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The digipak that “Ritual” arrives in, manages to be simultaneously gaudy and dark; with rough strokes of paint that remind the eye of smears of blood. This tension between colour and darkness is played out in the music too - though not to the extent that it should be over-emphasized.
Some members of the noise world need no introduction, and Sutcliffe Jugend and Junko happen to be a part of that group. Power Electronics legends Sutcliffe Jugend and Noise icon Junko have teamed up for a grating slice of noise on Sans Palatine Uvula from 4iB records. On the surface, the pairing of these legends seems like a dream come true. Overall, it's a quality, noisy release, but just not as fantastic as it could be.
Factotum Tapes offers up a newish cassette single length split tape between PCRV and Developer. PCRV, the acronym for Pop Culture Rape Victim, is the moniker of one Matt Taggart. Hailing from Montana, Taggart is a long-running harsh noisician and also owner of the appropriately named Fluxus Montana label. Developer is the alias of cut-up, heavy-hitter Matthew Reis. Reis’ seemingly insane recording schedule, has produced an ubiquitous stream of: split, collaborative, and solo releases, in 2014 alone. Released early in the year, this slim c10 presents another swift, statement of cut-up noise aesthetics.
Dyster is a one man black metal band hailing from France. The product of one Nokturn, Le Cycle Sénescent is his first album and was released in 2010 by Drakkar Productions. Now with Drakkar re-releasing all of its releases digitally through Bandcamp, Le Cycle Sénescent can be acquired legally online. For those who prefer physically copies, Drakkar still has some available from their webstore.
This pro-cd comes in a simple, elegant, Stumptown-printed cardboard wallet. The cd has four tracks, all recorded in Japan, 2012; with the tracks culled from two performances a week or so apart. It all amounts to a focussed thirty-four minutes of of equally focussed exploration.
Here’s a reissue of the first album from this dark ritual ambient project who are one of the most known names within Aural Hypnox- the mysterious Finnish label & collective. The album originally appeared back in the form of a CDR in 2003- this was put out on the now defunct Blue Sector label(which was a precursor to Aural Hypnox) in an edition of just a 100 copies, so really this will be the first time most people will have heard this rare/ early release.
Scorpion Milk finds this Finnish ritual ambient collective offering up some of their most stripped back & sparse work. The release originally appeared back in 2006 as a CDR, which was part of the ltd edition box set of version of the projects first album Mirrorion- which came in edition of just 80 copies. This 2014 reissue presents the release in CD form in an edition of 500 copies.
GRY SMK is the truly bone chilling & eternally stark synth drone project of Halifax, NS, Canada based Alex Pearson (also of In Negatives, D/A A/D and runner of the Snapped In Half label). Rendition is the third release from the project, and it comes in the form of a CDR on the highly consistent Minneapolis based noise & drone label Altar Of Waste.
The Black Album is a full length vinyl release on Texas based Tourette Records, which brings together two of the world most respected figures within noise. We have japans godfather of Masami Akita(aka Merzbow). And Wichita, Kansas based John Duncan- a respected US noisemaker & soundscaper.
Factotum Tapes presents Collaboration, a c20 by Ahlzadevelopr. As the name implies, Ahlzadevelopr is a collaborative effort by a two of America’s cut up heavy-hitters: Ahlzagailzehguh and Developer. For those unfamiliar, Developer is Matthew Reis, an Ohio-based harsh noise monger, who also runs Factotum Tapes. Ahlzagailzehguh is the moniker of James Cooke, a long-running harsh noise act residing in New York. In addition to this cassette, the pair performed a live collaborative set at last summer’s Summer Scum Festival and have plans for a 2nd Ahlzadevelopr release down the road.
Growing up in the 80's, movie soundtracks made up a big part of my musical exposure and a huge part of my movie experience. Instrumental synth tracks dripping with feeling and emotion sometimes added more to the film than the visuals on the screen. This was obviously a huge influence on many others as well, and most notably, Zombi's Steve Moore and Anthony Paterra. Their brand of lush synth rock hearkens back to the soundtrack output of Goblin and John Carpenter. They used this as a stepping stone to hone their own sound, and have done quite well working their way into the hearts of fans worldwide. Zombi drummer Anthony Paterra teamed up with British film composer Paul Lawler to form Contact. Their first release is the EP First Contact from Temporary Residence, available only via a limited edition vinyl.
Along with bands such as Rotting Christ, Necromantia, and Thou Art Lord, Varathron pioneered black metal for Greece in the late eighties and early nineties, with classics like His Majesty at the Swamp and Walpurgisnacht cementing their status as legends. Untrodden Corridors of Hades is the band’s fifth full-length and first album in five years, and shows that Varathron isn’t going to rest on its laurels. The album is set to be released November 21st by Agonia Records on CD and LP.
Following on from the recent reissue of Roger Ruskin Spear’s first album Electric Shocks, here we have a reissue of his second album 1973’s Unusual. For those not in the know- Mr Spear’s was one of the key figures & songwriters behind cult British comedy rock/ Psychedelic pop/ Trad jazz/ dada music hall band The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.
Finnish avant electronic artist Mika Vainio's latest album under the 'null' alias (not to be confused with Japanese noise artist KK Null) is titled "Konstellaatio". Traditionally devoted to the 'techno' side of his musical output, he's kept this alias alive since the early 90's with new albums every few years. The earliest Ø releases predate the first Pan Sonic full length.
Here we have the 2014 CD reissue of one of the classic 1980’s Italian horror soundtracks. Paura Nella Città Dei Morti Viventi (aka City of the Living Dead) appeared in 1980, and was the first film in infamous Italian gore director’s Lucio Fulci Gates of Hell trilogy(which took also took in 1981’s The House By The Cemetery & 1983’s The Beyond).
Stayed Tune is a new & lengthy drone composition over-seen & conceived by Rutger Zuydervelt (better know to most as Machinefabriek). The single 50 minute piece on offer here is based around a drone played in the A note(which is the normally note that’s used for tuning up). The track is built around recordings made by around 150 musicians & singers; & these are slowly layered & subtle manipulated by Zuydervelt to create a truly majestic & hypotonic drone work.
Blunt Force are a Norwegian three piece who summon up a blown-out, battering, brutal & noisey mix of improvised rock & jazz. The trio brings together guitarist Karl Haugland Bjorå, bassist Egil Kalman and drummer Ole Mofjell. This is the project first sonic offer, and it presents the listener with a single 28 minute track.
English group Baraclough creates patient, ritualized electronics, generally sparse and deliberate, so that the nuances of each sound are emphasized. To my ears, it would seem they are intentionally creating 'magickal' musick in the vein of previous British groups like Coil or Nurse With Wound. Their sound goes beyond the diversity and inactivity of most music that is called 'ambient', possessing a theatric flair for sudden changes and a narrative structure that makes the album feel like a suite with 10 movements. I am always glad to hear more music in this vein, as Coil is among my favorite groups.
Many times I have used this space to praise the internet for allowing us to bask in the pure, loving glow of an underheard classic or for bringing new bands to our attention through blogs and streaming websites. There is a flip side to this coin, though, that anyone with access to a computer can upload their creation to the web. For the most part, I think this is fantastic. However, there are times when product seems to be made just to put product out. Quantity (even if it's one) overtakes quality, and the genre gets watered down. A prime example of this is Simon Magus' I Traded Virginity for Vice.
The almighty Cold Spring imprint presents Perfection & Permanence, the new album by Trepaneringsritualen. For those unfamiliar, Trepaneringsritualen is the moniker of Swedish noise terrorist Thomas Ekelund. Also sometimes referred to as TxRxP, Ekelund’s project has been rather prolific since it’s inception in 2008, with a number releases on such labels as: Hanson, Harsh Head Rituals, Malignant, Release the Bats, and now U.K. mainstay Cold Spring. Ekelund explores religion, the occult, and other esoteric themes through a caustic blend of death industrial, power electronics and industrial noise. Perfection & Permanence, available on LP and CD is his latest vessel for disseminating these dark explorations.
Lecho de Piedra (meaning in English ‘Deadbed Stone') is the second full length album from this Ur/Pyrenne Folk collective from Catalunya Iberia. On offer here is a collection of earthy & harsh folk tunes that are themed around death in barren nature; be it in the surroundings of standing stones, inside mountains, or within forests.
Here’s a cdr from Panic, on Bored Bear Recordings; concerning one of my favourite film entities: Sadako. You’ll hopefully remember Sadako from the Japanese Ringu series of films: its unlikely you’ll have forgotten her. She was the twitching, jerking figure who haunted the viewers of a videotape; crawling along the floor, or emerging from a well with her face hidden by long, black hair.
Japan is known for many extreme acts, and Tokyo's Coffins is no exception. Coffins' brand of heavy, crunchy doom/death has received quite a cult following, and it's pretty warranted. Over a handful of full lengths and numerous splits and compilation appearances, Coffins has managed to hone their craft of crushing doom, plodding death, and aural despair. Late last year, Hammerheart Records re-released Ancient Torture, a 2 CD collection of splits and compilation appearances. Hunting down rare tracks is not only a pain in the ass, but can get very expensive. This release allows fans to experience the Coffins tracks that may have slipped through their grasp.
Death In Séance is the second release from La Goccia D'Acqua- the atmospheric & bone-chilling walled noise project of Paris based Julien Skrobek (Sadistic Fall,The Killer Came From The Bronx ,Ghost, The Sandman Wears A Mask, Ruine, Butch Bag). All of this projects releases are themed around Mario Brava’s early 1960’s classic Italian anthology horror movie Black Sabbath, and in particular the third or first story in the movie(depending on which version of the film you watch) which details the tale of a nurse who steals a ring from a dead medium, and starts to thinking she’s been stalked by the mediums ghost.