Reviews 09/25/2020

 Another kick ass day of solid listening whilst working.  Some killer material on offer today.  If you have not taken advantage of the labels putting this material out you should really get with it.  Why does it feel like there is a noise renaissance going on?  Is this the new golden age?  Who knows? Fuck it. Read on.  Send me some shit. Cheers, Symptoms.

C.C.C.C. / “Loud Sounds Dopa/Live In The U.S.A.” / CD / Helicopter + Troniks

2 ripping live sets from these Japanese legends from the deep dark past, originally released in 1993 and reissued just in time for your listening pleasure.  These performances were captured in 1992 in Oakland and Chicago and represent the absolute best of the early days of harsh noise. 

Cosmic Coincidence Control Center, otherwise known as C.C.C.C. are one of the major names when it comes to Japanese noise.  Their performances have been highly regarded for their full-bodied approach to the performance aspect of their work.  They rock just like any other band except for the fact that blowing your head off seems to be the most critical objective.

The contents of these 2 performances consist of divebombing planes, car alarms going off, computerized glitch noises all threaded together by a raucous blast of screaming hot noise.  You can hear the instrumentation as it is taken to its logical conclusions and then beyond.  Musical? No not really, but it is still captivating in its approach.  You can definitely feel the live aspect of the performances, as this is a band who does not take the intellectually concentrated approach.  The sounds emanate abruptly, without warning and fill the performance space with pure caustic shred. 

What we wind up with by the time the second performance ends is an album that has very real roots to the past all while providing a primer for those young hustlers looking to get into the noise game.  A 2 part hefty yet frantic listen which once again proves why Japan is not fucking around when it comes to noise, never has and never will. 

C.C.C.C. / Phantasmagoria / CD / Helicopter + Troniks

Another brain scrambling reissue from these Japanese legends, which will assuredly be a prime staple in your noise diet.  Here we catch C.C.C.C. in the wild dishing out a live session that definitely leaves you hanging on by your fingernails.  Recorded live on location in June of 1992, C.C.C.C. come across as a bit more in your face this time around.  While this is not to suggest that “Live Sounds Dopa/Live in the U.S.A.” is playful or anything but it does have a bit more camp.  This to me just signifies the brilliance of subtleties and small changes in setting and space.  Where you do it, the mood you are in when you do it, and the recipients involved whilst you do it will determine the extent, severity, and tone of the resulting creation.    

“Phantasmagoria” is a crushingly concise performance that once the heat gets turned up it is go time and it does not let up for what seems like a really long time.  As stated previously, C.C.C.C. is a band in the sense that they utilize instruments such as keyboards, bass, tapes and vocalizations.  However, this band turns their instruments up loud and kicks them around.  The pacing is pretty intense here and the pressure feels like it is ever mounting.  By the time it ends, its like the boot gets picked up off your neck and you finally are allowed to catch up.

Once again, the Helicopter and Troniks alliance is kicking down the classics from the wild and wooly days of the early 90s.   “Phantasmagoria” is well worth your time if you like it harsh and face peeling.  Get on board the fuck you express and crank this one up nice and loud.  Time to make your eyes vibrate.

Unsustainable Social Condition / Seductive Distress / CD / Troniks

Fucking harsh action of the highest order.  Right out the gate LA’s Unsustainable Social Condition sets out to out grit and out grind the competition with some furious full bladder noise pissings right to your face.  5 steaming tracks of rock crushing filth and dour emanations all peppered with a clinical approach to pressing your skull into asphalt while out on a high-speed drive.  No fucking around here, no interludes, no space, just pure crackle, sizzle and scream.  The lows rumble, the mids are searing and the highs are spitting, this is all about straight delivery.  Forget about philosophizing, reasoning or negotiating because it is time to get your wig split.    

The spaces between the tracks thrill me in the same way the space between punches to the head do.  It is just enough time to signal that more ass whipping is coming to you.  The textural shifts from track to track are dramatic yet thematically linked, which to me is one of the great balancing acts in noise.  You know that stabbings are going to happen, but the instrument that is used to do the stabling changes from one stab to the next. The work on display here is seamless and violently efficient.

Ultimately, this is a brisk yet full listen with no single track overstaying its welcome.  The tonal and textural shifts keep you hooked.  This will be in heavy rotation around here for a good long while.  Get this one and get your stab on motherfucker.   

Black Sand Desert / Painted Rope / CD / Oxen + Troniks

Corroded and broken bottom scraping dread from Black Sand Desert.  Waves of mid-fi harshness get into heated entanglements with throbbing waves of rotting piss.  This 3-track audio dumping is crispy blackened hatred full of busted up passages, dead ends, and unexpected snap offs.  The second track “A Coin Trick” is raunchy heaping mountain of electronic crackle and gut rumbling distortion, a brief drone respite and then a final descent into black tar rage. 

“Painted Rope” is another solid chapter in the Black Sand Desert discography.  It has all the ugly flavors one would want from a black noise release.  Each track has its own distinct identity despite the purposeful dwelling in filthy tones and dilapidated blackened thrusts.  You like it filthy?  Then do yourself a favor and take a bite of this noisy last supper. 

The Cherry Point and John Wiese / White Gold / CD / Helicopter

I had never heard of this project before, at least not that I can remember. I used to smoke a lot of weed back in the heyday so there is that. This was recorded in 2005 and originally released in 2016, which begs the potentially non-essential question:  What differentiates this material from that of their other collaborative effort LHD? 

Without attempting to assume too much, I would chalk it up to compartmentalization and timing.  It is probable that there was a different approach taken to the material that appears here than on any of the LHD releases of the time period.  This is me just theorizing, it really does not matter to me.  The important thing to note is that this material is absolutely stunning. 

Two raging tracks adorn this disc and it is apparent right away that Blankenship and Wiese are engaging in some serious pedal damage.  Tons of synapse frying skit skat racket that never seems to stay in any singular place or mode for too long.  What catches my attention immediately is how much clarity there is here.  The sounds are vibrant and crisp, this was recorded and mixed to perfection. 

Track 2 is a different animal altogether though as it is straight up wall worship.  Again, despite the bleakness, the capture of this piece was done flawlessly.  It feels as thick as it was intended, and you can actually hear the levels and the layers that would otherwise be lost in translation if left in the hands of anyone less qualified than this duo. 

As I stated at the beginning, I am uncertain of how their work process differs from that of LHD, but this feels equal parts crushing and vibrant.  Great pacing, tons of variety especially on track one.  The second half of “White Gold” is about as punishing as it gets.  For this moment in time, for this day, “White Gold” is a killer piece of audio destruction.  I will definitely be back for repeat listens of this piece of glory.    

Reviews 09/24/2020

 Here are today's latest reviews.  As always I am working from a layman/fan perspective and try to steer clear of trying to encapsulate philosophy, compositional techniques, or gear choices.  I listen to music in the same way I look at art, I attempt to take it in and note the feeling that it evokes in me.  The great thing about art is that there is no right or wrong, only what you feel.  This logic must be applied equally to creator and consumer, because the artist must be moved by the experience of the process by which they create ideas.  If the artist is moved then it would stand to reason that the consumer too will be moved in some way; good or bad.

This "movement" is a synthesis of the entire nervous system, eyes, ears, smell, taste, touch.  These senses work in tandem to create an emotional state.  These emotional states can be both pleasant and unpleasant.  These responses are what I look for when I listen to anything, especially when I am attempting to review stuff.  So from a technical perspective, I may be off the mark, but emotionally I feel pretty much right on the mark.  Not sure where I am going with all this but this may bear closer examination in greater length in the future.  In the meantime, if you like what you read and want some stuff of yours reviewed by yours truly please drop me a line at witchkunt@gmail.com 

Coming up tomorrow:  Reviews from White Gold, C.C.C.C., Black Sand Desert and a start to my mega stack of tapes that are now officially backed up.  Fuck. 

Cheers. Gene Symptoms.

Taklamakan Vs. Umpio / Interaxion Venenosa / CD / White Centipede Noise + Narcolepsia

A prime example of grimy electronic wreckage on this 2-track heap of audio violence.  A collaboration of sorts between Taklamakan from Croatia and Umpio from Finland where each artist takes turns running the show.  I would never dare try to interpret their process but suffice it to say that their methodology makes for stunning results.  Each track is a hefty 19 minutes of filthy, rusty, greasy clanging, banging, toppling, and throttling chaos.  Red hot metals clashing with frantic chains, oil drums getting knocked over, toolbox dumped out on your head, army helmets dented in with baseball bats.  Whatever tricks and methods are getting utilized are being done so with powerful results.

While these pieces seem to follow the same general schematics, there are some definite shifts in gears in terms of intensity, spacing and texture.  While track 2 “Huesos Molidos” presents to be the more intense composition overall, track 1 “Cenizas Y Acidos” is also littered with a filthy identity all its own.  What makes this disc great is that it does not “feel” long.  Sometimes a 20 minute piece can really be a trying experience if left in the wrong hands, with two 20 minute tracks seeming even more of a chore.  However, with these 2 artists at the helm, the tracks are nicely paced with plenty of movement which makes the overall listening experience a pleasurable one. 

This album is very strong and definitely deserving of its reissue on White Centipede Noise.  If you missed this one the first time around way back in 2014, here is your chance to get wrecked properly.  This is incredibly strong material and definitely worth your time. Go check out www.narcolepsiahn.wordpress.com for more excursions into the junk zone.

 

Shredded Nerve / Acts of Betrayal / CD / Chondritic Sound

Haunted, unsettling, diseased, and seriously powerful art is what is on offer here from New York based artist Shredded Nerve’s latest release.  There are 8 compositions on here which melds a lot of different worlds together into a seamless, cohesive, and jarring listen.  Gritty field recordings, jugular slicing harsh jags, harrowing drones, and monolithic crud jams; it is all here, and it is all lethal. 

It is truly difficult to put this album into words because it treads so much territory and does so with great efficiency.  “Acts of Betrayal” is a work which presents to come from hours of perfecting the delivery and not settling on anything other than a glorious yet ominous smothering.  There are moments where you get lulled into a false sense of security and then you get overwhelmed.  This theme repeats itself several times across the album and it is always thrilling.  That feeling of knowing that you are about to get consumed by grimness and by the time you realize it, it is too late.

Another thing that I find endearing about this album is how each track seamlessly moves to the next, no breaks, and no time to consider what might be coming next.  It all works together, just as each track works on its own.  Beautifully crafted perfection.  This one should be in your library without a doubt as it is about as flawless as it gets.  This is what is called upping the ante kids, get with it.    

The Cherry Point / Live Hell / CD / Helicopter + Troniks

The Helicopter and Troniks team up keeps on dishing up the hard goods for the noise freaks.  “Live Hell” is a 3-track harsh noise pummeling straight from the live files of The Cherry Point.  So, for those of you who know, you already know what you are getting with this live outing.  For the uninitiated, you are in for a thorough mugging, plain and simple. 

The question becomes what is the difference between The Cherry Point live as opposed to on recordings?  Well the first thing that I notice is that these live tracks are not tinder dry, they are filling up the spaces in which each performance took place, you can hear the bounce off the walls.  In short, these sound live and you can totally feel it. 

The first 2 tracks are The Cherry Point coaxing out some ugly broken lows laced with butt blistering mid-range crumble, all delivered in the classic Cherry Point way, deliberate and intended to hurt your feelings.  Track 3 is a live collaboration The Rita and of course, as you would expect, it is seriously thick and deep fried as you like it.  If you are a fan, then I know you already did the right thing and got in on this one right way.  If you have not, then I suggest you get this because it is a fun ride, albeit a little bit bumpy. 

Richard Ramirez / Bleeding Headwound / CD / Old Europa Café

                Some primitive, pedal torture from harsh noise specialist Richard Ramirez.  This feels so goddamned live, almost like a demo.  Not sure when this was recorded but it sounds and feels old, and I mean that in the best sort of way.  This has that sweet vibe of being recorded in a high school gym with no one else in it, so much echo, so much distance. 

Track one “Atomic Distortion” points the way with jagged paint stripping peals of hi end interspersed with full speed ahead hit and run jet blasts of crushing bottom end.  Tons of stop starts lend to the unpredictability of the piece, giving it that slam on the brakes before you hit the bus head on vibe.  Then eventually it gives way to rancid gusts of hot death.  This track is lengthy but the distance and obscurity gives this a little something extra.

The second track “Left Eye” is like a minefield of crushing explosions appearing at random.  Whispy reverberations laced with gas leak spittle are only rivaled by the sound of bad outlets and freewheeling electricity.  Vomiting sonar waves trade off with forlorn crackle as the distance fills up the space where the oxygen used to be.  This one is another long trip through the shitty part of town.  Listen to the boxcars groan under the weight of broken human cargo. 

Strangely, track 3 “Spinal Amputation” is not its own track but rather seems to be a part of track 2.  I took the disc out and replaced it and sure enough it only displays 2 tracks.  This would explain why track 2 seems so incredibly long.  This of course does not detract from my enjoyment of this album in the slightest.  Is there better Richard Ramirez stuff out there? Probably and probably not, the man has such an expansive discography that you could pretty much start anywhere and get off proper.  This one has a great vibe that makes it feel like a long-lost gem from the demo era. 

Robert Turman / Beyond Painting / CD / Chondritic Sound

Robert Turman has been around for a good long while and his discography is pretty thick but I really have to believe that “Beyond Painting” is a jewel in his crown.  I will admit to not being super well versed on his work apart from reviewing his split with Aaron Dilloway way back in the Witch Kunt print zine days.  I was enamored with his work then, but this is really something extraordinary.

Considerably far removed from the harsh walls and pedal abuse of so many artists out there, Robert Turman is a composer of the highest order.  The compositions on “Beyond Painting” are a wonderfully expansive and powerful listen.  Depressive symphonic drones are the key element here but it really is something far beyond that.  Note selection, the waves they emote, the holding, the releasing, allows each track to move at a majestic yet glacial pace.  There are guitars and bass hidden amongst the drowsy sunrise/sunset/solstice movements, everything has a place as there is plenty of room for intensity to settle in like a fog.  This is not an artist trying, this is an artist mastering, emoting, and pouring out the insides of himself. 

A point of interest for me is how the artwork which adorns the cover of this album “Living Room Painting, In Essence” is also the handiwork of Mr. Turman.  This artwork compliments the aural contents perfectly, it gives color and emotional meaning to what you are hearing.  I truly feel that this is a perfect synthesis of two completely different, yet not so different mediums. 

Is it noise? No not at all, we are way past that now.  What is on offer here is extraordinary ambient soundscapes that reach into you and grab ahold.  This is music for a soundtrack to a movie that does not exist yet should.  According to the liner notes, these compositions were copyrighted in 1990 with an initial release on Actual Tapes in 2010.  Now with this Chondritic Sound reissue coming in 2020, it feels like now is the perfect time for this album.  Bleak and beautiful just like modern existence.  It speaks a language all its own.  I cannot recommend this highly enough as it is a truly extraordinary piece of work that will yield rewards with each successive listen. 

 

Reviews 09/23/2020

 Here is another batch of fresh reviews.  With all the red hot noise action going on these days it is serious hard for me to keep up.  I assure you more is coming, including a serious heavy stack of tape reviews.  If anyone needs stuff reviewed drop me a line otherwise leave me alone.  Cheers, Gene Symptoms.

PS.  By the way YES I reviewed myself.  Read the explanation which accompanies the review. No one else is going to review my ass so I had to pick up the slack.  

Martyr of Sores / Terroriste Sonatas / 6xCDR / Room 2A

A 6-disc thesis statement on crispy and bleak harsh drones.  Richard Ramirez is taking the listener on an extended jaunt where textures are studied into oblivion.  While discs 4 and 5 did not play (technical glitches do happen) the remaining 4 discs consist of single tracks that run the expanse of whatever tone shape has been uncovered.  For some this may seem to be a tedious listen but if you like it monolithic then you can dive in here and find different grits of sandpaper to rub on your goddamned face. 

Let me be perfectly clear though, yes, the contents here are drone based but many of the pieces lean into the harsh side of things.  However, once each composition settles in you will not get a whole lot of variety.  For some this can be trying on one’s patience but for many this is where the challenge/reward concept comes into play.  I can be a maddeningly discerning listener at times so often I find myself listening for elements such as space and expansiveness.  What lies in the between the molecules of filth and the droplets of blood? This is where the magic is.

The back cover of this release therein contains a statement which may be used to guide the listener on this hellish ride or at least give clarity to motivation.  It reads as follows: “Hate and murder in the name of religion is vile.  Prejudice towards a person due to their race, religion, sex, orientation is vile.  Stop the ignorance.” I for one could not agree more.  So for all you Ramirez devotees out there, here is yet another release which proves that he is not stopping for you or anyone else.  Go check out martyrofsores.blogspot.com for more insights and information.  A frustratingly beautiful listen. 

Striations / Collection 2 / CD / Phage Tapes

This 20-track collection is the audio equivalent of trauma and tragedy.  This is one of the most intriguing listens I have had the pleasure of partaking in.  Sickened crumbles, screaming feedback, piano snippets, harsh walls are interspersed with plain spoken PSAs, screaming victims trapped in twisted rubble, panic stricken loved ones, unfazed newscasters, and the pure sound of death.  This album is unpredictable, tightly constructed, and has a clarity of vision that cannot be denied.  Much like the disorganized nature of a car accident, “Collection 2” is messy, violent, and monumentally depressing. 

For those of you who ordered the Striations “Trauma Code” collage zine, this is the sonic companion piece that really cements this as a thorough study about the fragility of life when man and machine collide.  Man never wins.  Man gets fucked up completely.  Man gets torn apart.  This album is a sound collage that will stand as the ultimate statement on smashed skulls, pulverized chest cavities, burning limbs, and ruined lives.  This comes with my highest recommendations, so do not just sit there with your thumb up your fucking ass. Hit up Phage Tapes for this epic piece of noisy gloom and doom.

Cracked Dome “Aggregate Monotheism” / CD / Nefarious Activities

Yes, I am reviewing myself but before you cry foul let me explain why.  This 3 track disc was recorded somewhere in 2015 at the request of the label Nefarious Activities.  I had sent the recordings over and after all this time they finally made it to a finished product.  I was stoked to finally have this piece in my hands as I had lost the original master a long time ago.  So even though I have had artist copies in my possession for well over a month I was waiting for an opportune time to give this the full listen.  So here I am giving this a listen in full for the first time since these tracks were recorded.  I feel there is enough distance between me and the material that I can be unbiased.

Track one “Help/Disarm” gets right down to business with a slowly shifting yet utterly violent wall.  Soon after, some blackened screams issue forth through the din.  The vocals are raspy as fuck and I do not remember what I was yelling about.  Most likely it was something about suicide or something along those lines.  This track is simple and effective, a good hearty fuck you to kick this ritual off in style.

Track two “Morphine Crucifixion” is a hearty dose of crumbly wall noise that seems to slowly increase in volume as it goes, and it seems as though some other mobbed up waves converge at the same time, giving this piece a frenetic feel.  The feedback starts pissing upwards in desperate arcs, coating your chest in warm goodness.  Despite the bleakness on display, there really is a lot going on, hard to quantify, hard to recall process-wise.  This is the sound your skull makes when it is pressed into concrete, for hours on end. 

For me, I am also a firm believer in discovering a tone or a set of sounds and trying to see what can be done within the parameters.  Take the sounds to the edge before they go off into bullshit.  I work slowly yet steadily on making pieces evolve and because of this my work sometimes gets overly lengthy which I have tried to scale back over the last 10 years or so.  The conclusion of this track leads to a 2 note drone that is over driven and anguished.  It feels like the aural equivalent of the onset of withdrawals.  I do not recall how I generated these sounds, but I think that it was done on a keyboard, not certain though.  What is clear is that the further it goes the filthier it gets, the nausea sets in, the wishing for death gets more plaintive. 

The final track “Knife Trance” creeps in with a glassy high-pitched whine, accompanied by a barrage of static garbage lurking just beneath.  Tension is building very slowly as the torrential monsoon of hatred rushes towards you with deliberate intent.  I am really enjoying the build up here, it is steady yet gets to the point quickly, which is always been a goal of mine.  This track puzzles me though, because even though the explosion is coming your way, it never quite gets to you.  Then it all just mysteriously fades out, you did not cum.  You went to the edge and you failed to attain the finality you were aching for.  You fail at dying.  You fail at everything.  Could this track be my equivalent to Wagner’s “Tristan and Isolde,” where there are no chord resolutions until everyone is dead?  Probably not but it is the thought that counts right?

All in all I would say that this is one of my best compositions because it encapsulates so much of what I have been working towards for years, control and knowing when to say when.  When the artist copies arrived in the mail, I was immediately thrust back into a world that I had not been paying enough attention to.  The pandemic has made it possible to get back to doing what I love it has made it a mandatory act of self-preservation.  Not sure if this is still available anywhere and my artist copies are all spoken for, but if I could recommend any of my work to anyone, “Aggregate Monotheism” would be the one.  Thanks to Mike Finklea of Nefarious Activities for putting this one out. 

 Incapacitants / Operorue / CD / Helicopter + Troniks

I could be wrong but the Helicopter and Troniks co-releases have been nothing short of a deep dive into the past glories of noise.  Not for the sake of relishing in nostalgia but a reminder of how much great noise has been released over the years.  With all of these recent collections and reissues is an opportunity to get a taste of the past which can then point the way forward for anyone who is making noise during these plague-ridden times. 

“Operorue” was originally issued in 1995 and personally speaking this could not come at a better time.  3 tracks of Japanese harsh mastery.  Formed in 1981, Incapacitants have been showing everyone who to do hard noise and this release is no exception.  Glitchy, cutting, busted up tones radiate from the speakers the minute you hit play. 

Track one “Postal Savings & Postal Life Insurance” is high pitched drillings into the ear holes which takes on different shapes depending on where you stand in the room.  Believe me, I took note of this as I was looking for something on my shelves.  The high tones are present no matter what, but the positioning of the listener determines how those tones hit the listener and envelop them.    

Track two “Appointment With My Friend” is when things really get cooking.  Here is where the passenger jet takes a fat nosedive and breaks apart.  Thick bubbling low frequencies hold up a teetering fortress of mids and highs that whistle, vibrate, and get tied up in knots.  Vocalizations issue forth amongst the sizzling wreckage that edges ever closer to a molten panicked hiss. 

The final track “A Walk In the Evening” follows the same theme as its predecessor but cranks the darkness up considerably.  This time, the mids are bullying their way up to the front and the chirping and feedback squeals are struggling to stay in the mix.  The tension builds dramatically and periodically gags on itself and then continues to spew more shredded whistles and white-hot rage.   This track feels like it is the sum result of the previous 2 where the tension finally breaks and you become the recipient of an extended sonic haranguing. 

I have long said that when it comes to harsh noise, Japan pretty much runs the goddamned table.  “Operorue” is stacked up nicely from the teeth drilling of track one to the fiery finale on track 3.  Here again, the Helicopter + Troniks alliance is dishing up another classic from way back when.  Another ass kicking session from a legendary unit, get this and learn.  Get this and burn.

Reviews 09/12/2020

 Here are some fresh reviews straight from the Gene Symptoms factory of worn out cliches and variations on the theme of crushing your nuts.  Cheers. Sympto Bizmol.

Total Slitting of Throats / CD/  Troniks

This one is billed as “An HNW Audible Manifesto” and it certainly lives up to that as you would expect. What you get is The Cherry Point, Mania, The Rita, Sewer Election, and Treriksroset teaming up and serving you heaping helping of tinderbox dry sizzling hatred.  Most of you already know what each of these artists delivers on their own and it is ugly to be certain.  So, the question then becomes, what kind of hellish thunder do they deliver as a collective?

Your audio torture comes as a single track originally recorded in 2005 that has no obvious or blatant shifts, just a single blast of wall noise just like you like it.  As you get sucked in at or around the 10-minute mark you do notice some very slight subtle changes to the tonal quality and the complexion, but it is an impenetrable mess overall.  Of course, it could all just be a figment of my imagination; a dash of wishful thinking that something might happen.  If the objective was to simply deliver a faceless shroud of audio violence, then mission accomplished.  If you are looking for some new school, emo noise revelations and tasty audio fuck sessions then you ought to just give this one a miss.

All in all, you know the pedigree of the individual artists involved so the violence should not come as a surprise.  They are in lockstep with each other, the aim and objective is clear.  If you like your noise thick and meaty then score this album and get ready to dive headfirst into the tree shredder, the afterlife beckons bitch.

Savage Gospel / CD / White Centipede Noise

This 2-man crew from Finland throws down 3 tracks on this album and it is a real stunner.  Rather than tread familiar HNW territories, this cadre is keeping it murky, harsh and focused.  It has that sweet wall riding action that the serious hardcore freaks love but it is rife with nuclear meltdown fumes, gas leaks, train wrecks and explosions.  The ecological and societal damage is well deserved and the anguish of modern life is real. 

Track one “Magnetic Tongue” is a very dense distant roll between AM radio stations where the coherence is nowhere to be found, only fog and static teasing you from afar.  This is the sound of waking up in the morning and being equal parts confused and disappointed that you are still alive.

Track two “I Want to Make Everyone Happy” is a tightly measured romp through the crisis of your choice.  Howling squeals and rolling feedback hissing in an immense space where all the sounds are free to travel.  Savage Gospel is steadily upping the brutality which sets the stage for the final act.

Track three “Clustered” is the sound of Savage Gospel pulling out all the stops and unloading their arsenal in epic fashion.  I kept thinking about that feeling you get when you are in having an emotional logjam.  You are pissed, sad, confused all at once and unsure of how to safely release it without shoving a needle in your arm.  You come completely unglued and just let it fly scattershot in every direction.  This track is intense and beautiful. 

This album is highly recommended, a postcard from a friend that does not exist.  The packaging rules, the sounds are lethal, and the urge to hit play again is like a pickaxe through my skull.  Stop fucking around and get this one right away. A true must have for the harsh heads out there.

 

Leather Bath “Nature’s Crackling Fire” / CD / Chondritic Sound

What happens when Greh Holger and John Wiese team up? You get a haunting tapestry of organic sonic interplay, and it is awesome.  Leather Bath treats the listener to 2 tracks of mysterious, unsettling, haunters that move about in an unassuming manner dishing out surprise after surprise.  Metallic clanks and steel wool rub downs lay the foundation for sweaty winds to swirl about the windchimes of a distant past that is surely never to return. 

Track 2 opens with a singular tone moaning mournfully while mysterious movements take over.  Late summer breezes carrying crumpled wrapping paper which gently hold court with stirrings of the morning after a night of hard drug use. The Howling commences unanswered.  Skin on steel provides a backdrop for these unanswered calls; the end is so far yet ever so close. Strangers mingle without you.  You lay back in a faux restless sleep, pretending to care.

This album’s success rests on how carefully every event is laid out.  There is nothing forced or shoehorned in.  This is not just another “beat you over the head” release which are so commonplace these days.  This is a special piece of art.  Each track is like a river, it moves in its own way, organically in time with the inner clock of the Earth.  This will be a well-regarded classic that is custom made for these fading summer days.  Your gateway to the time of the harvest lies with this album. This comes with my highest recommendations. 

 

Kjostad “Red Iron Knife” / CD / White Centipede Noise

Field recording specialist Stefan Aune’s Kjostad project unleashes a 2-track feast of devastating crumble and decay on “Red Iron Knife.” One thing that is noticeable is that this album is pure wreckage in the rolling and tumbling low end that cascades across each track.  Deadly winds penetrating cave walls scraped by heat and metal. Kjostad is creating work that relies more on process than technology and the results are devastating to say the least.

 Aune asserts that his work is captured at Kjostad Lake in Minnesota with many sounds being somewhat recognizable and others that far less identifiable.  In the case of the first track “Open Pit Bodies” the familiar is a lost concept as you get thrown like trash into broken, scattered clods of bottom end damage. This piece seems to be split into acts in the same manner as a play in that there is a brief respite followed up by continued grinding and agonizing, this time with the frenetic intensity turned up a skosh.  Slight submerging dips interspersed with second long spaces of silence; the flogging remains systematic. This is simply crushing stuff.

Track 2 “Deerblood Paleface” is just as crumbly and irritable as “Open Pit Bodies” but with the low end serving as a grimey framework in which tearing strips of mid fi heavings fill the space up with unapologetic violence.  Again, the source material that is being used here is not readily identifiable and by the time it gets run through the Kjostad production process it is mangled beyond recognition and placed in a new context.  This is where “Red Iron Knife” becomes a seriously engaging listen.  This is pure process and movement; the electronics are simply there to help the process along; flipping the source material on its head and then severing it.

“Red Iron Knife” is a primitive depth plumbing excursion that is as bleak and malignant as it gets.  However, there is a beauty to be had here that cannot be ignored.  Nature captured, scattered, reassembled as a new Earthen trophy for your ears.  This is a killer listen that will only yield more rewards with each subsequent revisiting.  A true must have for your collection so do not screw this up.

 

Sewer Election “Blizzard Amplification” / 2xCD / White Centipede Noise

A 2-disc collection of new recordings from Swedish noise merchant Sewer Election.  If you are familiar with this artist’s work then you already know it is going to be a rough ride through a myriad network of frequencies and crushing improvisations.  This album does not disappoint as the first 4 tracks on the first disc run the gamut of the harsh spectrum from screaming feedback stabbers, growling teeth snapping lows, to wrenching barf blasting heaters.  The title of the album is “Blizzard Amplification” and there is no more apt description than this because this is a blizzard, ceaseless, overwhelming, and makes you question everything.

Track 2 “Fishnet Psych-Out” is so gritty and crispy, a real goddamned sizzler.  The billowing feedback squalls rise up and down like a well-muscled ass pumping into nothingness.  Straight up blistered and tortured rage as you and your gear get kicked out of the noise show and down the stairs. Bear in mind this is but one track out of 9 where the volume is up and the frequencies run wild.

One key thing that I have noticed with this, my second listen through, is that these tracks are not one dimensional by any stretch of the imagination.  Sewer Election takes harsh noise out for a run across town for dope deals.  Everything is moving, shifting, unexpected and generously littered.  There are no straight lines between point A and B to be had and this is why this collection is such a riotous listen.  Sewer Election is not here to just hang out and smoke cigs with you.  

                Track 4 “Crystallized Disease Genitalia” is a glitchy bubbly synapse splitter with a dull rumble laying in wait for you.  Do not have too much fun because you will get got.  In short, disc one is a real jog around the wastelands but the question remains, what of disc 2?

Well, disc 2 gets right down to the dirty business of burying your ass alive as “Spirals I” is a hideous unloading of furious static and far distant high-end rhythmic warbling.  Another fun question to ask is what would happen after you get kicked in the balls by your assailant?  A blast of aggros static right straight to the grill.  Which is exactly what you get on “Filterbank Waste Campaign.” Dour, faceless, wall riding action abounds, crispy, sizzling, head shoved into the deep fryer and then the train stops slowly across your skull.

“High Voltage Face Removal” is exactly what you think it is a full on crumbler and screamer.  One thing that is apparent here is that these tracks are all generous in length and each have their own distinct sonic geography.  Sewer Election does not simply settle in one area for too long, there is a lot of movement which makes for a great listen all around.

The forlorn static hiss and piss of “Cosmic Mirror II” is dramatically different to my ears in that its presence is understated.  This does not kick off like a stadium demolition full of chaotic blistering bombast.  This is a creeper, steadily riding the concourse not giving you many twists and turns which is unsettling it its own right.  This collection concludes with “Razors Edge” which serves as a brutal bookend and gives you a perfectly well deserved kick to the head before you get left to ponder your mistakes. 

If you love Sewer Election then you already know what is in store for you.  But bear in mind, this is a hefty collection of harsh noise.  Perhaps too much in one sitting?  That really depends on you but either way this is a harsh noise specialist delivering a chaotic yet violent manifesto that demands your attention.  Take it all or take a few inches at the time, either way you will take a shit out your mouth. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews from issue 7 of Witch Kunt

 Here are the reviews that appeared in issue 7 of Witch Kunt.  So many good releases back then, my collector nerd status was at an all time high.  See you on discogs for the inevitable bidding wars.  Cheers. Sympto Bizmo.

warmth / medroxy progesterone acetate. 'split'. 7inch + 3inch. phage tapes / small doses.

what a fantastic package this is. 7inch in sleeve with 3inch attached to the back flap. fuckin beautiful. on the 7 you get a track from each artist. warmth unloads a fairly heavy drone that just builds and builds in intensity and volume the further along you go. it starts off really light but definitely gets thicker and meatier as it goes. the medroxy progesterone acetate side is a bit more on the experimental side than warmth who maintain a more controlled nature over their work. m.p.a. plays with tapes and manipulates them to alter their meaning and intent all while emitting an undercurrent of high frequency whistles and a deeper more breathy cloud of sound in the distance. this is the kind of stuff you hear when they are gassing you up for an operation. both projects manage to create very special works on their respective sides.

 

teeth collection. 'oddities'. c-60. factotum tapes.

a collection of presumably unreleased works from ohio noiser teeth collection. recorded over a 2 year period so one could presume that there will probably be some changes in style and approach. kicks off with some very breathy and trance inducing ambient movements that are steady and free to roam in a very large space. definitely nightmare sounding for certain.

 

migrations in rust 'seasons cast in pearl'. c-20. ekhein.

desolate yet similarly beautiful soundscapes and acoustic drones. this to me is when experimental music ceases to dwell within the confines of noise and becomes something new and engaging in its own right. this exudes power and emotional impact. if you enjoy the sounds of such drone specialists as concern then this will make a perfect companion piece. a genre defying work of incredible depth and care.

 

sean mccann. 'lower decks'. c-29. ekhein.

hypnotic atmospheric and constructed much like a cathedral: with time and and an eye for the majestic. this was recorded in 05-06 but finally seeing the light of day in 2010 and what im wondering is what took so long? not that im complaining because this tape is a true work of sheer emotional glory. lonely tones and whisperings that really put you in the mood to take pills. the 5 tracks on here really go in alot of interesting directions all while staying tethered to the faceless monolithic power drones. incredible dreamlike soundtracks that are perfect for long drives to nowhere. ekhein continues to deliver and this one is a must hear.

 

earn. 'away'. c-20. ekhein.

earn is an intriguing and unique project in experimental music circles and this cassette will bear that out. centered around the more musical aspects rather than straight ahead drones and atmospheric tonality although this sort of sonic play is in abundance. it is earn's use of instruments that seems to be a bit more pronounced in comparison to other artists who dwell in the same genre. earn uses instruments to craft mournful pieces that speak to you directly rather than behind a thick veil of fog. piano and guitar are the ones used in their most literal and intended sense. still it is done in such a manner as to set a mood. definitely one of the leaders of what i percieve to be a new and ever growing movement of artists who are now seeking to blur the lines of song craft and audio sorcery.

 

infinite body. 'from now on we're weightless here'. c-14. ekhein.

kicks off with a very heavy droner that seems broken and much more crackly and dense than the usual slow jam specialists who deliver very even tones. sounds like it's from hundreds of years ago. i am completely in awe of the perfect mix of filth and beauty. side a keeps things crumbly while side b settles into a very emotional let the credits roll sort of thing. to me it is this sort of artistry that deserves to accompany a film or movie. this takes things to a whole other level that i dont think many artists can attain.

 

work / death. 'go and be gone'. c-35. ekhein.

a blizzard of depression that never lets up and simply continues to bury whatever lingering hints of beauty may happen to lie beneath. brutal and cold hearted. if you enjoy getting drug through the dirt like a piece of garbage then this will do the trick for you. a very deliberate piece of hatred.

 

cloaked light. 'a passing through'. c-30. ekhein.

this one starts off with a drone that is so low in tone that it makes the back of my skull tingle. total plumeting gloom and density that you can feel. cloaked light seems to take the approach of keeping things down in the doldrums and giving the listener a slow build. you are in limbo and it's exactly what you deserve. blessed intoxication via opiates.

  

1958-2009. 'II'. c-32. ekhein.

a tribute to the king of pop. this cassette is the finest example of ambient drone that i have yet to hear. stunning in its simplicity and its sublimity. the tracks contained within are all laid out with perfect care in terms of striking the perfect balance between songwriting and mood setting. patient drones that float like air over each other creating a vast panorama that will take you on a lengthy trip. this would definitely be a perfect soundtrack for when you are abusing anesthetics. ethereal and mind altering. put on your headphones and let doctor murray dose you up proper.

 

endless time. 'coasting'. c-20. monorail trespassing.

very ominous ocean themed tape that really reinforces my belief that people who go to the beach alone during seasons other than spring or summer are going there to die. the sky is dark. the air is damp. the waves keep coming in ever closer. the some dense drones that are seriously heavy in mood accompany the sounds of a very lonely beach at dusk or early dawn. really bad trip this one. get droned out to sea. great stuff.

 

head molt. 'mass mind overscum'. c-10. heavy psych.

this tape is way too quiet. quite frankly that's a huge irritant to me. the sort of primitive throbbing hate that head molt are getting up to would be so brutal if it was gouging out my ear drums rather than gingerly passing by like a stranger in the night. unfortunately it isn't and i wonder if this is the artist's intent. if so then it's a horrible idea because this needs to be loud as fuck. very p/e inspired with the horrendous pounding rudimentary beats and the blackened vokills and crusty noise garbage littered throughout. i would highly recommend seeking out other stuff from head molt but this wouldn't be it. the quietness of the proceedings is making this a huge turn off. again if this could be reissued and remixed to be skull raping volume then this would definitely rank far  higher on my favorites list.

 

bruant des marais. 'crippled'. c-60. heavy psych.

what you get here is pure ugly fragmented brutality. sounds as if it was recorded inside a coffin buried 6 feet under while a tornado rages on the cemetary above. some seriously gloomy claustrophobic passages entangled with blown out devastation. this is heartless stuff whether it's creeping around in the quiet and near silent or exploding with bleak agony. you will get smothered and erased. knuckle dragging hatred from the bad part of town. your collection won't suffer without this tape but it could sure benefit from bruant des marais's special dose of true kult abuse.

 

various artists. 'untitled'. 2 x c30. phage tapes.

4 pulverizing artists 1 hour of fucking full on searing hatred for you harsh noise fiends. paranoid time, human teratogen, baculum, and taskmaster come together to beat the grease out of you. each artist is bringing the brutality. i liken this to being trapped in a carboard box while you get hot coals dumped on you. there are no breaks or breathing room. plus as an added bonus taskmaster brings the rita and rusalka along to make things extra miserable for you. for my money no one is doing it better than phage tapes. if you are familiar with any of these artists [which you fucking should be you idiot] then you know you need this collection.

 

lngtche. 'recordings for osip mandelstam I-IX. cdr. phage tapes.

this is my first taste of this project and i am really impressed. very bleak soundscapes and lonely textures. each of the tracks goes somewhere else but still manages to maintain the empty vibes and morose feeling. soundtrack for a spaceship going nowhere with no one at the controls. very cool.

 

karst. 'no prose'. cdr. phage tapes.

you want total lifeless windswept doomscapes then look no further than karst. an hour of total unfeeling nothingness that is an ideal soundtrack for when you have a need to eat pills. rarely deviating off course and only showing traces of feeling towards the end of the track. however this is not for the weak. true kvlt cemetary breeze blowing through brittle skin. a cold whiff of oblivion awaits.

 

swamphorse. 'perpetual drip'. 3inch. husk.

an interesting mix of stuff on this 2 track disc. from rusty layered drones to some knuckledragging sludge action this is a sweaty morass of depression. in spite of the musty damp basement vibe this disc gives off there is a very damaged sense of beauty to be had. part of me wants to say this disc may suffer from going in too many directions for such a short format but it is all done so well that it's really hard to complain. swamphorse is always an intriguing listen no matter what direction they go in.

  

white torture. 'braindead'. 3inch. phage tapes.

this one really raced by me and im not sure if that's a good thing or not. while this has moments of sheer crumbly arson and overheated rage it has a few spots of dorkiness that i just can't get past. while it is my belief that people should be able to do whatever the fuck they want im also of the opinion that if you are gonna unload the crumble then you should just unload the fucking crumble and forget about the goofiness. i don't think white torture was trying to be goofy but there are some spots on this that seem really out of place. however there are some segments of true damaged hatred that will please the harsh heads out there. not essential but worth a spin while sucking down some knife hits.

 

foul. 'naturan demanto'. 3inch. phage tapes.

samples are a touchy thing for me. sometimes i hate them but in this instance it's the perfect setup for the ensuing HNW attack that will run over you and keep on going. no frills. no bullshit. just full on wall worship. for serious wall fiends only. brutal.

 

nocturnal life. 'the ocean'. 3inch. phage tapes.

very low key and non-descript. little to no variation in tonality or mood. there is a picture of the moon on the disc which seems to fit perfectly with the mood of the piece. lonely and darkened. play this one before bedtime.

 

mattias gustafsson. 'dod metall'. 3inch. husk.

synths and field recordings coming together with an eye for artistic detail and setting a mood. first track takes you out to the foggy coastline to watch the day go by while dealing with yourself. birds. waves. wind and total outdoorsy atmosphere done to grim effect. the remaining tracks however really show off a very different side to gustafsson as the sounds had me feeling very anxious and somewhat nervous. there were sounds both near and far as everything seemed to surround me. gustafsson uses a wide array of instrumentation on this disc and while the list seems long everything is mixed so nicely that it doesn't even matter what he used. in my opinion the level of craftsmanship on this release is indicative of the high level of quality that makes both artist and label so great. yet another solid release from the husk kult.

 

the haters. 'in the shade of fire'. cd. hanson.

the basic theme is breaking glass and fire both of which haters main man gx-jupitter larsen likes a great deal. a nice long journey into a tornado of glass fragments and shit burning up. personally i dont know how the haters assemble these pieces but suffice it to say it's a bit beyond just simple loops. there is so much going on in the various tracks that it makes for interesting listening. while the main theme is glass and fire there are other tracks that seem to go in a more understated direction. sounds of a gas heater or perhaps a stove and other parts that sound like paper being cut. while these bits take you out of the maelstrom they are no less intriguing to the ear. as will all the material from the haters you will find moments of total devastation or moments of patience trying experimentation. this disc is a great example of how brilliant the haters can be and why they are one of the greatest institutions in noise. that's no bullshit.

 

the slasher is a sex maniac. 'the babysitter just sits and laughs'. cd. phage tapes.

more of that sweet texas wall worshipping violence courtesy of richard ramirez. a hot sleazy blast of piss right to your fucking face. there's more to this disc than just HNW but some textures and layers that all manage to help in the slicing of someone's goddamned throat. harsh. brutal. evil. another gem in the crown of one of the sport's finest. for the true kultists out there.

 

josh lay. 'true mask'. cd. small doses.

first things first i am an avid follower of josh lay's work. he never ceases to astound with the depth that he exhibits. this go around finds him trapped within a coffin that is steadily filling up with blackened phlegm. the vokills that he unleashes are of the lo-fi basement black metal variety full of venom and disgust. underneath the vitriol is a steady current of hums and buzzes that indicate to me that something bad can happen at any minute. the one thing that struck me as being out of place was the guitar work on one of the tracks. while not horrible by any stretch it just seemed ill timed and didn't add to the proceedings all that much. by the discs conclusion you have been pummeled and locked up and will await your execution. the machine looms ever closer. its rusted jaws will become greased with your blood. josh lay is a devilish inn keeper and his inn is your fucking coffin. another box of ammo for this kentucky warlord's war chest.

  

knife attack. 'watching you from afar'. 2 x cdr. phage tapes.

a searing dose of extended torture from this vicious ear rapist. no track titles to guide you through this hopeless chase through the park. your panties get yanked. you get dry fucked into oblivion. you get stabbed a bunch. total heartless hatred and emotionless violence. another guttural assault that's custom made for the serious wall worshippers.

 

vomit pit / ecoute la merde 'vomit la merde' cd. FxIxMxL records.

fucking half assed low budget garbage from ecoute la merde. so bad in fact that i don't see much point in listening to vomit pit's portion of this split. ecoute la merde's 4 tracks are so dumb i can't stand it. amazingly enough i did make it to vomit pit. goregrind with waterlogged pig vokills and crumbly farting bass. noisy but not very good. if i were forced to choose a favorite on this disc id go with vomit pit simply because ecoute la merde's material is so utterly shitty. however let's not confuse things: this sucks. avoid at all costs.

 

napalm noise / mental hygiene terrorism orchestra 'split' cdr. FxIxMxL records.

what the fuck? the napalm noise portion of this split is allegedly 5689 songs. while i am not going to try and verify this particular claim i will say that here is some poorly played noisy grindcore. actually i shouldn't say poorly played i should just be honest and say this is pure fucking garbage. i can't believe someone thought this was fit to release. just sounds like someone goofing around in his bedroom. if anyone mentions napalm noise in ten years in any sort of reverent tones i'll put a gun in my mouth and eat lead. now i got mental hygiene terrorism orchestra cranking out some really obnoxious yet forceful grind. vocals are the more agitated and yelling type. there are some pretty thick moments of ball crushing grind noise in amongst a few funny samples and some goofy jazz piss takes. while this is far superior to the water brained attempts by napalm noise this really isn't anything that a million other noise grind bands haven't done before. thumbs up for m.h.t.o. for keeping the tradition alive. noisy grind will never die.

 

pottersville 'binary' cdr. no label listed.

while i did say i'll review pretty much anything i really wasn't expecting this. punk rock in the vein of social distortion and early gg allin before he wrote songs about pissing and shitting on kids. upbeat country tinged punk ballads about the good old days, drinking, and coming out on top. bunch of swaggering guitar solos that will make your truck nuts swing. i'd bet some serious dough that the girls that go to their shows all have hickeys and do meth. ill give this disc to jeff brookhart he'll fucking love it.

 

aleph naught. 'the dreams in the witch house' 3inch. small doses.

epic drone. ghostly nightmare fog. count backwards from ten and sleep. while there are many artists out there right now doing this type of meditative new agey atmospheric stuff, aleph naught is a cut above the crowd. masterful balancing of texture and weight. the notes linger for perfect durations and connect to one another without sounding forced or too methodical. everything sounds exactly as it should: natural and real. this is definitely a game elevating release and should serve notice to all the other droners and atmospheric technicians.

 

various artists. 'FxIxMxL comp #1' cassette. FxIxMxL.

i think im starting to understand what this label is all about. they seem to be hell bent on collecting the noisiest sloppiest crappiest noise / grind / experimental music they can find. they are seeking out all the more uncompromising anti musicians in an effort to destroy music. while the other releases i have heard from this label aren't as good as i would want or expect, this comp is thus far showing some promise. 17 artists spread out across this tape. the only names on this comp i was remotely familiar with were audiocum, ecoute la merde, and mental hygiene terrorism orchestra. the rest are unknown and untested. let me once again take one for the team and try my best to keep up. ultimately this label is either doing things right or doing it all wrong and ill just leave that up to you consumers.

 

darksmith. 'urgency / agony'. tape. chondritic sound.

the sort of thing that darksmith does is the exact sort of thing i like in noise. very unsettling with methods and approaches unknown. stone on steel sliding about. unseen figures moving throughout the basement. just enough grit and lo-fi flavoring to keep this in your cassette player for many a listen just to try and figure it all out. a quality listen from start to finish.

 

 david russel. 's/t'. tape. chondritic sound.

i have been thinking about this for a while and i have come to the realization that even the best labels don't always crank out winners. this here isn't a winner. is it horrible? no but it isn't that great neither. side one had me for a minute but then i lost track of what was happening. basically this is an artist who in this particular instance chose to loop the fuck out of everything. this was pretty goddamned boring. from here on out for as long as i review stuff in this zine i will not sugarcoat anything. people aren't going to just get a pass for showing up. good for background sounds but little else. i want to get sucked in. this just sucked.

 

pax titania. 'live in phlorida' tape. chondritic sound.

some live sounds from this primitive synth techno project. this is what techno should be or what would be lumped into the techno catagory before they cluttered everything with beats. synthy movements and some tonal excursions. the crowd seem to really enjoy this stuff alot. i find it interesting when someone can go outside of the noise genre and make something different i also applaud the label for looking outside the box as well. not just another run of the mill noise project. just some interesting screen test sounds for the be-bop set. smoke a cig and start mingling. party tones.

 

speculum fight. 'lost live 2'. tape. hanson.

old school dronery from the archives of the drone legend damion romero. this has a very gutteral vibe as the crumbling and knuckle dragging increases and swarms the buzzing tones beneath. some very half dead moans and feeds hover in the cold operating room. i however hold the opinion that romero has since risen far beyond the rather one dimensional approach on display here. this is a grimy glimpse into the past of one of noise's true master experimentalists. a pretty cold and heartless listen to be sure. i will state that this tape is for the true romero devotees out there and not for the casual listener. if you are wanting to check out his work i wouldn't start here. i'd save this for the more advanced fan geeks.

 

machinegun warfare. 's/t'. tape. hanson.

total skull scouring hate. a thoroughly degrading sandblasting of searing disdain. vocal taunts cutting through the shitstorm at inopportune moments. side two exhibits a more subdued side as a brittle tone starts to rise to the surface yet still held back by crackling asshole arc weldings. if you like it harsh and rough then this one might be something for you to track down. nothing overly essential but still a nice thrashing for you and your fucking worthless ears.

 

various artists. 'fake sound routine' 2x tape. i just live here.

double cassette compilation of artists doing the ironic techno thing. a few of the artists you may be familiar with such as leslie keffer, lazy magnet and work/death, the large majority perhaps not. when i ordered this i really wasn't sure what i was going to get other than what i actually got. beats, blips, pops, grooves and other rhythmic noodlings. i guess i wanted something with a little more depth as this was fairly devoid of personality on the whole. while many of you more cultured underground mustachioed hipster types will eat this sort of thing up, i was left feeling a little bit cold. but if you like to fancy yourself as a dj or some shit and want to see what the cool kids are up to then swoop down on this comp. perfect for ass fucking and bong hits with your girlfriend or cruising the strip in your honda. jack in the box parking lot conversational rave with crystal and menthol cigs. tramp stamps are no longer an option you fat assed slut.

 

sensible nectar / spermwhale. 'split'. c-62. rainbow bridge.

6 tracks from sensible nectar and 1 long b-side from spermwhale. much like his release on my label, sensible nectar dabbles in alot of different areas. however i would venture to say that he covered alot more ground on his tracks here. personally i think sensible nectar is still finding his way to where he truly belongs, his experiments are still very interesting. from the harsh pseudo PE stylings to lush dronescapes and odd crankings in between. while some may say that it's a bit too much i say more power to sensible nectar for seeing the possibilities and exploring them all. spermwhale really lets the listener go for an extended journey through the mists of a dying weekend with a single 30 minute track of dreamy drones and tonal sweeps. this is a decent split and a nice introduction to both artists who are still new to me. i say check this one out. my only complaint was that this tape seemed just a bit too long but don't let that stop you from checking out some new artists. recommended.

  

sissisters / hirsute & fur. 'split' c-25. christian pop records.

the a side of this tape finds sissisters crumbling up signals and letting them fall on the coffin lid. seriously mangled frequencies of the lowest order getting dished out nonchalantly as possible. some fairly mean spirited filth to be had. hirsute & fir's side takes a few mins to even start but once it does you get an earful of mid level frequency coming straight out of the shed. by the track's collection a foggy conversation of a somewhat angry mob surrounds you. there will be no talking your way out of shit this time. killer tape.

 

graham young. 'one/another'. c-25. christian pop records.

holy fuck. some ear gutting anxiety straight from the bedroom of a diseased sociopath. the tracks on here are seething, shrill, and severely caustic. this is angry blackened zoned out hatred. catatonic tantrums custom made for self abusers and cutters. watch the bitch wither away as she begs for vanity. primitive audio catastrophes pushed over the fucking edge. monstrously grim clutter. essential.

 

wether. 's/t'. tape. catholic tapes.

remember the old contact commercials from the 70s where they would open one of the pills and the little balls of cold medicine would fall out in slow motion? this starts off like that commercial. open the pill and the little inocous balls fall onto the sterile countertop. rising up from the distance is the screeching rust of xmas past right into the forefront and passing right on by like a ghost in the night. the b side just takes off where the a side left off with a rapidly fading sandy pulse back into the moods and sounds of side a with some variations. i'm of the opinion that this was a single piece that was spread out over two sides with side a getting the edge. all in all this is a good listen and if you're a wether fan you'll enjoy this one.

 

climax denial. 'her skin remembers'. tape. after death records.

a listless loop of pure resignation accompanied by enraged hate speak. the anger and anxiety ripping through the speakers and right into you. however side two is where the action is with two tracks of pure nightmare scenarios: eyes blood shot and vacant. ski mask drenched in sweat. boner ripping through the zipper. victim trying to flee and being insulted all the while. quality stuff right here from an underground favorite.

 

dotabata / torba 'split'. c-31. hair on my food.

grim as fuck. graveyard dirt dumped down the stairs into the basement where ghosts starve to a second death. torba is the sound of crud and rot. dotabata is one of my personal favorites and this piece sets new lows in total hopeless oblivion. pop some pills and fucking die.

 

grain belt 's/t'. c-10. phage tapes.

another crumbled hateful mess from phage tapes. grain belt is a new name on the scene and the name alone had me hooked. deadly assaults full of steel on steel feedback squalls and schizophrenic wall abuse. unpredictable earthquake like assault that will kick you in the chest, dick, and face. crank this one up fucking loud and break every piece of furniture in your house. phage tapes is the new leader in the noise underground and here is yet another reason why. total pummeling humiliation.

 

rob michalchuk. 'total eclipse'. c-18. poor little music.

one of the more interesting artists out there right now. everything i've heard by rob has been nothing but interesting. this tape starts off with 'total eclipse' a morose piano piece that fades away slowly as a gloomy lo-fi loop takes its place. another shift as things give way to an even more depressive stringed keyboard interlude that seems to fade away into an unthinkable oblivion. side two 'antarctic basement' is a continuation of the themes addressed on the previous side with more ambience. it seems as if rob michalchuk is at an interesting point in his creative jaunt and his work will be going in alot of intriguing directions. this particular tape is a great stop on that journey especially if you enjoy artists such as marble sky or concern.

 

kwea / bruta. 'split'. c-30. military radio.

some basement crust and face pounding audio scouring from some unknowns. blasting sonic crud right into your grill. side two is a little more controlled with some radio broadcast struggling to stay ahead of the beefy stabs of filth. simple yet effective gutter noise. some deep underground stuff for you kultists. watch as your mustache melts off. 

 

lynchgate / mistress. 'the witches knight'. c-40. after death records.

a live aktion that took place december of 2008 in denton texas featuring lynchgate and mistress. this is of upper level bootleg quality as you can hear the audience at certain points which really puts you right in the midst of the action. lynchgate starts off with some ominous throbs which are merely the prelude to some real nefarious gutter ambience. texas burns while angels watch on from a safe distance. the harshness just seems to pile on itself. guaranteed this was a fucking bulldozer of a loud show. mistress starts off with a looped sample and straight into some p.e. styled devastation. scorching hiss over the top of throbbing buttfucking beats while feedback heavy vokills insult and taunt the audience. broken sounds. louder than shit. the crowd is super stoked all the way through both sets. dude is sounding pissed. guaranteed motherfuckers went home with tinnitus. excellent pairing of two different yet intense styles of hatred. seek this one out immediately.

 

EE / louis sterrett. 'split'. c-30. tusco embassy.

ohio mainstay EE delivers a doomy layer of kult fog that simply puts you in a trance. the variations are incredibly slow to the point of non existence yet grim enough to hold you fast until his piece ends. louis sterrett's deep periodic tones are so down in the mouth that there is almost no pulse whatsoever. graveyard tones give way to acoustic ambient experimentation. there is no light in this vacuum hell only lifelessness. a split completely devoid of commercial potential as it should be. truly comatose dronings and musings as i have never heard them before. quality gloom.

 

various artists. 'grind madness at the bbc.' 3 x cd. earache.

holy fucking fuck. i'm not going to do anything other than tell you who's on this beautiful set: napalm death, extreme noise terror, carcass, bolt thrower, godflesh, unseen terror, heresy, and intense degree. classic peel sessions from some of the genre's best. you like grind? you'll love this.

 

bloody phoenix. 'death to everyone'. cd. 625 records.

featuring former excruciating terror guitarist jerry flores, bloody phoenix is a brutal los angeles grind / hardcore cadre hellbent on bringing harsh realities and throwing them like a chopped up corpse on your doorstep. these guys are not fucking around at all. they've stripped away some of their earlier full on grind leanings and have upped the ante in the songwriting department. the tunes are direct and to the point expressions of disgust for today's fucked up world. urgent and totally apocalyptic crust. get on board or get the fuck out of the way asshole.

 

magrudergrind. 's/t'. cd. six weeks records.

these guys are doing grindcore better than anyone currently in the game and that's no bullshit. they kick down total furious blasts that are of deadly efficiency. while some may tout the skills of such luminaries as pig destroyer i am of the opinion that no one is kicking it down like magrudergrind. they don't horse around with noodly guitar bits and tricky parts it's all set to kill. no weak maneuvers here. don't settle on weak emo grind. crank this motherfucker and get dealt on like you deserve. album of the year no doubt about it.

 

nunslaughter. 'demoslaughter'. 2 x cd. hells headbangers.

satanic black thrash hurling insults at jesus is what these longtime metal fiends have been doing for well over 20 years. this set digs deep into the distant past and dredges up classic demos full of cruddy sounding basement metal. early god hating neck snappers abound on this amazing set. comes with a great booklet with liner notes and info straight from main man don of the dead. for the serious nunslaughter fans and those into mid 80s garage thrash.

 

vestigial limb. 'gangrenous'. c-31. after death recordings.

one of my personal favorites in the noise underground bar fucking none. there are very few artists out there who come racing out of the gate with a fully formed vision of where they want to be but ray shinn is one of those who has. always harsh as fuck. rarely taking backsteps. crumbly oppression and deadly morbid fascination abounds here. after death records and vestigial limb are an excellent team up. jump into the grave motherfucker. jump into the grave.

  

vestigial limb. 'now, voyager'. c-30. monorail tresspassing.

more grim kult wanderings from one of the more original artists in noise today. this one has a much more live sound to it as the dull rumble wanders hand in hand with scratchy vinyl dialogue and ambient hiss. vestigial limb manages to combine record player based manipulations with scrambled cassette ruinings to create a tapestry of truly ugly yet amazing sounds. always on the crispy and crumbly side with natural ambience always trying and consistently failing to stay above the grime. everything is mixed together with a great ear for combination. always a sick listen when vestigial limb is in my stereo. unsafe environment to be had.

 

vestigial limb. 'velo-dog dissuader'. c-40. 2:00 am tapes.

pure haunted torture. gritty lo-fi excursions into a seriously fucked up swampy hell. this is one of the more unique releases i've heard vestigial limb do. i can't help but think there are some animals are either starving to death or being tortured to death. either way it's seriously disturbing and makes for yet another gruesome listen. it really seems to me like vestigial limb has settled into a very efficient working groove where everything is carefully planned but doesn't come across as such. very natural black noise that will satisfy your need for totally stoned out filthy death. epic.

 

dawn of wolves. 'darkness as black as evil'. c-13. husk records.

black thrash done with precision. alot of tight guitar playing over the top of old school one two drums with some double bass thrown in. typically black metal style garglings tying this super tight release together. there are some keyboard bits here and there but nothing too annoying or overbearing. these fuckers keep the thrash coming at you but throw in the sweet breakdowns and mid tempo sections so you can take bong hits, swig some lager and give your neck a little rest. if you like kreator or sodom mixed in with the usual black metal style then this will be a welcome addition to your metal collection. it will go on the shelf right next to your copy of possessed 'seven churches'.

 

fukte / i dream of her beautiful tentacles. 'stays liquid'. tape. black and purple.

chris gierig's black and purple label is one of my personal favorites simply due to the fact that he is consistently finding the most filthy low budget graveyard crumbling artists in the world. totally unknown names yet always downright gutteral in approach. italy's fukte kicks out the corpse dragging neanderthal schizo jams. primitive buzz and crackle meeting perfect levels of rusty feedback. someone left the radio next to the baseboard heater. i.d.o.h.b.t. from denmark unleashes a mudslide that will bury you alive and insult your intelligence. the second track is a cut and paste deal with various samples including charles manson [which is always a plus with me]. cut from the same soiled cloth as fukte but dare i say a bit more elementary. this is another killer slice of audio mulch from the black and purple label diy kult. support the true.  

 

earth incubator. 'relax session'. tape. black and purple.

russia's earth incubator is yet another example of black and purple's efforts to seek out new and obscure sounds from other countries. rather than mine from the same pool of u.s. based artists as most labels are wont to do, chris digs around for the new names and he is gracious enough to put in the time and effort to present them all to the listening public. earth incubator seems to operate at several different levels yet all of it seems to converge to the same grimy drain. digital trash and basement styled moscow ghetto remixes. there is a very discernable layer of gutter dust on all the pieces which gives this an authentically ruined taste. this is how you get down in the crackhouses of chernobyl. commie gangsta rave with vodka and resin hits.

 

buddha mind big band. 'in time'. cd. nekorekords.

soundtrack oriented free form sounds from this finnish trio. very sound based in their use of items such as singing bowls, gongs, cymbals, and various horn and flute type instruments. a sort of lynchian free jazz thing that is both equally ambient, jazzy, and beautifully unsettling. smooth and evenly paced. im not sure if any of the 8 tracks on this disc were the product of planning or simply high quality jams done by true pros. whatever the case the pieces are all so pefectly laid out with equal time given to percussion, horns, tapes, and other instruments that it makes for a fantastic listening session. this disc remains at a very slow and deliberate pace all throughout and maintains a very ritualistic vibe from start to finish. essentially, if you take what smegma does, minus the campy stuff and throw in a little sun ra spiked with some acid, then you will be on the right track in knowing what this unit is all about. totally amazing yet creepy work that is definitely worth your time in tracking down.

 

 umpio. 'muelas'. cd. freak animal.

alright goddamnit you know the deal with freak animal. one of the major global players in terms of bringing the harsh p.e. action. here is one from umpio and what a skull scouring trip it is. loud face beating rage teamed up with sandblasted audio filth blown like a full load of coke up your ass. one of the more merciless noise releases that i have heard in a long long time. from crash and burn segments of full on blast to nearly lifeless crumble to flesh peeling schizo screechings, umpio does it all. one important thing to note is that umpio is only putting the most crushing tracks on this disc. 7 tracks of torture and not a single substandard track in the bunch. the vibe is constant throughout. cold and efficient. you want harsh no nonsense kult finnish noise violence then this is one that you shouldn't miss out on. total sperm shooting surgery, rape, and dismemberment.

 

umpio. 'junk electronix vol. I' cd. nekorekords. ahky records.

more finnish gutter rage from umpio. great packaging as this comes in a 7inch sleeve. this one exhibits all the same gritty trademarks as the 'muelas' cd but with just a bit more electronic experiments. this one has more emphasis on beats although some of them are damaged beyond the point of resurrection. still has plenty of face ripping noise though. althought not as set on kill as 'muelas' this is a great dose of glitchy pelvic eroding hate. fucked with and reassembled for your listening displeasure. another banger from umpio.

 

doroga. 's/t'. cd. nekorekords.

very kultish ritualistic drone / electro / jazz wanderings. very eerily subdued in a way that isn't unlike the same sort of stuff that sunn0))) does. distant tribal thumpings along with whispery cymbals intermingling with sparse horn work. the 3 tracks on this disc are set up in such a way that there is some severe breathing room between all the instruments. this to me is totally genre defying music. get doomed to oblivion.

 

rj myato 'utopia or apocalypse'. cdr. no nazi noise.

this right here is some quality p/e meets power violence. short snappy blasts of pissed off skull bouncing rage. one of my biggest gripes is when p/e artists go off and then proceed to go on and on. what you get here is short blasts and the lyrics are fucking killer. this one comes in a dvd case with lyric booklet. total d.i.y. quality. don't miss out on the chance to get your neck broken. awesome stuff.

 

rj myato 'what time is it, what day is it, where am i?'. cdr. no nazi noise.

damn this one was kind of a let down. after getting totally slayed off of his 'utopia or apocalypse' disc. this one is a 2 tracker with one of them being a live track and the other one a studio track. the live thing sort of just blew by me and didn't really grab me at all. the other track didn't really tug at me neither. unfortunately this one isn't up to the standards set by 'utopia or apocalypse' but how could it. the bar was set super high on that one. this one may come to be known as one for the completists in a few years. for now i say pass on this one and get 'utopia or apocalypse'. yes it is that damn good.

 

josh lay / teeth collection 'split'. 2 x c32. factotum.

this is a killer set. one side from josh lay. one side from teeth collection. plus 2 complete sides of these two forces collaborating. total bleak purity that commands your immediate attention. incrediblly grim.

 

peter j. woods. 'fairweather mask'. cd. autumn wind productions.

one of the most versatile artists in the game today. crossing many different subgenres without coming across as contrived or forced. one of wood's best assets is his vocals which are urgent and authoritative and manage to compliment whatever sounds he's blasting at you. from quiet ambient bits to full on harsh noise there is nothing this dude can't do. total dedication to the scene and total dedication to his craft pays off in a big way with this disc.

 

POTR. 'self titled'. 2x c10. phage tapes.

gruesome harshness that will whip your sorry buttocks with a leather strap. from the high toned crisp ear wax melters to disdainful crackle and blast. it's all here in a dismembered piece of doom. one of tracks features some mournful vokills that are disturbing as well as engaging. total harshness that crosses the borders and fucks with your mind. comes in a killer box. phage tapes wins again motherfuckers.

 

the blackmoor strangler. 'the mark of m'. c30. hair on my food tapes and records.

the trend continues with yet another artist hurling out vicious harsh wall purity. no way is this a reinvention of the wheel however this is as it should be. side 2 is a real crispy burner. totally heartless. i hate pink. i really fucking do.

 

teeth collection. 'putridity and liquescence'. c60. black horizons.

holy shit. this is some really scary soundling blackened ambient fog. custom made for a horror film. some really creepy withered tones get issued forth from the tombs of despair and disease. personally speaking this is teeth collection at his absolute best. with every release i have heard i get the feeling that this is an artist who is resolute in his quest for setting a truly unsettling mood. this is a close the the vision as he has gotten thus far. the space is epic and filled to the perfect degree with whispery graveyard tones and crumbly toxic emissions. usually the term 'overplaying' was reserved for traditional music but here is a premiere example of someone who doesn't overplay. perfect pacing and perfect textures. the only other act that i can think of that operates on this level is blue sabbath black cheer. everything on this tape is perfection from sounds to packaging which is incredibly original. teeth collection has set a new standard in noise that the rest of you johnny come latelys have to contend with. good luck on that by the way.

 

your drugs my money. 'self titled'. 3inch. elyk records.

total low end crumble and hustle. two man operation where they spent time recording organ and moog. they bounced the shit around and toyed with some other gadgets to give you this moaning groaning anguished mess of audio debris. i like the fact that the artists described their process and the devices used. personally i think the scene could use a little more of that sort of thing. while the first track has a somewhat of a one track thought process and didn't really grab me. the second track on the other hand is a great piece of work that has a nice evoloving motif. nothing earth shattering but a good listen nonetheless.

 

koufar. 'the purity of the cedars'. cd. topheth.

total rage filled power electronics in honor of the middle eastern state of lebanon. this is an absoute ripper that has a very distinct middle eastern flavor and a very political slant. koufar kicks it down harsh and heavy and rarely gives you a break. the track 'forced unity' and 'cowards' are seriously angry with a very 'by any means necessary' vibe. i wouldn't be an expert on middle easter affairs so for me i don't have a good sense of what lebanon's situation is politically but suffice it to say that based on the dedication and urgency of this release koufar is wanting change. a real true blue gut ripper of a release. koufar is a name that is rapidly making waves and if you like p/e then this is a crown jewel right here.

 

various artists. 'the horror'. 12x c10. phage tapes.

this here is like the hickory farms cheese and sausage set that your parents get at xmas. 12 goddamned tapes full of pure audio horror. total grindage and hatred from willful, white torture, and baculum. some gristly wall worship and devastating crumble causing your bowels to loosen and shit to fill your panties. you get 9 tapes worth of individual contributions and 3 more tapes of collaborations with the participants. this isn't just the usual wall rage that these dudes are known for, there are varying levels of burnt up / tore up / raped up / sawed apart / harsh disertations. no color. no escape. you know the artists. you know the label. you know this is the real deal. entrails get stomped. assholes get raped. total slaughter.

 

'floaters.' a short film by jared liebenau.

former pacific northwest noiseician jared liebenau has spent the last few years learning the art of film making. 'floaters' is his first presentation and i must say that it is quite good. the basic premise is a story of an average guy who is slowly being driven nuts by visions caused by eye floaters. his vision is partially obsured and distorted to hallucinogenic levels, causing him a much trouble in terms of being able to interact with others. the film is only 15 minutes long so you may not get the whole gist of the story. this is part of the risk one runs when restricting their story telling efforts to such a short framework. however, this is a visually stunning work and the acting is very natural and realistic. im very happy to see that the former jm ginsberg is finding new avenues of expression and getting great results from it. he is already planning more films and i for one will be eager to see what he comes up with next. personally i hope that he does a sequel to this film so that we can get even deeper into the concept. congratulations jared.