New Reviews 8/9/2009

Encomaist/ The Copper Thieves 139 Nevada- 2 x CDR (Lens Records)

Both these recordings were recorded at a very haunted theater in Central City Colorado called The Belvidere Theatre....

1st up is Encomiast with a release entitled "Masked Mirror" is a dark and sinster journey down the minimalist dark ambient path with a good bit of musique konkret and creepy drifting and droning strings, wind sounds, Pianos and was sound like ethnic or american indian vibes going on here. I would not like to be left in the room where this was recorded at night alone with out my ghost hunting gear. What makes this is the avant and free form percussionary work going on as well. This reminds me of bands bands like Maeror Tri more and more as Encomaist grows into one of the best Dark Ambient projects in the scene today. Encomaist is down right nightmarish at times with these vocals that are ethereal , disjointed and very over effected in a way that fans of aghast will love. " Masked Mirror" is a stellar piece of work.

The 2nd CD is a collab project of Encomaist and Mandible Chatter called The Copper Thieves and this just reinforces how amazing these two projects are solo so when you combined them it is that X factor you always knew it could be. "Slam your Doors in Golden Silence" should be honoured so much more then a CDR release limited to 200 Copies. This is something a label like Hypnos or Soleilmoon should be jumping on to get out to the world. Epic Ambient work were it goes from Drift, to delicate guitars, drones and looped electronics in an almost rhythmic pattern. I like the music box effect going on in the musical arrangements. The Copper Thieves have a very much more Ethno / World music feeling about it as well. This is a journey of the mind and body to complete a full picture. There needs to me more Copper Thieves releases thats for sure. Love the odd animal and nature sounds mixed into all the very odd elements going on here. It almost want to get noise at times but the creators will not allow it and that is hard to do with such control.

http://lensrecords.com/




Infernal Stronghold- godless noise-CD (Forcefield Records)


So if you had a punk band start a fight with a Black metal band during a Crust/ Sludge show this is where Infernal stronghold would have been born. Way to Punk to be Black metal and the vocals are way to black metal to be punk and the anti tuning and total noise element of the feedback and muddy guitars is so much a crust nod to there style . If you want to call it a style or just musical mash up that makes it all the more fun to listen to. Infernal Stronghold are just making music the love without regaurds to anyone else. The best way to end this review would be if Dark Throne and Born Against became one band you would have Infernal Stronghold . THE END......

http://www.forcefieldrecords.org

LITURGY “RENIHILATION”-CD (20 Buck Spin)

More over the top Black Death this time from a Brooklyn NYC unit. There is a bit of grind thrown in for good measure I hear as well. The guitars seem to want to be very avant and prog at times too almost verging on what I would call Noise rock which is a good thing to these hears they remind me a lot of Hemlock which featured Dan from Nuclear Assault and Brutal Truth my friends. There is a strong nod to the early chaos of the Polish Black metal scene in the way this is almost layed out in a very barbaric manner. Though the madness works on this release the drums and bass are on a mission at time do just be a rumbling static tone and they come very close more then once. Liturgy does have that very under laying melody that all raw BM bands have from that time frame which is cold and bitting but still melodic. Its just the times my friends when the ecomony goes to shit and the world is in strife all the best music comes out of the underground to let the world release its hate and anger. Excellent work Liturgy...

http://www.20buckspin.com/

LAUDANUM “THE CORONATION” CD (20 Buck Spin)

MMMMMMMMMM Black Drone Doom with a very industrial feeling going on here . Laudanum are some of my favorite style of droning noise and aggression. If you like bands like MZ412, Nadja, Black Mayonaise, Melvins (in guitar tones alone), Khylst and Jesu well you get the picture as its layered not just full on doom . The female vocals are a mix of Damad, Crisis and Khylst in the best of manners. Then the male vocals are the best Brodrick (Godflesh) and Von Till (Neurosis) gutturals out there.. I do love the industrial neoclassic element thrown in with the horn and string to add the balance and layer I was talking about and when it comes to the atmospheric elements that what just takes " The Coronation" over the top in to jaw dropping. Laudanum is class A work going on here. I know its a limited market for this style but if any band could break some mainstream success this will be it. There is only one that stands in there way the mighty SUNNO))) and that is an honor I'm sure to say they will be that important to a scene...

http://www.20buckspin.com/




Dusted Angel- 7" (Corruption Recordings)

Man Earsplit Pr sent this to me just to see my reaction I swear and I fucking hate stoner music minus one band Monster Magnet and you all know that. This is everything I hate about the false doom scene grooves, 70's guitar and black sabbath (Ozzy worship)... The singer is what annoys me the most with that emotional voice like Orange Goblin and Sheavy have. Why not just be a St vitus/ Sabbath cover band.... Enough is Enough I could not make it through 2 songs. Just Shut up Shit the fuck up jesus we get it you like to get really high and jam.....

http://www.myspace.com/corruptionrecordings