New Reviews 11/14/2009 @ AZM (Experimental Edition)

Skitliv- Skandinavisk Misanthropi-CD (Season of Mist)

Well this is my 1st time hearing Skitliv the new project of Maniac ex Mayhem vocalist with Shining members and the 1st track reminded me of the old Ritualistic Ambient days of labels like Dark Vinyl, CMI and World Serpent with a bit of trippy oddity thrown in to good measure . Though as we go into the 1st proper track and no an intro there is a Black Doom element on the track that reminds me of bands like Ancient Wisdom or Dolorian both bands that kick my ass regularly in there passion and vision. Love the Doomy guitar elements with Maniacs very expressive Blackened Industrial vocals. Skitliv goes through so many styles and emotions I can see why Mayhem was just to limiting for Manaic. As the next track is a mix of Monster Magnet and Judas Priest with Black metal overtones all with that electronic element the Mayhem had on Grand Declaration of war... There is just a very strong martial industrial element going on too think of Puissance, Of the wand and the moon and Moon lay hidden beneath the moon etc. Skitliv is so much more then 1 part of the whole. A release like this is going to take many listens to even begin to understand. This is for Metal, Industrial, Experimental fans and more. There are so many layers to this beast. Check it out and witness a fantastic journey that seems to only just begun.
http://season-of-mist.com/


Sektor 304-Soul Cleansing-CD (Malignant Records)

Einsturzende Neubauten, Swans & Non come to mind the second this CD started to play with a healthy does of bands like Control and SkinCrime as well. There is a oppressive percussive element going on with a vocal assault going on mix with noise and loops that would match Slogun in thier anger and angst. I also have the same feeling I got listening to bands like Millita and Inade as I get with Sektor 304 this is not a pleasant journey nor is it suppose to be. There is a darkness and doom sound to Soul Cleansing that is almost in the Earliest of Swans releases. Malignant has made a shift in sound and style with Sektor 304 but still staying in a very Industrial laced background I would say this is the most rock based release Ive heard from the label in years. I dont remember guitars and drums so used in a metallic way before. I love the overall live sound of the release too. I sounds like Sektor 304 are speaking to the masses and it works amazingly well. A must own release...
http://malignantrecords.com/

Aspectee - Morben-CD (First Fallen Star)

Welcome to the world of Dark droning ambient that is very much in the love of bands like Maeror Tri, Schloss Tegal, Mindspawn and Coph nia.. The tones are deep and drifting and give you that feeling of being alone in the realms of space. There is a desolation to all of the soundscapses going on here Aspectee have a huge node to Arecibo project as well. If you are a fan of the more mellow Cold Spring, Manifold, Functional and Malignant releases this will take you by full force and make you fall in love with them all over again. Aspectee is sit in the darkness with the flicker of candle light in the late night /early morning hours of the late fall and early winter and just absorb all the ebbs and flows of Morben and what is projecting to you at that moment. Aspectee is 100% mood music so use it wisely as this can be a powerful ritual if done properly for one mind... Wonderful digipak presentation here as well

http://firstfallenstar.com

Innfallen - Three Days of Darkness-CD (First Fallen Star)

I want to say that Innfallen comes in a brilliant texture A5 digipak and for that alone made me want to open it look at it and take a listen to the project the brown and sepia tones are perfect fit to the Dark Ritualistic Drift material on the CD well at least on the 1st track I'm hearing. Innfallen reminds me of an ambient horror soundtrack something 30 days of Night would have loved or Darker Sci-fi such as Riddick, Blade Runner or even something like Signs would have used to just disturb the mental edge of the watcher. Innfallen to me sound like there letting the dark master approach by the very invokation they are letting lose on us. They are for sure keeping the sounds bands like Endura, Valefor and Kerovnian brought to the forefront of this very eeriee ambient sound. I just worry that Innfallen will have a hard time following up to this release as it is so massive and expansive in sound and textures. Only time will tell where the next release will take us..

http://firstfallenstar.com

Allseits-Hel-CD (Cyclic Law)

1st off this release is going to be near and dear to my soul being a believer and supporter of the Asatru faith. With song titles like Yggdrasil, Garm and Modgudr. This is Occult Dark Drone ambience at its best Allseits is a solo project a female powerhouse named Nina she has just done a collab work with the mighty German Drone duo Troum. This is a bit more active and haunting in nature then traditional drone. Allseits reminds me of Aghast in many way musically and stylisticly. There is a overtone of early Sanctum and Valefor again just is the occultist way all is arranged. If you like Post Scriptvm as well this another project that I feel has a strong kinship in sound. As with all Cyclic law releases the production is second to none. There is always a strict code to all Cyclic law releases and this doesn't miss a moment in art, sound or vision. Allseit is another must listen for any fans of ambient/drone music in the dark arts...

http://cycliclaw.com/