I started list in Finnish black metal forum, investigating what happened in Finnish BM during 2011. In form of releases, that is. Eventually list turned to be.. I guess reaching closer to 70+ vinyl/cd releases. That's one country, one small genre. With no really tapes, demos etc acknowledged at that point.
Thinking of noise / pe / industrial, it appears to be simply impossible task to even think what exactly was released or re-released in 2011. Amount of material is such a huge amount, I would guess vast majority of people has still to even fully understand what all has been done. And perspective of what happened this year and 2010, is already blurred.
So, who needs to remember all? Nobody. What were the highlight releases. What were EXCEPTIONAL releases? What were the highlight labels activities?
I still remain in confusion, what exactly DID happen? Which bands managed to bring something new, something better or something exceptional. It is easy to say there is a lot of good stuff. Yet also a lot of material is very safe addition to discographies and provides no challenge or hard to digest complications for listeners. For entertainment, 2011 has been triumphant. For other things, we'll see!
I'll be thinking of the goodies when I get my brain focused on 2011.
I'm really going to have to sit on this one and think it through but right off the top of my head...it is obviously not new but I am glad that a focus has been getting larger on pure, undiluted junk metal noise with releases like the Sonno Ferrum compilation, some of the Alleypisser material, and those Hal Hutchinson tapes, among a few other stand outs.
As far as labels are concerned, whether they were labels established this year, labels that have been around a year or so but really just "came into their own" in 2011 or labels that had a very satisfying catalog for this year I would say that Lust Vessel should get a large share of back-patting for their latest batch which was incredibly hyped but for good reason, everything from the packaging and art to the sounds and concepts were especially strong. I have always respected and thoroughly enjoyed Waterpower and this year was no exception. 10 solid releases ranging from droning crackles and walls to bulldozing Power Electronics. Trash Ritual's sublabel Steel Sadist Rebirth started up and quickly proved itself this year. Mack's Crown Tapes project looks and sounds like it could end up being a capable, exciting label and the stuff he is putting out may be fairly original for this day and age. Finland's Untergeschoss was very effective this year with all 6 releases they put out, SSRI/Umpio split and Chloroform Rapist being the strongest, in my opinion, although everything was far above your average releases. Anabolic Dimensions is a label to definitely keep your eyes on. Abuse Patterns wins for packaging this year, Machismo was very tight sounding and Crown of Cerberus is just plain great and does so without any hint of violence. And of course it would be hard not to mention Filth & Violence but the label has been around for a long time now and we are all aware of what they are doing over there and how good it is no matter what year or what type of material it is. 2011 gave us a couple new artists and definitely strengthened the overall F&V catalog by putting out some of their best stuff this year.
I'm sure there are more labels and I have quite a few artists to put up but I'll come back to this thread and add more when I can actually sink into it.
Ryan already listed a lot of labels that performed very well this year but I must add few Danish labels which really got my attention with the bizarreness they put out. The first one,
Posh Isolation is actually pretty new to me (even though they have been around for a "long time" now) but they managed to really impress me with their releases. Each release was pure gold, ranging down from the depths of drone to the purely murderous harshness of noise. The second one,
Nordisk Klub, which is actually also a new acquaintance for me put out some brutally good harsh noise.
Quote from: KHH on December 31, 2011, 12:17:18 PM
DUTCH!?!##
Haha, my mistake. Now corrected :D
DUTCH!?!##
Didn't buy many new releases this year, and a lot of good stuff just flew under my radar I guess. The one record that really stood out for me this year was the Rodger Stella/Kites Interior Moon LP. I have played it a lot, keep returning to it, and can see myself spinning it many more times before I die.
Highlight for me were for Sure Filth & Violence with so much good releases. I liked some of the Re-Issues of Rozz Williams "Premature Ejaculation" last Year but most CDs are just complete boring fillers. All in 2011 were. They should release Death Culture instead of that. From Freak Animal comes new N12, Sick Seed / Shift and from Turgid the Sick Seed 7". From Hospital were a Lot of new Stuff around. And aTeceline were also a nice New Found for me. Meldy Peaches were also quiet funny, but must see others i don't remember now o0
edit: Fuck i forgot Tesco totaly with G.O and Ke/HIl + new BDN 3LP
Quote from: Scat-O-Logy on December 31, 2011, 12:14:21 PM
Ryan already listed a lot of very well preformed labels but I must add few Dutch labels that really got my attention this year with the bizarreness they put out. The first one, Posh Isolation is acutally pretty new to me (even though they have been around for a "long time" now) but they managed to really impress me with their releases. Each release was pure gold, ranging down from the depths of drone to the purely murderous harshness of noise. The second one, Nordisk Klub, which is acutally also a new acquaintance for me put out some brutally good harsh noise.
Both of those labels are Danish. Great none the less, sure.
I think PAN has been releasing some fantastic material during 2011, also Italian acts like Lettera 22 are really showing off their potential. And then there's the
Dilloway - Lip Synching to Verme LP on Hundebiss, fucking excellent record that has received many, many spins here. (apart from that I've actually mostly been listening to the
Tim Hecker - Ravedeath, 1972 LP on Kranky)
As far as Power Electronics / Industrial stuff this year, Unrest has been crushing it. Excellent releases from Shift, Human Larvae, Pestdemon, STAB Electronics, Anemone Tube and others.
Hospital has had a pretty momentous year, not only because of that massive White Eye Of Winter Watching comp, but especially the way that they - along with labels like Posh Isolation - have been on the forefront of this whole black metal / darkwave / industrial unity thing that's been happening.
Anabolic Dimensions has been doing a great job with their first three releases, and so has the constant quality over at Phage Tapes, who is now full-steam into not only cassette, but also CDs and Vinyl.
Also, Malignant is having a great year, but will really shine in 2012. 2011 from them gave us the Sewer Goddess live CD, new Sektor 304, Negru Voda 3xCD, Hypersiphrone, the new Control disc and others. 2011 gives us new releases by Skin Area, Funerary Call, Kristoffer Nystroms Okester, and AHEM, my next full length - which i'm the only one excited for - will make it a good year.
Mike Page has had a big fucking year as Sky Burial. Three full-length CDs (Aegri Somnia on Utech, Threnody For Collapsing Suns on Phage, Transmission from the Void on Crucial Blast), a tape and lots of other stuff.
And, of course, Tesco has had a pretty huge year. Two big label-oriented shows (including the US), The God Blast America DVD, several new G.O. releases, taking over CMI, etc etc...
This has been a good year in terms of neofolk for me too. Excellent new albums by Cult Of Youth, Hexvessel, King Dude, Of The Wand And The Moon, Rome, Current 93 and ART ABSCONs.
Darkwave this year was great too: Cold Cave, Mueran Humanos, Martial Canterel, Xeno & Oaklander, Scorpion Violente, Contrepoison, Lust For Youth, etc all doing vinyl and being in demand.
PAN had a really incredible year. Haven't heard every LP but there were great new ones by Frieder Butzmann and John Wiese. Most of all I really enjoy the R/S LP featuring various Rehberg / Schmickler live collaborations. As always the packaging is a cut above pretty much anyone else.
Lust Vessel's return was a definite highlight for me. All of the new tapes were very strong and both the sounds and art adhere nicely to the chosen themes. It's rare to see a tape-only label (at least so far) that holds quality above quantity like LV does.
The Stella / Kites LP was great. Rarely have I heard a drone release I could so confidently refer to as "intense". Extremely focused and rewards multiple listens - I'm always hearing something new.
Posh Isolation had a great year. They were even more prolific than in 2010 and the new Damien Dubrovnik and LR LPs showed massive improvement from both projects. Not every tape was great but for the most part the quality level was high and the lineup was more diverse than ever. The Caucasian Colony project made a very promising debut this year.
Hospital Prod. was impossibly prolific this year and most of the stuff they put out was interesting though some of the tapes sounded kind of half-baked to me. The LPs by Stillbirth, Alberich and Lussuria were all fantastic but the stand-out of the year for me was the Viodre CD.
Editions Mego was on a roll this year. I really liked the Mika Vaino record "Life (...It Eats You Up)" and the new Bill Orcutt record. The new John Elliot-curated sub-label Spectrum Spools is one to watch.
I didn't really keep up with Filth & Violence tapes this year but the new Bizarre Uproar LP and Mania 7" were both fantastic.
The Sickness LP on Gods of Tundra shows a new(ish) approach for Sickness, can't wait to see the project's continued evolution.
Dajjal - De-evolution in Simulation Generators
My year in experimental/noise/industrial can be summed up in this one release. Also made my overall top 10 of the year.
Svarte Greiner - Twin was really the only other album worth mentioning, but I bought and listened to very few new releases this year.
Quote from: Goat93 on December 31, 2011, 02:47:52 PMI liked some of the Re-Issues of Rozz Williams "Premature Ejaculation" last Year but most CDs are just complete boring fillers.
cdR's ;-)
Usually rather not list own label releases but what the fuck, the Erik Enocksson - Apan LP was easily my favorite album of 2011. Two other standout releases for me were Lettera 22 - True Forms LP and the Burial Hex - Book Of Delusions LP. (New Lettera 22 album is very good too, just need to give it more time).
Not that many really good releases from Sweden this year, but Lust For Youth and Pestdemon both released albums I highly enjoyed. A few nice cassettes as well, was especially fond of Altar Of Flies - Let New Life Rise... and Händer Som Vårdar - Bakåtböjning. Should mention the retrospective Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - Dreadcade LP as well, sad to see that project go.
The friends down in Denmark released a slew of very solid albums: Damien Dubrovnik - Europa Dagbog LP, LR/Puce Mary LP, Iceage - New Brigade LP, Family Underground - Un Tratto Di Malinconia CD (not sure if this one is even properly released yet though?), Ashley C - Timeless Reality CD and LR - Exile LP... Impressive. Looking forward for the Alleypisser LP on Trash Ritual in 2012.
Keränen - Moon Over Torrelorca CD and Skullflower - Fucked On A Pile Of Corpses CD was both on constant rotation as well.
Personal musicrelated highlight of 2011 for me was the short tour we did with Heinz Hopf in Italy, good times all around.
Quote from: P-K on December 31, 2011, 08:17:39 PM
Quote from: Goat93 on December 31, 2011, 02:47:52 PMI liked some of the Re-Issues of Rozz Williams "Premature Ejaculation" last Year but most CDs are just complete boring fillers.
cdR's ;-)
Yeah, sorry. Are CD'rs
my personal 2011 toppers :
the Pestdemon lp .....highly anticipated, had wet dreams about it, pure crowning glory.
Maska Genetik's STRADA lp ...cold, pure ANGST......and all other Galakt releases this year, but Strada stands out
Alfarmania Hålögd Insikt pic10" ......maybe best Alfar till now ?
STAB Electronics ......good to hear something vile but fresh .
IFOTS embers 7" !!!
Deutsch Nepal Rapist Park Junktion 2x7"
F&V
the Forced Nostalgia label
Lust Vessel
...etc....
......and bought a lot of pre-2011 releases again lol
Just going through what came through the portal doors in 2011 for a write up on my blog.
Thee most enjoyable release was Column One's "No-One" box set. A beautiful piece of art. Astral Social Club put out some amazing sounds as did Ashtray Navigations. It was good to see them making a listenable noise again. A delight was discovering the work of Preslav Literary School, and getting the chance to see them live in a field in Cambridgeshire (UK).
2011 was a good year for sound...and with a new Dilloway double LP out this month, 2012 is starting out on the right note.
Personal focus has mainly been on releasing the Helvetesljuset lp (inevitably making UNREST PROD the label of the year, I'm not ashamed of admitting my own album to be my favourite release of 2011) + getting ARKHE going, leaving little time to focus on other's music. But the POSH ISOLATION lps have been stand out releases, plus a high level on the scattered tapes they've issued. Also a brotherly pat on the shoulder to SPRACHLOS VERLAG, who only did three tapes but all of which were outstanding (Amph, Altar of Flies and Landvarelser). JÄRTECKNET did some good tapes, too, though the label is working in an upwards slope towards increased quality; I think 2012 will be an even better year. Obviously too focused on the Copenhagen/Malmö/Gothenburg districts to actually add anything worthwhile to the discussion... the major trend towards metal junk abuse hasn't really caught on to me, but there are so many essential releases every year that it's too much to keep track. Too much has been eclipsed by the new Negative Plane, Peste Noire and Diapsiquir releases...
Heaviest rotation: SHIFT/SICK SEED and LR/PUCE MARY splits/collabs. The HEINZ HOPF lp was also funny, it that was a 2011 release.
Also a shame that the two focal venues for both local and international noise/experimental music on the Swedish west coast - Sing Sang in Malmö and Utmarken in Gothenburg - both folded.
Quote from: Tommy Carlsson on December 31, 2011, 01:34:03 PM
Didn't buy many new releases this year, and a lot of good stuff just flew under my radar I guess. The one record that really stood out for me this year was the Rodger Stella/Kites Interior Moon LP. I have played it a lot, keep returning to it, and can see myself spinning it many more times before I die.
i completely agree with this. i was blown away by that record. also really enjoyed the kosmische dub tape that rs did.
also agree with zeno regarding the dajjal tape.
i didnt bother with checking out a lot of new releases this year, but the lust vessel tapes all seem to be excellent from what ive heard though i still need to become more acquatined with them. they are overpriced, but at leasts they are excellent products.
here is a best of list i compiled recently (in alphabetical order):
AMOFAS - The Fool
ANTEDILUVIAN - Through The Cervix Of Hawwah
BESTIAL RAIDS - Prime Evil Damnation
DAJJAL - De-evolution In Simulation Generators
EMBRACE OF THORNS - Praying For Absolution
LEBENSFADEN - Die Vollendete Schönheit
NECROS CHRISTOS - Doom Of The Occult
NEGATIVE PLANE - Stained Glass Revelations
RODGER STELLA - Kosmiche Dub (Second Layer)
RODGER STELLA/KITES - Interior Moon
Only want to add Yellow Tears Cult of Yellow Tears. This is American PE at its finest.
just realized this was a 2010. sorry all.
i missed lots of releases that i think would easily fit in my list, but:
1:Encephalophonic - Metal Obsession C62 (Steel Sadist Rebirth, U.S.A.)
2:Roro Perrot - Exécution Des Hautes Oeuvres CD (Premier Sang, France)
3:V.A. - White Eye Of Winter Watching (Hospital Productions, U.S.A.)
4:Vidine Ramybé/Vomir split tape (Terror, Lithuania)
5:Shift - Scorched Earth/Walk Alone 10" (Unsound Recordings, U.K.)
6:Alexander Rocciasana - Adolescenza/Campioni Del Mondo 7" (A.R. Software Labels Undergronund, Italy)
7:Japanese Torture Comedy Hour - The 24 Hour Japanese Torture Comedy Marathon mp3 (Grindcore Karaoke, U.S.A.)
8:Morte Incandescente - Relembrando Um Tumulo Esquecido (WTC Productions, Germany)
9:Pain Jerk & John Wiese - Vague Maze 7" (A Dear Girl Called Wendy, Italy)
My "Top 10" for the year as far as Noise/PE/Industrial goes...
Geography Of Hell – Tchernobyl 1986
STAB Electronics - The Non Alliant I
Nyodene D - Every Knee Shall Bow
Tongue Knax - Venus
Alleypisser - Addicts
V/A - Sonno Ferum
Looks Of Love - The Midnight Hour
Split - Sick Seed / Shift
Kakerlak - Crawling To Objectify
Lebensfaden - Die Vollendete Schönheit
Abuse Patterns - Reproducing the Pathology
My favorites and most spun of last year, in no particular order - more lengthy comments on each one will be up the the Segerhuva forum later on (in swedish).
CLEW OF THESEUS "The death urge" LP (Verlautbarung)
ELODIE "Echos pastoraux" LP (La Scie Dorée)
JOHN DUNCAN / MICHAEL ESPOSITO / Z'EV "There must be a way across this river / The abject" LP (Fragment Factory)
KAMA RUPA "City of Caesars" TAPE (Robert & Leopold)
KERÄNEN "Moon over Torrelorca" CD (Ljud & Bild Produktion)
NIEDOWIERZANIE "Attendre" LP (Reue Um Reue)
NJURMÄNNEN "Masters 1992" LP (Börft)
NURSE WITH WOUND "Salt - Music from the Horse Hospital" LP (Dirter Promotions)
RODGER STELLA & KITES "Interior moon" LP (Mutter Wild)
I'm surprised to hear praise of the Dajjal tape - I thought that one was quite boring, especially soundwise.
Honorable Mention
BU - Viha & Kiima 2xLP - just haven't spun this enough to really get to know it yet.
Top 10
10. V/A - Filth LP -
9. SNUFF - II LP - There's a ten minute sample taken at kids public swimming pool. Feminists say "All men are potential rapists". YOU'VE GOT THAT RIGHT YOU FUCKING CUNT!
8. Hängd - Med Repet Runt Halsen Cassette - 1980s style synths and shit-scum industrial. Not violent just filthy and crude. Best noise newcomer. Hail Sweden!
7. Pestdemon - Helvetesljuset LP - The final statement and ultimate document of the project. As depressing as vintage Pedestrian Deposit with an even more decayed sound. Kill yourself.
6. Shift / Sick Seed - Split LP - Shift is absolutely crushing. "EVERYTHING YOU ARE WILL BE DESTROYED". SS has a more stripped down approach here, still with trademark cruel vocal delivery.
5. Nyodene D - Every Knee Shall Bow CD - Totally kicked my ass the first time I heard it. Massive, dark atmosphere, total scrap metal abuse and commanding vocal presence. A new leader in US PE?
4. Genocide Organ - Under-Kontrakt LP - A real grower. Once I got hooked on it it just stayed on my turntable for a week straight. The synth work is fucking brutal. The vocals... ugh I wish I could sound like that. They came to have a real good time.
3. Ke/Hil - Hellstation LP - Seeing this live. Fuckkk. This recorded ruled the spring for me.
2. Nicole 12 - First Dance of the Spring 7" - "I never did get my pony"
1. Nicole 12 - Black Line LP
hell of a year. I spent most of it listening to non-noise/pe stuff but what I picked up was mostly great.
John Mannion - Slice Through Or/In Glassmetal
Flesh Coffin – Devil Worship In The Slaughterhouse
Human Larvae – What Lies Ahead
Two favorite albums of the year are from "crust"-related acts:
Amebix- Sonic Mass. Plenty Has been said about this album on this forum and others.
Misery- From Where The Sun Never Shines. This in an amazing return for this Minneapolis band. It was a digital only release with not a lot of promo so it got lost in the shuffle of 2012 releases. WELL worth checking out if you're a fan of this genre: http://misery2011.bandcamp.com/
Quote from: SKY BURIAL on January 05, 2012, 03:34:52 PMMisery- From Where The Sun Never Shines. This in an amazing return for this Minneapolis band. It was a digital only release with not a lot of promo so it got lost in the shuffle of 2012 releases. WELL worth checking out if you're a fan of this genre: http://misery2011.bandcamp.com/
My album of the year, and it was an easy choice on top of it.
Nicole 12 - Black Line
Erik Enocksson - Apan
LR - Exile
LR/Puce Mary - The Closed Room
Bestializer – Suburban Low-Life
Elisha Morningstar - Empty Life, Domestic Bliss
Lettera 22 - True Forms