Trial of the Bow

Trial of the Bow, an Australian duo steeped in Eastern influences, came together in 1993 when Matthew Skarajew, handling strings, joined forces with Renato Gallina on percussion and vocals. Beyond the familiar guitar, bass, and drum configuration, the pair incorporated an array of uncommon instruments such as the tabla, hammer dulcimer, tamboura, manjira, bansuri flute, and e-bow. Their extended, atmospheric, introspective soundscapes drew inspiration from timeless traditions, shifting fluidly between eerie and calming moods. After inking a deal with Relapse, the duo issued their first recording, Ornamentation, in 1995, prompting frequent parallels to the kindred spirits Dead Can Dance. Two years afterward arrived Rite of Passage.