Sunday 29 September 2019

This Noise Is Ours Patreon

Once again I forgot that another blog anniversary had passed. This Noise Is Ours has now been running for just over nine years. With that in mind, I've put some thought and attention into where I want to take this. I've always wanted it to be something bigger than just a blog so I've set up a Patreon page with the aim of expanded beyond it and also helping out some good causes along the way. 

If you decide to become a patron, your support would mean that I can put some projects into motion that would include tape releases and special merchandise for patrons (t-shirts, stickers, posters etc) amongst other things. Patrons will have their names added to a new page on here and will also receive some extra surprises as things grow. 

I also have the YouTube channel that I'll be using to provide updates and added content relating to the blog. 

MRTEX - Riot/Mutiny


Labels: Akashita Corp/Larry Records/Zegema Beach Records
Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital
Release Date: 15 Apr 2019

Tracklist:

1. June And July, Life Over Die
2. Sectumpsempra

About to head back to the coal-face tomorrow. This two-song EP stands as the final release to come from dreamo duo MRTEX (though there is a comp on the way). From a discography made up of compilation appearances and split's, MRTEX carved themselves a little niche during their relatively short existence. Both members have played and still play in several bands of a similar ilk as well as running a label or two here and there (you probably know who already). "Riot/Mutiny" was release d earlier this year digitally, on tape and via limited 7" lathe-cut vinyl.

As a parting gift to fans, this tape achieves more within its two-songs than most bands do in their entire catalogues. MRTEX’s output has focused on quality over quantity and the intense beginning of June And July, Life Over Die gives way to calming emo instrumentation with screams sitting between it. It’s very moving. The duo’s musical violence is epitomised on Sectumpsempra, but where most emo-violence bands would have ended the song at the fifty-second mark, MRTEX keep going with their serene instrumentation once again. 

I think we take music and bands for granted nowadays. It’s so easy to consume it and the longevity of it is sometimes fleeting, so taking moments to enjoy it is important. You can do that with "Riot/Mutiny" because even though it’s short in length, it still allows you time to switch off from your worries and from real life for a moment. It’s what’s needed. 

You can stream 'Riot/Mutiny" and buy it as a name-your-price download from MRTEX's bandcamp page below:-




Physical copies are available from the links below:-


Tuesday 24 September 2019

Torpor - Rhetoric Of The Image


Labels: Truthseeker Music/Sludgelord Records/Moment Of Collapse Records/Smithsfoodgroup DIY/Medusa Crush Recordings
Formats: Vinyl/Digital
Release Date: 20 Sep 2019

Tracklist:

1. Benign Circle
2. Two Heads On Gold
3. Enigmatic Demand
4. Mouths Full Of Water, Throats Full Of Ice
5. Mourning The Real

It's been an honour for me to be able to write about Torpor's music over recent years. My first introduction to them was the 2012 tape "Bled Dry" that was released via Headless Guru Records. Then came their first full-length "From Nothing Comes Everything" in 2015 released via Head Of Crom on vinyl and Black Bow Records on tape (alongside a self-released CD version). A mere twelve months later came their "Split" LP with Sonance through Truthseeker Music and now they're back with a brand new full-length "Rhetoric Of The Image" where they once again team up with Truthseeker Music, as well as other like-minded labels for a double LP release. Everything they've put out thus far has been unique and has painted them to be one of the strongest sludge/doom bands in the UK.

Embarking on the journey that is “Rhetoric Of The Image” is a mixture of both the familiar and the unknown. Familiar in the sense that Torpor has built a truly enviable reputation with the noise that the trio creates but unknown because you don’t know the level of progression that faces you. Album opener Benign Circle is immediately heavy and intense, with a sound and a volume that’s beyond anything you’d expect from a three-piece and a groove that’s subtle yet also full of momentum. It’s gloomy and the bellowed vocals are deep, but the metallic additions add light. The lengthy instrumental mid-section is meandering (in a good way) as Torpor weaves ambience and atmosphere into the song before once again, your senses are assaulted by the rapturously bleak riffs and powerful percussion. What a start to the album!

Talking of ambience, Two Heads Of Gold is a prime example of how noise can co-exist with organic instrumentation in the most unnerving of ways. The spoken-word vocals that sit within the mix don’t make things anymore comfortable. If you were expecting a straight-forward sludge album, then you’re probably still wet behind the ears. The haunting soundscapes continue into Enigmatic Demand, which like the opener, passes the ten-minute mark and then some! The long build-up is now a characteristic of Torpor’s music and here its oddly soothing while also being climactic too. The groove is back at this point and as it reaches the mid-section, the explosive dissonance hits. The bellows are real and as painfully delivered as you’d expect. They even drown out the incessant helicopter noise outside (Harrogate is currently hosting a major global cycling event and I’m on the flight path). 

Torpor settles it all down slightly with penultimate song Mouths Full Of Water, Throats Full Of Ice. It’s another ambient song with melodic vocals that will penetrate even the darkest of souls. Closing song Mourning The Real is the longest of all five on “Rhetoric Of The Image” and its as mighty as promised. The low-end is as heavy as it’s ever been and the whole band seems to be at it’s most comfortable. There’s a lot to be said for momentum, but as mentioned above Torpor just deals with it. Once again the mid-section is filled with ambient instrumentation but it doesn’t detract from the overall feel and sound of the record. It adds to it and continues to show how much this band has grown over recent years. 

We’re racing head-on to the end of 2019 (at least that’s how it feels) but there are still many great reasons to embrace the music that’s been released so far this year. This album is one of those reasons and Torpor is to thank for that. UK heavy music for the win!

You can stream and purchase "Rhetoric Of The Image" digitally below:-




Physical copies are available below:-

Moment Of Collapse - https://kollektif.eu/34-preorder

Moment Of Collapse Records - https://www.facebook.com/momentofcollapse/ 

Sunday 22 September 2019

Mental Health In Music: A Musician's Perspective #2 - Alex Bond (Musician of 27 Years+)


For this second instalment of my Mental Health In Music series, I went further afield and spoke to Floridian musician Alex Bond. Alex has played in many bands throughout his life and his perspective below is a unique one I feel, especially when talking about community and support within the DIY music scene itself. I hope you enjoy reading this and I just want to say thank you to Alex for taking time out to answer my questions.

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1. The idea of this feature is to talk about the problems that musicians face, especially those in DIY or up-and-coming bands. Would you mind talking about your own experiences with mental health?

A. I grew up with alcoholic parents, and my parents divorced when I was six. My father was barely ever around, so I never really had a father figure to lean on for support. My sister and I were left to our own devices much of the time. We both started experimenting with alcohol and drugs at an early age (for me, middle school). I am not sure if any of this lead to my mental health issues, but I was always a loner, didn’t have many good friends as a kid. I had depression and anxiety from an early age and started taking anti-depressants in middle school. 

As a teenager, it was difficult to get on track with my mental health and stability, because I was not inspired with music if I wasn’t feeling completely tragic at the time. I was also dealing with my sexuality. I felt like I was easily able to come out of the closet to friends/direct family, yet I had no gay people to relate to in my immediate area (Indianapolis, IN). I felt quite isolated on a regular basis. 

My life, in a nutshell, has been a roller coaster ride of emotional turmoil and crippling anxiety ever since I can remember. I really only now feel, within the last couple of years (I am 38), a sense of what normalcy may look like. I am able to finally hold a job, run a household, help to keep a band together, etc. Getting away from my hometown and moving to Saint Petersburg, FL has helped gain some footing over my demons (not to mention more consistent weather patterns LOL).

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2. Being in a band can be an outlet for people to express their feelings and to help them get over certain things in life but do you feel that it can also have a negative effect? If so, what do think these effects can be and are these linked to writing, recording, touring etc?

Growing up in the punk/hardcore community, it was quite the double-edged sword. Initially, it felt like I had found the community in which I belonged. It soon became apparent that we were all there due to how fucked up we all were. At times, I felt accepted and embraced in spite of my issues. Other times, I felt like I was part of some fucked up cool kids club where I felt like I had to compete with others for acceptance. 

I started playing drums in bands when I was eleven. Music was all I cared about, which in itself was a drug, a toxic dependency. All I had to look forward to was practice/shows with bands, attending shows, collecting records. I was being fed all of these ideas from people I did not personally know. If I did not agree with the flock about certain ideas/political themes, I was rejected. Naturally, I felt just as alienated by the punk scene as I did by the rest of society, so I drank more and did more drugs. I was angry, depressed, anxious constantly, had very low self esteem, no sense of self worth. I was always getting kicked out of bands and butting heads with people. 


3. How do you deal with things now? Have you got any advice for those who are struggling themselves, musician or otherwise?

I try not to bottle things up. I taught myself to be open and honest about my emotions and thoughts, even if it meant sacrificing friendships/relationships. I also taught myself how to be more constructive in serious conversations, rather than place blame or attack the other parties. It’s all about sharing information and ideas and seeing all sides before drawing conclusions. 

I also try as hard as I can to keep up with my physical health. I cannot stress enough how important eating healthy, drinking tons of water, taking vitamins and exercising every day can be. Taking hikes, spending more quality time with my canine companions, catching up with loved ones on a regular basis. Watching inspiring documentaries or reading a great book also helps with my daily outlook. I am constantly trying to stay focused on how fortunate I am to have the life that I do rather than focusing on all of the negative, toxic bullshit in this world. 

If someone is struggling with anxiety and depression, my biggest piece of advice is to talk. Talk to your friends, your family, those that you trust. Open up to them. Never bottle up your feelings, anger, anxiety, confusion. Stay physically active as much as possible, but also know when to relax. Take care of your body, which will in turn benefit your brain. 

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4. What more do you think can be done in the underground scene or even the wider music scene to support people who may be struggling?

I think just keeping the honesty alive in lyrics and music is most important. Keep the doors open to discussions regarding mental health and the struggles that come along with it. Forge friendships with people that lift you up instead of tearing you down. Always welcome the newcomers with open arms. If you see someone struggling, do not shy away from helping them by just being there. Be a good listener and always be ready to TALK. 

Horsewhip's website is here - http://www.horsewhipfl.com/

If you've been affected by any of the above or you want to speak to somebody or donate, and you're in the US, you can visit Mental Health America here - https://www.mhanational.org/donate-mental-health-america. Wherever you are though, if you need to reach out to people, do so. There are people and charities globally that can help.

Thursday 19 September 2019

Pelican - Nighttime Stories


Labels: Southern Lord Recordings/Brutal Panda Records
Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital
Release Date: 07 Jun 2019

Tracklist:

1. WST
2. Midnight And Mescaline
3. Abyssal Plain
4. Cold Hope
5. It Stared At Me
6. Nighttime Stories
7. Arteries Of Blacktop
8. Full Moon, Black Winter

The other night I mentioned the number of incredible records that were released recently and how I was way behind in appreciating them all. I'm slowly catching up on them and latest album from Chicago, Illinois post-metal/instrumental band Pelican was one that I was eager to hear. It was released in June on vinyl, cd and digital via Southern Lord Recordings, along with a tape version via Brutal Panda Records that saw the light of day about a month later. I probably can't say anything that hasn't already been said about Pelican and their music, but this is all about enjoyment of music and its creators.

Elegant soundscapes and subtle textures are exactly what’s needed this evening, as the barmy late summer sun recedes and “Nighttime Stories” promises that. Opener WST provides a glimpse into a mellower side of Pelican, though it’s only a mere intro of sorts. Midnight And Mescaline is a very different beast with upbeat tempos and driving instrumentation. The quartet has matured well beyond the point of a band still finding own way and it shows here.

It’s actually amazing how upbeat this record is considering the heavy sludgy beginnings of the band well over a decade ago. Abyssal Plain is another example of this, albeit one that does call on passages of off-kilter instrumental black metal-like guitars and blasts at times. It convinces you that vocals are not needed. Cold Hope is by far the heaviest song on “Nighttime Stories” so far as it takes things in a more dissonant and doomier direction.

The second half of the album is ushered in by another calming piece in the form of It Stared At Me. It tempers back Pelican’s more full-on side but it still gives you plenty of time to appreciate their musicality at the same time. Time is short but when it’s spent listening to this, it’s very previous indeed. Just when you’re at your serenest though, the title-track shatters that feeling with a bass-heavy smash to the face. There’s still plenty of melody here but it’s the rumbling noise that takes true hold of your senses. The volume seems like it’s been turned straight up beyond maximum and it gets the heart beating as a result.

There’s a slight reduction in the heaviness as Pelican wind their way to the end of “Nighttime Stories” but that does nothing to stop their momentum and penultimate song Arteries Of Blacktop is still a driving effort for sure. Closing song Full Moon, Black Water is most definitely a positive and life-affirming way to end. It gathers everything that is great about Pelican’s music and shoehorns it into the perfect summary to conclude the album. There are no histrionics or pretence, just honest musicians making honest music. A fantastic contender for album-of-the-year.

You can stream "Nighttime Stories" and purchase on vinyl, on cd and digitally below:-




Tape copies can be purchased via Brutal Panda Records here - https://www.brutalpandarecords.com/collections/all?page=4

Southern Lord Recordings - https://www.facebook.com/SLadmin/

Wednesday 18 September 2019

The Glorious Dead - Imperator Of The Desiccated 7"


Labels: Bindrune Recordings/Eihwaz Recordings
Formats: Vinyl/Digital
Release Date: 18 Jul 2019

Tracklist:

1. Mangled Cerebration
2. Celebrate The Corpse

Staring at the black/white artwork and the red writing of the band logo had me hypnotised for a minute. It reminded me of so many old-school death metal record covers, from before albums were adorned with spilling entrails and bodies being defiled. Michigan (US) quartet The Glorious Dead have returned with their first EP in a decade and with it a sense of OSDM as it was before slam took over. At this point, I'll be upfront and say that I really enjoy guitarist Marty's Youtube Channel but that's not the reason I'm here tonight. I'm here to celebrate this 7" and indeed The Glorious Dead for what they are.

Good old organic, live and mad death metal is what’s on show here. This EP begins with Mangled Cerebration and its rawness is more than matched by the instrumentation and vocals, which are clear and super enjoyable. There’s a sinister and gloomy edge to TGD’s sound that seems to be brought out even more by the recording. Celebrate The Corpse is a doom/death leviathan that was recorded in a live setting. The vocals are deeper and they match the low-end rumble that takes the music in an even darker direction. Their musical skill is obvious given their previous involvement in other bands over the years. 

It’s not delicate nor is it easy listening but it’s genuine. Often people get too tied up with wishing that their favourite bands would release greater amounts of music, but sometimes less is more. The Glorious Dead take that latter approach and make a greater impression because of it. OSDM the way is should be!

You can stream "Imperator Of The Desiccated" and purchase it both digitally and on vinyl below:-



Sunday 15 September 2019

Meditations In Affinity Vol.1 (Bond): Life In Vacuum/Canyons/Crowning/Hundreds Of Au - 4-Way Split 7"


Labels: The Ghost Is Clear Records/Zegema Beach Records
Formats: Vinyl/Digital
Release Date: 10 May 2019

Tracklist:

1. Life In Vacuum - Nine To Five
2. Canyons - Storing Light
3. Crowning - Visceral Ghosts
4. Hundreds Of Au - Out In The Streets/Elevator Music

I've spent an hour or so this morning just taking stock of what I've been sent to review recently and trying to do some organising of my schedule for the coming weeks. I didn't quite appreciate how good releases have been over the last few months. I've still got catching up to do but that's a constant. 

As the seasons here become more autumnal it's post-hardcore that I feel myself reaching for and so to kick off this Sunday, here's the first split 7" (sub-titled - Bond) from a series called "Meditations In Affinity". The series will feature five four-way split 7"s featuring twenty bands and is a collaboration between The Ghost Is Clear Records and Zegema Beach Records. Each band contributes one song and here they are Life In Vacuum (Can), Canyons (USA), Crowning (USA) and Hundreds Of Au (USA).

Life In Vacuum’s contribution Nine To Five seems to be influenced by UK Indie/Brit Pop to start with, as it’s angular riffs and clean vocals lead the way before the trio explodes into the more usual post-hardcore sounds. It’s more accessible due to the varied musical application that the trio exhibits. Really creative punk. Canyons are equally as angular and off-kilter on Storing Light, but the sense of foreboding that’s enveloped within their mid-paced post-hardcore is palpable. More bass-heavy and containing harsh vocals from the get-go, there’s no light that shines through.

Crowning’s Visceral Ghosts is the closest you’re going to get to the sassy-grind/emoviolence sound on this split. It threatens to explode in a fireball of technical instrumentation and crazy tempos, but the band holds-off from that and instead creates a hardcore song that’s as mesmeric as it is unnerving. The split’s closer is reserved for Hundreds Of Au and Out In The Streets/Elevator Music is a combination of typical heaviness and cinematic post-rock, held together by solid instrumentation and caustic vox. The way they transition from Out In The Streets to Elevator Music leaves no time for a pause and their raging final bars make for a fitting end to this release.

This split series is a fantastic way for people to discover bands that they otherwise would not have. I appreciate that all of the participants have probably already been confirmed for this series but it got me thinking; being based in the UK, I’ve always felt that native post-hardcore/screamo bands have been under-represented on releases like this. It would be great to join together with a label (or labels) to seek out a new band or two from the UK for a release. This is a spark of an idea, so write to me if you think it could be a grower. 

You can stream "Meditations In Affinity Vol.1" and purchase it digitally below:-




Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-


The Ghost Is Clear Records - https://www.facebook.com/TGICRECS/

Thursday 12 September 2019

Radien - Aste


Labels: Bunkkeri Records
Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital
Release Date: 03 Jul 2019

Tracklist:

1. Tunne
2. Haudat

It's a weird feeling when you feel mentally drained but physically raring to go. Maybe it's because it's nearly the end of another working week and hedonism awaits. Either way, passing another milestone on the blog this week has left me with a satisfied inner warmth and the impetus to write more. Radien is a band that I've featured before and because of my love for Finnish bands, I was excited to review, though it's taken a little longer than I had hoped to get to this point. The band's latest work "Aste" was released in July via Finnish label Bunkkeri Records and since it's release, support slots alongside Full Of Hell have been and gone, only to be followed soon by equally as big shows in November alongside Inter Arma,

“Aste” features only two songs but they’re both long players. Tunne begins with plenty of ambience and emotive vocals courtesy of Noora Kauppila (melodic singing) and Juuso Raunio (chants and throat singing). It takes a while for Radien’s black/doom/sludge to build and in doing so, it paints a bleak image that’s inescapable. When Radien opens up the delivery provides an equal atmosphere with pained growls and metallic layers that remind you of slower, sludge-filled metallic hardcore from the likes of Integrity (at times). The bass-tone accompanies the slower tempos throughout dragging Radien’s sound down an ever deeper and darker rabbit hole.

Second song Haudat is equally as atmospheric, with a much heavier slant than Tunne initially. Radien’s avant-garde vision definitely came through during that first song and it’s alive and well here thanks to the addition of the Saxophone played by Tommi Rapeli. It works really well alongside the dissonance and feedback (as well as what sounds like whale song, though it’s probably not). Being mainly instrumental, Haudat is left to wander on it’s own and forge a path that’s sometimes disturbing and sometimes hauntingly beautiful. Overall, “Aste” is a lovely body of work but it leaves you hoping that Radien’s productivity will lead to more songs and even a longer full-length record soon. For now though, the band's entire back catalogue is worthy of your attention and admiration.

You can stream "Aste" and buy it digitally and on vinyl below:-



CD copies, vinyl and other Radien merch is available from Bunkkeri Records below:-

Monday 9 September 2019

Sete Star Sept/Monochrome Nausea - SSS/MN Split 7"


Labels: Duel Disk Media/Friendly Otter Records/Don't Live Like Me Records/Cake Soda/Kakusan Records/Destruktomuzik Records
Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital
Release Date; 23 Apr 2019

Tracklist:

1. Sete Star Sept - Follow Rules
2. Sete Star Sept - Dizziness
3. Sete Star Sept - Commander Error
4. Sete Star Sept - Merits And Demerits
5. Sete Star Sept - Collapsing Castles
6. Monochrome Nausea - When We're Ready To Sing, We Step Up To The Microphone And It Comes Out Something Like This
7. Monochrome Nausea - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Art-Core Band
8. Monochrome Nausea - Anger And Violence
9. Monochrome Nausea - Perception Happens In The Brain
10. Monochrome Nausea - Bicycle Rocket Man
11. Monochrome Nausea - My Typewriter Is Drenched In Booze, Sweat And Semen From Problematic Post-Modernists
12. Monochrome Nausea - A Rapid Exit Through The Local Vomitorium
13. Monochrome Nausea - Experience And Theory: A Defense Of Kantian A Priori And Kepler's Philosophy Of Science In Light Of Modern Space-Time Physics
14. Monochrome Nausea - You Big Fat Sack Of Merda
15. Monochrome Nausea - He Dit

Here's a long overdue review of a crazy split 7" that was released earlier this year! Japan's Sete Star Sept and Norway's Monochrome Nausea came together to commit 15 noisy, grinding and improv tracks to wax and tape, which were brought to life via the labels above, while also leaving a scathing aural whole in the Internet.

Having written all of this split’s song-titles out above, it feels like the opening paragraph is a little small in comparison. Still, there’s plenty of opportunity to change that. Japanese noise-mongers Sete Star Sept get five songs in as many minutes here. Noisy is the right adjective to use when describing this duo as well. Their bass-heavy rumble on opener Follow Rules is frightening, as is the feedback. Dizziness induces just that as the cacophony of bass, vocals and drums railroads you into submission. 

The rawness of their sound is unbelievable but there’s still a perversely listenable element in there too, even during the screeching feedback that ends Commander Error, which grinds like a lunatic. There’s no let-up with Merits And Demerits either, with the vocals flitting between high-pitched shrieks and tortured deeper bellows, SSS’s final song Collapsing Castles is filled with mesmerising bass riffs and extremity that only the Japanese can pull off. Not for the faint of heart.

If your’re hoping for an easier ride with Monochrome Nausea, it’s probably best to turn away now. Quickfire opener When We’re Ready To Sing, We Step Up To The Microphone And It Comes Out Something Like This is eleven seconds of similarly hellish noise and it gets no easier as the amusingly titled Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Art-Core Band takes over. This one feels long in comparison but its music deconstructed into its most primal form. 

The aptly titled Anger And Violence sums up this entire split as its improvisational nature sees tempos change and ear drums explode. MN takes things to further extremes during Perception Happens In The Brain and its followed by a slew of songs that are equally as short. Bicycle Rocket Man highlights the influence that they’ve gained from their split-mates, while My Typewriter Is Drenched In Booze, Sweat And Semen From Problematic Post-Modernists highlights their more obtuse side.

By now, you should know that it’s not gonna get any easier but the fast, slow, faster structure of A Rapid Exit Through The Local Vomitorium is great fun. Things return to the weird thanks to Experience And Theory: A Defence Of Kantian A Priori And Kepler’s Philosophy Of Science In Light Of Modern Space-Time Physics…all four-seconds of it. Penultimate song You Big Fat Sack Of Merda is no lengthier and kind of feels a bit strange given the pause before and after it. Split closer He Dit seems like a true long-player at this point, but don’t let that fool you. The abrasiveness is still there as is the improv madness. 

Fifteen songs in not very much time at all from two bands that don’t care for normal structures or melody. If you like your music fast and loud then this is for you. An acquired taste maybe, but one that’s addictive and just plain silly.

You can stream the split and purchase is digitally below:-




Physical copies can be purchased from the below labels:-


Don't Live Like Me Records - https://www.facebook.com/dontlivelikeme/

Friday 6 September 2019

0N0 - Cloaked Climax Concealed 7"


Labels: Transcending Obscurity Records
Formats: Vinyl/Digital
Release Date: 03 Mar 2019

Tracklist:

1. The Crown Unknown
2. Hidden In The Trees (Sail This Wrecked Ship)

I'll be reviewing some lengthier releases on Sunday and into next week, but this evening is made for something shorter. "Cloaked Climax Concealed" is the latest release from Slovakian industrial doom/death trio 0N0. It was released on limited vinyl back in March of this year and it adds to the band's already impressive discography, which spans two full-lengths, four EPs (including this one) and a digital-only single. 

This is both glorious and spellbinding in equal measure. 0N0’s doom/death metal backbone on first song The Crown Unknown is heavy, atmospheric and off-kilter all while being totally cohesive. The mix of clean and harsh vocals that sit slightly within the mix balance out the eclectic textures that are weaved by the instrumentation, while it actually sounds like there’s a real human playing the drums (they are programmed). 

Second song Hidden in The Trees (Sail This Wrecked Ship) is no easy ride either, with death metal taking more of a lead in proceedings. It makes me think of the maddening noise of Fluerety twinned with the accessible melody of Astronoid. I appreciate that they are probably bizarre comparisons, but somehow they seem to work (in my opinion).

“Cloaked Climax Concealed” is brief in length but it demonstrates exactly what 0N0 is trying to do as a band. It shows off the entity’s instrumental genius and the bravery it has to do something different. I always get slightly worried when I see the term “Industrial” used to describe a band but here it works in subtle ways. Definitely a band worth your time and another fantastic addition to the Transcending Obscurity roster.

You can stream "Cloaked Climax Concealed" and purchase it on both physical and digital formats below:-



Tuesday 3 September 2019

夢遊病者 (Sleepwalker) - Ѫ (Yus)


Labels: Sentient Ruin Laboratories
Formats: Vinyl/Digital
Release Date: 26 Apr 2019

Tracklist:

1. First Utterance
2. Last Utterance

Ever since I reviewed their split with Sutekh Hexen earlier this year, I've had an itch that's been gnawing away at me. The heaviness that was contained on that split was epic and the black/Experimental noise of international band 夢遊病者 called me back. Now, I'm jumping back a month, give or take, to their latest solo release. Ѫ (Yus) was released on 12" etched vinyl by Sentient Ruin Laboratories in April.

The integrity that seeps though Sleepwalker’s music is unbridled. They’re keeping ancient themes alive while being rooted firmly in the modern day and on Yus, they’re focusing on contradiction that it’s meaning carries amongst different languages (I hope that's right, but kindly correct me if not). First Utterance isn’t so much black metal but more a layered musical piece, featuring elements of it alongside more traditional instruments. At times it does venture into more extreme territory, but those moments are short-lived and fade in and out, ensuring that melody is ever-present,

Last Utterance is very much a heavier prospect. There’s guitar riffs that move between traditional heavy metal and obscure, off-time jazz. The drumming is equally off-kilter and the vocal rasps are buried within the dissonance. That jazz element remains as Sleepwalker finds quieter moments, though their mind-bending extremity is never too far away. This song and indeed Sleepwalker in general demonstrate why you shouldn’t try to understand what’s inside the head of somebody who likes extreme music. Just listen for yourself and you’ll hear the artistry and genius that exists within it.

Stream and purchase Yus both physically and digitally from Sentient Ruin Labs below:-



Sentient Ruin Laboratories - https://www.facebook.com/SentientRuin/