Theoptia

Sweat is dripping on the floor as the violent hammering continues. With heavy breathing and
intense pushing, at an unbearable volume, mind-dazzling complexities of sound unravel. In
complete isolation from the civilized world, in a cramped man cave, a dark and forgotten
hole, it sees the light of day for the very first time. Some call it noise, he calls it music. The
year is 2017, and the record called Horeb, the brainchild of Emanuel Strebel, has just been
fathered through a marathon of unassisted one-man sessions. And with his novel creation the
solo-act came into existence and found himself in an imaginary band of his own clones called
Theoptia.
The nerdy progressive death metal with exotic elements is truly a unique creation. Influences
from big bands like Gojira, Meshuggah and Lamb of God found their way into the groovy
blend, without compromising its originality. Soundscapes that carry you to a different place
and a different time (likely somewhere in the east) mark his artistry. His works are complete
narratives and connect to each other, while they ponder the deep questions of human
existence and the dark corners of man’s soul. Inspired by his Christian faith, Theoptia,
meaning seeing God in Greek, aims to open up people to seek spirituality and meaning
beyond religion. “I would not dare to market my music as ‘Christian’, since it’s so much more
than just that. It is meant for everybody, especially the ones that feel lost in life, regardless of
their beliefs.”