A band in the UK could potentially put the ‘death’ in death metal, vowing to perform their brutal tunes inside a cramped airtight, soundproof box until they run out of oxygen – all in the name of art.
London four-piece Unfathomable Ruination are the band in question, who have agreed to cram themselves inside the 183cm `claustrophobic cube, which will be on public display this week. The artistic display, called ‘Box Sized DIE’, is the brainchild of Portuguese artist João Onofre and forms part of the new Sculpture In The City exhibition, as The Independent (via Stereogum) reports.
“The box is soundproofed, determining and restricting the performance’s duration to the length of time in which the oxygen is expended,” a blurb on the exhibition’s official website explains.
Passers-by are unable to see Unfathomable Ruination performing their death metal set inside the cube, nor hear it. Instead they can only view “the band’s entrance and exit to the performance space” but are encouraged to observe the vibrations created by their playing.
The band seems more than up to the task, writing on their Facebook page: “According to the medical professionals who read The Independent, we’re all going to die… Challenge Accepted.” Joking in another comment, “Cuz breathing is mainstream whilst playing complicated music. Bets are welcome of who will be the first member to perish without oxygen!”
Luckily, surviving ‘Box Sized DIE’ is possible; though it will be the debut of the work in London, Onofre has previously carried out the same concept three times before – in Paris, Barcelona, and Switzerland – each time inviting a local death metal band to take part.
In fact, one of those bands that endured the steel sculpture – Holocausto Canibal – have given Unfathomable Ruination a pep talk for their forthcoming ordeal.
“Good luck with the performance guys. We did it this year and to be honest it’s quite supportable!” wrote band member António Carvalho on the London band’s Facebook page, complete with video of them . “Just try not to force yourselves [too] much and make sure one of you guys can reach the handle easily.” Good advice.
London fans of high-brow metal (or asphyxiation) can view Unfathomable Ruination’s ‘performance’ from 3 July to the 1st August 2014 at 6pm, Wednesday to Friday.
