Thursday, March 5, 2026

Nihil Implvse Interview

 

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

Nihil Impvlse is a dark electronic and industrial music project born in the late 2000s out of my fascination with these genres and their many offshoots. From the beginning, I wanted to avoid confining myself within rigid stylistic boundaries, allowing the sound to move across a wide spectrum ranging from harsher forms of noise to dark drone ambient. The project relies on a combination of electronic and electroacoustic instruments, field recordings, sound collage, and whatever other means may serve the music. Conceptually, each release is shaped by my personal experiences and my perception of life and society, reprocessing references to history, philosophy, literature, and art into dense sonic frameworks. I aim to forge unexpected connections and atmospheres, exploring complexity without resorting to the clichés so common in the genre.


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

Great Filter represents the peak of a long process of musical maturation. With each release, I try to explore new approaches, experimenting with different sound sources and production methods in a way that feels like a natural evolution of my path as Nihil Impvlse. I have no formal musical training and have never studied an instrument, which probably contributed to the raw, unpredictable quality of my early material. Over time, as I became more familiar with various techniques, pure improvisation has become less central and now is used deliberately when it serves the music. Each album tackles different themes, which demand their own sonic solutions and styles, but with Great Filter, I feel this process has reached a point of synthesis: the different sonic threads have evolved into a tone that I fully recognize as my own.


3.From 2010 to 2020 there was no music being released, can you tell us a little bit more about the 10 year wait in between releases?

Life happened. Personal circumstances gradually reduced the time I could dedicate to music, eventually forcing me to put the project on hold. The passion, however, never disappeared, and as soon as circumstances allowed, I returned to Nihil Impvlse. It wasn’t a period of creative inertia, though. On the contrary, many ideas and concepts that would later appear in subsequent releases matured during that rather dark chapter of my life. In general, my creative process takes time: studying the conceptual framework, finding the sonic palette that best embodies it, selecting the right tools, and developing the technical fluency to use them effectively.


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

From the outset, Nihil Impvlse has revolved around a set of existential and socio-political tensions that keep resurfacing in different forms across each release, gradually emerging as the organic core of the project.

Katabasis, Stasis and Anabasis, although never explicitly presented as such, were conceived as a trilogy with a coherent arc. Katabasis explored descent, deprivation, isolation and the slow coagulation of resentment within both the individual and the wider social body. Stasis shifted the focus toward structural paralysis, examining civilization as an invisible architecture of power that sustains the illusion of change while preserving inertia. Anabasis then moved toward a troubled ascent, where progress appears as perpetual conflict, a forward motion driven as much by ignorance and zealotry as by aspiration.

Great Filter reframed and intensified these concerns. The cosmic metaphor became a way to crystallize and extend the previous cycle. The mechanisms of control explored in Stasis, the blind striving of Anabasis and the corrosive nihilism of Katabasis converge into a meditation on a civilization accelerating toward its own existential threshold.


5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Nihil Impvlse'?

I chose the name because it immediately suggests a certain sonic and thematic direction. With a name like that, you are clearly not expecting bright, uplifting sounds. At the same time, I was interested in preserving a degree of semantic ambiguity. It can be read as a “nihilistic impulse,” but also, almost paradoxically, as the absence of impulse altogether.

That tension between drive and void felt meaningful to me. In this genre, at least in those that I consider its most compelling forms, the listener is invited to engage critically and dialectically with the material rather than consume it passively. The name acts as a sort of Rorschach test offered before the music even begins. It frames the listening experience without fully defining it.


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

As with most of my releases, I created the artwork for Great Filter myself. I am not a graphic designer, just as I do not consider myself a formally trained musician, but that is exactly why I prefer to handle the visual side personally. Sound and image come from the same conceptual impulse, so shaping them myself keeps the connection intact. For this album, I worked with images of industrial technology and semi-derelict industrial facilities, manipulating them to align with the conceptual and sonic content of the record. I was interested in visual elements that could convey tension, obsolescence, and the uneasy relationship between progress and decay. Industrial applications, once symbols of advancement and control, become ambiguous when shown in a state of deterioration. They start to suggest fragility rather than dominance.


7.You record a lot of the music by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

Actually, I record all of it myself, but that’s more a matter of circumstance than strict choice. I think it comes from both the particular structure of my creative process and my natural reserve, which hasn’t given me many opportunities to collaborate with other artists. That said, I’m not opposed to it at all. On the contrary, the idea of working with others, especially on shared stylistic and conceptual ground, is very appealing. It’s something I could see as an interesting development for the future.


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

Overall, the response has been very positive. I have noticed a certain diversity in the geographic origins of listeners, which suggests that the themes explored in the music resonate widely. The audience tends to be experienced and attentive, less focused on the shock value that can often appear in certain corners of the genre, and usually comes from a broad and varied listening background, much like my own as a listener.

I also believe that the consistent development of the discography over time, in terms of sound as well as conceptual and visual style, has helped listeners engage with the work more fully and appreciate it in a nuanced way. Those who take the time to explore the project tend to offer thoughtful and enthusiastic feedback, which has been extremely encouraging.


9.Can you tell us a little bit more about your other project 'Filth Colossus'?

Filth Colossus is in many ways a twin to Nihil Impvlse, but it occupies a different sonic and emotional territory. While Nihil Impvlse is rooted in layered conceptual frameworks, Filth Colossus dives into harsher, darker soundscapes with a more prominent use of vocals and elements that fall outside the sonic palette of my other project. It is younger in terms of output, but it is a project I care about deeply because it complements Nihil Impvlse both musically and thematically. The intention behind Filth Colossus is to embrace a more immediate and visceral expression. The aim is not to dilute complexity but to channel intensity in a way that is direct, violent where it needs to be, and uncompromising in its impact. The inspiration comes from what I observe around me in the contemporary world, especially the sense of looming crisis and pervasive instability. In that sense, I described the project as "heavy electronics for the current global catastrophes", a sonic confrontation with the brutal and unsettling aspects of our times. Those who appreciate the harsher aspects of Nihil Impvlse might also find Filth Colossus worth exploring.


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

As with any of my musical endeavours, this is something I pursue first and foremost for my own necessity and fulfillment. Because of that, I do not tend to think in terms of rigid milestones or strategic plans. At the same time, I am very aware of the internal coherence and evolution of the project. Each release grows out of the previous one, both thematically and sonically, as part of a continuous trajectory rather than a series of isolated statements, and I expect that process to continue. What interests me most is refining and deepening the language I have been developing, pushing it toward greater clarity and intensity while remaining open to new techniques and possibilities. The aim is not to reinvent the project for the sake of novelty, but to let it mature further in a way that feels honest and necessary. Most importantly, I am confident that there will not be another long silence between releases. The hiatus in the past was circumstantial rather than intentional. Now that the project has regained momentum, my intention is to maintain continuity and allow it to evolve in a steady and consistent way.


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?

I am an avid music collector, and my listening habits span a wide range of genres, so it makes more sense to focus on what has directly influenced my work. On a foundational level, the classic industrial and death industrial tradition, especially projects connected to labels such as Cold Meat Industry, Tesco Organisation, Cold Spring, and Slaughter Productions have certainly shaped the DNA of both Nihil Impvlse and Filth Colossus.

At the same time, less obvious influences have also been important. The Berlin School of electronic music, film soundtracks from composers like John Carpenter or Ennio Morricone, and artists associated with labels such as Touch or Warp have contributed to my sense of atmosphere and structure. I have also been influenced by twentieth-century composers such as Luigi Nono, Alexander Scriabin, and György Ligeti, particularly in their use of tension, space, and dissonance.

Like many people who end up exploring this kind of music, I had a gateway, which in my case was extreme metal. I listened to it obsessively in my late teens and early twenties. As for what I listen to nowadays, in the dark electronic field much of it comes from the catalogue of Eighth Tower Records and its related imprints, whose aesthetic direction I feel closely aligned with.


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

Thank you for the opportunity to talk about the project. Independent scenes like this survive thanks to the curiosity and dedication of listeners, labels, and publications that continue to support music operating outside the mainstream circuits. If someone reading this interview feels intrigued, the best thing they can do is simply approach the music with an open and attentive mindset. Projects like Nihil Impvlse are meant to be experienced and absorbed slowly, allowing the atmosphere and the conceptual layers to unfold over time. And of course, my sincere thanks to everyone who has supported the project so far.


 https://eighthtowerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-filter

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Hostile Surgery/Stray Volts/Music Analysis Discussions Records/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Switzerland's  solo  project  Hostile  Surgery  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  rhythmic  noise,  drone,  dark  ambient,  industrial  and  techno  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "Stray  Volts"  which  was  released  by  Music  Anlysis  Discussions  Records.


  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  some  programmed  beats  which  also  add  in  elements  of  techno  and  industrial.  Harsh  noises  are  also  utilized  at times  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and   also  each  song  sounds very  different  from  each  other.


  A  lot  of  the  album  also  sticks  to  an  instrumental  direction  while  the  songs  also  add  in  touched  of  ambient  when  they  are  utilized.  Drones  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  some  melodies  and  rhythm's  as  well  as  some  touches  of  post-punk  done  in  more  of  an  electronic  direction,  one  track  also  adds  in a  brief  use  of  harsh  vocals  and  clear  singing.


  On  this  recording  Hostile  Surgery  takes  rhythmic  noise,  drone,  dark  ambient,  industrial  and  techno  to  create  something  very  different.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  social  tension,  liminal  places,  digital  overload,  occult  conflicts,  the  static  of  broken  communication  and  converting  chaos  into  abstraction.   


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hostile  Surgery  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  rhythmic  noise,  drone,  dark  ambient,  industrial  and  techno,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dead  Angle"  "Days  Of  Wild  Iron"  "Lost  Genesis"  and  "No  Hope  No  Fear".  8  out  of  10.


  https://hostilesurgery.bandcamp.com/album/stray-volts

   

Nihil Impvlse/The Great Filter/Eight Tower Records/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Nihil  Impvlse  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  dark  electronics  and  death  industrial  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "The  Great  Filter"  which  was  released  by  Eight  Tower  Records.


  Electronic  music  sounds  and  noises  start  off  the  album  while  the  harsh  sections  also  add  in  the  brutality  of  death  industrial.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  synths  also  bring  in  elements  of  dark  ambient,  drones  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  some songs  also  add  in  spoken  word  samples.


  Each  song  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other  while  the  music  also  captures  a  very  apocalyptic  atmosphere  as  well  as  having  its  ritualistic  moments.  Some  of  the  tracks  also  stick  to  an  instrumental  direction  and  a  lot  of t the  album  is  also  improvised  and  a  few  songs  also  add  in  programmed  beats  which  also  enhances  the  industrial  side  of  the  recording.  


  Nihil  Impulse  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  dark  ambient,  drone  and  death  industrial  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  a  posy  apocalyptic  world.


  In  my  opinion  Nihil  Impvlse  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  drone  and  death  industrial  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Trigger  Event  Mass"  "Spectral  Engravings" and  "Catastrophe,  Reprocessed".  8  out  of  10.


  https://eighthtowerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-filter


  

Spiracle/Ossiphage/Rope Or Guillotine/2025 FUll Length Review

 


  Spiracle  are  a  solo  project  from  Denmark  that  plays  a  mixture  of  harsh  noise,  drone  and  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  2025  album  "Ossiphage"  which  was  released  by  Rope  Or  Guillotine.


  Neo-classical  style  pianos  start  off  the  album  while  the  synths  also  add  in  elements  of  dark  ambient  when  they  are  utilized.  Programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  as  well  as  some  drones  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.


  Female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  which  also  gives  the  music  some  ethereal  and  alt-pop  touches  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic in  length.  Harsh  noises  and  heavy  soundscapes  are  also  added in  some  parts  of  the  music,  when  screams  are  utilized  they  add  in a   touch  of  black  metal.


  Spiracle  plays a  musical  style  that  takes  ambient,  neo-classical,  drone,  alt-pop  and  harsh  noise  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  her  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  melancholic  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Spiracle  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  ambient,  drone  and  harsh  noise  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t hose  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Unmaking"  and  "Soma".  8  out  of  10.


https://spiracle.bandcamp.com/album/ossiphage-extended  

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Gridfailure/Sixth Mass-Extinction Skulduggery III/Nefarious Industries/2025 Full Length Review

 


  New  York's  Gridfailure  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  experimental,  dark  ambient,  noise,  drone,  industrial  and  dark  hardcore  with  elements  of  avant  jazz,  Americana,  classical,  techno,  folk  and  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Sixth  mass-Extinction  Skulduggery  III{'  which  was  released  by  Nefarious  Industries.


  Field  recordings  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  word  samples  and  dark  ambient  style  synths  a  few  seconds  later.  A  lot  of  the  music  also  captures  a  post  apocalyptic  atmosphere  while  clean  plating  is  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  black  metal  screams  are  also  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks.


  Each  song  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other  while  the  acoustic  guitars  also  add  in  touches  of  folk  music  and  Americana  when  they  are  utilized.  Industrial  style  shouts  are  also  used  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  along  with  the  electric  guitars  also  enhancing  the  extreme  metal  and  dark  hardcore  style  of  the  recording  when  they  are used.


  Programmed  beats  which  add  in  touches  of  industrial  and  techno  and  jazz  style  instrumentation  are  also  introduced  on  a  few  tracks  along  with clear  vocals  also  being  used  at  times.  A  couple  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  briefly.  Drones  and  electronic  noises  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  experimental  approach  and  when  pianos  are  introduced  they  add  in  classical  music  influences  while  the  production  also  sounds  very  dark.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Gridfailure  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental,  drone,  ambient,  noise,  industrial  and  dark  hardcore,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Extermination  Level  Eventuality"  "Drunk  on  The  Blood  Of my  Neighbor"  "Maria"  and  "Transmissions  Cease".  8  out  of  10.


  https://linktr.ee/gridfailure

https://www.gridfailure.bandcamp.com

https://www.youtube.com/@gridfailure

https://www.instagram.com/gridfailure

https://www.facebook.com/gridfailure

https://x.com/GRIDFAILURE   


     

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Dodssang Tempel/Hymns From The Chapel Morgue/Cursed Monk Records/2025 Full Length Review

 


  U.S.A's  solo  project  Dodssang  Tempel  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  occult  mixture  of  harsh  noise,  death  industrial  and  power  electronics  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "Hymns  From  The  Chapel  Morgue"  which  was  released  by  Cursed  Monk  Records.


  Clear  chants  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  harsh  noises  and  power  electronics  a  few  seconds  later.  At  times  the  music  also  adds  in  the  brutality  of  death  industrial  while  each  song  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  sticking  to  more  of  an  instrumental  direction.


  When  synths  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  touches  of  Teutonic  space  music  with  some  cosmic  touches  while  the  album  also  has  its  ritualistic  moments.  Some  of  the  music  is  also  suitable  for  meditation's  along  with  the  heavier  and  distorted  side  of  the  album  also  adding  in  elements  of  black  and  doom  metal  


  On  this  recording  Dosssang  Tempel  brings  out  a  very  diverse  mixture  of  harsh  noise,  death  industrial  and  power  electronics  as  well  as   mixing  in  the  ritualistic  side  of  black  and  doom  metal  to  create  something  very  different.  The  production  ouds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  Satanism,  Occultism  and  Blasphemy.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Dodssang  Tempel  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  harsh  noise,  death  industrial  and  power  electronics,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Banging  Down  The  Gates  Of  Heaven"  and  "The  Truth  Of  His  Lies".  8  out  of  10.


   https://cursedmonk.bandcamp.com/album/hymns-from-the-chapel-morgue



      

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Audoynaud Interview

 

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

1.      We are AUDOYNAUD, a duo of two brothers. Romain writes the lyrics and sings, and Pierre composes the music. Together, we make a French dark folk that is deep, intimate, and adventurous.



2.In March you had released your first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

1.      We released Hyperboréen in 2024. It’s a dark folk album where the voice and lyrics play a central role. The record also leans toward dark ambient, building textured soundscapes with electro-acoustic techniques. We mainly use acoustic instruments, recorded in our own studio and edited by ourselves.



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

1.      The album is called Hyperboréen. We imagined it as a journey into an imaginary Far North. The natural elements represent feelings and emotions; it is an invitation to introspection and silent communion.



4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Audoynaud'?

1.      It is our family name, which we also share with our older sister Charlotte, who creates the visuals for the project, and our younger sister Mathilde, who is always a source of inspiration.



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

1.      It is a photograph taken by Charlotte Audoynaud with her medium format film camera, in the area around our studio in Puisaye (Burgundy). This is where our music comes to life.



6.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?

1.      AUDOYNAUD is a project in collaboration with many musicians we have met along the way. We like to see the studio as a hub, a center, around which many artists and musicians gather.



7.On the new album you also have a few quest musicians, can you tell us a little bit more about who they are and also their contributions to the recording?

1.    They are musicians we collaborate with on various projects within our label Eaux Sombres. We invite them to come and play in the studio, and Pierre collects the recorded material. From this material, he arranges the sounds like an electro-acoustic composer. On Hyperboréen we have collaborated with Evelyne Coen on oboe and English horn, Jean-Marc Ladet on violin, Michel Granon on accordion, and David Michelet and Léo Ducatez on nylon-string guitar. We have also worked remotely with the guitarist Rai Castells, who is based in Spain.





8.Can you tell us a little bit more about your label 'Eaux Sombres'??

It is a label born from the desire to create, together with the studio, a space for free, experimental, and improvised music. It is a project rooted in a specific place, and it aims to bring together unique artists.



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


10.What is going on with some of the other musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Pierre Audoynaud is involved in the electro-organic improvisation group ReBis, whose album Sans motif apparent was the label’s second release. He is also working on several upcoming projects that will be released through the label.


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

We have two projects in progress. One is an album reworking songs by Current93, and the other is a close collaboration with the guitarist David Michelet.


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 for styles, we can talk about dark folk, doom, drone, noise, experimental music, and electro-acoustic music. For composing Hyperboréen, we were inspired by Current93, Swans, Asmus Tietchens, Françis Dhomont, and the artists on the Shelter Press label.

https://www.instagram.com/_audoynaud/