A tribute to the faith, courage, love, and defiance of two young lovers whose plans to elope were ended when they were apprehended and publicly stoned to death in 2004.  Recorded in Portland, Oregon. Additional recording in Baltimore, Maryland at Epifo Studio. Mixed by Hunter Davidsohn at Business District in Johnson City, New York. Featuring accompaniments by Andy Abelow, Joe Lewis and Jacob Soto. From the album Cruel Child by Viking Moses.

Cruel Child

Take Tender

An amendment to Roger Miller’s song, hopefully not taken completely out of context. Recorded by Christopher Daly at Salvation Recording Co in New Paltz, NY. Additional recording in Baltimore, Maryland at Epifo Studio. Featuring accompaniments by Christopher Marine and Andy Abelow. From the album Cruel Child by Viking Moses.

A World So Full Of Love

Responsibility, custody, recklessness, appetite, vulnerability, realization, persistence. Recorded in Baltimore, Maryland at Epifo Studio. From the album Cruel Child by Viking Moses.

Killing Kind

An investigation into private life and reconciliation. Recorded in Portland, Oregon. Additional recording in Baltimore, Maryland at Epifo Studio. Featuring accompaniments by Joe Lewis and Jacob Soto. From the album Cruel Child by Viking Moses.

Surrounding Skin

“In Servitude” is an epistolary poem, confessing the fear and possible outcome of one’s spirituality being discovered — in this case, that God could be the personal servant of one solitary rogue. Both a surrender and a celebration, the song explores privacy and faith in an age of cyber-bullying and a societal stalemate. Drudging chord progressions create a hypnotic mantra, while Viking Moses’s Phrygian melodies and wailing vocals are offered up in this dynamic sermon that beckons lonely listeners into the all-healing hands of Rock and Roll. “In Servitude” was mixed by Hunter Davidsohn (Producer: Porches, Frankie Cosmos, Sheer Mag) at Business District Recording, and the video was filmed by Nick Hughes in Jesi, Italy.

I hid in my door, I hid my face, I hid my words, I hid my ways, and I hid my Lord. Forget a pretty minute, and what they'd do, they would storm in, and they'd see you: holding my door in servitude, filling my cup, bringing me more… 

…sing for my ears, strip for my eyes, filling my years with uncountable lives, extending your love, embracing my body, repairing what's broken down, just facing me… 

…place food on my table and feed from my hand, pour trust into my hands, pour skill into my hands, pour love into my hands, come out with me, cry out with the same tongue, shit in the same hole, having the same fun out on the same road, just facing me. 

Words and music written by Brendon Massei. 
© and ℗ Epifo, ASCAP. 
All rights reserved.
credits
from Cruel Child, releases April 5, 2019

In Servitude

Negotiating terms of surrender. Recorded by Sam Buonavolonta at Historian Recording Co in Youngstown, Ohio. Additional recording in Baltimore, Maryland at Epifo Studio. From the album Cruel Child by Viking Moses.

Let This Trouble Pass

Deviance and compulsion. Recorded by Kris Poulin in Las Vegas, Nevada and Chicago, IL. Additional recording in Baltimore, Maryland at Epifo Studio. Featuring accompaniments by Spencer Kingman and Otto Hauser. From the album Cruel Child by Viking Moses.

Pretty Little Eyes

Coming of age in an age of entitlement and accountability. Recorded by Sam Buonavolonta at Historian Recording Co in Youngstown, Ohio. Additional recording in Baltimore, Maryland at Epifo Studio. From the album Cruel Child by Viking Moses.