PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[Commander15]

Aprapat - s/t 2CD

Compilation of early Aprapat tapes, released by Freak Animal. Well thought out compilation, top notch cover art and beautiful package in whole, simply gorgeous. Aprapat is, besides Jaakko Vanhala and Umpio, my first real gateway to the world of harsh noise and scrap metal experimentation in general.

It is an absolute joy to listen to the gradual progression of Vilho's skills of manhandling various kinds of metal objects and mangling of the sound in linear fashion by this compilation. Imaginitive stuff, full of tension and drama, with keen sense of dynamics and textures. Humbling stuff to listen, just like watching some old-school car mechanic in work, resurrecting old car carcasses back to life with craftmanship and pure love of metal and mechanics. It's nice that the tape sound has been preserved in this collection. 5/5.

[TS]

Alo Girl - Bangkok

Urashima put this out on vinyl as well, but the tape version looks better. It adds the charm to have it in a black minigrip bag, with a stapled picture of street whores looking sad and abused as a cover art. Lots of spoken word samples and crude noise blasts. Okay and dirty noise tape but no urge to check other releases from this project.

Agreed, very well put together visually, a bit disappointing sound-wise. Still enjoy looking at it from time to time..

[burdizzo1]

That new Pain Nail 2x10" is pretty good - and a bit of a step up from the slightly disappointing CD last year. Or '21, even.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Dead and gone short lived Finnish label, New Old Sentinel. Some CD's, some CDR's, some tapes.

Cloama"Cloama" CD
Real CD and damn good one. It is experimental, pretty damn unique sound. Not power electronic, not noise, not really drone per se. Not ambient. What it is, is unusual very advanced Cloama own style release you can't really put in any category. It is dirt cheap still today, even if being done back in 2005.
Somnivore + Kivelä CDR,
edition of 100 and goes into similar category with Cloama CD. Can't really categorize, even if it ain't anything outrageously different. Some sort of experimental, noisy soundscapes, that are really cool and always nicely floating forward. If it would not be under such name, but have some nice name like.... "Illusion of Safety", maybe that kind of listener would have noticed it, hah..
Post-industrial soundscapes done 20 years ago, I guess its less sexy moment, but I would make assumption that these releases will sound good still 2040, while some of now hot things might not...  At least Cloama will. Not sure if the CDR will survive till that date.

ConDemek "Technological Shack Job" CD
Functional
I don't hear ConDemek mentioned too often. I recall friend was listening this CD while ago when visiting him. Have had this about since it came out, and back then, when didn't have internet access home, couldn't visit the neat URL written in disc... So ConDemerk was very mysterious group I know nothing of.
Well, honestly, still now, I guess I only know their musical output, and not even all of that. Don't think I ever read interview or checked out what they may have done after, or besides ConDemek. Any other projects? .. May have to take a look at discogs. What I do know, that compared to how good their recordings are, industrial-noise kind of stuff, they tend to be dirt cheap still now.
This CD has exceptionally funny.. or deranged series of prank calls or... just calls? Christian Phonesex pt 1-6 goes throughout the album, with type of language and words that ain't that fresh in current times.
Functional Organization put this out, and when you think that 90's was not yet huge era of industrial reissues, but this Tesco sublabel did plenty. Con-Dom, Contrastate, Mental Destruction, Satori, BDN, Illusion of Safety, Archon Satani, Asche,... so many may know those names, and ConDemek goes just fine among the rest. Haven't checked lately, but I assume these are still dirt cheap?

K2/AMK/THE HATERS "Three phenomena" CD
Vinyl Communications
Earlier same day was listening some recent Grunt noise recordings, and then listening this and thinking... got to make better noise! Of course that was just live takes so far, so once its done, maybe matching level of 90's classics, hah.. This CD here is 1997 K2 basically cutting best cuts of sound submissions. I guess you could almost see it as extension of the noise tournaments series. That 7" series SHOULD be CD.
So yes, this is K2 doing editing for all material. One track of K2+Haters, one track K2 with AMK and Haters and last one K2 & AMK. All so god damn brilliant.
K2 of this era has such distinctive sound, that even if it is often "metal junk", if it takes you more than 2 seconds to recognize K2 metal junk, you have clearly not been listening much of his mid-late 90's output.
Very soon to be announced is repress of Macronympha "membranes and black holes" CD, and that has Macro using K2 source sounds throughout the album. Every time K2 source hits in, you recognize it 1000%. It is very odd, when thinking how much there is metal junk banging and cutting noise, and this one guy managed to develop such unique sound nothing sounds like it.
On this CD seen in picture, K2 cutting method is phenemenal. Also very unique way of cutting sound.
On top of everything, jewelbox with obi, that has Vinyl Communications label previous noise titles advertized. What we have here is... Merzbow Oersted, The Haters Mind the Gap, Merzbow Hybrid Noise Bloom... Zipper Spy, Psywarfare, etc..  It is very very rate I hear anyone mention Vinyl Communications. I guess since it is not exclusively noise label, it ain't that hot label name to mention? But we do talk about Relapse..

[Zeno Marx]

Batchas - Explorations 85-95

One of those projects I forget about and how good it was.  AKA Myiase.  First heard them on the great Bunkur Archeology comp.  There's a tribalism, or industrialism, to them not commonly found in ambient.  There's no percussion.  There's a crumbling and grumbling that gives it a different feel.  At times, it can sound like a Jeph Jerman work being manipulated.  A collaboration with Voice of Eye would have been interesting.  Or with Life Garden or Ure Thrall.

[moozz]

Proof Of The Shooting - Demonstrative Evidence
4 CDs full of varied '90s noise. Sometimes harsh, sometimes pretty spacious, but always interesting. I was not familiar with the project at all but I am glad I got this one. Plenty to explore here!

Rotat - Infidel Gastronomy
Harsh noise is the name of the game! Nothing more, nothing less. With a quirky tongue-in-cheek twist but not goofy. Yet another solid album from this Finnish gentleman.

Circle Of Shit - Almost There Now
I have not always been that impressed with CoS but this one is great! Kind of atmospheric industrial but on the noisier side.

Amek-Maj - Amek-Maj
Brand new CD release! I was expecting harsh noise but got something entirely different. And I was not disappointed! This is "narrative noise" that brings to mind some sort of hybrid of Jason Crumer and Altar Of Flies. Excellent!

[HateSermon]

GRUNT "Cast Iron Hand" 10", Old Europa Cafe 2022

Mikko mentioned here recently how the latest Grunt releases have been fed through a tape deck once or twice to get that extra overall distortion that only tape can provide. This technique is especially evident in this release. All of the usual Grunt elements are there - grinding synth, maniacal vocals, metal drenched in feedback - but the merging and melting of sounds as a result from this recording technique is what really makes this release so special. It's the type of result that you can't really predict or plan and it becomes an unpredictable animal. There's an overall warm, old school sound to it unlike so much of the crystal clear hi-fi mastering you hear today. Nice presentation by OEC, too. Great quality print on the jacket. Copies still available through Malignant for those in the states.

[Fistfuck Masonanie]

Hymenal Opening - Fucked to Death By A Horse C30 (IOPS)

The great Hymenal Opening return! First release since 2019. I absolutely LOVE this project. I literally chased down every tape a few years back and I can't get enough. Not sure I ever heard a modern harsh noise project that successfully created as much of a feeling of grime and underbelly seediness as well as HO. A lot of familiar elements as far as high-frequency ear shredding, but there are some subtle new elements here and there. BUT NOT MUCH!

It's too bad there are no song titles on this release because they always come up with good ones. For example, "On The Way To The Hospital, I Showed The Guy In The Ambulance Her Asshole And Asked If He Wanted To Fuck It". No track titles mean we also didn't get any new songs about red wigs this time either, bummer.

FYI, the main man behind the project was involved in Rectal Hygienics. Fantastic band. I also VERY highly recommend checking out the Hymenal Opening – Red Hymen CD on Filth & Violence from a few years back. Nasty nasty stuff.

[HateSermon]

Unclean "Marked And Slaughtered / Replicated Humanity" lathe 7"
Narcolepsia

2 raw and suffocating tracks done in a minimal but effective way. Both sides present buzzing synth sounds and a sea of junk metal abuse. Commanding vocals on this reminds me of a mix somewhere between Shift and Contortus... certainly in good company. Great packaging on this too. Screen printed jackets with several inserts including lyrics. Rough collage work reminiscent of the old F&V days. Limited to 50 and I believe there are still some available through the label. Looking forward to his new tape on IOPS.

[Fistfuck Masonanie]

Government Alpha - Advisability Study

I've been slowly working through the Government Alpha Xerxes box over the last few weeks and just hit a couple of noteworthy tracks. These are from the split with T.A.D.M. I think when Sam McKinley was talking about putting his favorite aspects under a microscope and amplifying them, this could easily be an example of a release he was talking about. Not literally, but maybe, because these tracks are DENSE. I kept thinking that the texture is REALLY close to what Sam would later replicate. Especially the second track, Confessive Subtext. Two superb tracks among many in this box.

I am also very pleasantly surprised by Funeral Procession, never heard this one before, and it's out there for Gov't and it's very solid. I also have an original tape copy of Snakes And Ladders, but it's nice to have a digital version after all of these years. This box is such a treat!

[aivosumu]

Cyess Afxzs - T​à​pies tape

Amazing tape. This is "noise with musical elements" done the greatest way, with the underlying tones (or sometimes even melodies?) adding to the atmosphere, sometimes buried underneath, sometimes more prominent in the mix, but not taking anything away from the tasty harshness. Tracks feel very composed and work nicely in focused c20 format. Definitely need to check out more from this project.

Lusters - Rock Music tape

Seeing the project live a while ago reminded me to finally pick up this tape. Harsh noise, not really the "in your face" type but rather slower moving and building with different elements. Good tape, but was even better live!

Grunt - Installation Of Blood And Steel CD

Big fan of harsh noise side of Grunt, been constantly listening to Hehku CD since release but i think this one might be even better! Just the type of stuff i can play many times in a row and never get bored.

[Fistfuck Masonanie]

Mangled Clit – Erotakill (Hospital Productions)

One thing that stands out to me about the Mangled Clit material is just how harsh it is. From the lyrical content to the sounds. It's some of the sickest and most depraved lyrical content and which equally matches the sounds that compliment it. Very active profile of sounds, especially for what is considered PE in its current or modern form.

SS66/72 - There is a reason this is so highly considered among the vanguard. This isn't just another Genocide Organ / MS-20 worship album. Nothing wrong with that by any means, but this is different. The sounds are diverse and shredding. It's harsh, and not always synth-laden. However, distinctively PE and distinct to the artist. I can't find the words to express how good this material is and how important the reissue is to preserve it.

Purveyors Of Cruelty - The focus gets much much darker on this material. Or maybe it's just more discernable. The sounds become more foundational and the vocals take a more central role up front. The sounds on side A are very choked out and suffocated but the vocals are very clear and unnerving, really showcasing the depravity of the lyrical content. I won't go into details. The first 20-minutes or so of the B-side has a lot of screeching feedback, distortion, and vocals similar to the collection so far, but then transitions into well detailed industrial loops. Factory-like sounds that slowly and gradually develop with multiple layers. A surprising twist at the end of what was a scorching and harsh release until this point.

And the outro sample that ends the release is one of the most disturbing things I've heard, which is quite a feat. Sets an uncompromising and uncomfortable feeling that sits with you when done.

Truly depraved shit. Grimy, filthy, and overrun with smut. The word "cunt" is used A LOT. Not for the weak of heart.

[cantle]

Any UK distros got the Mangled Clit reissue?

[absurdexposition]

Any UK distros got the Mangled Clit reissue?

Can ship from here for CA$10 or less (~6GBP).

[FreakAnimalFinland]

DEAD BODY LOVE "Prayers for the sick" tape
Slaughter
Mostly noise, but one long track gloomy "dark ambient". Kind of distant rusty sounds echoing. Not REALLY ambient.
B-side track relies a lot in this one less than second long loop. Just hammers on and on and on like drum machine beat. On top of that, I would dare to throw guess that some Merzbow noise is being sampled? Of course DBL could have just have some similar gear, but some of sounds are SO Masami trademark tricks, it feel like maybe some borrowed uncredited sounds here...?  Of course not bad thing really. It's like Macronympha or Emil Beaulieau or such, where you will spot fragments of other peoples noise being brutalized into something new.

ALTER OF FLIES "Black Tunnel" tape + 5" lathe
Cipher
There's been several Cipher things on playlist, but as playlist tends to be so massive, most reports appear on the night time. There was very neat new-ish things from 2022.. but now listening this older thing. It's been haunting me just about every time I see it.
Keep forgetting what it is, and always this "why there is some trash in my tape shelves!!" and as soon as I pull it out, it is actually special edition of Altar of Flies, haha... 5" lather and tape. Good stuff. 5" goes fast, and tape is probably better material anyways, but can't see myself selling away anything by AoF.
Not long ago I got email from guy who asked help to identify noise tape. I looked on picture and it was clear it -had been- Ochu tape on cipher. Anyone that has that special edition of moist, dirty canvas with some eathly substance, may have now some sort of evolutionary version of tape. Fungus or mold based version of the cover. I did dry my copy of it. Not sure if it is now ruined or... preserved!

DMDN "DMDNMIX NO 56 / Dronemix" CDR
Some may know DMDN from PURE/RRR disc. Some may know he did sequel for that disc by himself. Some know him from "Agonistes" tape of GROSS, that was reissued as LP and CD. Curiously, that release is actually collaboration with Thirdorgan. GROSS had policy of being just one release per artist (except for Aube), so since Thirdorgan had already release on GROSS, that tape was just titled as DMDN and liner notes credits Thirdorgan for source sounds.
That all may be common knownledge in noise scene, but later days DMDN has probably bigger discography than the 80's or 90's. This type of "pro-CDR's" with no covers, just sticker on disc label saying what it is. I guess I have 5-6 different ones, but I'd assume plenty exists. Man is DJ and in techno/DJ store and that type of thing, so slightly another realm from early days power electronics / harsh noise, but for example this 74 minute drone set is really good stuff.

HEX MINORA vs DAVIS G CD
MDP
Hex Minora, name you don't hear that often. She was running BV tapes too in the 90's. Have been holding some BV tapes in my hand lately, but didn't put on deck...  This collab with italian guy is good. Not phenomenal, but good. Electronic, sexy, noisy...
Then pile of... well, probably not sexy noise tapes! Just pulled bunch of totally random tapes, with no relation to eachother, other than most of them MIGHT be in category "who cares".

NO XIVIC / SOMNIVORE "Getsemane" tape
New old sentinel
Like No Xivic/Somnivore. Tape titled Getsemane, which has very unique meaning in Finland. Anyone who visited the finnish Getsemane, knows what I am talking about. Two bands that are good, but never mentioned if Finnish experimental sound / noise is talked of.
Mentioned to friend I can't think of anyone consciously thinking its time for "Moke Grotton/Ufo as Bacteria split tape". No offense to artists, but that's how I see it. I also must acknowledge both are really good in this tape, so maybe there are fans for both out there?

INHALANT "Clinical" tape
Propulsive Audio
Inhalant, they do have even LP out, this tape from 2005 feels better than my impression about Inhalant from 2005'ish. Hard electronics noise, almost PE type of stuff.

ENDZEITGENERATION "Aufzeichnung Eines Momentanen Zustandes" tape
Neuzeitliche Tonkonstruktionen – NT 24
Endzeitgeneration tape. From 1993, somewhere between heavy electronics and odd experimental stuff, perhaps leaning to latter. I like it, despite all the odd wonky weirdness they do with synths and efx. These are probably reasons why nobody cares and discogs stats shows last time tape was sold, someone scored it for less than 2 euro! Not bad. If I did not have it, I'd grab it anytime for such price. Long ago I did "SI podcast" about obscure german noise/pe stuff, and this is the kind of stuff that could have been included too.

NIGHT SHADE "casual encounters" tape
Castle Bravo
Absolutely no idea who sent me, or how I got the Nightshade tape, but it must have been on my table for years. Always watching "what the hell is this?!". Cover says nothing, and eventually listened the tape, probably years after getting it and while appreciating good noise on this short tape, went to discogs to check out some info based on sticker on tape saying its project called Nightshade. Neat.

AMPH/SSRI split tape
Untergeschoss
Amph / SSRI split tape, another tape that had been long in pile of "what the hell is this", and when finally opening the wire mesh, again tape that I must have got 5-7 years ago? Good stuff. Amph you know is good, SSRI has variation, but this is among the very good ones.

Wertham / Origimi Replica -tape.
90's stuff from mr. Deplano from Italia and Norwegian stuff. Wertham playing as I write this, and I like the analogue "heavy electronics" approach here. O.R. will have to be listened tomorrow...

Linekraft "Howling" CD
New Approach
I had been listening from bandcamp, but listened CD as soon as it arrived. Some vocals feel a bit too efx overloaded, but really good CD nevertheless. Linekraft has become in few years the best Japanese industrial-noise, right there on lineage of Grim, S*core, Dissecting Table, and so on..  You can't even complain about many releases, as they all have been great, and different!

Arktau Eos "Dormiveglia" CD
Aural Hypnox
2023 release, just came out. Listened few times and can appreciate a lot this ghostly and eerie, yet surprisingly musical ritual "ambient" music. It has so many musical elements like simple piano fragments, air organ melancholic tones, but also hiss, analogue synths, bells, multiple short tracks in 40 min duration. Excellent!

White Gold "3" CD
Troniks/Helicopter
this was only Troniks CD in 2022. Very good one. Especially first track is such a blast of harsh noise, with that nicely electric smashing metallic sound. At times it becomes total flamethrower HWN, but a best it is when it is the pure power contemporary harsh noise in the positive meaning of word. Nothing is hidden under mud or hiss, but just all on ten, sharp clarity, mad skills harsh blast... I actually was listening this couple of times and returning one master CDR of upcoming Freak Animal release, and had to write artist that your CD needs mastering. It is great, but when comparing to stuff I've been listening, it needs more punch. That was done, and partial thanks to Phil & John setting standard, improvements are happening.. haha

RLW "Fall sliger geister" CD
Black Rose Recordings
Ripped this out of shinkwrap, straight outta "to be listened" shelves at home, and really brilliant RLW cd, experimental sound in best tradition of unpretentious sound lover who knows what he is doing... and then watching the information.... This came 10 years ago! 10! Fuck... Time goes so fast that one is bound to have masterpieces in shrinkwrap for decade. But, liking it now, so probably timeless experimental recordings.

THE HATERS "Nikumu 2007" CD
Kubitsuri tapes
My favorite The Haters must be Ordinarily Nowhere. It would be in top 10 noise of all times, simple based on amount I have listened to it.
This cd is much newer works, but really good one! Kubitsuri also has personal importance for me as early contacts in japan. He put out 90's Grunt both tape and vinyl. Plus pretty much everything on label is good!

After The Haters CD (previous post here), decided to listen this old Merzbow/The Haters CD. It might be thanks to Wiese mastering - or just the quality of artists, but it sounds fresh and punchy. Really good CD. It is odd to think how one may have to describe this old noise innovative noise, while a lot of contemporary noise is great... but it doesn't have the same quality of sonic innovations.