Sunday, September 30, 2018

Slasher Dave/Frights/20 Buck Spin/2018 CD Review


  Slasher  Dave  is  a  solo  project  from  Michigan  that  plays  a  mixture  of  industrial  and  horror  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2018 album  "Frights"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  20 Buck  Spin.

  70's  era  horror  movie  style  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  at  times  as  well  as  the  music  also  mixing  in  elements  of  ambient  and  the  industrial  influence  gives  the  songs  more  of  an  up  to  date  feeling.

  Heavy  guitars  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  along  with  a  small  amount  of  aggressive  sounding  screams  which  also  add  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  while some  of  the  songs  also  gets  very  experimental  at  times  as  well  as  the  tracks  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  pounding  bass  and  horror  movie  samples  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  small  amount  of  melodic  guitar  leads  are  added  onto  the  recording  and  they  also  add  in  a  couple  of  instrumentals.

  Slasher  Dave  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  70's  orientated  horror  synth  music  and  mixes  it  with  industrial  and  extreme  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  and  the  production  sounds  very  professional.

  In  my  opinion  Slasher  Dave  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  industrial  and  horror  synth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Corpse  Magician"  "In  the  Dark  it  Glows"  "Let  The  Creeps  inside"  and  "Neon  Shadows".  8  out  of  10.

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Doomcult/Ashes/Loneravn Records/2018 EP Review


  Doomcult  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  form  of  doom/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  ep  "Ashes"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Loneravn  Records.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  doom  metal  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  angry  shouts  also  being  added  into  the  music  at  times  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  and  melodic  style  while  elements  of  depressive  black  metal  are  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  more  of  an  80's  extreme  metal  style  at  times  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  and  clean  vocals  are  added  onto  the  closing  track.

  Doomcult  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  traditional,  funeral  and  90's  era  atmospheric  doom/death  metal  styles  and  mixes  them  together  with  more  of  an  old  school  thrash/black  metal  style  vocal  to  create  something  original,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  aggressive  and  misanthropic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Doomcult  are  a  very  great  sounding  original  and  atmospheric  funeral  doom/death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  very  original,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Black  Fire".  8  out  of  10.

http://loneravnrecords.bandcamp.com/album/doomcult-ashes-digital

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Kollaps Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?


Damian: Right now we are preparing for a European tour. We have just finished recording a new album which is slated for release early 2019.



2.Your last release was in 2017, what are some of the things you feel you have done different musically with this recording that you where not able to do with your previous ep?

Wade: A lot of the methods that were involved in writing Sibling Lovers were intended to deconstruct traditional song structures and instead opt for relentlessness in repetition. We also completely abandoned the guitar, bass and drum foundation which opened up a lot of room for us creatively. There were also more esoteric experiments that were employed during the recording stages, for example, sleep deprivation was something we unintentionally used during the vocal takes and I feel that achieved quite an effective result. The desperation can be heard.



3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored with the music so far?

Wade: A lot of my words are heavily metaphorical. Sibling Lovers, for example, is not really related to incest but discusses ideas of forbidden love, infatuation and infidelity. Other songs feature themes about addiction, futility, love, and the fear of sickness, aging and death.



4.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that was presented on the album cover?

Wade: Yes! My wife Ligeia designs our artwork. The Sibling Lovers LP was autobiographical in nature and captured a short, tumultuous time in my life hence the fractured image of myself on the cover.  There are a lot of smaller components to the album artwork that tie in together to make a greater meaning, or accentuate lyrical ideas. For example, the record heavily discusses emotional states comparable to wastelands; Hiroshima Winds #1 & #2 are designed to paint this image on the album. The back cover art ties in with the theme of the bombing of Hiroshima and is personalised by the sketch which was illustrated by my mother-in-law.


5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?


Damian: Our best shows rely on factors that are somewhat unrelated to our actual performances. If the sound guy is happy to accommodate what we require, that is usually our main issue. Our show in 2017 at Urban Spree in Berlin was a major highlight - such professionalism in every regard, and an amazing lineup and turnout.

Wade: Also worth mentioning are the chaotic and disorganised shows. Damian’s first with us was in an abandoned, squat type building where some very intoxicated Germans had electrocuted themselves trying to connect a PA system up with car batteries.



6. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?


Damian: Once this European tour is done, we will commence booking 2019 to coincide with our album release; which will encompass the US, Europe, Japan/China, New Zealand and Australia.



7.The last album was released through a variety of many different labels, can you tell us a little bit more about the labels you worked with on getting the current release out?

Wade The EP was a Silken Tofu only release. The follow up was a split release between Silken Tofu and Trait Records. We haven’t worked with any other record labels in terms of releasing material. Trait Records is run by Damian and Kollaps signing to his label is basically how we met and eventually joined the band.



8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of industrial, noise and other underground genres?

Wade: Overwhelmingly positive, I must say, particularly in Europe and the United States. We also get brutally negative responses by those uninitiated to these genres so that tells me that we're doing something right.


9. I have read you have a new album coming out during the beginning of 2019, what can we expect musically once it is released?

Wade: We have new full length LP coming out at the beginning of 2019 entitled Mechanical Christ. You can expect more versatility and a much more complex and aggressive sound. It is harsher in parts however it also has some neo-folk inspired tracks that are aimed towards atmospheric/drone styles of music. Lyrically, the new record has expanded into narratives and deals with the external world as opposed to having such an internal focus featured that the last record had.



10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?


Damian: We all listen to a wide variety of music - predominantly based around early 80s industrial/noise, but we also delve into a lot of modern stuff like Uniform, Pharmakon, Trepaneringsritualen and a lot of power electronics like Genocide Organ.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?


Damian: We all have day jobs at the moment; this takes up most of our spare time. Cooking is a major part of my life, I have a heavy interest in vegan cuisine and have been a chef for the past 20 years, working on and off around my musical endeavours. I also run Trait Records and both of these things keep me extremely busy.

Wade: I’m very interested in English literature and works of historical literature both of which I have studied at university. My interest in history mostly pertains to 20th century political conflict, war crimes and military history.

https://www.facebook.com/Kollapsmusic/


Acolytes Of Moros/The Wellspring/Nine Records/2018 CD Review


  Acolytes  Of  Moros  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  an  epic  form  of  doom  metal  with  some  elements  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "The  Wellspring"  which  was  released  by  Nine  Records.

  A slow,  dark  and  heavy  doom  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  vocals  also  being  done  mostly  in  a  clean  style  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  Clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  guitar  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  along  with  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  one  of  the  later  tracks  being  an  instrumental  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  very  slow  direction.

  Acolytes  Of  Moros  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  traditional  and  epic  doom  metal  while  the  occasional  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  makes  the  music  stand  out  a  lot  more,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  doom,  gloom  and  parapsychology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Acolytes  of  Moros  are  a  very  great  sounding  traditional  doom  metal  group  with  touches  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Disenthralled  From  The  Trammels  of  Deception"  and  "Venerate  The  Dead".  8  out  of  10. 

https://www.facebook.com/pg/acolytesofmoros
https://acolytesofmoros.bandcamp.com/

  

Monday, September 24, 2018

Hypnodrome Ensemble/Plays Orchestral Favorites/Wolves And Vibrancy Records/2018 CD Review


  Hypnodrone  Ensemble  are  a  band  from  an  experimental  and  atmospheric  form  of  space  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Plays  Orchestral  Favorites"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Wolves  And  Vibrancy  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  experimental  and  avant  garde  elements  also  being  utilized  at  times  while  the  music  also  captures  and  improv  atmosphere  at  times  as  well  as  the  music being  all  instrumental  and  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  amount  of  psychedelic,  space  and  krautrock  elements  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  ambient  and  drone  touches  also  being  used  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  as  the  album  progresses  baritone  guitars  are  added into  the  music  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Hypnodrone  Ensemble  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  experimental,  ambient,  drone, psychedelic,  space  and  krautrock  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  while  also  keeping  everything  instrumental  and  the  production  sounds  very  professional.

  In  my  opinion  Hypnodrone  Ensemble  are  a  very  great  sounding  experimental  and  atmospheric  space  rock  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Serial  Staging"  and  "Pulsations  Into  The  Hypnosphere".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/AidanBakerMusic 
https://www.facebook.com/thisquietarmy 
http://wolvesandvibrancyrecords.com 
https://wolvesandvibrancyrecords.bandcamp.com  

Friday, September 21, 2018

Ataraxia/Synchronicity Embraced/Sleaszy Riders Records/2018 CD Review


  Ataraxia  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  ethereal, neo-classical,  ambient,  goth,  darkwave  and  ancient  spiritual  medieval  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Synchronicity  Embraced"  which  was  released  by  Sleaszy  Rider  Records.

  Classical  guitars  along  with  some  female  vocals  start  off  the  album  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  a  medieval  atmosphere  while  synths  and  programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  as  well  as  the  songs  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  darkwave  elements.

  Goth  rock  style  riffing  is  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the   songs  also  getting  very  ethereal  at  times  as  well  as  some  male  vocals  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording,  elements  of  ambient  are  also  used  on  a  lot  of  the  parts  in  the  music  and  as  the  album  progresses  whispers,  spoken  word  parts  and  melodic  guitar  leads  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  acoustic  guitars  and  stringed  instruments  also  add  in  touches  of  neo-folk.

  Ataraxia  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  ethereal,  neo-classical,  medieval  folk,  folk,  goth  and  ancient  spiritual  music  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Latin,  Greek  and  European  legends  and  myths.

  In  my  opinion  Ataraxia  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  ethereal,  neo-classical,  medieval  folk,  folk,  goth  and  ancient  spiritual  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres, you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sikia"  "Rose  Of  The  Wild  Forces"  and  "La  Vista  Del  Bardo".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/AtaraxiaFB/



     

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

?Alos/The Chaos Awakening/Dio Drone/Cheap Satanism Records/2018 CD Review


  ?Alos  is  a  solo project  from  Italy  that  plays  a  shamanistic  and  ritualistic  form  of  avant  garde  and  experimental  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  2018  album  "The  Chaos  Awakening"  which  will  be  released  on  September  23rd  as  a  joint  effort  between  Dio  Drone  and  Cheap  Satanism  Records.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  avant  garde  elements  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  single  track  is  over  20  minutes  in  length  as  well  as  the  music  also  bringing  in  Vietnamese  style  ethnic  instruments  and  bells  and  at  times  the  music  gets  very  ritualistic  and  experimental  sounding,  as  the  track  progresses  flutes  and  synths  are  also  adding  into  certain  parts  of  the  song  and  after  awhile  pagan  chants  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  when  the  music  gets  more  distorted  elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard.

  ?Alos  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a  very  ritualistic  and  shamanistic  approach  to  avant  garde  and  experimental  music  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  ?Alos  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  ritual,  experimental,  avant  garde  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  8  out  of  10.

?Aloswww.signorinaalos.com
Bandcampalos.bandcamp.com

       

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Hatred of Sacred/Styxtape I-XII/2018 Full Length Review


  Hatred  Of  Sacred  is  a  solo  project  from  Jerusalem,  Israel  that  plays  a  very  occult  and  blackened  form  of  techno  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  self  released  2018  album  "Styxtape  I-XII"  which  will  be  released  on  September  23rd.

  Dark  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  before  going into  more  of  a  techno  direction  while  also  mixing  in  elements  of  ambient  along  with  some  background  voices  also  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  some  guitar  leads  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  and  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  metal  influence.

  A  great  amount of  programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  all  of  the  tracks  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  female  vocals  as  well  as  some  nature  sounds  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  music  starts  getting  more  occult  and  ritualistic  sounding.

  Hatred  Of  Sacred  plays  a  musical  style  that takes  techno,  rave,  electronica  and  ambient  and  mixes  them  together with  a  touch  of  black  metal  to  create  something  very  original.  the  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  occultism.

  In  my  opinion  Hatred  Of  Sacred  are  a  very  great  sounding  occult  and  blackened  techno  solo  project  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  very  original,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Strangework"  "Between  Two  Palm  Trees"  "Sea's  Keys"adn  "White  Vessels".  8  out  of  10.

https://hatredofsacred.bandcamp.com

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Gridfailure/Megalophobe/Tasukete/Nefarious Industries/2018 Collaboration Album Review


  Gridfailure  and  Megalophobe  team  up  once  again  to  create  another  recording  that  is  in  the  ambient  and  experimental  style  of  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Tasukete"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Nefarious  Industries.

  Harsh  noises  and  avant  garde  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some demonic  growls  and  screams  in  the  background  which  also  adds  in  touches  of  death  and  black  metal  as  well  as  some  tribal  sounding  percussion  as  well  as  a  couple  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Elements  of  ambient  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  some  synths  and  keyboards  also  being  utilized  at  times  while  one  track  also  introduces  electric  guitar  leads  onto  the  recording  as  well  as  some  grindcore  influences  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  and  as  the  album  progresses  spoken  word  samples  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  as  the  album  progresses  harmonica's  accordion's,  drums,  bass  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  experimental  atmosphere.

  On  this  recording  Gridfailure  and  Megalophobe  team  up  once  again  and  mixes  experimental,  ambient  and  noise  along  with  some  touches  of  black,  death  metal  and  grindcore  to  create  something  very  original  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  collaboration  from  Gridfailure  and  Megalophobe  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental,  ambient  and  noise,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tension  Benders"  "Agoraphobic  Claustrophobia"  and  "Live  broadcast  Seppuku".  8  out  of  10.   


Thursday, September 13, 2018

Sumeru/Summon Destroyer/Medusa Crush Recordings/2018 Cassette Review


  Sumeru  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  stoner,  sludge  and  doom  metal  along  with  some  elements  of  groove,  death  and  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Summon  Destroyer"  which  will  be  released  on  cassette  in  October  by  Medusa  Crush  Recordings.

  A  very  dark  and  ritualistic  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  melodic  chants  in  the  background  before  going  into  a  heavier  doom  metal  direction  while  also  capturing  the  heaviness  as  sludge  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Elements  of  groove  and  stoner  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  riffs  also  bringing  in a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Vocals  bring  in  a  very  rough  yet  melodic  style  along  with  some  aggressive  screams  and  shouts  while  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  as  well  as  some  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  influenced  riffing  also  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  some  psychedelic  elements  also  being  used  briefly,  a  couple  track  also  brings  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  for  a  few  seconds  there  is  also  a  small  amount of  blast  beats  and  there  is  also  an  instrumental  which  also  introduces  stringed  instruments  onto  the  recording.

  Sumeru  plays  a  musical  style  that  mixes  sludge, s toner  and  doom  metal  together  along  with  some  touches  of  groove,  black  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Indian  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Sumeru  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  stoner,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Temple"  "Dura!  Durga!"  and  "A  New  Ritual".  8  out  of  10.   

 https://sumeru.bandcamp.com/ album/summon-destroyer 

Kollaps/Sibling Lovers/Trait Records/2018 Full Length Review


  Kollaps  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  plays  a  mixture  of   post  industrial,  harsh  noise,  power  electronics  and  no  wave  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  album  "Sibling  Lovers"  which  was  released  by  Trait  Records.

  Harsh  noises  and  power  electronics  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  a  few  seconds  later  while  also  mixing  in  elements  of  a  more  underground  post  industrial  style  along  with  some  scrap  metal  taking  the  place  of  a  drum  kit  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  avant  garde  feeling.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  aggressive  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  a  few  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  bass  guitars  and  programming  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  adding  in   more  of  a  melodic  industrial  style  on  later  songs and  the  music  also  incorporates  elements  of  no  wave.

  Kollaps  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  harsh  noise,  post  industrial  and  no  wave  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  violent  and political  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Kollaps  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  harsh  noise,  post  industrial  and  now  wave  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  'Capitalism"  "It  has  A  Mouth"  and "Sibling  Lovers".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwwooouetJU&feature=youtu.be     

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Postcards From Arkham/Spirit/MetalGate Records/2018 CD Review


  Czech  Republic's  Postcards  From  Arkham  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  into  more  of  an  atmospheric  folk  direction  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Spirit"  which  was  released  by  MetalGate  Records.

  Ambient  style  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  and  post  rock  elements  a  few  seconds  latter  while  the  whispered  vocals  add  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  as  well  as  some  tribal  sounding  percussion's  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  A  great  mixture  of  both  full  chords  and  finger  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  the  acoustic  guitars  along  with  some  elements  of  folk  music  while  nature  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  some  metal  elements  also  being  added  into  the  unplugged  parts  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  electric  guitar  leads  can  also  be  heard  as  well  on  an  instrumental  track.

  On  this  recording  Postcards  From  Arkham  move  away  from  their  post  metal  style  to  focus  more  on  an  atmospheric  style  of  folk  music,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  based  upon  the  writings  of  H.P  Lovecraft.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Postcards  From  Arkham  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  post  rock  and  atmospheric  folk  music,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "From  The  Bottle  of  The  Ocean"  "Thousand  Years  For  Us"  and  "Elevate".  8  out  of  10. 

 https://youtu.be/KBDytGIxTik

Monday, September 10, 2018

Crosby Morgan Interview


1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your musical project?

The project at hand is called “Rain Games for the Natural Born Pariah”, which was inspired by my reality at the time…I struggle with feeling like an outsider--real or imagined, probably a bit of both. I like to think that my experiences are not unique, though. I know everyone has felt this at some point, so ideally, my hope for this album (and my music in general) is that the pariahs of this world can relate to it.

2.So far you have recorded and released 2 albums this year, how do they differ from each other musically?

“Patrons of Silence” is a  super stripped down, raw folk album, and “Rain Games for the Natural Born Pariah” is more of a haunting, ethereal and dark EP. The folk album is pretty representative of my day to day reflections and is acoustically driven. “Rain Games” is sort of a melancholic mixture of acoustic and dark electronic.
As a note, most people don’t know this, but I released an electronic album, “Primal”, under the moniker Leandrul earlier this year as well. Among the three of the projects, “Primal” takes place in an emotional dream world, where I focused on creating imagery and shadows both lyrically and instrumentally.

3.From 2014 to 2018 there was no music being released, can you tell us a little bit more about what was going  on  during  that time  frame?

Yes, during that time I was writing and honing in on my production skills. I have tons of material, still, even after all three of these releases.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored with your music so far?

Along with all the songs about failed relationships and all their permutations, I have been working on writing about personal growth and exploring any notion of contrast, whether it be the line that divides sanity from insanity or the disconnect between emptiness and fulfillment.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the ep cover?

The artwork emphasizes the importance of the things we take for granted. Electrical trusses power the modern world- we see them everywhere, they go unnoticed, but they are vital to our existence and communication (so we can charge our iPads). Likewise, the pariahs of society exist in a similar vein; they have a unique take on the times and in turn can propel the world into a more honest, progressive future.

6.You have worked with other musicians on your recordings in the past, and have also recorded everything by yourself, which one do you prefer?

I am very comfortable doing things by myself. However, I haven’t worked with others creatively enough to say I certainly prefer that. Working with others again is something I look forward to experiencing one day.

7.Have you had any opportunities to do any live shows yet?

I have played some in the past, but I hope my future will bring more opportunities to share my work.

8.Currently you are signed to 'Dark Martha Records', are you happy with the support that they have given you so far?

The label is just starting out, but already has some fantastic artists on its roster. The main plus is that the physical artifacts are beautiful and represent us well. I gain inspiration from the label’s creativity, dedication, and its eclectic taste.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of folk and experimental?

I haven’t really had enough exposure to say, but I have been well received by people from around the world on the street when I busk. It will be interesting to see how “Rain Games” is received.

10.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?

My intention is to never stop making music--challenging myself to express things I think are meaningful, beautiful, and important.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you to listening to nowadays?

Lyrically, I really look up to Pink Floyd, The Beatles, and Fleetwood Mac. I grew up on classic rock, but for the last eight years I’ve really only been listening to EDM, house, and techno— which developed my sense of texture, space, and tension. Anyway, these days I’ve been listening to Nine Inch Nails and Justin Martin…

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

I like swimming laps in the lukewarm pool at LA Fitness, and I like to paint too.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
At this point I would just like to thank my family and friends for always supporting me. And I’d like to thank you as well for inviting me to answer some questions about my music.

https://crosbymorgan.bandcamp.com/

Saturday, September 8, 2018

Sektarism/Fils de Dieu/EAL Productions/2018 CD Review


  France's  Sektarism  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which shows  the  music  going  into a  mixture  of  ritual,  drone  and  doom  metal  and  going  into  more  of  a  ritualistic  direction  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Fils  de  Dieu"  which  was  released  by  EAL  Productions.

  Ritualistic  and  shamanistic  drum  beats  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  melodic  occult  chanting  while  both  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  bringing  in  a   great  amount  of  angry  yet  tortured  screams  which  also  add  in  elements  of  black  metal.

   At  times  the  music  gets  very  avant  garde  and  experimental  while  soundscapes, spoken  word  parts  and drones  are  brought  onto  the  second  track  and  as  the  album  progresses  heavy  guitars  are  also  brought  in  the  music  and  take  the  sound  into  more  of  a  funeral  doom  metal  direction  as  well  as  some  of  the  vocals  utilizing  death  metal  growls  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  On  this  recording  Sektarism  takes  their  funeral  doom  metal  style  into  more  of  a  ritualistic  direction,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  apocalyptic  and  occult  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sektarism  an  if  you  are  a  fan  of  funeral doom  metal  and  ritualistic  music,  you  should check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Sacrifice".  8  out  of  10.

www.sektarism.org
www.facebook.com/sektarism 



  

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

To End It All Interview

1. For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

We have worked together since 2007, but took a few years off from writing albums and performing as a duo project while we started working with some friends to form the band Eye of Nix. In November of 2016, To End It All came into being when we decided to play live again and write for just voice and samplers.



2. You have an album coming out in fall, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you created on the recording?





3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

The extinguishing of familial ties, rejection of motherhood, vengeance, hatred of patriarchal constructs, emotional sickness, paternalism, waiting for the old ways to finally die,



4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name “To End It All”?

Billie Holiday’s Gloomy Sunday.



5. Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover?

Joy – Visual artist Anima Nocturna (Carlos Melgoza) is a frequent collaborator – we also worked with him to create album art for Eye of Nix’s Black Somnia LP, and Masaaki’s Blood Virus/Atheos tape. For this particular imagery, Carlos and I conjured the mythic Cassandra while working on a very long session of photography. She saw the future yet was cursed to never be believed. I feel many women experience this when we are young. As we age it gains in intensity…and so does the horror.



6. What are some of the best shows that the band has done so far and also how would you describe your stage performance? Playing with Mirrors For Psychic Warfare was great. Our Seattle show with Echo Beds was intense. I think our best set so far was on a show with Compactor and Jason W. Walton. Also…played a basement show in Dayton courtesy of Luke from Skeleton Dust records and things were falling from the ceiling. We love sub bass. We adore subs.



7. Do you have any touring or show plans once the album is released? We’re playing Portland OR November 17th and will do Seattle & Olympia release shows too this winter. We’d like to tour next year but haven’t nailed down dates.



8. The album is going to be released on 'Scry Recordings', how did you get in contact with this label?

This is our own label for releasing whatever we feel like. Earlier this year we released a recording of master percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani with Noisepoetnobody (stringboard & metal objects) and myself (piano/voice) called Epos Nemo Latrocinium: Iter Itineris III on CD, and Vermiform by Scarcity on cassette. Last year saw the release of the Blood Virus/Atheos tape by Masaaki, the Eye of Nix Black Somnia gatefold vinyl, the To End It All demo and tour tapes as well as a digital release of Aleppo by Caligula Cartel (live album).



9. On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of noise and death industrial?

Joy - We’ve focused on live performance quite a bit, and mostly in the Pacific Northwest. We did tour the US “rustbelt” last year. I’m sure some other misanthropic listeners out there will find our tapes and records floating around the globe. You never know. I found a cassette of Psychic TV’s Allegory & Self in a rummage sale when I was 12.



10. Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We are currently working on some new songs which include keyboards and a new palette of sounds. Turmoil is ever-present…providing an endless supply of subject and lyrical themes.



11. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Some main influences we cite are groups like Pig Heart Transplant, Blue Sabbath Black Cheer, Sutekh Hexen, Throbbing Gristle, and vocalists Onielar, Diamanda Galas, Kathy Berberian. However we have been listening to music that might not influence so much as just be something we want to hear: Les Discrets’ Predateurs, Lee Morgan’s Search For The New Land, Ails’ The Unraveling, Echo Beds’ Buried Language, and Bethlehem’s 2016 record is still in rotation.



12. What are some of your non musical interests?

There is no time for any of that.



13. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Just that we are always surprised to be asked for an interview. Thanks.

https://toenditall.bandcamp.com/




Monday, September 3, 2018

Corpse Paint And Dayglo Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

Gary: we are a new kind of black metal in that we aren’t metal at all. We have taken our new found love of new wave and our long time affair with the devil and made something lust filled, and sensually evil.

2.You label your music as 'blackened new wave', can you tell us a little bit more about this term?

Ringwald: How else would you describe danceable troubadouring for the devil’s love?

3.The band formed out of the ashes of 'Corpse Cvnt', what was the decision behind breaking up that band and forming a new one?

Gary: I am not sure what happened in the woods on the photo shoot. This is something no one likes to talk about. All I know is they were out there a long time with little resources. The desire to serve the dark master has never left Ringwald, Helmut, or Cannibal. I think they just needed a new way to express it and I am lucky enough to help.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

Ringwald: Lust, desire, the freedom that comes from surrendering to the dark. The empowerment one receives from the mantle of Satan.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Corpse Paint And Dayglo'?

Cannibal: We honor the traditions of our past and our future. We dawn our armor and war paint while sharing our beautiful and bright future with the morning star.

6.Has the band done any live shows or are there plans for shows on the future?

Helmut: we haven’t played shows under this new lineup. We haven’t played since before the incident.

Ringwald: we plan to play shows very soon!

7.On the split you had also done some 'Immortal' and 'Dark Throne', covers, can you tell us a little bit more about your versions of their songs?

Cannibal: We pay tribute to our forefathers. We find the sexual side of the music. We find the true meaning and reshape it to spread the message more clearly.

8.Recently you where a part of a split with 'Death On Fire', what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?

Ringwald: They were kind enough to work with us. They understand what we are doing. They don’t seem to be true believers in our faith. That said they are an excellent band. True professionals and they have a great sound for fans of that style.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal, new wave and dance music?

Gary: I don’t know that the guys pay attention to that. They are focused on other things, mostly they serve the music. From what I have seen, it has been received quite well.

10.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Ringwald: We serve the truth! Our sound is our soul, it will not change. We are true to blackened new wave!

Cannibal: Plans are in the works for a possible full length down the road but that is up to management.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Gary: They were on the edge of NSW, so I think they like a lot of those guys. Now though it is so far removed from that. We seem to listen to a lot of Talking Heads, The Cure, Duran Duran, The Smiths, and Depeche Mode.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

Helmut: Dance

Ringwald: Reading

Gary: I used to hike a lot. The guys are not big on hiking anymore though. For obvious reasons

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Gary: Thank you for the support. Hail!!

https://www.facebook.com/CPADband/