Bolt Gun - The Warren 7"

Labels: Avantgarde Music/Starved Light

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 14 Jul 2023

Tracklist:

1. The Warren Part I

2. The Warren Part II

It's the first day of a new month. The month that will also see us into a new year. It's a chance to gain fresh momentum, at least for me anyway. That's why I'm dedicating this day to writing and listening, and first up is the two-song 7" called The Warren by Australian ambient/black/doom metal band Bolt Gun. It was released in July via Avantgarde Music and Starved Light. It was billed as the precursor to Bolt Gun's newest album The Tower, which was released in October and it features the percussive might of Iggor Cavalera on drums.

Bolt Gun is made up of guitarist/synth/orchestral arranger Jon Vayla, vocalist A.T., bassist Val Macukat and saxophonist Claire Keet on this release.

The Warren is split into two parts, both being the same length. ‘The Warren Part I’ is immediately bleak but also bold thanks to the atmospheric instrumentation performed by Bolt Gun. Iggor Cavalera’s drumming compliments the sound perfectly, adding a slightly industrial tinge to the doom-laden tempo used. On hearing the synths and saxophone, I can understand how this came to be released under the Avantgarde Records banner. It’s heavy but also intelligent at the same time.

‘The Warren Part II’ begins with synthesised strings and subtle ambience that draws you away from Bolt Gun’s heaviness. Beyond that initial opening section, the song’s first half is a mix of improv noise and off-kilter guitar. The latter half sees that band’s more structured black/doom metal appearing again, as if out of thick fog. Their cinematic post-metal influences become more prominent and temper the piercing vocals, which sit deeper in the mix.

7” EPs like this are used to build suspense and excitement, both of which Bolt Gun successfully achieve here. As the music falls aways to silence, the calm it leaves behind gives a sense of euphoria. It forms part of a larger musical journey for the band yet as a singular entity, The Warren deserves a place of it’s own. Great release.

You can stream and purchase The Warren digitally from Bolt Gun below:-

Bolt Gun - https://www.facebook.com/BoltGun

Physical 7" copies can be purchased via the links below:-

Avantgarde Music - https://avantgardemusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-warren

Starved Light - https://starved-light.com/products/bolt-gun-the-warren

Avantgarde Music - https://www.facebook.com/avantgardemusiclabel

Starved Light - https://www.facebook.com/starvedlight

Montana - Necessita

Labels: Crapoulet Records/Smelly Cat Records/Sonatine Produzioni/To Lose La Track/1a0

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 17 Dec 2021

Tracklist: 

1. Allerta

2. Posto

3. Tonsille

4. Decompressione

5. Ribalta

6. Contesa

7. Altitudine

8. Brombo

9. Perimetro

10. Offendicula

11. Scienza

I can't remember the last Italian fast/hardcore punk band I featured here. I've fallen further and further out of touch with the newer wave of punk bands coming through (which, to this day, I still blame on the demise of the MRR print zine). Are there any alternatives to MMR still in print and available? Let me know if so.

Anyway, as alluded to in the opening sentence above, Italian band Montana is my focus for this evening. I only learned about the band in June 2022 thanks to a newsletter e-mail from French label Crapoulet Records. Montana's latest album Necessita was originally released digitally by the band in late 2021 before being released on vinyl in June 2022 via the aforementioned Crapoulet Records, as well as Italian labels Smelly Cat Records, Sonatine Produzioni, To Lose La Track and 1a0. To date Montana has released four full-lengths, one EP and a split record.

I need a decent injection of loudness this evening and Necessita’s opener ‘Allerta’ is exactly that. More punk than noise but really enjoyable all the same with hints to bands like Dark Thoughts and AFI (in places). Those are both US comparisons obviously because my European punk band vocabulary is somewhat lacking at the moment (aside from Sweet Empire and Irish Handcuffs). What’s immediately noticeable here is the crispness of the production, mixing and mastering on the album. ‘Posto’ sounds very crisp instrumentally while the vocal grittiness works really well too.

There’s no meandering going on with Montana’s music and the driving guitars of ‘Tonsille’ sound even better when laid up against the band’s Italian lyrical delivery. The rhythm section of bass and drums keep the tempo in check and bouncing too. ‘Decompressione’ is a more than solid instrumental punk song that’s catchy and to-the-point. There’s a definite pop-punk vibe about it as well!

‘Ribalta’ sees Montana jump straight back into it with raucous punk that contains some killer shouty vocals that sound remarkably clean. Things get a teensy bit more artsy on ‘Contesa’ but only during it’s intro, which has a great off-kilter feel. The rest of the song is pure unadulterated punk in all it’s glory. Loving it! The pause between ‘Contesa’ and ‘Altitudine’ seems almost unnecessary, except for the sample that opens the latter. ‘Altitudine’ follows in completely the same vein as it’s predecessor, keeping the heart racing and the blood pumping.

You might be thinking that ‘Brombo’ is another interlude/instrumental but it’s not. Instead it’s a song filled to the brim with urgency and one that exemplifies Montana’s quality as a punk force to be reckoned with. ‘Perimetro’ gathers that same attitude and injects it with plenty of melodic riffs and a lengthier playing time, which is also characteristic of the album’s closing numbers.

Penultimate banger ‘Offendicula’ channels Montana’s AFI vibes without taking things too far. Such a good song filled with excellent bass lines that propel their way to the forefront of the instrumentation. Album closer ’Scienza’ begins with piano that’s oddly broody before that mood is quickly erased by Montana’s up-tempo punk for one last time. 

This album goes by way too quickly. Montana combine’s subtle heaviness with catchy punk that writes itself really. Musical exploration for the win! Give this a go while you’re heading into the weekend, it’ll sort you right out. Brilliant stuff.

You can stream Necessita and purchase it on both digital, and vinyl formats below:-

Montana - https://www.facebook.com/montanapunkrock

Physical copies can also be purchased from the below labels:-

Crapoulet Records - https://crapouletrecords.limitedrun.com/categories/crapoulet-records

Sonatine Produzioni - https://sonatineproduzioni.bandcamp.com/merch

To Lose La Track - http://www.toloselatrack.org/categories/vinile

Crapoulet Records - https://www.facebook.com/Crapouletrecords

Smelly Cat Records - https://www.facebook.com/smellycatrec

Sonatine Produzioni - https://www.facebook.com/SonatineProduzioni

To Lose La Track - https://www.facebook.com/toloselatrack

Kaal Nagini - Refracted Lights Of A Blind God

Labels: Iron Bonehead Productions

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 14 Apr 2023

Tracklist:

1. Nameless Archetype Of Pantheonless Antiquity

2. Refracted Lights Of A Blind God

3. Lord Of The Two Doors And The Seven Portals

4. Double Tongued Serpent Of Kú

Kaal Nagini is the latest band to rise from the infamous and mysterious Kolkata Inner Order. The circle of bands that make up the Order, including Aparthiva Raktadhara and Tetragrammacide amongst others have been championed by Iron Bonehead Productions ever since their inception. This four song EP was released just over a month ago via the German label. The trio that make up Kaal Nagini give nothing away regarding their identity nor their musical history. With that in mind, now is the perfect time to embrace their debut.

Sometimes I get drawn to certain bands or geographical collectives and the Kolkata Inner Order is one such collective that I’ve been following from afar over the last few years. From my failed attempts to obtain interviews with some of the Order’s members in recent years to the mystery that surrounds them, it’s time once again to dive into the noise that shapes Kalikshetra.

Kaal Nagini have been described as a maximalist band. EP opener ‘Nameless Archetype Of Pantheonless Antiquity’ initially counters that description with quietness before an abrupt change of pace and volume occurs. Fast, percussion-led death metal is the reason for that tempo change, with it’s equally heavy guitar work and deep deathly growls. Rawness exists within the mix here but it only goes to add authenticity to Kaal Nagini’s sound.

The EP’s titles track ‘Refracted Lights Of A Blind God’ reminds me of the intensity delivered by fellow Iron Bonehead bands White Nights and Pa Vesh En. Disturbingly extreme yet satisfyingly cleansing at the same time. Maybe I just find solace in noise sometimes. 

Martial noise takes it’s place amongst ‘Lord Of The Two Doors And The Seven Portals’ and it disarms you straight away, thanks to the sheer abandon of Kaal Nagini. Granted, this release will only appeal to an ardent group of extreme metal listeners but that’s kind of the point. Music like this isn’t recorded for the masses. It’s for those who truly understand it and in most cases, for the band themselves.

EP closer ‘Double Tongued Serpent Of Kú’ provides one last heady blast of disgustingly extreme death metal, which lasts even longer than the songs before it. It’s that extremity that stands out for me with this release. Death metal as a sub-genre has been growing exponentially over the last couple of years and it’s been branching off in many directions. Kaal Nagini may have ushered in another such branch. The emerging Indian extreme metal community is a fertile one, with Kolkata’s leading the way. If you give it’s constituents time you’ll be repaid.

You can stream Refracted Lights Of A Blind God and purchase it digitally below:-

 

Physical vinyl/cd copies can be purchased from Iron Bonehead Productions here:-

https://shop.ironbonehead.de/

Iron Bonehead Productions - https://www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions

Niboowin - Breathing

Labels: Dingleberry Records/IFB Records/Mosh Potatoes/React With Protest/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 18 Feb 2018

Tracklist:

1. Resting Peacefully

2. Raided

3. Careless Conscious

4. New Dawn

5. Eager Burden

6. Silhouettes

7. Chasing Sanctuary

8. Ashes Ignite And Awaken

I was so sure that I'd already reviewed this album, but going right back through what I'd already written about told me otherwise, so I'm making up for it now. Breathing is to date the only release from the US quartet that makes up Niboowin (ex-Old Soul, Dakhma etc). Niboowin plays black metal-infused noisy screamo, I guess. Whatever happens from here on out, It's Niboo-for-the-win!.

If you enjoy the likes of Dawn Ray’d and bands from the Alerta Antifascista Records roster, you’ll enjoy the sounds created by Niboowin on Breathing. Album opener ‘Resting Peacefully’ has a slightly crusty edge to it, alongside really authoritative guitar work, adding to the percussive blasts and proper emotive screams. There’s also a subtle heap of technicality thrown in for good measure.

‘Raided’ plays on Niboowin’s post-metal/rock influences a little bit more, even though those textures don’t play a huge part in the song as it quickly ratchets up in tempo and intensity. This album is so good! ‘Careless Conscious’ instills the quality of the musicianship on show, into you as a listener and I promise that if you’ve got this far into the record you’ll be hooked.

The mood and atmosphere dealt by ‘New Dawn’ is one of fresh belief, and hope, as the title suggests. It’s glorious instrumental build-up is light and upbeat, and even when the full band kicks in with menacing heaviness, it still feels so. I dunno, maybe cathartic might be a better descriptor. Either way, it’s great. Note: bands who don’t publish their song lengths on bandcamp are really onto something. This subtlety works in Niboowin’s favour here as it encourages you to invest time and listen till the end. It’s far too easy in today’s society to let your attention span own you (I should know).

The album’s later half starts with ‘Eager Burden’, which is decisively fast and noisy. It provides a bit of a jolt that’s unexpected, even if you don’t need one. Talking of jolts, the off-kilter hardcore/noise rock of ’Silhouettes’ is amongst the heaviest thing you’ll hear on Breathing. When it’s balanced by the melodic/post mid-section though, it’s so satisfying. 

‘Chasing Sanctuary’ will make you think warm and comforting thoughts fleetingly before being wrenched back to the present. The quiet/loud, soft/hard dynamic employed by Niboowin is at it’s most potent here for sure. Ending with ‘Ashes Ignite And Awaken’, it all feels like Breathing is over too quickly. It’s much better to have one stellar album than ten mediocre ones. This is that stellar album. Grab it while you still can!

You can stream and purchase Breathing digitally from Niboowin here:-

Niboowin - https://www.facebook.com/Niboowin

Physical copies are available from the labels and links below:-

Dingleberry Records - https://www.discogs.com/sell/item/1088285561

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/niboowinbreathing

Zegema Beach Records USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/niboowin-breathing-12

Dingleberry Records - https://www.facebook.com/DingleberryRecords

IFB Records - http://www.ifbrecords.com

Mosh Potatoes - https://www.facebook.com/moshpotatoesxvx

React With Protest - https://www.facebook.com/reactwithprotestdiy

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords

Spoiled Brat - Humility

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 21 Mar 2023

Tracklist:

1. All My Friends Like Chat Pile

2. Hieronymus Mosh

3. I Discovered My Prostate, Pray For Me

4. Penn And Smeller

5. The Everlasting Scope Of Horror

6. In A Nuts Hell

I've got that Friday feeling and it couldn't come soon enough! I'm ringing the weekend in with the hardcore/screamo/whatever stylings of US band Spoiled Brat. Humility is the band's newest release and apparently an "exclusive AI generate tour 23" release. I don't know whether that means the artwork was AI generated or the music was, but I can say that the day hardcore/metal/heavy music becomes entirely AI generated is the day I stop listening. Also, that opening song title makes them sound salty about missing out the brand new Chat Pile/Nerver split release (I missed out on grabbing a copy too, before you say anything!). Tape copies were dubbed by Akashita Corp and are only available in person from the band.

There are literally a ton of fast hardcore/screamo bands breaching the surface right now and catching up with them all is hard. Spoiled Brat dropped into my inbox a little while ago and with the promise of an up-coming EP, I waited. Humility was released on Tuesday just gone and it comes at exactly the right time. EP opener ‘All My Friends Like Chat Pile’ (and who doesn’t!) is a typically fast song filled with piercingly good screams, furiously delivered percussion and guitar work that almost crosses into panic/mathcore territory. I guess that’s not too surprising.

‘Hieronymus Mosh’ is an excellent title and the music backs it up with an intense and noisy approach from Spoiled Brat. Songs this short are meant to make an instant impact. That impact is genuine here. So much so, that you wish it were longer. Spoiled Brat show their art-punk/off-kilter side on ‘I Discovered My Prostate, Pray For Me’. It’s a brilliant mid-paced (for them) song that builds in dramatic fashion but never truly explodes. Instead there’s a controlled delivery of catchy heaviness that’s hard to beat.

It’s fairly obvious by now that Spoiled Brat like their amusing song titles, as demonstrated by ’Penn And Smeller’, which is their grindiest song so far. I honestly fucking love this. I can feel a big art/grind/emoviolence binge happening after this. ‘The Everlasting Scope Of Horror’ is equally as mad, albeit with added hardcore crunch. My only complaint is that, like the previous songs here, it doesn’t last long enough.

EP closer ‘In A Nuts Hell’ rounds out what is a stupidly fun release with a good dollop of garage-punk/no-wave madness. Humility is over before you know it but that’s fine, because you’ll keep coming back to it as a result. Spoiled Brat are a completely new name to me but one (on a long list) that I’ll be keeping an eye out for from now on. Here’s hoping that this EP gets a wider physical release soon too. I’m sure there are a few people who’d love to make that happen.

You can stream and purchase Humility as a name-your-price download below:-

Spoiled Brat - https://www.facebook.com/spoiledbrat

Cryptorianus - Eternal Sorrow - Nameless Joy

Labels: Self-Released/Scum On Earth

Formats: Digital/Tape

Release Date: 25 Nov 22

Tracklist:

1. The Wanderer At The Shore

2. A Hole In The Heart

3. Unknown Call Of Yearning

4. The Honesty Of Decline

5. Ghost Lament

6. The Minnesinger's Quest

7. Black Is The Colour

8. Forest, River, Moon and Sun

9. The Sea Of Ice

10. I Can Feel You There

11. The Sea Of Ice (Vocal Version)

12. Unknown Call Of Yearning (Vocal Version)

13. The Honesty Of Decline (Vocal Version)

14. The Wanderer At The Shore (Early/Raw/Vocal Version)

15. Nameless Sorrow - Eternal Joy

Eternal Sorrow - Nameless Joy is the latest release from German solo drone/noise/post-black metal artist Cryptorianus. It was released back in November of last year and contains two distinct sides. The first ten songs are instrumental while the final five songs that make up the album's fifteen are vocal and experimental versions. As well as being self-released by Cryptorianus digitally, it was also released on tape by Scum On Earth.

I’ve decided to write this review over two sittings, given everything there is to take in here. Album opener ‘The Wandering At The Shore’ is filled with heavily fuzzed-up bass guitar, which is both droning but also upbeat with a definite melody flowing through it. Some might call it primitive, but it’s not. If you’re a listener that prefers more defined songs and structures, you will find this hard to listen to as ‘A Hole In The Heart’ follows with a much more unnerving tone and progression. Initial impressions brought Sunn O))) to mind but I don’t think that comparison’s right now I think of it. I’m not even trying to compare Cryptorianus to anybody else either.

‘Unknown Call Of Yearning’ is the last of the longer players (for the time being at least) and it’s crawling tempo, even without the help of percussion, is very mournful and almost inward in it’s delivery.  I guess using the term “longer players” was a bit of a misnomer as ‘The Honesty Of Decline’ crawls along at the same pace as it’s predecessor, filled with distortion aplenty. It very much feels like all of the songs here are really just one movement broken up. They follow on from each other as if they were anyway, as ‘Ghost Lament’ demonstrates. 

Cryptorianus clearly had a singular vision about how Eternal Sorrow - Nameless Joy was going to sound and sometimes it’s interesting to understand that vision. Perhaps I’ll do a rare interview at some point soon. The reason I talked about vision is because musically, as ‘The Minnesinger’s Quest’ comes to an end, it’s becoming obvious that variation isn’t something that’s being employed through these initial ten songs, though that strikes me as being deliberate on the part of Cryptorianus and I’m not trying to do the band or album any disservice.

One thing’s for sure though, it’s nothing if not mesmeric at times. ‘Black Is The Colour’ is as droning and as hypnotic as it gets on the album. It’s also the moment at which the fuzziness fades out a little to open a slightly clearer bass sound (briefly). The light begins to shine through during the song’s last thirty seconds, which kind of blows my point about variation out of the water. The experimental nature of Cryptorianus is very clear and the melodic tones that opened up this album reveal themsevles once again during ‘Forest, River, Moon and Sun’, which sometimes sounds digital almost. 

This latter half feels more laid-back (though that could just be my mind playing tricks on me). ‘The Sea Of Ice’ is the penultimate instrumental song on Eternal Sorrow - Nameless Joy. It’s very haunting and leads into ‘I Can Feel You There’, which has some really cool bass textures flowing through it. The final five songs here are where Cryptorianus adds vocals, beginning with the reimagining of ‘The Sea Of Ice’, which actually sounds like a completely different song with them. More black metal influenced but still just as droning and noisy.

From stark black metal and noise to spoken-word on ‘Unknown Call Of Yearning’. The spoken-word makes this composition sound even more unnerving, especially thanks to the very eloquent delivery of Cryptorianus. Very gothic to these ears. It’s a brave thing offering re-imagined songs like this but then again you see it happen all the time. It depends a lot on the band too, but here I think that they work really well and show a different, more expansive side to this project, especially on ‘The Honesty Of Decline’.

The version of ‘The Wanderer At The Shore’ that’s reserved for this section of the album is an early/raw vocal version mixing both black metal and spoken-word, making it much more theatrical. The album closer proper is called ‘Nameless Sorry - Eternal Joy’, which in case you haven’t guessed, is a play on it’s title. This song is an amalgamation of the dark noise and gentle melody that Cryptorianus is able to create, but in a much longer form. 

This whole release is an odd musical trip and it won’t appeal to everybody; however, it’s well worth giving a chance for it’s final five songs alone. I’ll be completely honest here and say that I felt more comfortable listening to those than I did the instrumental offerings. You as a listener might feel differently though, so give it your full attention. It will reward you.

You can stream Eternal Sorry - Nameless Joy below:-

It can be purchased on tape and also digitally from Scum On Earth here - https://scumonearth.bandcamp.com/album/eternal-sorrow-nameless-joy

Cryptorianus - https://www.facebook.com/Cryptorianus

Scum On Earth - https://www.facebook.com/scumonearth

The Owl - A Trip Inside The Museum

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 26 Apr 2022

Tracklist:

1. The Repurposing Of A Cerebral Purging

2. The Morning After A Psychedelic Experience

3. The Asylum For Augmenting Thought

It have been far too long since I last featured any musical creations by The Owl here, which is completely my fault. I have dabbled in noise/ambient music before and The Owl has always been one such project that's held my attention, but the ever increasing push/pull of life and my overflowing inbox have meant that I've taken my eye off the ball. That was until I saw the cover of A Trip Inside The Museum. It's psychedelic imagery layer over the top of what look like brain scans had me intrigued.

This three song release pays homage to a fellow noise/experimental project that goes by the name of The Museum Of Viral Memory. The Owl contributed two songs to the project that were reimagined with the help of a symphony orchestra, which both feature in their original form here alongside a remix of a track originally by The Museum Of Viral Memory themselves. I know very little about the latter but I know what The Owl is capable of, so without further ado let's dive in.

First up, ‘The Repurposing Of A Cerebral Purging’ is as weird as The Owl describes it to be in the accompanying bandcamp notes. Looping, oddly rhythmic glitchy noises that become more hypnotising and unnerving as they go. The alterations between the different passages here are what makes it such an interesting listen for me, even though musically it’s harsh. I don’t feel that these words can do full justice to this thirteen minute song; however, I’ve always respected The Owl hugely as a musician and the creativity on show throughout all of the project’s releases (of which there are many now) stands out.

Second song ‘The Morning After A Psychedelic Experience’ is a much more low-key affair, featuring what sounds like field recordings of nature interspersed with more weird noises. A lot gentler in approach with the harsh noise dialled down, it shows a more sensitive/ambient side to The Owl. It’s the perfect backdrop for a nocturnal walk through forests or over moors. The accompanying spoken word sample adds extra mystique to the song as well.

The Owl’s final song here is called ‘The Asylum For Augmenting Thought’ and is a remix of the song ‘Refuge’ by The Museum Of Viral Memory. If any of you have checked out The Owl’s previous remixes, like the Oathbreaker ‘Ease Me’ or Aubzagl ‘Eilifa Kuldinn’ ones, you’ll know that you’re in for a journey. Most people think of remixes as digitally stitched together, beat-matched tracks but The Owl replaces those techniques with images that move from their brain to the recording, in turn creating collages of sound that sit perfectly alongside the orchestral sounds of The Museum Of Viral Memory.

This release is adventurous and enjoyable. If you’re only just finding your feet in the realm of abstract, noisy, experimental music, there’s plenty for you to take in here. It’s a really creative body of work and it must have struck a chord because my neighbours appear to be howling like wolves in appreciation/competitiveness  (delete as applicable), or maybe because they’re drunk.

You can stream and purchase A Trip Inside The Museum as a name-your-price download below:-

The Owl - https://www.facebook.com/theowlsounds

Stomach - Demo

Labels: Practiced Hatred Fanzine & Records/Dry Cough Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 14 Jan 2022

Tracklist:-

1. Deserve

2. Loom

3. Oil

4. Delirium Of Negation

The dark, dingy nights of (very) early November have hit me hard. To stave off the long winter days ahead, I'm going to be reaching for heavier and darker music like that which appears on the debut demo from US sludge band Stomach. This demo was originally released on tape back in January via US fanzine/label Practiced Hatred Records before UK label Dry Cough Records did a pressing in March. Stomach has links to some fairly well known US grind/pv bands, but that's all I'm going to say on the matter as I want you to treat them on their own merit if you're hearing them for the first time.

This tape definitely harks back to the earlier releases from Dry Cough Records (whom I purchased a copy from). It’s slow, sludgy but with occasional blasts of pace on opener ‘Deserve’. The instrumentation is very bass-heavy and is laden with feedback. The percussion is much more akin to funeral doom in it’s delivery and the vocals are used sparingly, but when they are they’re scathing. The further you get into the song, the more drone-like it becomes.

‘Loom’ is the antithesis of ‘Deserve’ with it’s noisy, fast stop/start approach that ushers in a new and stark era of powerviolence. It’s an intense auditory experience that seems to come and go very quickly, especially given that the demo’s other three songs combined reach nearly thirty minutes. ’Oil’ is as thick as it’s viscous namesake sound-wise. Again, taking it’s cues from the slower end of doom/sludge, it’s harrowing tones are filled with yet more feedback and gargling bass. Is it too early to say that this demo rules? Whatever, I’ve said it now! 

Demo closer ‘Delirium Of Negation’ takes things to an even deeper level, mixing the aforementioned slow/droning tempos with the noisier more frightening textures that were present on ‘Loom’, thus creating something that’s hard to turn away from. As with the preceding songs, this one is so downtuned that it makes Stomach sound even more miserable than longtime genre torchbearers Primitive Man. This demo is a bit of a game changer for me.

I do like taking plenty of time to listen to releases now before writing about them, which is something I haven’t done very frequently in the past. This demo has been a constant listen over the past few months especially. Just something about it keeps me coming back. There’s a full-length on the way at some point, so get yourselves prepared by spinning this if you haven’t done so already.

You can stream and purchase this demo digitally from Stomach below:-

Stomach - Instagram: @stomachdoom

Physical tape copies are still available from Dry Cough Records below:-

https://www.drycoughrecords.com/product/stomach-demo-cassette-dc56

Practiced Hatred Fanzine & Records - https://www.facebook.com/Practicedhatredfanzine

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords

Deathnoisefrequency - Horrid Dirge + Omitted Horrid Chapters

Labels: Wall Of Sound Records

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 17 July 2020

Tracklist:

1.  Chapter III: The Mortician's Lamenting Dirge

2. Chapter IIII: Horrid Choirs

As I cling desperately onto the remaining hours of my annual leave before returning to my day job, I thought I'd fit in a couple of short reviews. Both are of releases from the same band; Deathnoisefrequency, who hail from Saudi Arabia. Horrid Dirge was their first release, dating back to July 2020. Along with the second review, this feature is a precursor to another feature that I'm planning, which addresses the plight of bands that exist in countries with strict regimes, but more on that later. For this release, the duo of Ghassan Al Fudail (guitars) and Ahmed Mahmoud (vocals) are joined by session musicians Diya Azzony (keys, bass, effects) and Sarah Belle Reid (additional keys, trumpet and effects).

Deathnoisefrequency promise to make things uncomfortable for you as a listener and on ‘Chapter III: The Mortician’s Lamenting Dirge’, they waste no time in producing a harsh soundscape complete with almost industrial, programmed drums (I’m guessing! Please correct me if I’m wrong). It’s great to here how they interpret extreme music like this. It can’t be easy to exist as such an extreme musical entity in the Arabian Peninsula but Deathnoisefrequency clearly care about their art and it’s very enjoyable to listen to so far; especially with the production work of Diya Azzony.

Second song ‘Chapter IIII: Horrid Choirs’ is filled with ambiance and additional effects, as the opener was. It’s drone-like dirge sits perfectly alongside the trumpeting of Sarah Belle Reid, giving it an ever more menacing feel. At times there’s a harshness akin to Rammstein, but that’s a very tenuous comparison. This is way more avant-garde. One thing’s for sure though, overlooking this is a grave mistake if you like music on the more experimental end of the spectrum. 

You can stream Horrid Dirge and purchase it digitally below:-

Labels: Wall Of Sound Records

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 31 Oct 2021

Tracklist:

1. The Beast's Lamenting Dirge

2. The Children's Lamenting Dirge

Coming more than twelve months after Horrid Dirge, Deathnoisefrequency released Omitted Horrid Chapters in October 2021. Again featuring two tracks, but this time both of the same length, it remains their latest release to date. It also once again features the guest musicianship and expertise of Diya Azzony and Sarah Belle Reid. 

Omitted Horrid Chapters is billed as a re-working of ‘The Mortician’s Lamenting Dirge’ and on listening to opener ‘The Beast’s Lamenting Dirge’, I can hear where Deathnoisefrequency are coming from. There seems to be more black metal influences coming through in the vocals here, as well as the ambience/effects that were heard on their first EP. 

Second song ‘The Children’s Lamenting Dirge’ almost feels like it could follow straight on from the EP’s opener without the pause, and indeed it probably should but that’s just my opinion. In it’s own right, it’s a lovely layered song that follows on perfectly in a musical sense. There’s a part of me that was expecting Deathnoisefrequency to be a lot noisier, even venturing into harsh noise, but that was the wrong assumption to make. There’s much more to them musically and that’s a reason to take notice.

Omitted Horrid Chapters can be streamed and purchased digitally below:-

To summarise both of these EPs and Deathnoisefrequency, I wouldn't hesitate to say that the music contained herein isn’t just enjoyable, but is also a unique interpretation from a band doing things their own way. I sincerely hope that there is more to come from them. If not, then may they be an influence and a beacon for those who wish to follow them.

Deathnoisefrequency - https://www.facebook.com/Deathnoisefrequency

Wall Of Sound Records - https://www.wallofsoundsa.com

Frequencies Deleted #5: See Through Buildings - No Greater Love, No Deeper Loss (by Mikey Ortega)

Label: Self-Released

Format: CD/Digital

Release Date: 16 May 2021

 

Tracklist:

1. A Body So Small with An Energy So Big

2. An Explosion of Silence and Sadness

For many years, dogs have been known as “Man’s Best Friend”. They’ve been there for the good times and the bad times. Shared many memories and have always been there by your side. So you can imagine the loss and grief when you lose someone that close.  Someone that is considered as family. It’s as if a piece of you is missing. On See Through Building’s NO GREATER LOVE, NO DEEPER LOSS, Ben Rehling expresses his grief, after the passing of his dog, Hanna. If you’re familiar with See Through Buildings work, then you know how punishing and aggresive it can be and if you read the credits on STB’s Bandcamp page, you would know this is the first time Ben has delved into this subject matter.  For sure, this one is very personal and you can only hope to find some closure.

 

We start off with “A Body So Small with an Energy So Big”, which, by the title, tells you everything about Hanna. When Hanna was brought home as a small pup, she was full of life. It’s as if you knew she belonged. Especially with the way she interacts with the other pets. That right there tells you Hanna was something special and the soundscapes totally captured that. Like a little ball of energy, just running around the house, with no sight of slowing down. We then go into “An Explosion of Silence and Sadness”, which just hits you with a ton of bricks. Those low-ends just gets you in the feels and you can understand what Ben is going through. You’re so used to hearing barking and other noise, that silence just feels out of place and that makes your loss very hard to get through.

 

NO GREATER LOVE, NO DEEPER LOSS, is an album that anyone can relate to. We’ve seen our loved one on their last leg. We’ve seen them struggle and suffer. We do our best to make their last days in this World comfortable. We try to spend as much time with them as much as possible, because we don’t know how long they have in this World and even though they’re no longer with us, we do our best to keep their memory alive. I like to think NO GREATER LOVE, NO DEEPER LOSS is an album that can help us get through some rough times. To remind us that those we’ve lost, will forever live inside us and that they are never gone. NO GREATER LOVE, NO DEEPER LOSS, is a perfect send-off to Man’s Best Friend. R.I.P, Hanna. Always enjoyed those pics that Ben posted on facebook and Instagram.

 

You can download NO GREATER LOVE, NO DEEPER LOSS on Bandcamp. All proceeds goes to animal rescues in the Southern California area and also be sure to follow See Through Buildings on social media in the link below.

See Through Buildings - https://www.facebook.com/seethroughbuildings