PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[Duality]

Bizarre Uproar - Dekadenz: I was waiting for the LP but I finally caved and bought it from Bandcamp. BU has been going from strength to strength recently, with Vihameditaatio to Amputaatio and now Dekadenz, the general evolution of the sound is becoming filthier and filthier with each release. It still feels like BU while not simply being a rehash of previous works. The sound is a bit more defined and menacing. My favourite track Vaurio with its eerie spoken word and pounding drums without any electronics needed.

[bitewerksMTB]

Atrax Morgue "Ripper Box" Urashima- in order of what I liked best: Spasmo., Lesion 22, & NY Ripper. I haven't listened to the cd yet but I'm happy that Black Slaughter is an extra as I remember it being very good. NY Ripper isn't as great as I thought I remembered. There's a couple of duds on there. Spasmo. is definitely the highlight here.

Also, listened to the live Con-Dom tape on Freak Animal. S1 is great but s2, the vocals are too blown out but that's hardly a negative.

[Yrjö-Koskinen]

Blood ov thee Christ - Master Control (CD, Segerhuva)
This is a fascinating album. In a way, BOTC incarnates what makes noise and power electronics great. The actual music is, at most, half of the total experience. For the rest, personality, circumstances around the recording, and non-musical aesthetics are what carries the day (this rule also covers "minimalist" or art-fag stuff that claims to disregard "image", but obviously just has a boring and simplistic form of it). On a side note, this dependence on non-musical factors is actually almost as obvious with other forms of popular music. Most pop/rock/whatever is really technically crap, depending on a beat or a very simple melody to make us feel very simple things, and the rest is about the musician and possibly the lyrics (which are god-awful even when trying, whether it's N.W.A., Rage Against The Machine or Bono). With noise it's more honest - if I want music pure and simple I'll go with Bach. Back to topic: as I guess most people on this forum knows, this is a re-release of tapes recorded in the early to late 80s. Skillful marketing from Segerhuva relaunched BOTC's career (sort of), and there has been a number of live gigs as well as numerous releases, despite a few snafoos along the way. Now,while great marketing has given Blood of thee Christ a boost, this particular album is actually NOT the best example of non-musical elements being central to music. Rather, the artwork chosen for the CD, the songtitles and the few samples are quite simplistic and don't really dominate the experience at all. Rather, this is a great album in it's own right. Murky rumblings, high pitched squeels that never get annoying, and a constant sense of motion - all these things contribute to making this album great, and something you want to listen to several times every now and then. Minimal vocal work interacts with feedback, there's a few porn samples thrown in for good measure, and the whole thing is very anarchic in a way few would try (let alone pull of if they did try) today.

K. Fenrir - JGS (Digital Download, Self-Released)
The online scene of reddit-organized free digital compilation "albums" and Bandcamp culture is bound to produce something really worthwhile every now and then. This evening I found some fine, and free, dutch dark ambient, released in november last year.  Now this I like, even though I (as the old man I am) still can't get past the lack of physical releases. This rather short album is a tribute to the Icelandic poet Jóhann Gunnar Sigurðsson (1882-1906), and he has also supplied the lyrics which are spoken during the rumbling ambient soundscapes. My Icelandic isn't quite up to par, so I don't know if it's all comical with overt dutch accent or not, but it's down-pitched and dark enough so that it shouldn't be noticable to anyone but a native speaker if that were the case. There's lots of little subtle things going on here, and the overall impression is pretty awesome. This stuff would belong on Cyclic Law or somesuch, even though it's clearly a little rough around the edges. I do hope someone picks it up at some point and places it on a tape or a CD. When browsing the band's Bandcamp page I also stumbled across the track "They have voices too", which is some kind of pro-Vegan ambient. Not sure I care for that, but I'm even less sure I care about it either way. This stuff you need to hear if you're at all into dark ambient. I'll even supply a link for once: https://kfenrir.bandcamp.com/album/jgs

[IVX]

Con-Dom – War and Ordnance cs (Freak Animal)

Very impressed with these live 2015 recordings.  The a-side is a really good mix for my tastes.  MD's vocals are primarily un-effected, fairly high in the mix, and have rarely sounded so rabid and animalistic to me – some passages sounding just downright violent but still mostly intelligible.  Kind of on the growly side for him as compared to releases with a more 'spoken' approach. Backing tracks range from ominous and plodding to classic aggressive din. On b-side vocals sit more inside the mix than out front, general recording is more blown-out as Bitewerks mentioned, but still great. Highest recommendation on this.

Disgusting Sanctum – Nekrotik Aktion cs (Black Psychosis)

Nice release by new Coma Detox project.  Solid death industrial with heavy atmosphere.  Production is top notch for this sort of stuff, probably on the high end for my tastes but still has a gritty feel.  Synths, (spoken) samples, junk/metal/perc noise etc.  Vocals are few, but man they are good.  Lower in the mix, heavily effected, and more on the spoken side but they sit perfectly and sound just fucked.

Disgusting Sanctum - Stimulation From Assault cs (Black Psychosis)

Releaseed with "Nekrotik Aktion". Crumbling waves of static and screech with the occasional vocal penetrating the fog, bits of synth creeping in. Production feels better to my ears on this one – more overdriven, which I think suits the material better.  Songs on both tapes could be edited down, but material actually seems to benefit from medium-long form style with lulls between vocal parts.

[burdizzo]

Graustich Diversity tape: First side is one long track, about 15 minutes. Has some good sections, but overall feels a bit unfocused, and in comparison to the other side it doesn't really cut the mustard. Side B starts with 'Divide for Zion', which is classic p.e. - underpinned by fast throbbing with a slow, regular percussion, intermittent voices, and taunt electronics becoming prominent for the 'body' of the piece. 'Plan B', on the other hand, is based on a slow thud, fluttering noise, and a more irregular percussive pattern, but with taunt noise again making its presence very much felt. The last track is 'Sons of Nelson', and features plenty of African chanting and reminds me a bit of African Noise Corporation's 7" (if anyone remembers that!?). Of course, the power electronics traits kick in and come to the fore to good effect.
Overall, I'd put this above the tape on F&V, and the best of it is better than the 7", too. However, as I say, the first side could have done with a bit of editing. Still, certainly a project worth following.

[vomitgore]

Graustich Diversity tape: First side is one long track, about 15 minutes. Has some good sections, but overall feels a bit unfocused, and in comparison to the other side it doesn't really cut the mustard. Side B starts with 'Divide for Zion', which is classic p.e. - underpinned by fast throbbing with a slow, regular percussion, intermittent voices, and taunt electronics becoming prominent for the 'body' of the piece. 'Plan B', on the other hand, is based on a slow thud, fluttering noise, and a more irregular percussive pattern, but with taunt noise again making its presence very much felt. The last track is 'Sons of Nelson', and features plenty of African chanting and reminds me a bit of African Noise Corporation's 7" (if anyone remembers that!?). Of course, the power electronics traits kick in and come to the fore to good effect.
Overall, I'd put this above the tape on F&V, and the best of it is better than the 7", too. However, as I say, the first side could have done with a bit of editing. Still, certainly a project worth following.

Interesting thoughts! I have been appreciating this project more and more. When the F&V Tape came out, I was just into other sonic worlds and couldn't really get into it, but now I hold the whole approach in very high esteem. I played "Diversity" and "Dedicated to Those..." back to back and I would agreee that "Diversity" may be slightly superior. Maybe some of the "unfocused" moments you mentioned actually benefit the old school and murky approach Graustich takes?

[burdizzo]

Oh, for sure - I know what you mean. Personally, though, I prefer the more concise and structured approach. That's why I liked their 7", too. Another good thing about this tape is that it's not too long. Tapes are all very fine, but once you get much over 20-25 minutes per side, then sometimes too much 'mud' is allowed to seep in. I think 15 minutes a side - as this one is - is pretty much perfect.

[eyestrain]

Doombring "Sevenfold Pestilence (Amor Fati): I once thought to myself, "this is probably my favorite metal album 2000-present". Still true.

Corpuscle "Victoria Snuffbox" (Maniacal Hatred): Depraved, complex, vitriolic, invasive. A complete sound work.

[Zeno Marx]

Blood ov thee Christ

One of a small number of groups I keep trying to get/like.  That comes with no negative connotation or ill will.  I didn't care for anything Haino for many years, but I kept coming back to him at random intervals, thinking my listening possibly, finally arrived at a place where he would be as valued as I felt he could be; that instinct when an artist will significantly enrich and change your view of music, but maybe you aren't quite ready for what they do or how they do it.  There's something about BotC that inclines me to think they are of that ilk.

[Scat-O-Logy]

Doombring "Sevenfold Pestilence (Amor Fati): I once thought to myself, "this is probably my favorite metal album 2000-present". Still true.

Have you heard the demos with Pestiferous Preacher (aka Mark Of The Devil=Cultes Des Ghoules) as backing vocalist? Those are the only Doombringer recordings I like.

[Strömkarlen]

Blood ov thee Christ - Master Control (CD, Segerhuva)
Skillful marketing from Segerhuva relaunched BOTC's career (sort of), and there has been a number of live gigs as well as numerous releases, despite a few snafoos along the way. Now,while great marketing has given Blood of thee Christ a boost, this particular album is actually NOT the best example of non-musical elements being central to music. Rather, the artwork chosen for the CD, the songtitles and the few samples are quite simplistic and don't really dominate the experience at all.

Interesting to be called skillful marketers. That is one thing that I never thought would happen... As for artwork and titles we just tried to stay as close as we could to the original release and the flyers BOTC was spreading back in the day. Which is pretty much what we did with RJF also.

[Yrjö-Koskinen]

Blood ov thee Christ - Master Control (CD, Segerhuva)
Skillful marketing from Segerhuva relaunched BOTC's career (sort of), and there has been a number of live gigs as well as numerous releases, despite a few snafoos along the way. Now,while great marketing has given Blood of thee Christ a boost, this particular album is actually NOT the best example of non-musical elements being central to music. Rather, the artwork chosen for the CD, the songtitles and the few samples are quite simplistic and don't really dominate the experience at all.

Interesting to be called skillful marketers. That is one thing that I never thought would happen... As for artwork and titles we just tried to stay as close as we could to the original release and the flyers BOTC was spreading back in the day. Which is pretty much what we did with RJF also.

My only point was that the "mystique" of BOTC was conveyed very efficiently to exactly the right people, and broadened its "cult" appeal. Which of course was always there, and well deserved, so don't take my tipsy description of the Blood ov thee Christ reboot as some kind of sarcasm/negative criticism. Perhaps "marketing" wasn't the right word, since I assume you are not now sipping long drinks in Monaco on account of your Master Control profits, but it was the best word I found to describe it.

[eyestrain]

Doombring "Sevenfold Pestilence (Amor Fati): I once thought to myself, "this is probably my favorite metal album 2000-present". Still true.

Have you heard the demos with Pestiferous Preacher (aka Mark Of The Devil=Cultes Des Ghoules) as backing vocalist? Those are the only Doombringer recordings I like.

Will have to check them out, sounds like a perfect pairing!

[Bloated Slutbag]

Kontakt Der Junglinge – Makrophonie 1 cd
Surprise! 2014 studio effort from Asmus Tiechens - Thomas Koner super duo. Four consecutive live collabs, documented 2001 through 2003. After which pretty much bugger all. Recording date is curiously absent so I'll just pretend like we're picking up where n (2003) left off. Which is kind of what we are doing. n ventured some distance from earlier outings, sinking deeper into pools of languid, liquescent electronics, stepping quite clear of the industrial grade indulgences featured most prominently in 2002 highmark -1. Makrophonie 1 continues along the same path, nothing even mildly industrial grade about it. The effects of the studio are immediately felt: ultra deep brooding bass, coming in ultra slow rolling waves, just about as Koneresque a sinking as can be sunk, far deeper into languid, liquescent depths than previously plunged. Languorous, another adjective to drip... drip... drip... Drop... drop... drop... Droop. We are certainly going nowhere sloooooooow, not an unfamiliar sensation for the Konerhead, ever inclined to recline in the gentle drift of elegant, undulating, tranquility. At moments I'm inclined to perceive out-takes from Tiechens' long series of "Hydrophonie", at others aircraft engines downpitched to a blackened abyss. Shade of Tiechens croak, shadow of Tiechens creak, fog of static hiss, gasp of ghostly wail, approach of golden dawn, drawn out tinkling on porcelain ivories. Rich and sumptuous tapestries whatever the inclination, compositional sublimity to swallow you whole. At about the halfway point, a gathering of steam, grey-tinged washes wavering in yellowish clouds of near shimmer. This passes and thus to sink again, to slacken, unapologetic disinclination, arsed cannot I be, the deepest bass to expunge in rippling waves, flubbering cheeks, purest thunder, surface chimes meet shit-stuck-at-the-back-of-the-throat, satisfied belch, unhurried decline, gurgled huff, muffled puff. A nod of the head, another, gaseous hiss, tinkle, gurgle, snort, snooze.

[Deadpriest]

Xenophobic Ejaculation are the nuts.

And Dead Body Collection are blinding.

Also I'm loving Sickness, Slogun and Jimmy Buffet -I mean Sublime Cadaveric Decomposition ATM