Is On the Torment of Saints a good place to start with John Zorn?

Yes, On the Torment of Saints is recommended as a starting point for new John Zorn listeners. A haunting exploration of spirituality through a tapestry of avant-garde jazz and classical influences, woven with intricate textures and dissonance. By 2013, John Zorn had established himself as a prolific figure in avant-garde music, with 'On the Torment of Saints' being a follow-up to his 2012 album 'Naked City: The Complete Studio Recordings'. This release further solidified Zorn's unique blend of jazz, classical, and experimental sounds, continuing his exploration of thematic concepts surrounding spirituality and human experience.

Who is On the Torment of Saints for?

On the Torment of Saints works well if you're into haunting explorations of spirituality, steady pacing with gradual resolution and immersive listening in order.

How many songs are on On the Torment of Saints?

On the Torment of Saints has 5 tracks, running approximately 35 minutes.

Released 13 years ago this November

On the Torment of Saints

John Zorn · 2013

35 min · 5 tracks · avant-garde jazz

A haunting exploration of spirituality through a tapestry of avant-garde jazz and classical influences, woven with intricate textures and dissonance.

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Top tracks — play these first

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The Tempest: A Masque Start here — This sprawling opener sets the tone for the album with its dramatic shifts between chaos and serenity, embodying Zorn's distinctive compositional style.
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All Hallow's Eve: I. Matins — With its ethereal qualities and gradual build, this piece exemplifies the album's fusion of religious motifs with avant-garde expression, creating a meditative atmosphere.
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The Temptations of St. Anthony — This track encapsulates the album's thematic explorations through its narrative-driven structure, portraying a struggle against temptation with intense improvisation.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

69 /100

Alpine

Higher than 94% of albums we've rated

The album's ambitious structure and unique sound solidify its place in avant-garde jazz.

What we noticed

The album features five tracks, each with distinct movements that explore different aspects of spirituality and ritual.
The 'All Hallow's Eve' suite is divided into three parts, each progressively building in intensity and complexity, culminating in a climactic finale.
The final track contrasts with the previous ones by incorporating more melodic elements while still maintaining an avant-garde approach.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 9/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

haunting explorations of spirituality
steady pacing with gradual resolution
immersive listening in order
evocative themes of existential dread

Maybe skip if you

seekers of instant gratification
prefer upbeat, energetic tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Critical Peak — Ambitious structure and themes push boundaries of jazz composition.
Career context: By 2013, John Zorn had established himself as a prolific figure in avant-garde music, with 'On the Torment of Saints' being a follow-up to his 2012 album 'Naked City: The Complete Studio Recordings'. This release further solidified Zorn's unique blend of jazz, classical, and experimental sounds, continuing his exploration of thematic concepts surrounding spirituality and human experience.
Stylistic neighbors: Mike Patton· The Thing· Merzbow