Peasant God - Null

Labels: Self-Released/Visceral Circuitry Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 21 Sep 2017

Tracklist:

1. Hate Itch

2. Yours to Suffer

3. Erased

4. Mindlapse

5. Last Gasp

6. Null

A while ago now I reviewed the 2025 full-length Mykka pimeys by Finnish sludge band Ilon Lapset, which was co-released via French extreme metal/industrial/noise label Visceral Circuitry Records (alongside Finnish label Ramekuukkeli-levyt). That review sparked correspondence between the both of us and about a week or so ago now, I received a package containing two sweet cdr promos. The first of which was to promote the label's tape pressing of Null by Swedish doom/industrial/sludge duo Peasant God.

The duo, featuring members of acts including Dead Existence, Grave Lines and Walking Corpse (amongst others) self-released Null digitally back in 2017. At the same time, Visceral Circuitry also gave it a home to help spread the music further. Earlier this year, they released it on tape for the first time. 

After receiving some potentially sobering news earlier about roof repair, I’m ready to sink into something noisy. Reading that Peasant God have been compared to the likes of Godflesh, early Pitchshifter and Body Void; I knew this release would hit the spot. The low-tuned guitar/bass, deep growls and clinical beats say all that need to be said this early on.

This is a demo by Peasant God’s own admission but it doesn’t feel like one, especially given the experience of the musicians here. ‘Yours to Suffer’ is a march of arduous proportions. Early on, its tempo doesn’t deviate all that much but later on it gets weirder, and faster too. Peasant God begin to add in subtle psychedelic/off-kilter effects too.

‘Erased’ is a noise-filled interlude that pulsates uncomfortably for nearly a minute, leading you into ‘Mindlapse’. Shutting myself off and turning the volume up really helps to bring this release to life. It definitely reminds me of when I was first deep diving into doom and sludge. I know this release it much more than just a nod to those sub-genres as it revels in industrial heaviness too.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that ‘Last Gasp’ was the demo’s final song, but it’s not. It is the longest song here though and it has that driving intensity that might not be fast, but is properly engrossing. The mesmeric bass/guitar tones and tempo are key. Closing with title track ‘Null’, Peasant God go all out with the noisy industrial weirdness and it’s honestly pretty inspiring. 

Sometimes, the harshest noise can bring the greatest clarity. I think that applies to Peasant God. Almost nine years on from its original release, Null delivers both an aural battering and a realistic take on the state of the world. Excellent!

You can stream and grab Null as a name-your-price download from Peasant God below:-

Tape copies can be purchased from Visceral Circuitry Records via bandcamp below:-https://visceralcircuitryrecs.bandcamp.com/album/null

Peasant God - https://www.facebook.com/peasantgod/

Visceral Circuitry Records - https://www.facebook.com/visceralcircuitryrecs