Sunday, August 29, 2021

Picture Ann/A Crude Meditation On No One X Nothing/Floodgate Moods Productions/2021 Single Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  a  track  from  Norway's  solo  project  Picture  Ann  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  experimental, doom  metal  and  lo-fi  ambient  and  the  single  was  released  in  2021  by  Floodgate  Moods  Productions  and  called  "A  Crude  Meditation  On  No  One  X  Nothing".


  Ambient  style  keyboards  start  off  the  song  while  also  adding  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  and  touches  of  dungeon  synth  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  along  with  the  track  also  sticking  to  an  instrumental  direction  and  the slow  guitar  riffs  also  add  in  elements  of  doom  metal  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.


  On  this  track  Picture  Ann  takes  ambient,  experimental  and  dungeon  synth  and  also  mixes  it  with  the  heaviness  of  doom  metal  to  create  a  very  slow  and  atmospheric  track  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  track  from  Picture  Ann and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental, d ark  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  single.  8  out  of  10.


A Crude Meditation on No One X Nothing | PICTURE ANN | Floodgate Moods Productions (bandcamp.com)

Saturday, August 28, 2021

Picture Ann/Strange Forces - The Instrumental Sketches/Floodgate Moods Productions/2021 EP Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Norway's  solo  project  Picture  Ann  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  metal  and  experimental  rock  and  the  ep  was  released  in  2021  by  Floodgate  Moods  Productions  and  called  "Strange  Forces  _  The  instrumental  Sketches"  which  was  released  by  Floodgate  Moods  Productions.


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  ep  while  all  of  the  music  is  also  instrumental  while  the  synths  also  add  in  elements  of  dark  ambient.  All  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  while  electric  guitar  solo  leads  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  also  add  in  influences  of  metal  and  experimental  rock.


  On  this  recording  Picture  Ann  sticks  to  mostyl  an  instrumental  experimental  rock  direction  mixed  in  with  elements  of  ambient  and  a  touch  of  black  metal  while  the  song  themes  are  based  upon  Bram  Stoker's  novel  "The  Lair  Of  the  White  Worm".


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Picture  Ann  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dark  ambient,  metal  and  experimental  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  8  out  of  10.


Strange Forces - The Instrumental Sketches | PICTURE ANN | Floodgate Moods Productions (bandcamp.com)  

Picture Ann/Idris And Isolation/Floodgate Moods Productions/2021 EP Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Norway's  solo  project  Picture  Ann  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  experimental,  dark  ambient,  metal  and  rock  and  the  ep  was  released  in  2020  by  Floodgate  Moods  Productions  and  called  "Idris  And  Isolation".


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  synths  also  bring  in  elements  of  dark  ambient  along  with  the  only  track  on  this  recording  being  over  16  minutes  in  length.  All  of  the  music  is  also  instrumental  while  the  music  also  has  its  experimental  moments  and  the  guitars  also  ad  in  influences  of  metal  and  rock.


  On  this  recording  Pixture  Ann  takes  experimental,  dark  ambient  and  rock  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  16  minute  track  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  are  based  upon  Mary  Shelley's  "The  Last  Man".


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Picture  Ann  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental,  dark  ambient,  metal  and  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  8  out  of  10.


https://floodgatemoodsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/idris-and-isolation

Thief/The 16 Deaths of My Master/Prophecy Productions/2021 CD Review

 


  Thief  are  a  solo  project  from  San  Francisco,  California  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental  and  electronic  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "The  16  Deaths  Of  My  master"  which  was  released  by  Prophecy  Productions.


  Electronic  beats  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  vocals  are  done  in  mostly  a  clean  style.  Touches  of  new  wave,  synth  pop  and  industrial  can  also b e  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  getting  very  experimental  sounding  at  times.


  Elements  of  electro  rock  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  music  also  incorporates  a  very  heavy  bass  sound  at  times.  Spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  each  song  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other  as  well as  the guitars  also  adding  in  the  heaviness  of  metal  when  they  are  utilized,  black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  Thief  plays  a  musical  style  that takes  experimental  and  electronic  rock  and  mixes  it  with  elements  from  other  genres  of  music  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  rebellion,  grief,  addiction,  mysticism  and  spiritual  horror  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  form  Thief  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental  and  electronic  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Underking"  "Teenage  Satanist"  "Apple  Eaters"  and  "Seance  For  Eight  Oscillators".  8  out  of  10.


www.thiefsounds.com
www.facebook.com/thiefsounds

www.instagram.com/thief_sounds      

Insect Ark/Future Fossils/Consouling Sounds/2021 EP Review

 


  Insect  Ark  are  a  solo  project from  the  United  States  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  experimental,  avant  garde,  and  minimalism  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  ep  "Future  Fossils"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Consouling  Sounds.


  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  distorted  noises  and  avant  garde  soundscapes  a  few  seconds  later.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  music  also  getting  very  experimental  sounding  at  times    and  the  synths  also  mix  in  a  decent  amount  of  synths.


  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  amount  of  minimalistic  structures  while  all  of  the  tracks  also  sound  different  from  each  other.  All  of  the  music  is  also  instrumental  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  recording  being  improvised  along  with  the  last  song  also  being  an  improvised  track that  was  recorded  live  which  also  adds  in  some  percussion,  drums  and  lap  steel.  


  On  this  recording  Insect  Ark  moves  away  from  the  doom  metal  elements  that  where  more  present  on  previous  releases  and  goes  into  more  of  a  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  experimental,  avant  garde  and  minimalism  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Insect  Ark  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  noise,  drone,  experimental,  avant  garde  and  minimalism,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Oral  Thrush"  and  "Gravitrons".  8  out  of  10.


http://www.insectark.com
http://www.insectark.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/InsectArk

http://www.instagram.com/insectark    

Pavor Nocturnus Interview

 


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


Pavor Nocturnus originates from the will to express myself through music, without boundaries or genre's limitations, letting flow and channeling suggestions coming from different kind of arts but also from spirituality and emotional experience.Through musical experimentation i try to develop a  language that can deliver my personal perception of all this elements, like a vision from a dream where rational and emotional are inseparable.


2.Recently you have released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?


“Bosch” is the most experimental of my albums, i have collected a lot of sounds and field recordings, playing with all sorts of instruments and musical material. Taking inspiration from paintings led me to avoid a musical structure and focus on the elements or feelings i wanted to recreate, giving me freedom but, at the same time, forcing me to find a proper sound for what i was looking at or what the pictures raised in me.

As i said before i have made large use of field recordings and played a lot with voices and effects, quite the opposite percussions and rhythmical sounds are used only in a couple of tracks.  


3.The main concept of the new album deals with the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his works?


I have seen the “triptych of delights” and other paintings of the artist in the Prado museum in Madrid, those pictures left me astonished. I started some research on H. Bosch, his life and his work, making a selection of eight paintings and thinking about how they could sound in music.

One of the most fascinating thing about Bosch's opus, in my opinion, is the complex symbolism and the eschatological aura that fills all his paintings, expecially the one representing the otherworld or divine elements; many conjectures have been made but there are very small certainty about the meanings behind his works.


4.On one of your earlier releases you explored the occult and witchcraft, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?


Having a (mostly Black) Metal background i am fascinated by occult, rituals and mysticism and i like to take inspiration from these themes. I like the connection between music and magic, rituals, alchemy, musical repetition and catharsis through sound and dance. Sometimes these elements can also be a pretext to talk about what surround us, giving a different perspective, to catch the attention of the listeners and push them to think about something they usually wont consider. For example the concept of my first album “Streghe” is based on witches and sorcery, but it can also be interpreted as a praise to women, considered as strong, independent beings that stand against constraints and men's rules.


5.What are some of the other themes you have explored over the years with your music?


In “Sognomeccanico”, the album made in collaboration with the australian artist Versuscode, we searched the subconscious and explored our emotions trying to establish a link across two opposite poles of the world, expressing ourselves through a surrealistic musical language, enveloped by an oneiric filter. 

I have always been focused on the “dark side” of things, finding more inspiration in ache than in edifying thoughts; i am also intrigued by religions and by divine elements in general: being not a religious person but being receptive to spiritual behaviour and feelings allows me to approach some themes in unusual (even romantic) ways.


6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Pavor Nocturnus'?


Pavor Nocturnus (latin for night terror) is a sleep desease which manifests itself during childhood. As a kid i experienced some form of pavor nocturnus, having panic while sleeping and not being able to discern reality from dream. 

When i started this project i thought that Pavor Nocturnus could be the manifestation of what lies underneath the surface, what crawls under my skin and can not emerge during the day, but that materialises in all his horrific essence when i play music: this concept has evolved with the add of a mask for live performances, enriching the visual impact and giving a face to the terror. 


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


The symbol you see on the front cover is a detail taken from one of the paintings (it's not hard to spot). The meaning of the symbol is not certain, there's a theory about some sort of signature of the painter but it's just an hypothesis. I liked this undefined sense so i choosed to put it on the front, changing the colour to gold, like a light glowing in the dark. Inside the digisleeve edition you can find a portion of the painting “Musical Hell” where, among some musical instruments, the damned are tortured by demons and Satan, sitting on a bottomless throne, devour their body.


8.Over the years you also have done some collaborations, can you tell us a little bit more about the artists that you have worked with so far?


I have worked with Tim McGee/Versuscode on Sognomeccanico; with the Berlin based musician and 3D artist Vince Gagliardi (The Nent, Vu) we worked on some tracks and on an audio/video project about cultural roots and traditions of the south of Italy; with Gabriele Panci/New Risen Throne we have released a track paired with a video made by Gabriele from a 3D concept art called “The Void”;  of course there's the collaboration with visual artist H3ml0ck, that has created the videos for “Bosch”. Currently i am working on some tracks with Enrico Cerrato/Petrolio, i am always open to collaborations, there are many artists i admire with which i would like to work. 


9.Have you done any live shows or open to the idea?


I have played shows in Italy, Spain and Canada, before the pandemic i was supposed to start a mini-tour in UK and some dates in Berlin which i hope to recover very soon.


10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of drone and other underground genres of music?


I have recieved positive feedback by friends, musicians and fans of the genre, reviews from (mostly) Italian websites and webzines, but also some from Russia and Europe.




11.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?


I hope i will be able to perform live as much as i can. I would like to meet new artists and collaborate on different projects, also making some soundtracks maybe.  


12.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?


As i said before my musical background has roots in extreme metal, mostly black and death, but also in classical music. Some essential band names for me are Mayhem, Nile, Ulver, Burzum, Meshuggah, SunnO))), Bologna Violenta. On the other side i like Amon Tobin, Venetian Snares, Igorrr, The Haxan Cloak, Scorn, and many soundtracks composers like Angelo Badalamenti, Wojciech Kilar, Cliff Martinez... too many.

Currently i am listening to some ritual music like Phurpa and Arktau Eos, the new Lingua Ignota's album and some underground stuff coming from firends/musicians.


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


I wish to thank you and all the people that have shown interest in my work for your support.

Sunday, August 22, 2021

This Darkness Of Mine/The Dandelion Fields/Letting Go Of The Old World/Submersion Records/2021 Split Album Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Greece's  This  Darkness  Of  Mine  and  The  Dandelion  Fields  called  "Letting  go  Of  The  Old  World"  which  was  released  by  Submersion  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  This  Darkness  of  Mine  a  solo  project  that  plays  plays  a mixture  of  noise  and  ambient.


  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  ambient  style  synths  which  also  use  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  while  also  capturing  the  atmosphere  of  a  science  fiction  movie  soundtrack.  His  track  is  also  over  23  minutes  in  length  along  with  some  elements  of  noise  also  being  utilized  at  times  along  with  some  programmed  beats  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  song,  all  of  the  music  is  instrumental  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.


  In  my  opinion  This  Darkness  Of  Mine  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  ambient  and  noise  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.


  Next  up  is  The  Dandelion  Fields  a  solo  artist  that  plays  a  minimalist  mixture  of  drone,  ambient  and  post  rock.


  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  drones  while  the  synths  also  bring  in  elements  of  ambient.  Spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  drum  beats  also  being  programmed  as  well  as  the  acoustic  guitars  also  adding  in  touches  of  post  rock  when  they  are  utilized.


  The  guitar  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  one  of  the  songs  also  being  an  instrumental.  When  vocals  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  clean  style  as  well  as  some  percussion  also  being  used  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  ask  a  question  if  humanity  can  move  towards  a  more  sustainable  and  equitable  society.


  In  my  opinion  The  Dandelion  Fields  is  a  very  great  sounding  minimalist  mixture  of  drone,  ambient  and  post  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Deep  Transitions"  and  "Daughters  Of  Congo".


  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  i  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  noise,  ambient,  drone  and  post  rock.  8  out  of  10.


https://www.facebook.com/thisdarknessofmine

https://www.facebook.com/thedandelionfields


       

Yiannis Ilikis/Vertical Horizon/Submersion Records/2021 Full Length Review

 


  Yiannis  Ilikis  is  a  solo  artist  from  Greece  that  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  experimental,  ambient  and  soundtrack  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Vertical  horizon"  which  was  released  by  Submersion  Records.


  Ambient  style  soundscapes  and  synths  start  off  the  album  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  songs  also  capturing  the  atmosphere  of  both  futuristic  and  sci-fi  soundtracks  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  an  instrumental  direction.


  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  while  also  mixing  in  a  decent  amount  of  electronic  sounds.  All  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  some  sampling  and  recordings  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  album  as  well  as  the  electric  guitars  also  adding  in  influences  of  black  metal  when  they  are  utilized  and  the  music  also  adds  in  some  real  drums  and  percussion  on  a  few  tracks.  


  Yiannis  Ilikis  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  experimental,  ambient  and  soundtrack  music  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  while  also  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.


  In  my  opinion  Yiannis  Ilikis  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  experimental,  ambient  and  soundtrack  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "2"  and  "$'>  8  out  of  10.


https://open.spotify.com/album/3Gxd322HRCzkEvQR1CnaM7?fbclid=IwAR0MIJ1ySrHCTRl_zAfD4-Gs-_ZlKnZuZspSjAYTeKvSoauba9XX1MaOAD0

https://www.facebook.com/yiannis.iliakis.7359/

https://soundcloud.com/yiannis-iliakis

https://www.facebook.com/freethesopranoplayer/

https://www.youtube.com/user/yiannickk/featured?view_as=subscriber

   


  


      

Dimos Vryzas/Blue Line Sequence/Submersion Records/2021 CD Review

 


  Dimos  Vryzas  is  a  solo  artist  from  Greece  that  plays  a  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  experimental,  avant  garde,  minimalism,  and  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Blue  Line  Sequence"  which  was  released  by  Submersion  Records.


  Noises  and  violins  start  off  the  album  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  avant  garde  feeling  while  also  adding  in  some  atmospheric  sounding  drones.  Loops  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  music  also  adds  in  elements  of  ambient  without  the  use  of  synths  or  keyboards.


  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  while  also  keeping  everything  in  an  instrumental  direction.  The  stringed  instruments  also  add  in  touches  of  folk  and  classical  music  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  as  well a s  some  electronic  sounds  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  a  lot  of  the  music  also  sounds  improvised.


  Dimos  Vryzas  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  noise,  drone,  experimental,  avant  garde,  minimalism  and  ambient  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.


  In  my  opinion  Dimos  Vryzas  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  experimental,  avant  garde,  minimalism  and  ambient  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Whale"  "Rain  Is  Gone"  "Lithium  Drops"  and  "Almost  Got  A  Techno  beat".  8 out  of  10.


https://submersionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/blue-line-sequence  

Marco Pianges/Somewhere/UKhan Records/2021 EP Review

 


    Marco  Pianges  is  a  solo  artist  from  Italy  that  plays  a mixture  of  drone,  dark  ambient,  field  recordings  and  glitch  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  ep  "Somewhere"  which  was  released  by  UKhan  Records.


 Field  recordings  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  dark  ambient  soundscapes  and  synths  a  few  seconds  later.  Glitches  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  electronic  music  elements  as  well  as  all  of  the  music  also  sticking  to  an  instrumental  direction  and  distorted  sounds  are  also  used  at  times.


  Static  sounds  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  each  track  also  sounds  different  from  each  other.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  along  with  the  songs  also  mixing  in  a  lot  of  atmospheric  sounding  drones  and  voices  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.


  Marco  Pianges  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  drone,  dark  ambient,  glitches  and  field  recordings  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  as  well as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.


  In  my  opinion  Marco  Pianges  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  drone,  dark  ambient,  field  recordings  and  glitch  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Naran"  and  "Was  War".  8  out  of  10.


https://ukhanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/somewhere    

Albireon/Zeresh/No Longer Mourn For Me/Toten Schwan Records/2021 Split Album Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Italy's  Albireon  and  Israel's  Zeresh  called  "No  Longer  Mourn  For  Me"  which  was  released  by  Toten  Schwan  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Albireon  a  band  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental,  ambient  and  neo-folk.


  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  acoustic  guitars  which  also  add  in  elements  of  neo-folk  while  electric  guitars  are  also  utilized  at  times.  Male  and  female  vocals  are  done  in  mostly  clean  style  along  with  each  track  also  sounding  very  different  from each  other  and  one  of  the  songs  is  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  along  with  the  spoken  word  parts  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  a  poetic  atmosphere  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  the  keyboards also  adding  in  touches  of  ambient,  loops  and  samples  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  melancholic  themes.  


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Albireon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental,  ambient  and  neo-folk,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Heartbroken  Remembrance"  and  "The  Day  You  Poured  Your  Wasted  Dreams  in  my  heart".


  Next  up  is  Zeresh  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  form  of  neo-folk.


  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  dark  soundscapes  and  electric  guitars  before  adding  in  some  acoustic  guitars  which  also  add  in  elements  of  neo-folk.  Vocals  are  done  in  mostly  a  clean  style  along  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  synths  can  also  being  added  in  the  background  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  and  whispers  also  being  utilized  at  times,  demonic  voices  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  song.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  depression  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Zeresh  is  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  neo-folk  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "My  Lazy  Triumph"  and  "No  Longer  Mourn  For  Me  When  I'm  Dead".


  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  i  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  experimental,  ambient  and  neo-folk.  8  out  of  10.


https://totenschwan.bandcamp.com/album/tsr-125-no-longer-mourn-for-me     

  

Saturday, August 21, 2021

qqqØqqq/A Lustrum Before Revelations/Toten Schwan Records/2021 CD Review

 


    qqqØqqq  are  a  duo  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  minimalism,  drone,  ambient  and  electronic  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "A  Lustrum  Before  Revelations"  which  was  released  by  Toten  Schwan  Records.


  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Female  vocals  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  while  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  also  adds  in  some  touches  of  post  rock  and  the  synths  also  add  in  elements  of  dark  ambient.


  Percussion  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  off  the  album  while  distorted  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  All  of  the  tracks  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  a  lot  of  the  music  also  sounding  improvised  as  well  as  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  minimalist  structures,  at  times  the  music  goes  into  more  of  a  meditative  direction  and  one  track  also  adds  in  some  electric  guitars.


    qqqØqqq  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  minimalism,  drone,  ambient,  post  rock  and  electronic  music  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  melancholic  themes.


  In  my  opinion  qqqØqqq  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  minimalism,  drone,  ambient,  post  rock  and  electronic  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "A  Lustrum  before  Revelations".  8  out  of  10.


  

Pavor Nocturnus/Bosch/Dio Drone/Toten Schwan Records/2021 CD Review

 


  Pavor  Nocturnus  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  ritual,  drone,  dark  ambient,  experimental  and  field  recordings  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Bosch"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Dio  Drone  and  Toten  Schwan  Records.


  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed. Field  recordings  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  dark  ambient  sections  while  most  of  the  music  also  instrumental  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  synths  and  the  music  also  has  its  experimental  moments.


  Ritualistic  soundscapes  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  music  is  mostly  rooted  in  more  of  an  electronic  style.  All  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  techno  style  beats  and  at  the  times  the  music  also  brings  in  a  very  disturbing  soundtrack  style  and  ritualistic  chants  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.


  Pavor  nocturnus  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  ritual,  dark  ambient,  drone,  experimental  and  field  recordings  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  the  paintings  of  Hieronymus  Bosch.    


  In  my  opinion  Pavor  Nocturnus  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  ritual,  drone,  dark  ambient,  experimental  and  field  recordings  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Paradiso  Terrestre"  "Inferno"  and  "Inferno  Musicale".  8  out  of  10.


   

Dead Man's Hill/Inner Journeys Through The Living Temples Of Water/Noctivagant/2021 CD Review

 


  Austria's  solo  project  Dead  Man's  Hill  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  ritual, dark  ambient  and  experimental  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Inner  Journeys  Through  the  Living  Temples  Of  Water"  which  was  released  by  Noctivagant.


  Dark  ambient  style  synths  and  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Water  sounds  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  experimental  moments  and  throat  singing  can  also  be  heard   briefly  which  also  takes  the  music  into  more  of  a  ritualistic  direction.


  Distorted  sounds  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  album  while  the  music  also  captures  a  very  meditative  orientated  atmosphere.  One  song  also  introduces  ethnic  style  instruments  into  the  music  along  with  each  track  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  as  well  as  the  recording  also  getting  very  shamanistic  sounding  at  times  and  most  of  the  songs  also  stick  to  an  instrumental  direction.


  On  this  recording  Dead  Man's  Hill  take  dark  ambient,  ritual  and  experimental  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  soundtrack  that  is  suitable  for  meditations.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on t he metaphysical  and  occult  uses  of  water.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Dead  Man's  Hill  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ritual,  dark  ambient  and  experimental,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "White  Spring"  and  "Hertebron".  8  out  of  10.


Inner Journeys Through The Living Temples Of Water | Dead Man's Hill | Noctivagant (bandcamp.com)   

Wilderness Hymnal/Duncan Evans/Until Liars Fear You/Trepanation Recordings/2021 Split Album Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Netherlands  Wilderness  Hymnal  and  United  Kingdom's  Duncan  Evans  called  "Until  Liars  Fear  You"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Trepanation  Recordings  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Wilderness  Hymnal  a  solo  artist  that  plays  a  mixture  of  drone,  post  metal,  folk,  psychedelic,  chamber  music  and  glacial  electronics.


  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  clean  vocals  and  atmospheric  sounding  drones  while  one  track  also  introduces  clean  guitars  onto  his  side  of  the  recording.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  elements  of  post  metal  can  also  be  heard  at  times.


  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  music  also  adding  in  some  electronic  and  psychedelic  touches  at  times.  All  of  his  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  as  well  as  the  percussion  also  giving  the  music  more  of  a  tribal  feeling  when  they  are  utilized  and  some  songs  also  add  in  stringed  instruments.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  overcoming  violence  and  escaping  grief  with  some  alchemical  touches.


  In  my  opinion  Wilderness  Hymnal  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  drone,  post  metal, folk,  psychedelic,  chamber  music  and  glacial  electronics  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I  Buried  My  Teeth"  and  "Three  tempers".


  Next  up  is  Duncan  Evans  a  solo  artist  that  plays  a  mixture  of  dark  folk  and  post  punk.


  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  post  punk  and  new  wave  style  synths  while  the  vocals  are  all  done  in  a  clean  style.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  along  with  some  electric  and  bass  guitars  also  being  utilized  at  times as  well  as  the  screams  also  adding  in  touches  of  black  metal  and  industrial  when  they  are  utilized.


  The  music  also  has  its  experimental  moments  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other.  Elements  of  folk  music  can  also  be  heard  at  times  as  well  as  the  music  also  capturing  a  very  melancholic  atmosphere  and  acoustic  guitars  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  overcoming  violence  and  escaping  grief  with  some  influences  of  classic  literature.    


  In  my  opinion  Duncan  Evans  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dark  folk  and  post  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Deadheading"  and  "Mouse  Mask".


  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  i  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  drone,  post  metal,  psychedelic,  folk  and  electronic  music.  8  out  of  10.


https://wildernesshymnal.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2l9PObsEAJC6uGUBjMcnFQ
 www.instagram.com/wildernesshymnal

www.facebook.com/wildernesshymnal/

https://duncan-evans.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1j003jL9LhCKjE7ouSguGT
 www.instagram.com/duncanevansmusic
www.facebook.com/duncanevansmusic

www.twitter.com/DEvansMusic    

Trepanersritualen/Veil The World/Cold Spring/2021 CD Review

 


  Sweden's  solo  project  Trepanersritualen   has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  death  industrial,  ritual  and  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Veil  The  World"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Cold  Spring.


  Dark  ambient  style  soundscapes  and  synths  start  off  the  album  while  the  music  also  gets  very  ritualistic  sounding  at  times.  Home  made  instruments  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  while  some  songs  also  add  in  some  spoken  word  parts  which  also  enhances  the  occult  atmosphere  of  the  music.


  Distorted  sounds  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  while  programmed  beats  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  songs The  aggressive  vocals  also  adds  in  a  touches  of  black  metal  as  well  as  each  track  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other.  The  music  also  adding  in  the  brutality  of  death  industrial  at  times  and  the  vocals  also  get  very  deep  and  demonic  in  some  parts  of  the  recording.    


  On  this  recording  Trepanersritualen  takes  ritual,  ambient  and  death  emtal  industrial  and  mixes  them  with  some  rhythmic  sounds  to  create  a  very  dark  sounding  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  cover  religion,  magick  and  the  hidden  realms  of  consciousness.  


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Trepanersritualen  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ritual,  ambient  and  death  industrial,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Veil  the  World"  "Drunk  With  Blood"  and  "Invocation".  8  out  of  10.


website | bandcamp | facebook | twitter | instagram     

Violenţă Domestică/Cephalaea/Aesthetic Death/Teratogen/2020 Full Length Review

 


  Violenţă Domestică  are  a  solo  project  from  Austria  that  plays  a  mixture  of  harsh  noise,  industrial,  ebm  and  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  his    2020  album  "Cephalaea"  which  was  released as a joint  effort  between Aesthetic  Death  and  Teratogen.


  Classical  music  samples  start  off  the  album  before  adding  in  some  lo-fi  power  electronics  which  also  adds  in  some  elements  of  industrial.  Programmed  beats  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  great  amount  of  harsh  noises  along  with  some  ambient  style  synths  also  being  utilized  at  times.


  Electric  guitars  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  while  a  couple  of  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  porno  samples.  Each  song  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  album  as  well  as  the  harsh  vocals  also  showing  an  influence  of  black  metal  and   industrial. 


  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals  along  with  some  of  the  electronic  beats  showing  an  influence  of  ebm.  Whispered  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  songs  as  well  as  the  piano's  also  adding  in  an  avant  garde  touch  when  they  are  utilized  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  disturbing  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Violenţă Domestică  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  harsh  noise,  industrial,  ebm  and  ambient  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Pain"  "Curing  The  incurable"  "Love  At  First  Sight"  and  "Futility".  8  out  of  10.


The album on Bandcamp: https://violentadomestica.bandcamp.com/album/cephalaea 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/violentadomestica      

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Digital Negative Interview

 

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


Sure. It's an "electronic/industrial" project that we did during the lockdown. It's got samples, guitars, electronic drums, and vocals on it.

 

2.So far you have released an EP. Can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?


Right. We wanted it to be heavy and with a cold, kind of oppressive, "modern life is killing us" atmosphere.

 

3.Both of the band members are also involved with other bands or musical projects, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Digital Negative' that you are not able to do with your other groups?


Daniel had some ideas knocking around and decided to do something with them during the lockdown. He's done electronic music before, but this is a different style. The process was different too, since we didn't see each other the entire time we were working on it, even though we don't live far from each other.

 

4.What are some of the themes you have explored so far with the music?


Things that cause anxiety, the loss of control in today's world, the incomprehensibility of the way giant systems work. And so on.

 

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Digital Negative'?


It's as simple as we thought it summed up the music sound and the lyrics pretty well. It's a term from photography but it's got nothing to do with that.

 

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


That's a glitch from a videotape. So the source was analog!

 

7.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to  expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?


If we ever did this live, we might need some help, but we need to discuss that further.

 

8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?


We did in fact receive some interest from a label I've worked with about releasing another record, if we do another. That's also on the list to discuss.

 

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


I actually don't know. We've gotten a few positive reviews, but mostly I've just gotten good responses from people I played it for and on threads when I post about it. People like it, which we really appreciate. Our understanding is that the tape is selling okay, which is good.


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


We haven't thought that far ahead. For another release, I'd want it to retain the sound but at the same time cover some new ground. It's a balance.

 

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?


Nothing surprising I think. I like things like Ministry and Godflesh and Pitch Shifter as far as industrial stuff goes. Daniel has tastes that are a little more down in the weeds. He's the electronic music expert.


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


Thank you for your interest. We're happy when people listen to our EP. We want people to hear it.

 

Sleepwalker/Monument From The Void/Ksenza Records/2021 Full Length Review

 


  Sleepwalker  are  a  solo  project  from  Russia  that  has  been  interviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  drone  and  ritual  with  some  elements  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Monument  From  The  Void"  which  will  be  released  on  August  13th  by  Ksenza  Records.


  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while  the  synths  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  dark  ambient  elements.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  guitars  also  adding  in  touches  of  post  black  metal  when  they  are  utilized  and  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  cinematic  sounding.


  Clean  playing  and  melodic  guitar  leads  are  also  added  on  one  of  the  tracks  while  all  of  the  music  is  also  instrumental.  All  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  all  of  the  drum  beats  also  being  programmed  and  when  singing  bowls  and  Tibetan  gongs  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling,  there  is  also  some  session  work  from  Liholesie.


  On  this  recording  Sleepwalker  takes  dark  ambient,  drone  and  ritual  and  mixes  it  in  with  some  touches  of  post  black  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sleepwalker  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dark  ambient,  drone,  ritual  and  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Monument  From  The  Void"  and  "Neverending  Journey  Through  The  Void".  8  out  of  10.


www.ksenza.bandcamp.com/album/monument-from-the-void