Heat Signature - Trench TrappedAlmost forgot this monster from my initial listing! This CD was my first introduction to the band, and a one fine introduction it is. CD has thick sound like Moozzhead cover girls, but also robust as fuck. At times there's this avalanche of bass frequencies in the background of ripping and mutilating noise. It sounds so good! There's plenty of things happening all the time, the stereo image is full of detail, rattling, screeching and whailing in every corner. There's also a track that gives more room for merciless scrap metal pounding, but sound has that Heat Signature distortion to it, highly enjoyable! Layout of the CD is very eye pleasing, nice old map "white" with vintage military images of vietnamese trench warfare. Extra mention of using source sounds by late Keith Brewer, assuming it is the gun firing in the second track.
Karmic Delusions - Kadotettujen PiinaIt's kind of hard to separate Decondition and Karmic Delusions in my head, they are in a way of same continuum, but KD this time hits with a violent package of scrap metal wreckage, synth tones and great vocal work. Not too many are doing what he is doing, it's like a mixture of traditional Finnish scrap metal work combined with the greatest of power electronics masters. Very nice pacing in the album and lenght is just perfect, sometimes he has tendency to hammer out 1 hour long releases, which is fine, but with tense onslaught like this, 35mins is perfect.
Sexualised Medicine - Antidote to a World of FleshSecond tape of the project, first one coming out over 10 years ago. Since I have no recollections, or even own the tape, this has been my main introduction. I seem to have a soft spot for detailed, multilayered yet restricted soundscape. SM has all these, carefully crafting the sound, with excellent vocals just enough in the background, often disappearing the in the sea of delay. Such a pleasure to listen to. The lyric is sheet is near impossible to read for my old eyes, but it's there and probably opens up even more the theme. Neverthless, one of my favorite tapes of this year and deserves a mention here.
Commando 15 - Salattu SuomiEven though C15 could be considered as a newcomer to the Finnish noise scene, listening to the releases certainly does not feel like it. Sound and thematics have been going through an ongoing process of cultivating, and in my opinion Salattu Suomi is the pinnacle of it, so far. It all starts with the cover arts, which go hand in hand with the material, to me C15 is a great example of meta-noise. How seemingly abstract sound gets a deeper and multi-layered meaning through the artworks, song titles and few phrases of text which lays the foundation the whole experience. Some said the sound was painful, sure it is at times, but personally I found it quite relaxing, focused and raising attention. Attention is the key on this album, there's so much fine near microscopic texture in the sound, and production gives space to it. You can literally "stand next" to the sound and observe it, almost feel it. Salattu Suomi is one of the most unique noise albums that I've heard in a long while, very one of a kind material that only C15 worldview can produce.
Metsäkirkko - ParanvoiWaited too long to get into the mystical world of Metsäkirkko and overall the Brownhill Mafia "scene". Paranvoi is a slow burner, which doesn't try to grab your attention, you need to focus on what it has to say. Could be easily classified as "great noise for reading", but that would be wasting it away. When you peek undernearth the subtle layers of the album, you find a dense undergrowth with plenty of rich texture. Simple elements but with proper volume those simple elements reveal depth and richess to the sound, which is crafted with strong intent. Not in your face noise, but more in your mind noise. Maybe even to use word "noise" here is improper.
Grunt - Kiveen IkuistettuYet another killer live release by Grunt, following last years (I think?) Vieraat Aivot. First gig with that classic Grunt of heavy and ripping sound, and those strong vocals we all love. And so well recorded, it's a pure enjoyment to listen to. Second gig is different, slowly crafting minimalistic sounds, in a minimalistic environment. Even though I used word "minimalistic", the sounds are intense! Very interesting and clever choice to have two different live settings, sets and atmosphere. Works really well, and delivers the variety of what Grunt is capable. Packaging is a photobook, basically. Accompanies various images, having very harsh tones, even when speaking in visual terms. I think Mikko posted this about at lenght in the Grunt topic, go see it!
Zyklon SS - GuiltyZSS hit parade! Not exactly a new release, but collection of hardest hitting ZSS classics. Everything one could want from a industrial/power electronics release.
Invagination - Electronic FleshPerfect mixture of 90s Japanoise sound but also plenty of their own sound with razor sharp production, it's very easy to throw this among the best of this year. What makes the sound interesting is the scrap metal that seeps through hard mixed with Japanoise type slashing and ripping sounds, it blends together perfectly. Paired together with very tasteful cover arts and even a colourful CD label, this could be easily thrown in the mid-to late 90's noise releases.
Giärmäi - Boreaaliset Syvät VedetGiärmäi made quite a big splash when the first tape came out last year. Since release of that Giärmäi has played few shows, which I did see one of them. Project has taken steps further into more industrial expression, same elements from "Ratapölkkymme" tape are present, but scrap metal has been added, has a lot grit to it. In terms of atmosphere, "Boreaaliset..." is much heavier and dense, while maintaining that trademark sound of reel to reel recorders, scruffy spoken word vocals and field recordings. B-side has very sweet organ work, and tape ends with a brilliant track using hurdy-gurdy. Excellent follow up for the debut tape, taking brave and strong steps forward.
Kartio - AlkeisKartio could be called as side project of Umpio, but it explores totally different areas of experimental music. It has that familiar production of Umpio recordings but sound itself is Kurenniemi type, crude but skillfull playing of modulars. I enjoy highly when there's very little of happening, beeps and boops, oocasional wave of lower frequencies sweeping over. Lenght works here, because this type of material is a pleasure to listen to, almost an hour long duration works in it's favor. You really get to taste the sound of vintage gear, experimental past speaking. A great opposite to cruchier and heavier side of Dassum work, Kartio is also extremely detail rich but also leaves a lot of empty space for the sounds to do their work.
Jazzhand - Siirryin Kun Te NukuitteJazzhand tapes are a trip, at times it feels like listener is in a dictaphone that is in the pocket of the artist. Layered field recordings, hum of the forest with birds singing. Many types of rattles, of stones, wood, gravel. Like a journey through a summer forest of Finland. It is interesting to listen to recordings that have very little of any real instruments, using whatever is found outside to create textures, carefully selecting what works with what, maybe some parts are just one sound, recorder capturing many of the elements at the same time. But the relaxing hum is there most of the time in the background. Last part has a synth tone and recordings of people talking, which is a clear take off, works very well as the finishing part. Tape lenght is unknown, because you get immersed in the soundscape so much, listener is under a spell of beautiful textures of nature. It's funny how much a mosquite sound can agitate you.
Wertham/STROM.ec/Josh Lay - St. Valentine's DayAnd right before the end of the year we are blessed with new
STROM.ec tracks! Makes me very happy to new material in 2025, of course material itself is much older but neverthless, especially "Ascending Torso" is such a killer track that only
STROM.ec can do. Unmatched! One can only think how they would sound today, if they made a brand new album. One can always dream. Wertham and Jos Lay also bring gritty power electronics to the table, but as a fan boy I am mostly raving about the Strom tracks here.
Special mentions;
Ruusuriimu - Tanc A Rothadesert
Paradox Influx tapes
Pyhä Kuolema/Kaarna - Magneettinen Pohjoinen
November Növelet - Electrical
There's also lots of records I still haven't heard/bought, like Heppakirjat LP.
