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Religious to Damn is a band from Brooklyn, New York fronted by Afghan-American songwriter Zohra Atash. Atash formed the group in 2009 in collaboration with several additional musicians and producers including Joshua Strawn and Jim Sclavunos. Their music was described by the Village Voice as "A mix of desert strum, hypnotic pulse, spirited-away synths, Lynchian weirdness, and Fleetwood Maximalism."

Biography
Religious to Damn played their first show at the Wierd Records weekly party, and released Falls Down Again via M'Lady's records, which featured production and drumming from Jim Sclavunos of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. Following that release Atash formed what would become the core of the group with Joshua Strawn acting as full time collaborator and co-producer, and Charlie Schmid on drums and percussion.

The band's first LP release as a full band, Glass Prayer, included Jesse Krakow on bass guitar for several tracks, Tamaryn providing guest vocals on two songs, and was mixed by Brandon Curtis. It was named Rough Trade's Album of the Week and was followed by several music video releases, including one directed by Jason Akira Somma. Live dates in support of the record included performances with Jarboe, Tamaryn, and Chelsea Wolfe. Shortly after the release of Glass Prayer, Atash also acted as touring vocalist for A Storm of Light, performing parts live that had originally been recorded by Jarboe and Lydia Lunch. In January of 2012, the band self-released the single Lovely Day. The song showcased a more electronic sound which was assisted by Led Er Est's Shawn O'Sullivan. In October 2012, Brooklyn Vegan announced that Religious to Damn had been disbanded/retired and that Atash and Strawn had re-configured as a more electronic group under the name Azar Swan.

Studio albums

 * Glass Prayer (2011) M'Lady's Records

Singles

 * Falls Down Again (2010) M'Lady's Records