HeathenStorm

The personal website of Daryl ‘HeathenStorm’ Parson. An eclectic mix of old creativity and new endeavours. Very much under construction.

If you’re wondering who this person is, check the ‘About‘ page.

HEATHENSTORM PRODUCTIONS
Serving the Music Industry

Orphan - Now Filming — ORPHAN
Now Filming

Creations — CREATIONS
Music, Writing, Photography, Film, more

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Startin’ up a POSSE Owning one’s identity, on

Startin’ up a POSSE

Owning one’s identity, online or otherwise, is a fundamental responsibility. It is a core tenet of individual liberty and the capacity to respond to any challenge on one’s own terms. Free from the influence of censorious agents who would silence or sway opinion to insidious ends.

Connections made with others still matter, absolutely. Even as prisoners in the walled gardens of convenience, we are social animals and thrive on like-minded interaction. Yet we must demand the right to choose how we interact, through the constructed idioms of whatever culture we embrace. There is no ‘one size fits all’ muzzle, and we must not be compelled to phrase our words carefully for fear of external erasure.

Repeated attempts were made last year to sabotage my social presence. Although ultimately futile, these attacks deliberately targeted time-critical announcements. Weaponising an already-opaque appeals process to shut things down at crucial moments, with intent to expunge everything.

Separate from this circumstance, friends’ fringe fashion, design, and dance profiles have weathered similar storms. With innocuous posts and stories reported for nebulous (and often misogynistic) reasons, harming their legitimate businesses.

Behind the cowardly cloak of anonymity, there is no objective difference between malign mischief and corporate diktat. Those who spam such reports remain anarcho-statist bootlickers of the lowest order.

Nonetheless, I found a way through – with a little inspiration from other digital dissidents pushing back against such trite totalitarianism.

The IndieWeb movement embodies this defiance with a people-first philosophy. Advocating the return of personal data to independent self-ownership, the use of open standards to share one’s web presence, and the freedom to be individually unique and creative about it.

It is that determination I choose to carry forward by example: Sharing experiences and solutions for those who have been similarly targeted, but with a greater intent to empower all.

Liberty does not cease at the inflection point of ire.

(Cont.)

#censorship #digitalmanifesto #indieweb #posse #rss #syndication #truth #wordpress

A Populace of Plastic People In the 2013 TV speci

Detaching from SocMed It has become the fashion f

Detaching from SocMed

It has become the fashion for folk to announce, very publicly and performatively, their departure from current Social Media accounts. Moving on to other sites, or even switching off entirely, due to changes of company ownership and the incessant swing of the political pendulum.

Protesting against the new regime, they isolate themselves against loss of agency. Under the lurking threat of censorship, shadowbanning, cancellation or worse for daring different thoughts to the trend of the time.

Most know me from the music industry and other creative endeavours, but I also sustain a decades-long interest in technology’s cultural impact. Occasionally dabbling in a very sensible software career between the fun stuff, but always aware of the patterns and paradigms that influence how we reach across the æther.

The next few posts, although a tad niche to the layperson, represent a ‘Digital Manifesto’ of sorts. A means to reclaim freedom from SocMed, but in no way intended to replace vital real-world contact.

I use the portmanteau “SocMed” deliberately to define both the mechanics of Social Media and the collectivism which has evolved around it. A contraction to evoke Orwellian Newspeak, and a reminder that words have precisely the power we grant them.

Despite the ubiquity of the great distraction, there was a time before all of this. Through reflecting on the promise of the Internet that was, I propose another way to sustain an independent online presence. An alternative which can work with newer technologies, retaining the ability to connect and communicate across such despised streams without undermining individual integrity…

… and, by necessity, I did it over a year ago.

(Continued in comments)

#censorship #community #culture #digitalmanifesto #freedom #newspeak #orwell #socialmedia #technology #website

Braving the thorny shutdown of London’s Heathrow

Braving the thorny shutdown of London’s Heathrow Airport a week ago, I recently travelled to Dortmund by way of Düsseldorf on very little sleep. Awaiting an evening in attendance of Austrian Black Metal / Neofolk veterans (and fellow Prophecy labelmates) Dornenreich‘s recent Arcane Ceremonies acoustic tour.

Hosted in the atmospheric surrounds of Dortmund’s Pauluskirche, the Saturday service was certain to be something special, even as we stepped in from the somewhat urban Schützenstraße under fading daylight. The power of church architecture to draw focus away from the mundane and into the spiritual is never to be underestimated. A suitable match for the music of the night.

Sadly, original supports Perchta were unable to make the tour. Instead, we were treated to a captivating performance by fellow Austrians Vinsta. Originally a solo project by Perchta’s dulcimerist Moosemandl, a full band politely stepped up to deliver an acoustic set no less electrifying for the lack of amplification.

With the hammered dulcimer featuring strongly in Vinsta’s compositions, I was taken aback at how such a traditional instrument could sound thoroughly modern in the right hands. Progressive compositions and themes drew my interest, reinforced by tender, delicate violin. A fine replacement indeed.

[Continued in comments]

#acoustic #arcaneceremonies #church #dornenreich #dortmund #germany #livemusic #melimelancholia #music #neofolk #pauluskirche #perchta #prophecyproductions #vinsta #photography #reviews

@dornenreich_official @vinsta_official @perchta.band @meli_melancholia

The ORPHAN shoot continues with a trip to the Acad

The ORPHAN shoot continues with a trip to the Academy of Live Technology in Yorkshire. There we hosted an ‘Introduction to Film Making’ Workshop for the students’ Enrichment Week.
 The session opened with an introduction to the project and sneak preview of the storyboard, then covered inspirations and techniques to balance big ideas with a low budget.
 With a reasonable ramble through my own experiences before explaining the expectations of film extra work, the group relocated to a campus backlot to put theory into practice. Together we tackled a scene where the title character emerges from a crowded mass of people.
 Although only a handful of students could attend, we were able to make it work through multiple takes and creative composition. Swapping hats and hoodies between shots and overlaying the end result.
 The raw footage has been roughly graded, keyed, and incorporated into the assembly cut with a simple background, to be refined once other elements are complete. Most importantly, Aida’s performance captures the intent and determination required of the scene. An essential humanity shining through all the technical trickery to get it there.
 Tremendous gratitude to faculty for allowing this to happen, and especially to everyone who turned up.
 We will call again…

#academyoflivetechnology #cyberpunk #enrichment #filmmaking #orphan #sciencefiction #workshop

A few photos snapped at a sneaky sold-out sojourn

A few photos snapped at a sneaky sold-out sojourn to watch Wolvennest at the weekend. With the Cinema venue in Aalst, Belgium hosting a very special show indeed.

Openers Nachtmaer, a side project of locals Kludde, showcased a succession of singers. Howling Black Metal both atmospheric and primitive, appealing muchly to an already-eager crowd.

Atmosphere of a more psychedlic ilk with Wolvennest, defying the outside chill and debuting new bassist VaathV. An extended set covering all aspects of their illustrious back catalogue melted my mind in pure rapture.

Although I kept my movements secret for various nefarious reasons, it was great to surprise dear friends on the night. Rewarded as I was by the headliners’ best performance yet.

#aalst #blackmetal #cinema #kludde #livemusic #metal #music @nachtmaer666 #psychedelic #vaath @wlvnnst

Onto the Next Chapter With the festive baubles pa

Onto the Next Chapter

With the festive baubles packed away and the first proper week of the year ahead, I prepare to get back on track to tackle the next twelve months.

Many folk scoff at the concept of ‘starting afresh’ when the calendar flips over to January. That the New Year is just another day, or not even the proper date, so why bother?

But the end of the year is traditionally a time when there’s little else going on. Ample opportunity to finish up projects and take a moment out for self-reflection. Working out what doesn’t work and planning ahead for what does.

Accountability is vital in all endeavours, and there’s something to be said about scribbling these thoughts out for real. Carving a physical presence on paper. Embedding ideas in ink. As they gain permanence without, so do they hold steadfast within.

For the fifth year now, I entrust my journaling to the Cosmoplanner. Created by renowned international photographer Ester Segerra, this book offers astrological inspiration across the Moon and Mercury cycles. Asking pertinent questions at key moments, acknowledging time to take pause, and forming a framework for creative fulfilment.

Some aspects of the process don’t apply to me, and I lost track a tad last year; but I’ve still found it an invaluable tool to chart the course of my life with consistency.

#2025 #astrology #cosmoplanner #estersegarra #journal #mercury #moon #newyear #tradition #writing

While randomly trawling the streaming apps after N

While randomly trawling the streaming apps after New Year’s exuberance, I happened upon psychedelic sci-fi thriller Cosmic Dawn (2022). Allegedly inspired by the experiences of writer and director Jefferson Moneo, this Canadian production is captivating from the get-go.

Lost and yearning, Aurora (Camille Rowe) is a troubled woman. Haunted from childhood by the unusual disappearance of her mother on the Blood Moon, she self-medicates in a fugue of nightclub narcotics. Wandering aimlessly after hospitalisation, she is drawn by hallucinations to an esoteric bookstore – Equinox. (A cheeky nod to Jimmy Page.)

There she is introduced to the ‘Cosmic Dawn’ cult, and their leader Elyse (Antonia Zegers). A collective of alien abduction witnesses from around the world, each sharing a similar experience.

Invited to the cult’s underground compound in the wilderness, Aurora is drawn into their charismatic kindness and rainbow overalls as they imprint on her a sense of belonging. Her reality reprogrammed (or revealed?) by starvation, tests of faith, and shamanic plant medicine. One emotive scene contrasts the cold extasis of her former life with the tactile warmth of the cult’s collective sing-along.

Playing on this dissonance, the film delivers a dual narrative. Existing in the now, and four years later after inevitable tragedy breaks the covenant. Characters are introduced out of expected order as we see how the survivors return to the outside world.

(Continued in comments)

#alienabduction #bloodmoon #canadian #cosmicdawn #cult #equinox #movie #psychedelic #review #scifi #synth

The Year that radicalised me Although I knew ther

The Year that radicalised me

Although I knew there were challenges ahead as the world ticked into 2024, I had no expectation of the struggles that would manifest from week one. Launching straight into the Mentors tour as festive fireworks still echoed was hardly the wisest timing; but through grit, good humour, and the able help of the Witchfinder, we made it a success.

With barely time to confirm venues and announce the Diocletian tour, a prolonged and vicious assault against my work began. Open threats made due to my association with Solstice soon impacted business outside the band. AI-generated screeds of anonymous accusation and outright fabrication risked cancellation of the entire tour. I thank the venues and promoters who saw these empty words for what they were – rewarded by sell-out shows across the country – and regret that others were so easily swayed despite our well-reasoned and oft-repeated rebuke.

Courage tested, and hesitant at the hand dealt my way in spite, I had no choice but to step up and stand against such petty subterfuge. Backing down is never an option, however tempting an easy life, and through stubborn resilience I found a notable shift in my friendships.

Those previously silent spoke in confidence, offering much needed words of support and deeds of decency – agreeing in areas of contention and respecting the right to disagree when not. Even as other promoters, in self-righteous convenience, colluded to run me out of their tiny fiefdoms.

Chatlogs from not-so-private ‘activist’ groups made for grim reading. My name, and those of my friends, fervently smeared by strangers. Contriving enemies across irrelevant and incorrect political divides for the sake of age-old grudges.

[Continued in comments]

#2024 #abysmalgrief #deitus #destroyer666 #diocletian #livemusic #heathenstormproductions #mentors #music #newmoonincapricorn #newyear #orphan #prophecyfest #prophecyproductions #roundup #solstice #tour

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Latest Posts

Startin’ up a POSSE

Owning one’s identity, online or otherwise, is a fundamental responsibility. It is a core tenet of individual liberty and the capacity to respond to any challenge on one’s own terms. Free from the influence of censorious agents who would silence or sway opinion to insidious ends. Connections made with others still matter, absolutely. Even as…
[Read More]

Digital Manifesto

April 25, 2025
A Populace of Plastic People

In the 2013 TV special “How Videogames Changed the World”; Charlie Brooker (of Nathan Barley and Black Mirror infamy) positioned SocMed as nothing more than a game. Players would jostle for attention, earning points by views and followers. The aim being to win regardless of what it takes to get there, with integrity and accountability…
[Read More]

Digital Manifesto

April 24, 2025
Detaching from SocMed

It has become the fashion for folk to announce, very publicly and performatively, their departure from current Social Media accounts. Moving on to other sites, or even switching off entirely, due to changes of company ownership and the incessant swing of the political pendulum. Protesting against the new regime, they isolate themselves against loss of…
[Read More]

Digital Manifesto

April 23, 2025
Dornenreich / Vinsta – Dortmund

Braving the thorny shutdown of London’s Heathrow Airport a week ago, I recently travelled to Dortmund by way of Düsseldorf on very little sleep. Awaiting an evening in attendance of Austrian Black Metal / Neofolk veterans (and fellow Prophecy labelmates) Dornenreich‘s recent Arcane Ceremonies acoustic tour. Hosted in the atmospheric surrounds of Dortmund’s Pauluskirche, the…
[Read More]

Photography • Reviews

March 31, 2025
Crowd Control

The ORPHAN shoot continues with a trip to the Academy of Live Technology in Yorkshire. There we hosted an ‘Introduction to Film Making’ Workshop for the students’ Enrichment Week. The session opened with an introduction to the project and sneak preview of the storyboard, then covered inspirations and techniques to balance big ideas with a…
[Read More]

HeathenStorm Productions • Orphan

February 15, 2025
Wolvennest / Nachtmaer – Aalst

A few photos snapped at a sneaky sold-out sojourn to watch Wolvennest at the weekend. With the Cinema venue in Aalst, Belgium hosting a very special show indeed. Openers Nachtmaer, a side project of locals Kludde, showcased a succession of singers. Howling Black Metal both atmospheric and primitive, appealing muchly to an already-eager crowd. Atmosphere…
[Read More]

Photography

January 15, 2025
Onto the Next Chapter

With the festive baubles packed away and the first proper week of the year ahead, I prepare to get back on track to tackle the next twelve months. Many folk scoff at the concept of ‘starting afresh’ when the calendar flips over to January. That the New Year is just another day, or not even…
[Read More]

Blog

January 6, 2025
Cosmic Dawn (2022)

While randomly trawling the streaming apps after New Year’s exuberance, I happened upon psychedelic sci-fi thriller Cosmic Dawn (2022). Allegedly inspired by the experiences of writer and director Jefferson Moneo, this Canadian production is captivating from the get-go. Lost and yearning, Aurora (Camille Rowe) is a troubled woman. Haunted from childhood by the unusual disappearance…
[Read More]

Reviews

January 1, 2025
The Year that radicalised me

Although I knew there were challenges ahead as the world ticked into 2024, I had no expectation of the struggles that would manifest from week one. Launching straight into the Mentors tour as festive fireworks still echoed was hardly the wisest timing; but through grit, good humour, and the able help of the Witchfinder, we…
[Read More]

Blog

December 31, 2024
New Site, same as the Old Site

Despite lurking for years within the dark recesses of the internet, the HeathenStorm website has never been formally “announced” until now. Originally hacked together on a default WordPress install for tour promotion, it has been painstakingly recreated from scratch as a self-contained theme. Ensuring site upgrades and maintenance won’t cause as many headaches in the…
[Read More]

Blog

December 23, 2024
Infidels to the World

With everything else going on these past weeks, it’s quite possible some may have missed the BBC World Service “In the Studio” report on Tehran-formed Black Metal infidels TRIVAX. Reporter Sahar Zand deftly places the band’s emergence on the international stage in context with the Iranian “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. A people tyrannised by decades…
[Read More]

HeathenStorm Productions

November 13, 2024
Hooves on English Soil

‘Wolfs-head!’ shall be cried against him, for that a wolf is a beast hated of all folk; and from that time forward it is lawful for anyone to slay him like a wolf. Very pleased to reveal a (relatively) tiny three-minute teaser of new Solstice material. Painstakingly crafted in preparation for our Prophecy Productions debut,…
[Read More]

Solstice

November 7, 2024