
Monolithic Torment - Untitled [Self release - 2020]Here we have a just sly of a thirty-minute slice of nicely taut ‘n’ tense walled noise from this Eugene, Oregon project who themes its work around sleaze, mental health, and degradation. The release is a self-released digital download- with it's cover artwork featuring a blanked out eyes female lying on a bed with her stocked legs up, there’s the projects blocky & grim text name, and the word released stamped- the whole thing has a decidedly grim Anarcho-punk vibe.
Monolithic Torment has been active since 2019- thus far releasing nearing forty releases- both digital downloads & a few physical releases. Behind the project is Cory Aideen- whose other projects are Root Cellar, Submachine Gun and Massive Panic Attack. The single untitled track here rolls in at 26.29-minute mark. The ‘wall’ is built around a series of tightly wound textures that are fed out into a constantly jumping & unstoppable flow- there are crisp ‘n’ coarse rolls, scribbles, & pops – with rattling-slightly buzzing scarping sub-tones darting back and forth ever so often. The whole thing has such a great feeling of tense & nervy energy, and at moments it seems like the textures are piling-up into other or almost stopping in their manic pelt- but I think this is mainly just a trick of the wall. Though that said in last three or four minutes we do get a sudden ramping up of more crude & crusty rapid rips- which really ends things nicely.
After very much enjoying & been impressed by the last Root Cellar release(Steins Pillar)- I just had to also check Monolithic Torment, and I must say once again it shows that Aideen has a great ear for both good textured selection & good balancing mixing needed to create great & captivating wall-making. If you like nervy & detailed walled noise then you most certainly have to check this out- head here to do so.
     Roger Batty
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