Thursday, September 16, 2021

Hostile Surgery/Tainted Visions/Basement Corner Emissions/2021 Full Length Review

 


  Switzerland's  solo  project  Hostile  Surgery  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  hypnotic  mixture  of  noise,  industrial  and  drone  and  this  is  a  review  of  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Tainted  Visions"  which  was  released  by  Basement  Corner  Emissions.


  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while  the  only  track  that  is  presented  on  the  recording  is  also  over  35  minutes  in  length.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  along  with  some  synths  also  being  added  in  the  background  in  some  parts  of  the  song   which  also  has  its  ritualistic  and  cinematic  moments,  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to  an  instrumental  direction  and  as  track  progresses  noise  orientated  soundscapes  can  also  be  heard.


  On  this  album  Hostile  Surgery  takes  noise,  drone,  industrial,  ritual  and  experimental  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  long  and  hypnotic  track  as  well a s  keeping  everything  instrumental  while t he  production  sounds  very  dark and  lo-fi.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hostile  Surgery  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  noise,  drone,  ritual,  experimental  and  industrial,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  8  out  of  10.


youtu.be/a6b0QjRl8VA  


  

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Agia Monaxia/Loopus et Anima/Autumn Desert/Submersion Records/2021 Split Album Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Agia  Monaxia  and  Lopus  et  Anima  called  "Autumn  Desert"  which  was  released  by  Submersion  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Agia  Monaxia  a  duo  that  plays  a  minimalist  mixture  of  ambient  soundscapes  and  atmospheric  drones.


  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  drones  while  their  track  is  also  over  25  minutes  in  length.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  minimalist  sounding  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  some  ambient  style  soundscapes  and  a  small  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental .


  Cinematic  sounding  synths  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  their  side  of  the  recording  and  ass  the  track  progresses  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  into  the  music  along  with  some  drum  beats  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  their  track  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.


  In  my  opinion  Agia  Monaxia  are  a  very  great  sounding  minimalist  mixture  of  of  ambient  soundscapes  and  atmospheric  drones  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.


  Next  up  is  Lopus  et  Anima  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  mixture  of  ambient  soundscapes  and  neo-classical.


  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with in  almost  silent  sound  before  adding  in  some  atmospheric  sounding  drones.  His  track  is  also  over  24  minutes  in  length  while  the  synths  also  bring  in  elements  of  ambient  and  cinematic  music  along  with  all  of t he  music  also  being  instrumental  as  well  as  the  stringed  instruments  also  showing  some  influences  of  classical  music  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.


  In  my  opinion  Lopus  et  Anima  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  ambient  soundscapes  and  neo-classical  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.


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


https://www.facebook.com/agiamonaxia


https://www.facebook.com/loopusetanima        

Saturday, September 11, 2021

Michael Oscillate/Hyperbolic Hypnosis Of Luminescence/2021 CD Review

 


  Michael  Oscillate  is  a  solo  artist  from  Austria  that  plays  an  experimental  form  of  dark  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2021  album  "Hyperbolic  Hypnosis  Of  Luminescence"  which  will  be  released  in  October.


  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while  the  synths  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  dark  ambient  elements.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  along  with  some  whispered  voices  also  being  utilized  briefly  as  well  as  some  distorted  soundscapes  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording.


  Most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  each  song  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other.  The  songs  also  stick  to  mostly  an  instrumental  direction  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  an  improvised  atmosphere  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  music  also  starts  adding  in  some  radio  and  cinematic  sounds  as  well  as  a  later  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.    


  Michael  Oscillate  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  dark  ambient,  drone  and  experimental  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  are  inspired  by  existentialism,  science  fiction  and  philosophy.


  In  my  opinion  Michael  Oscillate  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  experimental  and  dark  ambient  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Thermodynamic  Redux"  and  "Cloud  Condensation  With  Resonation".  8  out  of  10.

https://michaeloscillate.bandcamp.com/album/hyperbolic-hypnosis-of-luminescence   

Goatpsalm/Horthodox/Ash/Aesthetic Death/Death Scream Recordings/2021 Collaboration Album Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  a  collaboration album  between  Russia's  Goatpsalm  a  band  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  Horthodox  and  they  team  up  to  create  a  mixture  of  death  industrial,  noise,  power  electronics,  dark  ambient,  dark  folk  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Ash"  which  will  be  released  in  October  as  a  joint  effort  between  Aesthetic  Death  and  Death  Scream  Recordings.


  A  very  silent  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  adding  in  atmospheric  sounding  drones  and  field  recordings.  When  synths  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  some  elements  of  dark  ambient  while  the  acoustic  guitars  are  done  in  more  of  a  neo-folk  style  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  All  of  the  music  is  also  instrumental  while  the  songs  also  incorporate  the  use  of  a  sampler  at  times.  Folk  instruments  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  album  along  with  each  track  also  sounding  different  from  each  other  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  some  death  industrial  and  power  electronic  orientated  soundscapes,  as  the  album  progresses  noises  can  be  heard  and  when  electric  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  the  heaviness  of  doom  metal  and  dark  yet  melodic  guitar  leads.


  Goatpsalm  and  Horthodox  mixes  their  differing  approaches  to  dark  ambient,  neo-folk,  doom  metal,  death  industrial,  power  electronics  and  noise  to  create  a  very  diverse  and  original  sounding  album  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Goatpsalm  and  Horthodox  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  death  industrial,  noise,  power  electronics,  dark  ambient,  dark  folk  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fragile  Wills  Of  Salvation"  "A  House  With  Now  Windows"  and  "Ash".  8  out  of  10.


  www.facebook.com/Goatpsalm

www.facebook.com/horthodox


https://youtu.be/BKRuneET-Nc          


  

Friday, September 10, 2021

She Spread Sorrow/Huntress/Cold Spring/2021 CD Review

 


  She  Spread  Sorrow  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  plays  a mixture  of  death  industrial,  power  electronics,  noise  and  dark  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  2021  album  "Huntress"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Cold  Spring.


  Dark  ambient  soundscapes  and  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  percussion  a  few  seconds  later.  Power  electronics  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  spoken  word  parts  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  


  Programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  whispers  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  album.  All  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  death  industrial  elements  as  well  as  the  tracks  also  incorporating  more  noises  as  the  recording  progresses.


  She  Spread  Sorrow  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  dark  ambient,  death  industrial,  power  electronics  and  noise  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  her  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  a  huntress  and  a  morbid  and  psychotic  relationship  with  her  prey.


  In  my  opinion  She  Spread  Sorrow  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  death  industrial,  power  electronics  and  noise  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUIDE  "Get  me"  and  "Parasomnias".  8  out  of  10.


website | bandcamp | facebook  

Monday, September 6, 2021

All My Faith Lost.../Untitled/Cyclic Law/2021 CD Review

 


  All  My  Faith  Lost...  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  ethereal,  darkwave,  goth,  dark  ambient  and  neo-folk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Untitled"  which  was  released  by  Cyclic  Law.


  Dark  ambient  style  synths  start  off  the  album  while  the  acoustic  guitars  also  bring  in  elements  of  neo-folk.  Vocals  are  done  in  a  very  clean  ethereal  style  which  also  adds  in  some  touches  of  goth  and  darkwave  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  stringed  instruments  and  one  of  the  tracks  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  At  times  the  music  also  captures  a  very  tragic  and  poetic  atmosphere  while  also  adding  in  some  medieval  touches.  Male  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  as  well  as  a  later  track  also  introducing  whispered  vocals  onto  the  recording.  


  All  My  Faith  Lost...  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  ethereal,  darkwave,  goth,  darkwave,  dark  ambient  and  neo-folk  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of t heir  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  covers  surrealism,  human  estrangement  from  nature,  death,  afterlife,  Greek  Mythology  and  the  darker  aspects  of  love.


  In  my  opinion  All  My  Fait  Lost...  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  ethereal,  darkwave,  goth,  dark  ambient,  and  neo-folk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "We  All  Die  Sometimes"  "Keeping  Time"  "Awakening  The  Moon"  and  "The  Night  Is  Calm".  8  out  of  10.


VIEW ON BANDCAMP    

Pornostroika Dadaifa/ΕΞΟΥΣΙΑΖΟΜΕΝΟΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΝ ΦΟΒΟ/2021 Full Length Review

 


  Greece's  Pornostroika  Dadaifa  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  industrial,  cyberpunk,  hardcore  and  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  album  "ΕΞΟΥΣΙΑΖΟΜΕΝΟΙ  ΑΠΟ  ΤΟΝ  ΦΟΒΟ".


  Spoken  word  parts  and  movie  samples  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  harder  musical  direction.  Elements  of  industrial  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  programmed  beats  and  all  of  the  musical instruments  also  have  a very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  At  times  the  music  also  captures  the  raw  energy  of  punk  while  synths  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.  All  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  the  guitar  riffs  also  adding  in  the  heaviness  of  hardcore  and  metal  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.


A  later  track  also  shows  an  influence  of  reggae  and  dub  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.  There  is  also  some  session  work  from  members  of  Pre-Emptive  Strike,  Hail  Spirit  Noir,  Degenerated  Sequences,  and  Kai  Phopyx  as  well  as  the  closing  track  also  adding  in  some  black  metal  vocals.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Greek  and  cover  Dadaism  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Pornostroika  Dadaifi  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  industrial,  cyberpunk,  metal  and  hardcore,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "ΔIEΘΝΗΣ  ΕΠΑΝΕΚΤΕΛΕΣΗ.  Μ. ΜΠΡΕΧΤ"  "ΕΜΕΙΣ(ΣΥΜΜΕΤΕΧΕΙ  Ο  PHOPYX).  ΒΑΣΙΣΜΕΝΟ  ΣΤΟ  ΟΜΩΝΥΜΟ   ΕΡΓΟ  ΤΟΥ ΖΑΜΙΑΤΙΝ"  and  "ΣΥΡΙΖΟΠΑΣΟΚΙΑ  ΒΡΩΜΟΙ  ΕΠΑΝΕΚΤΕΛΕΣΗ".  8  out  of  10.


PORNOSTROIKA DADAIFI 2021 - ΕΞΟΥΣΙΑΖΟΜΕΝΟΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΝ ΦΟΒΟ - YouTube   


        

Sunday, September 5, 2021

Aythis/Secrets From Below/2021 Full Length Review

 


  Aythis  are  a  solo  project  from t he  Netherlands  that  plays  a  mixture  of  shoegaze,  post  rock,  ethereal,  ambient,  neo-classical  and  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  self  released  2021  album  "Secrets  From  Below".


  Ambient  style  keyboards  start  off  the  album  while  the  clean  playing  also  adds  in  elements  of  post  rock  and  shoegaze.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  vocals  being  done  in  a  very  clean  yet  ethereal  style  as  well  as  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  and  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.


  When  electric  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  add  an  influence  of  doom  metal  onto  the  recording  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Some  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  percussion  along  with  the  tracks  also  showing  influences  of  gothic  and  alternative  rock  as  well  as  the  album  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  neo-classical  at  times.  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  recording  closes  with  a  cover  of  the  Twin Peals  theme  "Falling".


  Aythis  plats  a  musical  style  that  takes  shoegaze,  post  rock,  ethereal  ambient,  neo-classical  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  her  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dreams  and  isolation  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Aythis  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  shoegaze,  post  rock,  ethereal  ambient,  neo-classical  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Just  Like  A  Tear"  "Secrets'  "Homelights"  and  "Falling".  8  out  of  10.


  https://aythis.com/

https://aythis.bandcamp.com/
https://sptfy.com/dPdN
https://www.facebook.com/aythis
https://www.instagram.com/_aythis_/
https://www.youtube.com/doppel25ganger
https://twitter.com/AYTHISMUSIC


          

NCT333/Controra/UKhan Records/2021 EP Review

 


  NCT333  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  industrial, ambient  and  down  tempo  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  ep  "Controra"  which  was  released  by  UKhan  Records.


  Electronic  sounds  start  off  the  ep  while  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  along  with  the  synths  also  adding  in  elements  of  ambient.  Sampled  voices  can  also be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  industrial  and  down  tempo  touches  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Powerful  sounding  bass  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  all  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other.  Most  of  the  songs  are  also  instrumentals  along  with  some  idm  style  sounds  also  being  mixed  in  at  times  and  towards  the  end  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard.


  On  this  recording  NCT333  takes  industrial,  ambient,  electronic  music  and  down  tempo  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  apocalyptic  sounding  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  heatwaves  and  their  damages  towards  the  world.  


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  NCT333  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  industrial,  ambient  and  down  tempo,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "It  Hides  In  The  light"  and  "Twilight  Redemption".  8  out  of  10.


https://www.facebook.com/NCT333NCT333

Julii/Rats Of The Senate/2021 EP Review

 


  Julii  are  a  solo  project  form  Italy  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  martial,  industrial  and  neo-classical  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2021  ep  "Rats  Of  The  Senate".  


  Martial  style  beats  and  neo-classical  style  orchestration  start  off  the  ep  and  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  epic  atmosphere.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  while  all  of  the  songs  also  sound  different  from  each  other  along  with  some  of  the  drum  beats  also  adding  in  more  of  a  tribal  atmosphere.


  At  times  the  music  also  captures  the  feeling  of  a  soundtrack  for  either  a  fantasy  and  historical  orientated  movie  soundtrack.  All  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  some  of  the  beats  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  an  underground  industrial  touch.


  On  this  recording  Julii  takes  neo-classical,  martial  and  industrial  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  epic  sounding  recording  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  Roman  Gods  and  History.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Julii  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  martial,  industrial  and  neo-classical,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Triumvirate"  "Battle  Awaits"  and  "Soldier  of  The  Imperium".  8  out  of  10.


Julii

ZAÄAR/Magická Džungl’a/I, Voidhanger Records/WV Sorcerer/Homo Sensibilis Sounds/2021 Double Album Review

 


  ZAÄAR  are  a  band  from  Belgium  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental,  drone,  space  ambient,  free  jazz,  psychedelic  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  double  album  "Magická Džungl’a"  which  will  be  released  in  November  as  a  joint  effort  between  I,  Voidhanger  Records,  WV Sorcerer,  and    Homo Sensibilis Sounds.


  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while  all  of t he  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Ritualistic  sounding  bells  can  also be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  whispered  chants  also  being  added  into  the  background  briefly  and  after  awhile  saxophones  and  elements  of  free  form  jazz  can  also  be  heard.


  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  sounding  while  the  percussion  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  tribal  feeling.  A  variety  of  many  different  style  of  wind  instruments  and  flutes  can  also  be  heard  and  also  adds  in  some  exotic  and  ethnic  touches  and  the  music  also  has  its  psychedelic  moments.


  When  electric  bass  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  touches  of  doom  metal  along  with  the  music  also  adding  spaced  ambient  sounds  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  as  well  as  each  track  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  Drugs, Magick  and  Scientific  approaches  to  consciousness.  


  In  my  opinion  ZAÄAR  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  experimental,  drone,  space  ambient,  free  jazz,  psychedelic  and  doom  metal   and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Respiration  Aérobie"  and  "Grande  Oxydation".  8  out  of  10.


https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/magicka-dz-ungl-a


       

Friday, September 3, 2021

Earthflesh/Deconstructor/Bethlehem/2021 Collaboration EP Review

 


  Switzerland's  solo  project  Earthflesh  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  and  on  this  recording  teams  up  with  Deconstructor  a  solo  project  from  Germany  and  together  they  bring  in  a  mixture  of  harsh  noise,  industrial  and  drone  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  ep  "Bethlehem".


  Harsh  noises  start  off  the  ep  while  the  only  track  that  is  presented  on  the  recording  is  over  19  minutes  in  length.  All  of  the  music  is  also  instrumental  while  the  song  also  mixes  in  a  lot  of  underground  industrial  elements  along  with  some  drones  also  being  added  into  the  music  as  the  ep  progresses  and  at  times  the  music  also gets  very  repetitive  and  primitive  sounding.


  On  this  recording  Earthflesh  and  Deconstructor  mix  their  separate  approaches  to  harsh  noise,  industrial  and  drone  to  create  a  very  diverse  track  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  lo-fi  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  the  history  of  the  Bethlehem  Steel  Company.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Eathflesh  and  Deconstructor  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  harsh  noise,  industrial  and  drone,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  8  out  of  10.


https://earthflesh.bandcamp.com/track/earthflesh-deconstructor-bethlehem     

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Snares Of Sixes/MoonBladder/Nefarious Industries/Transcending Records/2021 Full Length Review

 


  Snares  Of  Sixes  are  another  solo  project from  Jason  Walton  best  known  for  his  work  in  Agalloch  and  Sculptured    who  also  works  with  some  session  musicians  with  this  release ,  also  has  had  a  previous  album  reviewed  in  this  zine  and  with  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  ambient,  experimental,  noise  and  field  recordings  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "MoonBladder"  which  will  be  released  in  October  as  a  joint  effort  between  Nefarious  Industries  and  Transcending  Records.


  Experimental  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  filed  recordings  a  few  seconds  alter  while  the  only  track  that  is  presented  on  this  recording  is  almost  30  minutes  in  length.  Electric  guitars  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  metal  into  the  song  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  electronic  sounds.


  When  synths  are  utilized  they  also  bring  elements  of  ambient  into  the  music  while  programmed  beats  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  album.  Clean  playing  and  melodic  guitar  leads  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  some  distorted  noises  also  being  utilized  at  times,  spoken  word  parts  and  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  the  use  of  real d rums  also  giving  the  album  more  of  an  improv  atmosphere.


  On  this  recording  Snares  of  Sixes  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  ambient,  experimental,  noise  and  field  recordings  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  as  well  as  adding  in  some  session  work  from  members  of  Occulted  Sound,  Barrowlands,  Kayo  Dot,  Dreadnought,  Winds  and  Dolven  while  the production  sounds  very  dark.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Snares  Of  Sixes  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ambient,  experimental,  field  recordings  and  noise  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  8  out  of  10.


https://jwalton.bandcamp.com

https://www.earthinsound.org

https://www.instagram.com/earthinsound

https://www.facebook.com/earthinsound       

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Thief Interview

 

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

Thief is an electronic project whose backbone is largely built from sampled and manipulated sacred chant music of various forms. I like to call it Dungeon Pop and heard it once described as NIN having sex with Portishead in a haunted church.


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

I think the lyrics are more personal and it has a more aggressive side to it. I’m really happy with the mix/production too. The last two albums when I listen back to them I hear a lot of little things I wish I had maybe done a bit differently but with this one I have not had that experience... yet... time will tell, ha!


There’s also a lot more instrumentation on this album. Guitar and bass in a lot of songs, organ and harpsichord pop up in a few choruses and of course a lot of synth/electronics.


3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explores with the newer album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

The lyrics seem to focus on addiction, transgression or anger, mysticism, heartache and horror. They all happily hold hands and jump around in a circle.


It’s hard to quantify something like songwriting as there’s no right or wrong way to do it, but I’d say with this album I witnessed a faster process and was able to intuit what the song needed and where it was going without much critical thought. I’ll often write in a “blitz” and save the analytical editing brain for later when I start producing stuff out. Lyrics however have always been a sticking point for me and 80% of the time are a total pain to get right. I look forward to when that becomes easier.


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


From the start I knew I was going to be sampling a lot of old chant/sacred work, so I thought it was a pretty fitting name in that regard. There’s also something in the spirit or symbolism of a blackguard or a bandit that resonates with me. But most importantly, I just liked the way the word looks when written: “THIEF” - it has a certain weight and feeling to it, doesn’t it?


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

The artwork was created by the prolific Spanish artist Joseba Eskubi. The piece was originally a painting by the 17th century Dutch painter Pieter Fransz de Grebber, but Eskubi “defaced” it and to create the surreal almost violent cover art. I actually didn’t know that that was how he made it until after I bought it from him but was very happy to learn it because it's a very “Thief” process


- that is, taking something old and transforming it into something new and damaging it along the way.


6.With this project you record everything by yourself but also have experience working with other musicians, how would you compare the two?

Personally, I approach and understand music much like how a painter or writer does. I see it as a solitary act that should beget a personal, defined voice. I much prefer to work alone. I like to have final say over everything and being able to indulge in the luxury of taking all the time I want to wonder and explore ideas to ensure that they meet their proper destination.


However there are of course benefits to writing and working with other people. There’s definitely an ineffable magic that can happen when two or more people really “click” while writing and it’s something that I think only happens in music. What other medium can work with two people spontaneously writing to create a whole thing? I’ve only really had that with maybe one person.


7.What are some of the best shows you have played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

My impression/memory of a show is more about the entire experience of the night and the setting as opposed to just how we played or how many people were there. With Thief what immediately comes to mind was this giant industrial bakery turned art-commune in Atlanta. The property was strange and enormous, the people great and the other bands also ruled. Also this old puppet theater in New Orleans... creepy puppets everywhere and it was raining all night in the summer humidity with some bad sleep deprivation. Also coming to mind was while playing in Botanist in Europe: Roadburn in 2015 and the other was at an abandoned orphanage in France that was turned into a kind of art compound.


We’re pretty lively on stage, I think. A lot heavier with live drums and Chris Hackman’s crushing bass tones. I can’t help but spazz-out with some of the more wild tracks so there’s definitely a much more energetic vibe going on that might not be apparent on the album. That’s good I think... if a band sounds and feels exactly like they do on the album I’ll just stay home and listen to the album!


8.I have also read that you live in a 'Zen Buddhist' temple, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this path?

Sure. Growing up I was always intrigued by the idea of meditation and consciousness but never really did more investigating outside of reading about it and experimenting with psychoactive substances. Then around 2007/2008 I was going through some really painful experiences and I knew this man who had been a Hindu practitioner for 40-something years and he inspired me to find a path that worked for me. I felt drawn towards Zen Buddhism because it is strikingly devoid of any kind of flowery language or intellectualization about life. I liked the seemingly wild immediacy of it and all of its apocryphal stories so I started to practice it seriously when I found a teacher and eventually found this place that I live and practice at now.


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

To be honest I’m not really sure. People seem to really like Thief, both on record and on stage, and we seem to be accepted by people from all scenes and genres, but I never know what fanbase they really belong to or if they’re representative of anything but themselves. I think that’s because Thief doesn’t really fit into one box so we are able to work in a lot of places and spark interest from all different kinds of people


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


It’s my life’s work so I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing: making music. I would hope that eventually I can quit my day job to fully focus on Thief and hopefully with this new album there will be more opportunities to tour.


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?

Growing up I’d say bands like Ulver, Bjork, Aphex Twin, classical stuff and Radiohead had a big influence on me, and then when I really got into metal that became a huge creative inspiration in my life. The first time I heard Death and Emperor had a profound impact on me. I listened to a lot of Tool and hardcore punk too. I don’t think all of this is apparent in my music but sometimes I catch a light whiff of the aforementioned in some way.


Nowadays I find myself listening to a lot of ambient/experimental stuff. I think I listened to Eliane Radigue nearly everyday in 2020. I’ve been listening to a lot of Sarah Davachi lately who I just discovered - she’s a really great ambient/drone artist. I really like this experimental electronic band Emptyset, they’re one of the few artists that I have no idea how they make the sounds that they do. Thomas Kroner’s “arctic synth” albums have been droning in my home a lot. Throwing Snow has been getting some heavy rotation along with some old school drum and bass and 80’s electro/detroit house playlists I’ve been building. I find myself happily stuck in older metal favorites so there’s always that going on, too.


12.Does Occultism play any role on your music?


Nah. If it ever makes an appearance it’s mostly as a symbol for something.


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


Thanks for your time and I hope everyone enjoys the album, it's a privilege to share it with you all.


 www.thiefsounds.com

www.facebook.com/thiefsounds
www.instagram.com/thief_sounds