
Olion - Hagla [Gates Of Hypnos - 2022]Hagla is a two-track release from Polish walled noise project Olion. Over the length of the release we move from broodingly 'n' dense disorientation, onto oppressive meets low-key texturally feasting This is a digital release that appeared on Poland’s Gates of Hypnos- which really is one of the main labels actively releasing all things textured & walled noise. For the cover artwork, we get what looks like large murky red runes against a grey and black swirling vortex/ circular storm. The release can be found/ downloaded here. First, out of the bag we have “Hagla I”- and this features the lion's share of the release's runtime 32.31. It takes in a slowly fading weave of the following textures- a floating ‘n’ lightly buffeting bass drone, a set static rattle to jitter pattern, and these constantly tolling bell elements. All of the layers are pulled together in a decidedly disorientating, at times difficult to follow wall cacophony, which at points leaves one both feeling unbalanced and a little creeped out- like staring at swirling sinister fog expecting something to launch itself out at you at any moment. The second and shorter track “Hagla II” which comes in at the 11.45 mark. Here we find a constantly feast bass purr ‘n’ rumbling- this is topped off with a mixture of locked minimal jitter, distant chimes, and even some glitching static grains. The ‘wall; feels less dense and disorientating than the first track, but there is more of a feeling of grim oppressiveness here. I must say I was most impressed with Hagla as a release- as it moves from the effectively disorientating to oppressive low-key textural unease. I do hope Olion decides to mine more ‘walls’ in this setting, as he’s doing something quite interesting & original here.      Roger Batty
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