Down The Rabbit Hole #1: Floscule (Ukrainian Black Metal)

Earlier this year I reflected on where to take this blog. Reviewing music has been my bread and butter for a long time now but I feel it has taken away from why I started this blog in the first place. It was a tool to discover new bands and explore far-flung music scenes, thanks in large to the Internet. I'm constantly discovering new bands and releases but I feel that (through time and the burden of pressure I've put on myself), I haven't been able to appreciate and immerse myself in the way I should have.

I have decided that now is the time to change that, subtly. Picking a starting point has been hard but I have finally found one. On this sticky summer evening in the UK, I bring you an introduction to Ukrainian black metal band Floscule. Members play or have previously played in bands including White Ward, Silvern and Waidelotte amongst many others.

Floscule formed in the Mykolaiv Oblast region of Ukraine in 2022 (according to Metal Archives). They consist of guitarist Serhii Kovalenko, bassist Anton Pelyanskii, Drummer Petro Buday, as well as vocalists Andrii Pechatkin and Vitalii Chelovenko. This line-up was responsible for creating and releasing their debut album Ї in 2024 via the very well-respected German label Vendetta Records.

Forming a band at a time of such turmoil for a country must have been tough but there’s a steadfast resilience that Ukranian bands embody. The cover-art of their debut album highlights only too well the plight that they have been through and continue to face at the hands of a deranged foreign dictator. 

If you’re wondering what they sound like, I’ll try and summarise as best I can. They’re a mix of more traditional crust/black metal and modern melodic/groovy black metal, without venturing into the realms of blackgaze. If you’re not one for the raw, icy black metal championed by Scandinavia, this will be a good half-way house for you.

Alongside wanting to share Floscule with you, I also wanted to use this post to help share emerging online music platform Ampwall. With Spotify becoming somewhat of a cesspit when it comes to supporting emerging bands/artists and Bandcamp upsetting it’s artist base by changing it’s payment methods, Ampwall offers bands/artists a way to grow organically while offering fans a genuine mechanism in which to support them.

You can stream and purchase Ї digitally via Floscule's Ampwall profile here - 

Floscule Linktree - https://linktr.ee/floscule_band

Салют! - Салют!

Labels: Self-ReleasedPolar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 12 Nov 2015

Tracklist:

1. Вперёд И Вверх

2. Остов

3. Шхуне И Бродягам

4. Осень

5. И Кончен Бал

6. Отражение

7. Туман

Салют! or Salute! was a very short lived screamo band from Kyiv, Ukraine. Their self-titled album was released digitally in November 2015 before being released on tape by Russian label Polar Summer just over a year later. Their name is an 'exclamation used to express friendly feelings towards one's companions before drinking'. That, as well as the bright colours used in the cover-art resonate so much right now.

Delving into Polar Summer’s back catalogue has been such an honour so far and hearing this release is no different as ‘Вперёд И Вверх’ provides such a lovely melodic emo/screamo opener. It’s very upbeat while also being cathartic. I stopped short of using the ‘emo-v’ tag here for obvious reasons. ‘Остов’ is an equally beautiful song with very thoughtful instrumentation, song-writing and vocal phrasing (even if I don’t understand Ukrainian!). Sometimes it sounds like it has a punk influence but that’s only fleeting, as it’s much more heartfelt overall.

Salute!’s emo-filled approach breaks new ground on ‘Шхуне И Бродягам’ as it’s joined by a heavier, more abrasive side. That heavier side doesn’t last too long before they retreat into a gentler mid-section that reminds me a lot of German band Duct Hearts. In typical fashion though (as I write this), the final bars do a 180 degree turn back towards that earlier mentioned heaviness. ’Осень’ makes me ponder what would have happened if Salute! had produced more than just this one recording. Back in 2015 they already exhibited how talented they were. If they had stuck it out for a bit longer I think they would have been very popular, even with listeners outside of their sub-genre. 

Of course making a statement like I just did has it’s flaws and those flaws are exposed as the dissonance of ‘И Кончен Бал’ takes over the speakers. I do love dissonance (otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this blog) but I also love melody, which Salute! have in abundance here. Penultimate song ‘Отражение’ captivates and encapsulates everything that makes this album so good. The expressive and free nature of the music really comes alive during this, it’s longest song. Even as it descends into an amalgam of noise and spoken-word samples, it leaves you transfixed.

Rounding out their self-titled album with the glorious ‘Туман’, they bring to mind many US/UK emo bands yet they exude so much of their own personality that it’s criminal to compare. Salute! have left me truly stunned and I’m sure they’ll do the same to you too. So many bands fall under the radar nowadays, especially those who have merely one demo, EP or album. While physical tape copies are pretty much impossible to obtain now, at least this album is still available digitally (until somebody, hopefully represses it).

You can stream and purchase both the original and remastered versions of this album digitally below:-

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com

Robust Split Series 1: #5 - Bomg/BongBongBeerWizards

Labels: Robustfellow Prods

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 24 Dec 2021

Tracklist:

1. Bomg - Demagnetized

2. Bomg - Ixian Bore

3. BongBongBeerWizards - Melothrone

4. BongBongBeerWizards - Journey

5. BongBongBeerWizards - Meathead

6. BongBongBeerWizards - Summoning

I didn't realise it had been over a month since I reviewed number four in the Robust Split Series (Keepleer 18/Yanomamo). This is the fifth and final split tape in the series from Ukrainian label Robustfellow Prods, which brought together five stoner/doom bands from Ukraine and matched them alongside five similar bands from different corners of the world. This split features Bomg alongside Germany's BongBongBeerWizards. Bomg have been playing music together now for over a decade, with two full-lengths, an EP and two other splits to their name prior to this one. BongBongBeerWizards formed in 2017 and have released two full-lengths and an EP as well as their contribution here.

Looking back through the series, Bomg contribute the longest song of them all as one of their two songs here but before we get to that, there’s the small matter of their opener ‘Demagnetized’, which itself weighs in at nearly ten minutes. As with BongBongBeerWizards, Bomg are another new band to me, which has been a feature of this series. ‘Demagnetized’ begins as an instrumental jam that builds in volume and all kinds of weirdness. It’s a lot more bluesy/jazz-like, with some amazing guitar effects thrown in as well. At times it sounds like the members of Bomg are all playing different songs, but if you settle in and just listen it begins to make sense.

After that strangely soothing and hypnotic opener, it’s time for the ‘Ixian Bore’, which stretches to nearly twenty minutes and is immediately much heavier than ‘Demagnetized’, thanks to the low, rumbling bass. Again, it sounds like a semi-improv jam but that’s fine, as it suits Bomg’s stoner/doom vibe perfectly. It’s filled with spoken-word samples that sound like they’ve been put through some kind of effects as well. It all adds to the overall feeling of otherworldliness you get from Bomg’s music.

As I mentioned above, BongBongBeerWizards are another unknown prospect and whereas the former were more unpredictable in approach, the latter are heavier, with a formula that sits further into the sludge camp on opener ‘Melothrone’. The vocals cry out as if they were delivered by somebody whose in possession of an all-knowing prophecy, while around them the music spells out a hellish fate. ‘Journey’ is much more upbeat sounding, with it’s ambient atmosphere and clean singing lifting the mood with plenty of cinematic tones.

That upbeat mood is snatched away from you somewhat by saxophone tones that sound like distressed whale song. I guess that’s not totally left field given BBBW’s own enthusiasm for experimentation. The vocals are used more sparingly here and in their place, you’re left with truly rumbling bass, crawling percussion and guitar work that again invokes those whales. BBBW’s final song ‘Summoning’ is their longest at just over ten-minutes long and in my semi-sleepy state, it threatens to send me to the land of nightmares. It’s as chilling as it is ritualistic. It’s very hypnotic, which is definitely a staple trait of any decent stoner/doom band in my opinion and despite it’s sloth-like tempo, doesn’t feel like a ten minute song,. 

What a way to end this first split series from Robustfellow. Both Bomg and BongBongBeerWizards are the perfect pairing in terms of experimentation and just downright heaviness. They deserve much more airtime, as do the other eight participants here. This review series has been a really fun journey and one that I’ll be revisiting over and over again. 

You can stream and purchase the entire series digitally below, where it's also available as a five tape set, or as individual tape (both while stocks last):-

Bomg - https://www.facebook.com/BOMGband

BongBongBeerWizards - https://www.facebook.com/bongbongbeerwizards/

Robustfellow Prods - https://www.facebook.com/RobustfellowProds

Robust Split Series 1: #4 - Keepleer 18/Yanomamo

Labels: Robustfellow Productions

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 24 Dec 2021

Tracklist:

1. Keepleer 18 - Giffrotaa

2. Keepleer 18 - Viitiir

3. Keepleer 18 - Dol-Hilia

4. Keepleer 18 - Aatiica

5. Yanomamo - No Sympathy For A Rat

6. Yanomamo - The Offering

7. Yanomamo - Miasma

8. Yanomamo - Iron Crown

I did not realise that it's been over a month since I last wrote about the Robust Split Series from Robustfellow Productions. This, the fourth split tape, features Keepleer 18 (Ukraine) and Yanomamo (Australia). Keepleer 18 began life in 2012 and have released a demo, a single and two full-lengths of sludge prior to appearing as part of this split series. Similarly, Yanomamo have been playing their own brand of sludge since 2012 and so far have four EPs, two singles, a couple splits and a full-length to their name before this one (all previous release info taken from Metal Archives). So both bands have a decent amount of material to their name so far, with four tracks from each appearing here.

For those who are not aware of this series; it focuses on the five split tapes that Ukrainian label Robustfellow Productions released towards the end of 2021, where they brought together five Ukrainian bands and five international bands in the name of all things slow. Given all that's going on in Ukraine at the moment, it's important to share music from the region and also the stories of those who are living though it (more on that later).

Opening the split with ‘Giffrotaa’, Keepleer 18 (possibly named after the star Kepler 18) launch into life with some extremely groovy yet vocally harsh sludge. Said vocals are barked with a level of ferocity and tone that some may find uncomfortable, but they fit the music perfectly. The band behind are equally as strong. The whole production stands out for me this early on in the split. This is the sort of music you need at the midweek point. ‘Viitiir’ is an upbeat and chunky riff-filled beast initially. If you’ve got this far then you’ve probably also got used to those vocals. I’m not being disrespectful here though, I’m just giving fair warning to those who don’t like things too extreme. I personally love them.

Surprisingly ‘Dol-Hilia’ is a sub-sixty second piece of what could ultimately be described as art-grind. I know that sounds pretentious but the raging passages that make way for off-kilter guitar and upbeat(!?) singing, shine a whole different light on Keepleer 18. Their closing song ‘Aatiica’ is filled with the sounds of experimental electronics, more inline with their cosmic influences (maybe?). It’s a far cry from what started their side of this split but it’s more than suited to being the longest song of the four that they contribute here. As ambient, electronic songs go it’s a fun listen, especially when presented alongside such harsh music.

Australia’s Yanomamo start their side with the song ‘No Sympathy For A Rat’, which you may be familiar with if you own their 10” of the same name from 2020. Their sound is a lot more down-tuned, though there are grooves aplenty as well. It’s hard to get around the fact that this type of dirty sludge could reside in Australia, but it does. ‘The Offering’ provide a greater glimpse into the musical mind of Yanomamo. Like Keepleer 18, they’re less straightforward than you might expect sound-wise. Yes they’re heavy and downbeat, but they’re not afraid to dabble in different sounds at the same time.  

Those different sounds and elements are more obvious on ‘Miasma’, which is instantly more urgent thanks to it’s tempo. Maybe more akin to the approach of Sacrament-era Lamb Of God here, they show that sludge can still be fast and that’s no bad thing at all. Closer ‘Iron Crown’ is the best of both worlds in terms of it’s approach. Maybe it accentuates what they’re going for musically, but whatever, it’s definitely a solid way to end a split of this sonic magnitude. 

Both Keepleer 18 and Yanomamo are brilliant ambassadors for the sheer breadth and personality that exists in the global sludge community. If you haven’t taken some time out to listen to both bands, or indeed the bands that make up this split series in it’s entirety, you’re doing yourself a disservice. I have one more split to review and I can’t wait!

For Fans Of: Deadsmoke, Watchtower, Loinen, Outlaw Order, Pod People and Lamb Of God

You can stream this split and the songs from all the rest via Robustfellow's bandcamp page below, where you can also purchase the series digitally and on tape while stocks last:-

Keepleer 18 - https://www.facebook.com/Keepleer18

Yanomamo - https://www.facebook.com/yanomamoband

As I alluded to in the second paragraph of this review, Robustfellow Productions are using their platform to allow Ukranian artists the space to talk about their experiences of living through a war via a new video interview series. The pilot episode is available here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfbPRrKazSs.

Robustfellow Productions - https://www.facebook.com/RobustfellowProds

Robust Split Series - Season 1: #3 - One Magic Megawatt/Silver Gallery

Labels: Robustfellow Prods

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 24 Dec 2021

Tracklist:

1. One Magic Megawatt - Psychoblues

2. One Magic Megawatt - End Of Season

3. One Magic Megawatt - Fuckdub

4. Silver Gallery - Sagawa Lunch

5. Silver Gallery - Head Will Roll

6. Silver Gallery - On My Way

7. Silver Gallery - My Life

8. Silver Gallery - Burning Soul

The Sunday afternoon lull is over. It's time for the third instalment of my mini review series focusing on the five tape split box set from Ukrainian label Robustfellow Prods. The idea of this set was to put five Ukrainian sludge/doom bands on tape alongside five bands from other countries. The first two I reviewed featured Kasu Weri (with Taser from Finland) and Celophys (with Radian from the USA). This one features One Magic Megawatt and Silver Gallery (of France). Each of the tapes have been limited to 75 copies and there was also a special run of 42 box sets featuring all five. There are still copies of each for sale via Robustfellow's bandcamp page, but they're going down all the time so if you like what you read/hear, grab them while you can!

As with three of the four bands I’ve already written about during this series, it’s the first time I’ve heard both One Magic Megawatt and Silver Gallery. OMM, as I’m going to refer to them from now, provide three tracks on their side of this split and they’re long, especially opener ‘Psychoblues’. This quartet definitely has their own identity because alongside the stoner riffs, percussion and clean/harsh vocals, there’s a harmonica and trombone adding some extra blues flavour. As if those riffs weren’t bluesy enough!

OOM are a lot more progressive than I was initially expecting. I know the term is used a lot nowadays (especially by me) but it’s still relevant as the psych sounds of ‘End Of Season’ swirl out from the speakers. Initially, it’s a very easy-listening song but the further in you get during the first two+ minutes, the more bass-heavy it gets. Ritualistic at times, it’s one for appreciating without distraction or interruption. It’s latter half is more anthemic and musical, but don’t be fooled, it’s also stark and dense as well. The vocals employed here are more akin to those used in depressive black metal for a time too.

As if the two songs above weren’t enough to tempt you in, OMM’s last song ‘Fuckdub” is basically a cross between improv blues rock and some crazy drugged up hoedown in the Deep South (to be honest both of those examples are interchangeable). There is a bit of Eyehategod influence coming through here for sure, though it’s more their groove than their caustic sludge that permeates the song. This has been some of the most out-there stoner I’ve heard.

Next up, Silver Gallery with five songs. As their opener ’Sagawa Lunch’ begins, there’s a much more straightforward sound going on, with thicker riffs and plenty of rumbling bass. More mesmeric and repetitive, the spoken word vocals seem more menacing and even slightly sleazy to these ears. I’m fine with sleazy though when it comes to heavy rock and so far Silver Gallery have me glued to the speakers. There’s more urgency in their sound (if not in their tempo, which is still slow), especially on ‘Head Will Roll’. They tell a story with the lyrics and it’s the first time you catch a glimpse of their disgustingly harsh, screechy growls. They turn this release on it’s head in the finest way. 

‘On My Way’ is such a flowing song that you can easily lose yourself in it. The groove is real here and the drums add to it immensely, while the vocals are slightly more distant yet still harsh. The feedback that rings out at the end never stops ringing in your ears as you’re led into Silver Gallery’s penultimate beast ‘My Life’. Once again, if repetition in doom/sludge is your thing, then there’s plenty of it here but there’s also some really killer lead work as well. Fully gone by this point are the sleazy spoken vocals, as they give way to those roared/growled ones I mentioned above. They’re used sparingly though in favour of letting the instrumentation breath. 

It’s left to ‘Burning Soul’ to close out both Silver Gallery’s side and also the split as a whole, and it does it brilliantly. Just crushing heavy doom extremity with very adept musicianship. Somehow it’s super catchy as well, mainly due to the melody hiding within the riffs. Getting faster in tempo and denser in musical layers, the ending comes far too soon. Again, another great musical find by Robustfellow. Silver Gallery have certainly left their mark on me.

Overall, this split is a pretty unique one. One Magic Megawatt might be a head-scratcher for some but their avant-garde, bluesy stoner is an experience that’s well worth the effort. Silver Gallery on the flip side are much more gung-ho, with heavier everything. Enjoy!

You can stream all of the tracks from this split, as well as from the set via Robustfellow's bandcamp page below:-

All five splits are available digitally and on tape while stocks last there too,

One Magic Megawatt - https://www.facebook.com/1mmwt

Silver Gallery - https://www.facebook.com/silver-gallery

Robustfellow Prods - https://www.facebook.com/RobustfellowProds

Robust Split Series - Season 1: #2 Celophys/Radian

Labels: Robustfellow Productions

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 24 Dec 2021

Tracklist: 

1. Celophys - Cenozoic

2. Celophys - H.O.I.M

3. Celophys - The Main Issue Is You

4. Radian - She Gone

5. Radian - Nothing Gets Through

6. Radian - Beast

7. Radian - Herts Of Metropolis

8. Radian - Not Dying

9. Radian - She Blind

Tonight's post comes from an uncertain place. When I wrote about the first Robust Split Series release  review (about the Kasu Weri/Taser split) back on February 1st, I couldn't foresee what was going to happen in Ukraine. We were hoping and indeed starting to come out of a pandemic, beginning to feel more positive again but unfortunately somebody had other ideas. This review focuses on the second split in the series that was released by Kyiv's Robustfellow Productions in late December 2021, where bands from the Ukraine are joined by bands from all over the world. This tape features stoner/doom duo Celophys (from Cherkasy, Cherkasy-Oblast) and US sludge/doom quartet Radian (from Ohio).

After my initial hesitancy about this review last night, I’ve decided to go for it. This split consists of nine tracks with the first three coming from Celophys. Their opener ‘Cenozoic’ is twelve-and-a-half minutes of bass guitar/drum-laden doom with uber deep vocals. It’s mix of instrumental groove and depressive extremity is hypnotising, especially due to the repetitive nature of the song. Being repetitive isn’t a bad thing at all though!

The duo’s songs get shorter from here on in, though not by much in the case of ‘H.O.I.M’. The stoner/psych influences that graced the end of their opener are back in the song’s intro, leading into another lumbering and cavernous hymn. I’m not sure that calling it a hymn is correct, but who cares. Celophys certainly make me remember why I fell in love with doom in the first place. Their final song ‘The Main Issue Is You’ is also their most atmospheric, with more use of melodic and metallic elements (albeit subtle ones). There’s still a whole lot of dread in it though and with that, Celophys rounds out their side of this split in such a moreish and satisfying way. I need more of this band in my life for sure.

The other side of the split belongs to Radian, who approach doom/sludge from a different perspective. Still very groovy and slow, ’She Gone’ definitely contains that familiar mid-west twang and attitude. Radian don’t ponder over their songs as much, as you’ll find out. There’s definitely some clear-ish influences within their sound, especially if you’re a fan of the NOLA bands. ‘Nothing Gets Through’ features a great off-kilter rhythm that forms it’s backbone, while the quartet steamrolls on.

There’s much more alternative metal going on during ‘Beast’. It’s not like a nu-metal thing but Radian definitely knows how to add hooks to their sludge. They don’t hang about either, preferring to go straight from one song to the next and before you know it, ‘Beast’ has ended and you’re being greeted by the band’s most riff-laden song yet, ‘Herts Of Metropolis’. It features a haunting sample buried within the mix, which at one point made me think my neighbours were in distress before I realised it was part of the music!

Penultimate song ‘Not Dying’ sees Radian going back in a more straightforward direction, presenting themselves once again as a really solid heavy band that is more mature than expected given that this is only their second recording. Again, as with Celophys before, I’m floored. Split closer ‘She Blind’ takes you on one last trip down Radian’s dark rabbit hole and in doing so, will make you reconsider coming to the surface. It’s a really great way to end what’s been an engrossing union of like-minded individuals from different corners of the globe.

I think that’s what makes this split series what it is. On the one hand you’ve got the raw, extreme edge of Celophys and on the other, there’s the slightly more approachable urgency of Radian. There’s something here for any metal fan and that’s the point. Music brings people together, whether it be in the same town or across the world. It’s needed now more than ever and while this review won’t help the plights of both Celophys or Robustfellow directly at this time, hopefully it’ll help to show that there are good people doing good things, whatever the situation.

Contributions to help provide aid and relief to the people of Ukraine can be made via UN Crisis Relief, who have set up a Humanitarian Fund here - https://crisisrelief.un.org/t/ukraine.

You can stream this split along with all of the other splits that form part of this series below, where you can also buy it digitally and on tape:-

Celophys - https://www.facebook.com/celophysdoom

Radian - https://www.facebook.com/RadianAkron/

Robustfellow Prods - https://www.facebook.com/RobustfellowProds

Robust Split Series - Season 1: #1 Kasu Weri/Taser

Labels: Robustfellow Productions

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 24 Dec 2021

Tracklist:

1. Kasu Weri - Greenblood

2. Kasu Weri - Faster

3. Kasu Weri - Deathetamine

4. Taser - Bitter Bound And Gagged

5. Taser - Pancreatitis Acuta Alcoholica

6. Taser - Sicknote

Late on in December 2021 (Christmas Eve in fact), Ukrainian label Robustfellow Productions released a split series comprising of five tapes, each featuring a band from the Ukraine and a band from elsewhere in the world. It's the first split series to come from the label and focuses on sludge and doom bands, with each limited to seventy five copies, also comprising forty two hand-numbered boxed sets of all five tapes. Earlier this month, I ordered one of the boxed sets and around the same time, a promo e-mail dropped into my inbox, so I figured that alongside my current schedule, I'd take the time to review these splits over the next few weeks.

This first tape features Ukrainian band Kasu Weri and Finnish band Taser, whom you may remember from my review of their split with Frogskin back in 2020. Kasu Weri come from Robustfellow's hometown of Kyiv and despite being active since 2008 (according to Metal Archives), they've released just one EP called From Soil To Ashes prior to this split. Lahti, Finland's Taser formed eight years after Kasu Weri in 2016 (again taken from Metal Archives) and have released as EP, said split with Frogskin, a single and a fill-length called Filthcrawl. All of the songs on here are new, or at least previously unreleased.

I was expectantly awaiting the arrival of this boxed set and I think the only way to truly do it justice is to write about it (though listening to is probably an even better way!). Kyiv’s Kasu Weri is a new name to me and they make an immediate impression on split opener ‘Greenblood’, with it’s groovy mix of stoner and sludge. If you like either sub-genre, you know what you’re gonna get here but you shouldn’t pass it up. The main components here are the riffs and accompanying bass. The percussion drives an authoritative pace while the vocals are as harsh as they come. Imagine having a sore throat and then swallowing a cheese grater. Hopefully you get the picture.

Now despite iTunes trying to shuffle songs randomly, ‘Faster’ comes next, showing Kasu Weri’s sound isn’t just ploughing the usual furrow. It’s a shorter song in sludge terms but that’s no bad thing as it steamrolls through nearly three minutes of infectious heaviness before ending on a dime. The band’s closer ‘Deathetamine’ is every bit as harrowing as it’s title would suggest. It’s hard to think of this music as being catchy but the riffs definitely make it so. The hypnotising effect of the song’s latter half is the icing on the cake for me. Sludge dripping with stoner/psych weirdness helps to make an instant impression. Great stuff!

Taser kicks off their side with the bass-heavy tones of ‘Bitter Bound And Gagged’. Their sound is a lot more menacing with piercing screams and a slower, lower tempo, yet the groove is still very much alive. Brooding and atmospheric are words that could be used to describe this song, and those that revel in the more brutalist side of sludge will find it a safe haven. By now, you should know about my appreciation for Finnish bands and I’m not hiding that here. 

The starkly titled ‘Pancreatitis Acuta Alcoholica’ is a glimpse into the dark psyche of Taser, which is more than matched by the instrumentation and the sobering samples that play on repeat throughout. Sometimes, instrumental songs can be more thought-provoking and that’s certainly true here, even with the lighter, melodic final third, which slides into closing song ‘Sicknote’ without even as much as a pause. It’s Taser at their heaviest with yet more caustic screams and gut-churning riffs. As sub-genres go, sludge will always be special to me. Taser proves once again why that is.

This split is a perfect way to start what is an excellently conceived idea. Both Kasu Weri and Taser have lots to offer musically and Robustfellow has pulled a blinder by bringing them both together here. I can’t wait to write about the other tapes in this series over the coming weeks and I can’t help but feel inspired by it. I’m sure you will be too. 

The songs from the entire series can be streamed below, where you can also purchase it digitally and pick up the tapes (I'd recommend grabbing the complete boxed set while you still can):-

Kasu Weri - https://www.facebook.com/kasuweri

Taser - https://www.facebook.com/tasersludge

Robustfellow Productions - https://www.facebook.com/RobustfellowProds

Yotsuya Kaidan - Tired Of Tomorrow's You 7"

Labels: Dingleberry Records/Lifeisafunnything/Parking Lot Records/Rubaiyat Records/Samegrey Records/TRVS Records/Unlock Yourself Records/Upwind Records/Winter Sea Label/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date - 10 Apr 2016

Tracklist:

1. High School Fights For The Ziggurat Falls

2. Feels Like Lucio Fontana's Canvas

3. Tasmanian Tigers

4. Stormo & Goliad

This is likely to be my last review of 2021. I apologise for the lack of activity over the last week. I received an early Christmas present in the form of Vertigo late last week and spent the last few days getting over it/spending the holiday with my parents and brother. There may be one more post between now and the New Year, as I have a couple of reviews from Mikey to post up, as long as the 'V' doesn't strike again.

This is a review I've been looking forward to writing for a little while, as not only is it another of my Zegema Beach Roster reviews, but it's also about a 7" that's part of my personal collection. I first cast ears on Ukraine's Yotsuya Kaidan back in 2017, thanks to the Too Sad To Tell You 7" that was released via Dong Knights Productions and A Fond d'Cale. I picked up a physical copy of this EP from ZBR earlier in the year on yellow vinyl.

According to Discogs and Yotsuya Kaidan’s own bandcamp page, this 7” was their first physical release. It stands up as the first body of work that existed during the band’s extremely productive early period between  2016 and 2017. What’s presented here are four short post-hardcore/screamo songs and EP opener ‘High School Fights For The Ziggurat Falls’ kicks things off with melodic blackened riffs, intense percussion/bass and harsh vocals delivered in the band’s native tongue. Dramatic is the best word I can use to describe this so far.

‘Feels Like Lucio Fontana’s Canvas’ springs into life immediately after a very brief pause, with a multi-vocal attack and a controlled explosion of violent screamo. It’s so hard to describe this, even after the many listens I’ve given it after my copy arrived. It’s one of those EP’s that will certainly have you coming back for more though.

Urgency is definitely a huge part of the sound invoked by Yotsuya Kaidan and penultimate song ‘Tasmanian Tigers’ is the perfect embodiment of that nuance. It’s a song that’s over before you know it, though there are still so many musical layers to take in as well. 

With last song ‘Stormo & Goliad’, Yotsuya Kaidan break out their longest piece and also their most anthemic (if that’s even possible!). The emotional, caustic and enthralling approach to their music is laid out for all to hear this last time, and there’s no escaping how heart-wrenchingly good it is. The band is still very much alive (they released an EP earlier this year), so if you’re still not familiar with them, there’s no time like the present. 

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally below:-

Yotsuya Kaidan - https://www.facebook.com/yotsuyakaidanband

 

As far as I can tell, the only label that still officially has copies of this EP is ZBR. See the link below:-

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

Dingleberry Records - https://www.facebook.com/Dingleberry-records-and-distribution

Lifeisafunnything - https://www.facebook.com/lifeisafunnything123

Parking Lot Records - https://www.facebook.com/parkinglotrecords

Rubaiyat Records - https://www.facebook.com/rubaiyatrecords

Samegrey Records - https://www.facebook.com/samegrey/

TRVS Records - https://www.facebook.com/trvsrecords

Unlock Yourself Records - https://www.facebook.com/unlockyourselfrecords

Upwind Records - https://www.facebook.com/upwindisdead

Winter Sea Label - https://www.facebook.com/WinterSealabel

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

Nuitville - When The Darkness Falls

Labels: Ashen Dominion

Formats; CD/Digital

Release Date: 10 June 2019

Tracklist:

1. When The Darkness Falls

2. Cold Water

3. Recueillement (Amesoeurs Cover)

I'm not afraid to say that I enjoy Deafheaven and similar bands. Alcest too, although I appreciate that the two are considered poles apart by those who know their black metal better than I. Ukrainian blackgaze band Nuitville is one that I hope I can hold in as high regard and the solo-project's first release "When The Darkness Falls" is my introduction, having been released last month via compatriot label Ashen Dominion.

Choral and Stirring are not words used to describe black metal too often but Nuitville’s mix of BM and shoegaze is definitely considered so. Avant-garde but also heavy with plenty of melody and the sensitive use of harsh vocals on the opening title-track make it something very unique indeed. There are so many facets to this that it’s hard to describe in just one listen (I’m live-reviewing again).

Cold Water is more immediate in its delivery and also due to its shorter length, more urgent in the tempo department. That being said, it’s still really engrossing and enjoyable, especially when the clean singing takes hold. It’s hard to believe that this has been written and is being performed by one person. 

Lastly, Nuitville covers Recueillement by French black metal/post-punk band Amesoeurs and it’s a great fit for the band’s sound. The melodic riffs are more pronounced and the level of ambience is very uplifting. The air is hot and humid again tonight but this is perfect as it washes over with it’s cooling atmosphere and instrumentation. A short EP then but one that’s filled with great promise, both musically and stylistically. 

You can stream "When The Darkness Falls" and buy it on CD and digitally via Ashen Dominion below:-

Nuitville - https://www.facebook.com/nuitville

Ashen Dominion - https://www.facebook.com/ashendominion/