Dome Runner - Conflict State Design

Labels: Self-Released/Starving Light Collective

Formats: Digital/CD

Release Date: 12 Aug 2021

Tracklist:

1. Fuji Cracks

2. Imprisoned Existence

3. Unfollow

4. Impure Utility Of Authoritarian Power Structure

5. The Undemonizing Process

6. In Pain

7. Expire

8. Exit Design

Debut album Conflict State Design was digitally released by Finnish industrial sludge band Dome Runner in August 2021. It was joined by a CD pressing from fellow Finnish label Starving Light Collective around the same time too (at least I believe that to be the case, but correct me if not). I was contacted by both the band and SLC separately sometime ago about it and in typical fashion, I'm finally writing about it now (sorry to all parties involved for the severe delay). Dome Runner started life in 2017 and released their debut demo in 2020.

I’ve never really gravitated towards industrial music but I’m aware that as time passes, tastes change and I am a lover of sludge, so Dome Runner gets my approval. Plus, they’re Finnish so that makes me happy. Album opener ‘Fuji Cracks’ is a bizarre mix of both the aforementioned sub-genres and the experimental, hypnotic nature of Dome Runner’s sound is obvious right away. Oppressive percussion sits alongside droning riffs and vocals that slide between truly harsh reverb-filled screams, and spacey clean singing. Plus the colours used on the cover art remind of Fear Factory’s Soul Of A New Machine (in a very round-about way). 

Obviously, there’s no great similarity between the two bands, aside from the Industrial leanings to my ears, but please tell me what you think. ‘Imprisoned Existence’, much like the album’s opener, contains repeating electronics and a barrage of down-tuned instrumentation. The vocals are delivered with the intensity of a powerviolence band in parts, which is definitely in keeping with the rest of the Starving Light Collective roster. That said, the music here is definitely more mind-opening.

‘Unfollow’ gives you elements of thrash and groove metal with it’s simple but very effective riffage. The crashing percussion/samples render you incoherent while Dome Runner aurally attacks from all directions. I forgot how genuinely refreshing it was to listen to something far removed from what’s been on rotation for me recently (death metal, screamo). So far this album is a great listen.

The longest song on the album is ‘Impure Utility Of Authoritarian Power Structure’ and it’s a swirling mix of tempos and heavy textures. I use the term textures loosely though, as the sound that’s achieved throughout this album is anything but gentle in feel. It takes control of all of your senses and thanks to clever song-writing and sludgy tones, it very much stays on the right side of becoming a noisy, incoherent collage of sound. 

I wasn’t doing Dome Runner a disservice with the final sentence of that last paragraph, as I really dig this and ‘The Undermonizing Process’ shows why, as the band comes into their own with an ear-splitting hybrid of fast/slowness. The more you take this in the more you hear of their musicality. It’s extreme but it’s infectious too and if there was a song that truly summed up Conflict State Design it would be ‘In Pain’, purely for it’s constant groove. It may seem like I’ve run out of things to say at this point, but I’m really just taking a moment to soak it all up. 

‘Expire’ breaks me from my trance and in doing so, it quite bizarrely transports me back to when I was watching Turnstile’s Glastonbury 2022 set on TV from earlier this year (must be the clean vocals). Again, I know neither band are similar in any way. It’s just the colours my head paints. Closer ‘Exit Design’ is a gentle, ambient piece that calmly calls time on proceedings in brilliant fashion.

This is another prime example of why you shouldn’t pass up on the opportunity to listen to something new, even if it does take you nearly a year to actually do it (as is my case). Dome Runner are another reason why I hold Finnish music in such high regard. Likewise, Starving Light Collective too. Please give this album a listen if you haven’t done so already.

For Fans Of: Godflesh, Napalm Death, Killing Joke, Kurokuma and Fear Factory

You can stream Conflict State Design and grab it as a name-your-price download from Dome Runner below:-

Dome Runner - https://www.facebook.com/iamdomerunner

I can't find any links to CD copies, but you can contact Starving Light Collective via the below link to see if any copies are still available:-

Starving Light Collective - https://www.facebook.com/starvinglight

Forsvinn Harifran!/Swollen Head - Split

Labels: Puukotus-Levyt/sStarving Light Collective

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 24 Nov 2021

Tracklist:

1. Forsvinn Harifran! - Hela Söderort Hatar Polisen

2. Forsvinn Harifran! - Tillåt Pyroteknik På Läktaren

3. Forsvinn Harifran! - Dö Rasister Dö

4. Forsvinn Harifran! - Statens Institut För Rasbiologi

5. Forsvinn Harifran! - Djurgårdsjävlar

6. Forsvinn Harifran! - Kniven Mot Ansiktet

7. Forsvinn Harifran! - Tills Jag Är Död

8. Forsvinn Harifran! - IQ Som En Frukostflinga

9. Forsvinn Harifran! - Sparka På Bollen

10. Forsvinn Harifran! - Åh Vi Hatar AIK

11. Forsvinn Harifran! - Pizza, Öl, Krig

12. Forsvinn Harifran! - Varför Förstör Polisen Stämningen?

13. Swollen Head - Slavery

14. Swollen Head - Last Meal

15. Swollen Head - Coins

16. Swollen Head - Execution

17. Swollen Head - Meat Head

18. Swollen Head - Sanitary Towels

19. Swollen Head - Fifteen Squares

20. Swollen Head - Election

21. Swollen Head - Zebra Crossing

22. Swollen Head - No Sense Of Humour

23. Swollen Head - Heavy Speed

24. Swollen Head - Swollen Head

I can't remember the last time I reviewed a release this long. This split features twenty four tracks of Swedish and Finnish noisecore/powerviolence from solo projects Forsvinn Harifran! and Swollen Head, respectively. It was released late last year on lathes by Puukotus-Levyt and on tapes by Starving Light Collective. I know that there's a link to Finnish hardcore band Sick Urge via Swollen Head,  but that's all I know. If you know more and you read this review. please don't hesitate to drop your knowledge in the comments!

Before I start this review proper, I want to point out that the order in which I’m reviewing these songs may not be correct. The release is available for streaming via Swollen Head’s bandcamp and as such the band’s songs are listed first in the running order (which makes complete sense) but elsewhere I’ve seen the tracks by Forsvinn Harifran! listed first, so I’m doing them in that order. It doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things but hey ho.

Starting with Forsvinn Harifran!, you’re presented with uber noisy fastcore that’s semi-improvised. You’ll be lucky if songs here pass the fifteen second mark, but when songs like ‘Tills Jag Är Död’ and ‘IQ Som En Frukostflinga’ do they provide slightly sludgier tones. Songs including the opener ‘Hela Söderort Hatar Polisen’, ‘Sparka På Bollen’ and just about all the rest from FH! are made out of pure chaos. This is all the work of one person and that’s mind-blowing to me. I’m reminded of some of the Mind Ripper Collective (short-lived but rad UK fastcore/pv label) bands like Endless Swarm and Godhole while listening. 

Swollen Head’s side of the split is no less intense. In fact you’d be hard pressed to tell the band apart from Forsvinn Harifran! if I’m being honest. That’s no bad thing though as they share a similar bond. There’s a gritty/screechy approach here, with the likes of ‘Execution’ and ‘Meat Head’ being especially striking to me. As with FH!, the fact that Swollen Head’s music is written,  composed and recorded by one man is pretty nuts. On ‘Election’ and indeed throughout I do get hints of The Body showing through, but that one might be an obvious name to draw out of the had. Like FH!, Swollen Head is still pretty unique sounding.

If you’re a returning reader you’ll notice that I haven’t over-analysed this release like I usually do. Twenty four songs is stretching it for me in terms of descriptive originality (not something I profess to be great at anyway!). This split is great though, especially if you like it fast and loud. There are plenty of reasons to enjoy both Forsvinn Harifran! and Swollen Head, not least because they’re from Scandinavia, which is synonymous with stupidly productive musicians. 

FFO: Endless Swarm, Godhole, The Body, Sick Urge, Nak’ay

Stream and purchase the whole split digitally below:-

You won't find either band on social media (at least I didn't anyway!)

You can purchase tapes via Starving Light Collective here (though I don't know if it is their main site) - https://www.localgymsandfitness.com/Starving-Light-Collective

I can't find any store/site/social media pages for Puukotus-Levyt but here's the FB page for Starving Light Collective - https://www.facebook.com/starvinglight/

Kevatuhri - II

Labels: Starving Light Collective

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 09 Nov 2020

Tracklist:

1. Neljas Alku

2. Kaaos, Messu

3. Interlude

4. Kohti Pimeaa

5. Outro

Finnish antifascist black metal from a band of musicians who wish to remain anonymous. Very little information surrounds Kevatuhri except for a Metal Archives page and their bandcamp page. Following a self-titled debut EP that was released in 2018, Kevatuhri released their second EP called II in 2020. As well as being made available digitally by the band upon release, it was pressed on tape via Starving Light Collective in mid 2021. 

You’d think that having two weeks of annual leave would be enough to catch up, but you’d be wrong. I wanted to use most of the time to go through e-mails and write but instead I’ve spent the time procrastinating (so far). I’ve got a bit of time left though, so miracles might happen. Without wasting any more time, I’m diving into II by Finnish antifascist black metal band Kevatuhri. They’re part of the modern era of Finnish black metal and are just starting to make their presence felt. EP opener ‘Neljas Alku’ is teeming with ambience and foreboding instrumentation. It builds with a great sense of musicality and eventually the band’s full arsenal is unleashed, in all their raw glory. There are so many elements to the music and while a lot of people would call black metal “anti-music”, there is a lot to admire here.

‘Kaaos, Messu’ is much more instant in it’s delivery and impact. The vocals are truly piercing and the instrumentation is chaotic yet strongly together as well. I guess you’ll just have to listen to this song for yourselves to truly appreciate it. The mid-point of the EP passes via a song simply called ‘Interlude’, which is very traditional and melodic. It breaks the momentum a bit but is a nice bridge that guides you to penultimate song ‘Kohti Pimeaa’. Like the opener, it’s lengthy and brimming with menacing atmosphere. For the last couple of years I’ve sung the praises of Finnish metal and punk, and quite rightly so. The almost avant-garde structure of the song proves why the country contains the most forward thinking artists. 

The final ‘Outro’ gently calls time on the EP, which is an engrossing and infectious release. While it may have benefitted from more actual songs, it’s still a really enjoyable listen. Kevatuhri is a name to look out for moving forwards. Hopefully someday soon, they’ll be featured in a book about Finnish black metal, just like the bands that forged the community they're now part of.

You can stream and purchase II digitally via Kevatuhri's bandcamp page below:-

Kevatuhri - https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Kevätuhri/

Tape copies may still be available from the link below:-

Starving Light Collective - https://www.facebook.com/starvinglight/

Virhe - S/T EP

Labels: Starving Light Collective

Formats: Digital/Tape

Release Date: 01 Nov 2021

Tracklist:

1. Parasiitti

2. Diktaattori

3. Hapea

4. Myrkky

5. Pehmeys

6. Keuhkot

7. Bambi

8. Pilkka

9. Affluenza

10. Valvepainajainen

11. Sisyfos

Some of you reading tonight's review will recognise Starving Light Collective from Finland, as I reviewed the Cold Hell Corrosion - Exposure/Three Step Program 7" they helped to release, back in November 2020 (has it been that long already!). The label is back with a slew of new releases, including a tape version of the self-titled EP from Finnish powerviolence band Virhe, following it's digital release by the band in November 2021. This is eleven songs in nowhere near that time!

I’m going to have to go some to keep up with this. Virhe is a new band to me and the quartet starts off with a blast-drenched slab of rawness in the form of ‘Parasiitti’. It’s barrage of percussion is matched by screeching feedback, buzzing guitar/bass riffs and scathing high-pitched vocals. That’s the blueprint for the whole release, as ‘Diktaattori’ shows, albeit with a nice change of pace later in the song.

‘Hapea’ is awash with the crash of cymbals, which loom large on the recording alongside the vox, not giving the guitars much of a look in sonically. ‘Myrkky’ does show how powerful Virhe’s riffs can be though, when they’re allowed to breath.

As with a great number of powerviolence bands, Virhe makes use of samples between songs, like the one that closes ‘Myrkky’ and opens ‘Pehmeys’. If you want truly caustic grind then you’ve come to the right place for sure, as very few songs make it anywhere near a minute and before you know it you’ve reach the mid-point of the EP with ‘Keuhkot’. Again the riffs here are slightly more meaty, but you’re never to far away from sheer chaos. 

‘Bambi is one of those songs that nears the sixty-second mark and it’s much more orientated towards Virhe’s instrumentation. It’s still no easy listen though and the face-ripping ‘Pilkka’ proves that further. ‘Affluenza’ has a much greater metallic tone, which is nice to hear even if it doesn’t last that long. 

Penultimate number ‘Valvepainajainen’ is pure auditory terror that acts as a precursor to ‘Sisyfos’, the single longest song on the EP at just over a minute. Song lengths really don’t mean much anymore I know, but in powerviolence terms an extra thirty seconds can mean a lot. Here, Virhe uses the extra time to batter you some more.

This is a ferocious EP from start to end and certainly won’t be for everyone. If you like extremes, both in speed and frequency terms, then you’ll find everything you need right here. Finland’s fast community is growing rapidly and Virhe will no doubt be amongst it’s noisiest. Play loud all the time!

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

Tape copies have sold out via Virhe but you can get in touch with Starving Light Collective, in case any copies remain, via social media/e-mail here - https://www.facebook.com/starvinglight/

Cold Hell/Corrosion - Exposure/Three Step Program Split 7"

Labels: Agnostic About Violence/Starving Light Collective/Suspected Of Arson Records/Iron Coffin

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 10 Jul 2020

Tracklist:

1. Cold Hell - Third Weapon

2. Cold Hell - Pray

3. Cold Hell - Life Of Exposure

4. Cold Hell - Half Life

5. Cold Hell - Dead Contact

6. Corrosion - Three Strep Program

7. Corrosion - Addict

As a fairly big American pop-punk/hardcore band once said, 'I'm right back at it again' (no prizes for guessing who I mean). I'm in my happy place about to jam some new powerviolence/sludgy hardcore from Finland in the from of this split 7" featuring Cold Hell and Corrosion. A copy was kindly sent to me by new Finnish label Starving Light Collective, who released this EP alongside compatriot labels Agnostic About Violence and Suspected Of Arson Records. A limited run of tapes was also released via Iron Coffin. Both bands are from Tampere.

I don’t expect the Cold Hell side to last very long at all. Their opener ‘Third Weapon’ gives it away right off the bat with screeching feedback, followed by the warm embrace of raging PV tempos and slow heavy riffs that break them up. The percussion and guitars take no prisoners, while the vocals and slower passages are akin to the UK’s Famine in terms of quality.

‘Pray’ follows immediately and it’s really where Cold Hell’s raw but infectious sound comes into it’s own. This bass-heavy song is absolutely bonkers. There’s a hint of crust/d-beat in here as well, as the drumming at the beginning of ‘Life Of Exposure’ demonstrates, while the mix of deep and high growled vocals pierce the instrumentation with ease.

Despite the very brief pauses between songs, this is everything you want from powerviolence and the thick riffs of Cold Hell’s penultimate song ‘Half Life’ show just how gruesome and disturbing this band can be. Their closing blast ‘Dead Contact’ is just that, a blast that’s intertwined with off-kilter punk. It’s loud, aggressive and spot on!

Corrosion’s side is equally as in-your-face but with much more rawness and general chaos thrown in on their  title-track ‘Three Step Program’, which is certainly more sludgy than it is fast. If it’s one thing Finland has been doing well of late, it’s sludge.

Their second song ‘Addict’ is plain and simply a slab of ridiculously noisy hardcore-punk, which could be as party starting as it is knuckle dragging. It’s bass-heavy again but this time the low-end buzzes, as the vocals rest on top, almost screeching at times. Again, it’s eminently listenable if you like things more rough and ready. Goddamn this stuff is good!

I think that both Cold Hell and Corrosion really compliment each other on this split. Cold Hell’s powerviolence has reminded of me why I love the sub-genre so much, while Corrosion’s sludgy noise typifies everything I love about Finnish bands. If you’re a fan of both fast and slow music, this EP will sate your hunger. 

You can stream and download both sides digitally via the bandcamp pages of Cold Hell and Corrosion respectively, below:-

Cold Hell - https://www.facebook.com/ColdHellPowerviolence/

Corrosion - https://www.facebook.com/corrosion931/

You can grab physical copies from the labels below:-

Starving Light Collective - contact starvinglight[AT]gmail[DOT]com / https://www.facebook.com/starvinglight/ 

Suspected Of Arson Records - https://www.facebook.com/tulikuljekanssani/