Atrax Morgue — Red Box
Atrax Morgue is probably one of the most notorious & troubling noise projects to come out of the Italian harsh noise/ post-industrial scene. The projects solo member was Marco Corbelli- who was wholly obsessed with murder, serial- killers, torture and all things death-related- that in its self is not something new or surprising with-in more extreme forms of sound, but Corbelli really was totally & utterly enthralled by death- as it prevails every sonic element of his sound, added to this sadly he hanged himself in 2007- dieing at the age of 37.
Atrax Morgue sound was created via lo-fi & basic noise kit, cheap synth, and distorted/ mangled voice. The projects sound sits somewhere between death industrial, necro-bound harsh noise, slurred power electronics, and noised-up horror bound synth-scaping. In the 1990s the project was very prolific, seemingly put out a release every month or so- and in all it seems Atrax Morgue put out around two hundred plus releases.
The Red Box focuses the following releases in the following order: In Search Of Death- a C46 from 1993, Exterminate- a C46 from 1995 , Esthetik Of A Corpse- from a C60 1995 , Catch My Agony- a C60 from1995 , Collection in Formaldeide- a C60 from 1994 , Mechanic Asphyxia- two-tape set from 1997 , Death-Orgasm Connector- CD from 2003 , Sweetly- single-sided C30 from 1996 , Woundfucker- a C46 from 1994 , Homicidal- from 1997 , and An Expression Of Psychic Masochism- single-sided C15 from 1995 (all dates/ format detail are gained from discogs). So as you can see the box set really jumps all over the place chronologically.
The material over the five discs moves between- sinisterly buzzing & throbbing synth texturing, wavering & unwell sample soups that swim with crude vocal samples, brooding & searing blends of unwell synth & sways of sawing noise matter, tense & primitive electro drilling work-outs, sourly churning weaves of electro unwell-ness & death related samples, building & macabrely expanding longer journeys into slurred electro texturing & sinister harmonics, pared-back blend of either brooding noise seared or disturbing synth scaping that a bayed by screamed or troubled vocal performances.
Some of my personal highlights on the set come in the form of disc two's Catch My Agony from 1995- this two track release starts in a very surprising manner, with a rocking eighties rock guitar solo & Italian dialogue- I'm guessing this must be from some cult film. But within a minute or so we’re into the meat of the track, and this finds Corbelli creating this decidedly eerier noisy soundscape of slow oscillating sears, muffed & stale noise haze, brooding grinds & spins- with later more high pitch squeals & bays appearing- this twelve & a half minute track entitled “The Order Of Death” has a great build feeling of both unease with sudden moments of violence, and it keeps you wonderful taut & unsettled through-out. The second eleven-minute track is entitled “Confessions”- finds a sinister blend of basically throbbing & churning noise edged synth purr- which is circled & messily spun-out in an effectively unnerving manner, with great use of sudden breaks of silence then attack.
The second highlight is 2003’s Death-Orgasm Connector- this is a ten track affair that finds Corbelli bringing together very disturbing jerking, wailing, whispered & distorted vocals with a nervy-to-painful-to-unwell backing of noise craft, sinister synth throb, and just circling vocal unpleasantness. Though-out the release keeps you clutched in its searing unwell-ness, making for a highly consistent, but very harrowing release.
The sets packaging is worth mentioning- as it literally comes in a red box, which is a red stained wooden box- this features on it’s outside the projects name indented in white text. On the inside top of the box, we get an indented texts & logo of Slaughter Productions. Then each of the five discs come in their own glossy black & white slip sleeve, these feature distributing pictures of the dead & autopsies- along with minimal details for each release. It’s certainly a distinctive looking & macabré box. Oh, and believe the finished copies also come with a number certificate too
As with most large collections like this, the quality is somewhat varied- going from passable-to-great, so as a result, I’d normally give this release a three mark, but as you get the stand-out packaging- I’ve upped the mark to a four. If you’re a fan of the more disturbing, deeply sinister & pained side of noise- then really this is a no-brainer.....and act quick, as it's only Ltd to 300 copies!