Late last year, Sol Invicto — Deftones guitarist Stephen Carpenter’s side project with Cypress Hill‘s Eric Bobo, producer-guitarist Richie Londres, and drummer Sikth drummer Dan Foord — released what was billed at the time as their debut EP, Loosely Aware. In truth, that was only somewhat accurate: Back in 2011, the supergroup had released an earlier EP, Initium, in edited form exclusively to its private fan club, Sol Invicto Comiti.
Now, Initium — which also features drummer Zach Hill (Death Grips, Hella, etc.) — is finally getting its proper wide release. Sol Invicto are streaming the 21-minute “concept single” via Bandcamp, with a promise that it’ll hit all other digital music platforms on June 27th. The band also shared the moving backstory behind the record, which they describe as “the first experimental chapter of Sol Invicto,” born from Londres’ urge to “forge a new sound he describes as ‘twisted cinematic metal.'”
“In a heartfelt message to Richie, a mother shared an extraordinary story about her six-year-old son, Jack, who lived with high-sensory autism and physical disabilities,” Sol Invicto explaind of Initium. “Jack was unable to tolerate audio stimulation, and his dentist visits required extreme measures: lights off, no radio, no sound, to make the environment bearable. During one visit, a receptionist — a Sol Invicto fan — accidentally left Initium playing. What followed was a miracle. Jack, who had never smiled in his life, not only tolerated the music but engaged with it, tapping along to the rhythms, humming, and, astonishingly, smiling for the first time, leaving his mother and the dental staff in tears. Remarkably, Jack exclusively connected with Londres’ work, including his Spanish hip-hop projects and distorted solo industrial efforts, but, curiously, did not respond to Deftones’ music. This moment marked a profound breakthrough for Jack, revealing the unique power of Londres’ sound to reach him in ways nothing else could. Tragically, Jack has since passed away, and he was laid to rest with a copy of Sol Invicto’s music, a testament to its impact.
“Jack’s mother’s testimony meant more to Londres than any Grammy or award ever could. In a cold and heartless industry that exploits and controls creativity, her message gave him a reason to carry on. As a non-conformist who has always rejected mainstream pressures, Londres realized he was not making music for himself but for a higher calling — to create art that connects, heals, and transforms lives. This release of Initium is dedicated to Jack’s memory and his family, honoring the miraculous connection they shared and the purpose they inspired in Londres’ work.”
Stream Initium below via Bandcamp.