Churner — Murderabilia

Victimology Records offers up a dense slab of harsh noise from (the now defunct) Churner. Based out the U.S., Churner (aka Dan E) cranked out an impressive body of work over his 6 year span. Exploring virtually every angle of the noise genre, you never know what’s in store for you with a Churner release. Could be drone, could be sci-fi noise, harsh noise, or perhaps all of the above.

Murderabilia offers 3 crushing tracks of harsh noise flirting with HNW or HNW flirting with harsh noise…take your pick. The opening track “Cold Blood Portrait” starts off with ramped up cable hum and some hollow sounding cling-clang. About 40 seconds in, a furious bass-heavy juddering takes hold with a crumbly, static fuzz in the foreground. These dual layers seem to duke it out, fighting to assert dominance. Despite sonic ebbs and flow, the track once “set” stays fairly steady till a little past the midway point. At around the 9 minute mark, the track takes a brief muffled dip, though still “churning” along on its frenzied path. 11 and ½ minutes in and an atmospheric hiss blends in with the carnage, carrying us to the finish line of this 17 ½ minute piece.

Next we have “Art of the Violent Crime.” This 14:10 track, begins with billowing plumes of exhaust fume spewage, which is quickly joined by a dense wall-ish rumbling. The piece retains an “airier” element from the track’s opening. At 4 minutes in the rumbley bass asserts itself, with some cracklier tones added to the mix. Things are moving along rather rapidly until we unexpectedly get smacked with a blast of hiss at 6 minutes in. Things turn slightly japanoise around the 9 ½ minute mark as hissing waves of static are fruitfully manipulated to great avail. Think Pulse Demon flourishes working their way in the backdrop of a vigorous galloping wall of noise.

The album wraps up with the title track “Murderabilia.” Nearly 24 minutes in length, the final track expands on and synthesizes aspects of the first 2 pieces. Afters a quick blast of cable hum, it’s on! A hissier, flow of static fuzz collides with shifting highs and lows. It’s an invigorating synthesis of cascading synth sweeps and harsh noise sterilization. At times this track conjures up equal parts K2, Merzbow, and Extreme Chafing.

All in all, another solid release by Churner. Keeping my fingers crossed that he finds to the inspiration to resurrect this project at some point in the not so distant future.