The Angelus

The Angelus is a four piece band born in sleepy Denton, Texas, which grew slowly from the songs Emil Rapstine began writing in late 1999. Previously playing in Coals To Newcastle with Baldomero Valdez (Faceless Werewolves), Matt Chaney (The Aleph), and Matt Piersall (The Aleph), Emil hoped to abandon the beautiful, sprawling, semi-psychadelic, ambiguous anthems created there in favor of a more minimalist song writing approach. Songs written on an old acoustic guitar could exist solely in that condition, but left room for cinematic live band accompaniment.

Today they can be heard in both manners thanks to Justin Evans who began adding percussion in late 2000, and whose foolish encouragement and moral support convinced Emil to continue searching for the right people to complete the band. James Barker began playing bass with The Angelus after moving to Denton from Austin in 2001. Jay Allen then hauled his electric grand piano all the way back from California in 2002 only to be ambushed and blackmailed into playing with a guy he barely knew before he moved away. All members have recently stated their regret.

Information from the band's site

• »
  Emil Rapstine: guitar, lead vocals, vocals
• »
  Justin Evans: percussion
• »
  Matt Chaney: bass

• »
  James Barker: bass
• »
  Jay Allen: piano

Swans, Smiths, Blackheart Procession, Angels of Light, Godspeed, Nick Cave

Sprawling, cinematic headphone music

• »
  Amy Seslowsky
• »
  ChaCha
• »
  Joel
• »
  Monkeden
• »
  Shannon Sutlief
• »
  TheMadcapLaughs
• »
  WhitneyTM
• »
  bghrpr
• »
  gavinrh49
• »
  pableaux
• »
  sbarrett00
• »
  sonic_youth

Related Links

• »
  MySpace
• »
  Live @ Hailey's
• »
  Video Interview with The Angelus