Experimental Review Edition 4/21/2013
Havan- Yajna-CD/ Digital (Cyclic Law)
So the 1st review of this edition comes from Frederic owner of Cyclic law and of the Majestic Dark Ambient project Vision. We have a live recording here of close to 30 minutes and just one track . The very 1st things you hear or the electro ambience of this project somewhere between projects like Schloss Tegal, Sleep Research Facility or Robert Rich. So you know were we are going with this very the very beginning Deep spacial ambient with low end bass loops and static/creaking layering effects the build up to almost dark noise but stay within the boundaries of Dark Ambient ie ( Cold Meat, Cold Spring, Malignant Records material). Havan almost sounds like a machine of the future slowly ending its cycle of activity in a distant galaxy were life has disappeared centuries before. With Yajna we have a ritual to the modern and ancient Gods of many different realms. Havan is heavy and dark while at the same time feeling Distant and Forgotten all at the same time. I know that sound odd but its what is presented here. Maybe it will make sense to future generations as the pieces of the puzzle will be solved by the expanded intellegence of cybernetic advances. Havan is a ride one should not miss.
http://cycliclaw.com/
Hexvessel- Iron Marsh- CD/ Digital (Svart Records)
Neofolk, 70's Space rock, Acoustic Rock and Underground Prog all play a strong role in this ep from Hexvessel. Kvohst has something very special here and with each release it grows into something more. I really want to say its a mix of bands like Tenhi, Antimatter, Sabbath Assembly and Anthony and the Johnsons . There is a very 70's fuzzed out rock element going on here that is just what makes it all the better. The mix of Male and female group vocals are really where the church or temple like element of Gosphel music comes from as well. Hexvessel is a ritual of nature, heathen and folk arts all into one. Iron Marsh is far to short to begin with just as you get into the meat of the release its over. There is even a Yoko Ono cover of " Woman of Salem " on the release I'm reviewing. Do you remember the days of World Serpent Distribution in the UK this is were a band like Hexvessel would have been king. I hope there is more sooner then later is all I can say.
http://svartrecords.com/
Triangular Ascension- The Chronos Anomaly- CD/ Digital (Cyclic Law)
YES!!! Epic Neoclassical Martial music has returned in the form of Triangular Ascension ... If you like bands like Puissance, Arditi and Sophia this is going to floor you as your getting this and more as there is a black industrial layer to the over all presentation of the album. You can not understand how massive this album is until you hear it . I swear they are Puissance in Disguise.. The Chronos Anomaly can me the next chapter of " Mother of Disease" release by Puissance. Triangular Ascension is from South america and you would never know this from the European industrial and neoclassic elements that pour through out this release. I do not want to over state this but over a decade Cyclic law has been releasing material to the world now and this is hands down one of the best releases on their roster period. The dark electro beats in the backdrop even add to the complete picture of this . I need to go back and hear there earlier material now as if I did hear it I don't know why I was not as impressed. GET THIS....
http://cycliclaw.com/
Steel Hook Prostheses- The Emprics Guild-CD / Digital (Malignant Records)
There are moments that you wait for and years go by any you know that its coming but its just never does. You start to lose you faith in all of it and then out of nowhere it comes to you like a wall of pain and nightmares all at once. Welcome to the new Steel Hook Prostheses release. Black Power electronic like only a few can do and even then you have to fear for your very soul. If your into bands like Slogun, Control, Grunt, Sickness then my friends this is going to be a journey that you have needed for a while. The last time S.H.P has given us a gem on Malignant was 5 yrs ago and I will tell you its was worth the wait and more. The Power, Aggression, Noise, Drones and Occult elements flowing between these tracks are not for the casual listener. The Empirics Guild will scare the shit out of some people and that is the very reason I love it. The vocals are those of terror told to you by stories handed down by generation. There are demons and monsters and S.H.P has clearly seen them. S.H.P travel between the light and dark with this release and have seen the doorway to the abyss and welcome its coming not many will ever be able to say this. I don't know if I can last another 5 yrs for the next release but S.H.P please never rush your craft if this is the end result... STELLAR RELEASE...
http://malignantrecords.com/
The Body- Master, We Perish-CD/ Digital (At a loss Recordings)
What the hell, where did this come from and why is it just 3 tracks??? The Body is back with a 12" vinyl release also on other formats. This Duo is beyond genre and style as they mix elements of Power electronics, Noise Rock, Electro Industrial , Drone and Sludge all at the same time. If Wolf Eyes, Sunn0)) and Swans all formed a band it's name would be The Body. These 3 tracks are more massive them some complete albums. I've heard live this band is so powerful live that it can make a mortal man sterile.... When the earth has one gaping breathe left I'm sure The Body will take it and make the planets around them sorry that they were ever created to begin with. This band and all their albums are testament to the universe that chaos is how it began and The Body is how it will all end.......
http://www.atalossrecordings.com/
Lamia Vox- Sigillium Diaboli-CD/ Digital (Cyclic Law)
Neoclassical Rituals all in an dark ambience that is very much on an orchestral level is what we have going on with the choir vocals, Haunting Female incantations and layer after layers of sounds, rumbles, strings and synths all making this more sinster by the moment. Lamia Vox are from Mother Russia and you can hear the nature and heathen overtones of that land and its people in every moment of this release. This one of those releases were you past is more important then ever before as without that you will never get to a point where you can make music and artistic journeys. If you have ever hear bands like Aghast, Atraxia , Ranja or Sanctum the you know where Lamia Vox are coming from and where they are going to . There is something sinster in the making of this album and you know what I think we should just leave it at that as the blackness is needed to make this release for cyclic law complete..
http://cycliclaw.com/
Anatomia De Vanitats- The Anthropic Principle- CD/ Digital ( Cryo Chamber)
The Word Dark Ambience for some time now have become a lost art . Its not just drones and loops it really is so much more and with Anatomia De Vanitats we have the old world ideal fo Dark Ambient music maybe you can remember what it was when bands like Raison D etre, Sephiroth, Protagonist, In Slaughter Natives and Mindspawn to name a few. This is as cold as dreamy as dark as drifting all the elements needed for great Dark ambient. It even has the simple percussive elements that come through out the more occult based side of the genre. If you ever heard Karl Sanders of Nile Dark ambient release this is very close to that as it has the same eastern feeling through out the album. I know very little about this Cryo Chamber other then Simon of Atrium Carceri fame is who started the label and you know him from these releases on Cold Meat label. I look forward to more Dark and Sinister releases from this label as with The Anthropic Principle we have a real powerful beginning.
Abandoned Asylum- Derelicts of Distant hope-CD/ Digital ( Malignant Records)
Ok so this one is freaking the hell out of me and I don't know why. I swear as I'm reviewing this spirits are behind me playing with my back and neck. I can hear voices and I'm not sure there on the album or not. Abandoned Asylum is minimalist and deep in drones and tones. I feel like I'm trapped in a realm where nothing and everything meet all at once to never let me in or out just trapped at that doorway. Its a very smothering feeling coming from this album . The tones are so harsh you don't even hear it till its to late as it builds from a simple sound to a full wall of madness. I don't want to over sell this album as its not he scariest album ever its just give me the chills listening to it and I hope you will give it the proper time as well.
http://malignantrecords.com/
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