The Experimental Edition of Reviews 8/28/2010

Akronia- Macbeth Obession-CD (Cynic Labs)

Do you remember those fringe bands on Cold Meat, Malignant and Cold Spring that would cross the boundaries of Noise, Death Industrial, Occult Ambient and Dark Industrial bands like Sanctum, Sephiroth, Yen Pox, Diamonda Galas, Schloss Tegal , Swans etc. This is what Akronia is all about mix of Male and Female tortured and pained vocal to the point of almost chaos and then just pulled back. This is the work of the dammed I tell you. Akronia is majestic, noisy, blistering, caustic and down right intriguing all at the same time. I almost feel like a spell is being put over me listening to this aural soundscape. The Bestial and Heavenly go hand in hand here. There are some very harsh moment with Akronia. I would really love to see this band live esp with a video backdrop. This is old school CMI or Tesco realm stuff. I really miss bands like this only really Malignant has kept true to this madness of a direction over the years. GET THIS NOW!!!!


http://www.myspace.com/AKRONIA

SUB LUNA "Awake!" CD (Eclipse/ Cyclic Law)

Wow full on powerful Neo Folk from project members of Karjalan Sissit . This as all the Folk elements that you want . Its a mix of several projects Of the wand and the moon, Steve von till , Tenhi and Ostara to name a few. Really love the acoustic guitars, Accordions, Organs , Simple Drumming and the spoken sung approach to it all. I reminds me of all the amazing bands from Tesco , World Serpent and Punch over the years... Sub Luna is a powerful force in deed going on here and with each song this duo drags you into there world of meloncoly songs and songs of love and loss . These are songs for the greatest of poets and madmen. "Awake" has such a full production and sound were many Neofolk bands sound so thin. Cyclic law has even started a new imprint called Eclipse for Neofolk/ Folk music because of Sub Luna. I want to call this a more rock and roll Blood Axis or an upbeat Nick Cave but neither is truly correct but it get the listeners in the right direction and that is all I'm trying to do here. Do yourself the favor and if you like the bands and sounds I speak of do not pass on this period..

http://cycliclaw.com/

The Dead of Night- Inert-CDR ( Invisible Eye Productions)

The Dead of night is a Neoclassic/ Dark Ambient project in the same way Elend and 3rd and the mortal were but there are no metallic overtone on this band at all. There is a very delicate sound and over all style going on here. Its more Drifts and electronic / minimalist as the tracks go on with Beautiful Classically trained female vocals going on here. Inert seems to drag in places as it does just get a bit too Keyboard orchestra and this is where the issue lies for me right now. There are moments of brilliants esp the dark and more spacial sound but its just the delivery right now that is holding The Dead of Night from the next levels of success. Then again I'm just a reviewer you can still check them out and rave to you friends I listened to them yrs before you did. I hope there is a bit more to another album if it comes to be.

http://www.myspace.com/nightdead

Glaukom synod- the unspeakable horror-CDR (Visceral Circuitry Recs)

What comes to mind when I hear this the more pissed off moments of bands like Skinny Puppy, KMFDM and Laibach mixed with the more rhythmn moments of bands like Meat Beat Manifestio, Nitzer ebb and Ministry ... There is a crazy electro Bpm level going on here but Glaukom Synod is also so very pissed off at the style of music there doing comes across as nightmarish. This is really one of the true electro Industrial acts I can say I'm enjoying. Imagine Tub Ring or Mr Bungle going fully electro. This is the extremity I thought bands like Ulver and Nordvargr were going to take but didn't .. There are guitars at time but in almost sound more like a good synths making the guitar sounds.. I don't know much about this band but I know enough to say check it out if you like bands like Terrorfakt ...

http://www.myspace.com/glaukomsynod

Mystified - Passing Through the Outer Gates (First Fallen Star)

As I start my journey with Mystified this is part of FFS (Eulogy Series) and this is stated from the label as "The Eulogy Series challenges musicians to create the soundtrack to nothing less than their own death, transition, and afterlife, as they see it in their own mind and in accordance with their personal beliefs - a task found by many to be emotionally monumental and intensely difficult!" Start of this is Dark Ambient with some orchestral and electronic elements. Mystified reminds me of many bands that have come through the Hypnos and Dark Vinyl rosters where they mix the Dark with the very Electro Industrial elements and lush strings and ethno sounds. If your a fan of Robert Rich, Steve Roach, Lustmord , Vidna Obmana. Passing though the outer gates sounds like a theatre piece come to life in a very epic ballet . And funny I use Hypnos as a reference as Mystified as worked with them.. You have to love the amazing artwork done by Fredrick owner of the mighty Cyclic law in the A5 Digibook format. The music is as thought provoking as hypnotic in its over all approach. First Fallen Star Eulogy series is limited to 500 copies so don't miss out on this . This is just very good release all around...

Update The artwork was not done by Fredrick of Cyclic law it was Mastered by him so the sound is stellar for that reason. The Artwork was Done by Eclipse Media worked off a painting by Founding member of Mystified....

http://www.firstfallenstar.com/