedule ensued, gear was hauled, road miles traveled and endless van breakdowns followed.

By a chance of fate, during a six week European tour with “Face Value”, a seed was planted in an underground Goth/Industrial Club in Berlin. Exposed to a new sound, a different culture, this atmosphere made a lasting impression.

As the years passed the raw truth of the punk scene remained; but it was clear that a fresh approach was needed. After completing a degree in music and a recording studio internship, the commitment to the art of music was solidified.

Fast forward to the present, feeling the local underground scene in Cleveland was lacking and inspired by an obsession with fantasy gaming and medieval history, the idea for ‘Dispel’ began. It was then that fate again intervened when meeting a Berklee vocal performance/music therapy major, Ravensea. She offered a voice for the band and an insight to the secret of why music transcends language and cultural barriers.

The Inspiration

Obsessed with Mythology, Fantasy gaming, Dungeons & Dragons, Medieval history and Gothic culture, Dispel’s goal was to glorify these themes through the setting of music. On their premier album ‘LORE’ they wrote about the different stages of the ‘Hero’s Journey’, an archetype that has been venerated since Mankind’s early beginnings. On their second album ‘INFERNO’, they venture into Dante’s Inferno, a conceptual album based on Dante’s literary masterpiece!

“Creating conceptual albums about medieval history, spritual quests and fantasy gaming is the inspiration behind our music. We intuitively felt there was an audience that would resonate to such themes and our hope is to inspire our fans to ‘attack their destiny’. For example our first album ‘Lore’, was inspired by ‘Infelix ego,’ a Latin meditation composed by Girolamo Savonarola, before he was burned at the Stake. The songs on ‘Lore’ represent the challenges and self-realization stages of the hero’s quest and reinforce the congruent nature of the enduring Soul.” Scott Dispel

Photo by Adventure Photography

Information on the collaborators and performers

Scott Dispel – Drummer & Keyboards: Studied music at Cleveland State University, studio engineer from Lava Room Recording Studios and a nightclub Dj. Drummer for the 90’s HC band ‘Face Value,’ touring drummer for Witchhouse artist ‘Textbeak.’ Voted Dj of the year in 2005 by ‘Scene Magazine.’ Scott hosted a Goth night in Cleveland and a radio show on Hexx9.com, both Called ‘Dance Macabre.’

Ravensea – Vocalist: Berklee College of Music Boston, University of Pretoria South Africa, Vocal performance, Masters in Music Therapy. When not performing with Dispel, Ravensea is an accomplished Music Therapist and philanthropist providing music therapy to under-served communities in Africa and Central America.

Sean Gallows – Vocals: Local Goth legend, Magic the Gathering wizard and Hexx9 recording artist for Black Gallows and Silence Embrace. Sean brings a huge variety of influences and styles to his endeavours and Magic decks.

Mike Textbeak – Producer: Cleopatra recording artist Textbeak is one of the early Dj/Producers from the Witchhouse scene. An expert in underground music, he hosts the weekly show ‘CXB7’ on Hexx9.com and has worked with an impressive line-up including John Fryer, Mark Stewart, Bestial Mouths, Peter Hope, Cyanotic, Vaselyne, and Searmanas, to name a few…

Ze Plvgues Thorn– Plvgues Remix Artist: is the Hexx9 & Blvsphemy recording artist better know as Plvgues. A prolific composer and producer located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Plvgues is considered a Witch House prodigy by those in the genre and is an all around awesome dude!

Leigh Rockey – Sound engineer and producer. Leigh helped out with some production tips on our 1st album ‘LORE’ and did the Modal Consequence (Destructive remix).

Leonard Kemenani – Guitar virtuoso and founder of the German melodic metal band ‘Maldurin’. Leo is featured on our 2nd album “INFERNO” and is a kindrid spirit in arms, with a love of all things medieval and honorable.

Sean (Destruct) Morrissey – Guitars & Bass: Axe virtuoso, appears courtesy of the Metal band ‘Soniq Armada.’ When not making music Sean is an EMS working to save lives.

Jae Jones – Bass: Cleveland Goth Icon and cult of personality, also appears courtesy of the Metal band ‘Soniq Armada.’

Jamie Baisden – Bass player at Misonthropic Recording artist ‘Valkyrie X’. Jamie’s Bass is featured on our 2nd album ‘INFERNO” and oddly enough went to the same High School as Scott Dispel.

Kate Farquharson – Piano on the ‘INFERNO’ Album. Kate is a multi talented musical virtuoso and recording engineer from South Africa!

Joe Cilento – Acoustic Guitar on the “Past the Gates” EP. Joe is well know musicain in the New Jersey and New York music scenes.

Barry Gelderblom – Backing & Narrative Vocals, and artist who created the Dispel logo and created the Insert and reverse album art work for the ‘INFERNO’ album.

Keith Farquharson – Production (Special thanks). Grammy winning Producer and studio engineer! Keith was very helpful with the production of the ‘INFERNO’ album. Thank you!!!

Martin Bowes – Mastering: @ Cage Studios U.K. – Recording artist Attrition, formed in Coventry, England in 1980 by Martin Bowes and Julia Niblock. Attrition have been a stanchion of darkwave and industrial music, influencing many younger bands in the genres while continuously fine tuning their own distinctive sound. We are honored to be working with this iconic musician and studio master.