Category: Doom

Sons of Morpheus - The Wooden House Session

psychedelic rock / garage rock / stoner rock

Swiss psychedelic blues rock trio Sons Of Morpheus deliver a scorching hot slab of desert rock with this six track EP. Opener 'Doomed Cowboy' is a gritty piece of music, heavy on the jams and gloomy in nature. From then on, the trio takes you on a jam fueled trip where CCR meets Karma To Burn. 'Loner' is a solid rocker and 'Nowhere To Go' is a smashing piece of modern day, old fashioned grunge music. By the end, the so-called "Never Ending Version'" of 'Slave' aims to get you into a blues loaded state of trance. So if you're into raunchy jam driven blues rock, this is a must-have.

The Wøøøh - Music For Weddings And Funerals

experimental / jazz / drone / ambient

Ormo Records

I don't know what kind of weddings and funerals the members of free jazz quartet The Wøøøh usually go to, but I do know that my family would run and never return with this kind of stuff. Not that it's bad, on the contrary. My family just isn't into intense jazz music. I'd never invite them to a Yodok III gig, for example, which is probably the closest reference I can mention. The first of the two tracks on this album is a lengthy anthem, opening with drones and vague melodies before bursting out in a frenzy of free jazz fueled chaos. The second varies on a similar theme. Both are baffling, that's fore sure.

Clouds Taste Satanic - Evil Eye

doom / stoner rock

American instrumental stoner doom combo Clouds Taste Satanic have never disappointed and they seem loyal to that tradition. Their new album, 'Evil Eye' contains two twenty minutes lasting anthems, the title track and 'Pagan Worship'. With titles like that, I think it's obvious what to expect: occult driven doom metal, loaded with psychedelic solos and gut wrenching riffs. Fans of acts like Earth, Bongzilla and Pelican will certainly appreciate these lengthy narrative tunes. I know I do. Like I said, these guys never disappoint. 'Evil Eye' is simply the next step in the elaborate sonic world they create, and a brilliant one as well.

Experiment#508 - Light Is Lunacy

drone / ambient / experimental / noise

Attenuation Circuit

A strange and often uneasy album, 'Light Is Lunacy' balances on the edge between experimental ambient and industrial noise. The atmosphere is dark. The music is loaded with eerie soundscapes and impending drones. Yet, the tracks on this album are surprisingly varied. There is the occult driven opener 'Summoning The Madness' or the minimal 'Gnostic Prayer'. There is percussion and ear drum testing drones. 'Firestorm' is harsh and unforgiving while closer 'Obelisk' feels like being locked up in a nuclear facility, waiting for the inevitable. In all, this is a remarkable set of haunting noises.

Itai - Awake / Asleep

electronic / techno

Gary Numan meets Author & Punisher, that was my first thought when I listened to the six tracks on this abstract electronic techno album. Well, techno might not be the correct term. I think I prefer the phrase "harsh synth pop" for most of these tunes, including 'The Greatest' the impending 'Asleep'. Don't expect repetitive beats and lame vocals but instead prepare for mechanic soulsearching and a massively futuristic sound. My personal favorite here is the friendly 'Adream', a neat downtempo tune. But, as usual, I recommend checking out the entire EP. This is an interesting approach to modern day electronic music.

Folian - Ache Pillars

drone / doom / shoegaze

Apneic Void Sounds

Hailing from Portland and inspired by everything between Nine Inch Nails and Neurosis, one man project Folian comes up with a doom-loaded take on shoegaze. This four track EP can be seen as a successful crossover between Jesu and Slowdive with its sluggish tempos, its subdued but emotional vocals and its walls of guitars. 'Ghost In The Flesh' is a stunning piece of music. Closer 'Where All This Dust Comes From' is my favorite, a long and slowly developing drone-gazer, reminiscent of acts like Nadja. In all, this is an interesting EP, one which every droner out there should check out.

Phillip Wilkerson – Sublime Silence

ambient

This American artist has already released an immense amount of work since he started composing ambient space music. Phillip Wilkerson had several collaborations with other ambient artists like Litmus0001, Silvie Walder, Mystified and the very underrated French ambient artist Lucette Bourdin (1954-2011). Phillip Wilkerson is together with Jourdan Laik the duo behind the deep listening project Time Being.
The spacey soundscapes of Sublime Silence make you feel like driftwood floating without any hesitation into an ocean of relaxation and peace. With soft guidance the music takes the listener towards the borders of immense

equanimity. Those twenty minutes of Sublime Silence contain healing and reposeful sounds which are welcome in this over-stressed society we live in. If you are into this kind of meditative sound creations, there is a lot to discover from this artist on his Bandcamp page.

Sílení – Long Forgotten Bowers

ambient / dark ambient

Eighth Tower Records

If you are curious and longing for a dark ambient trip like you never had before, Sílení could be the treasure you’ve been looking for. This release on Raffaele Pazzalla’s (a.k.a. SONOLOGYST) Eight Tower Records label contains nine outstanding pieces of ambient and dark ambient soundscapes. The project Sílení is in fact the alias of the Portuguese musician Valter Abreu, some may recognize his name from his progressive black metal project Necromanther.
The strange, capricious creations on this digital release are spellbinding soundscapes which evoke mysterious paths of unknown and hidden awareness.

Dark and melancholic moods change into spacey ambient tonalities, sometimes kittenish, other times filled with doom. The world of Sílení is covered with alienated sounds and moods. This is an excellent piece of work. Dark ambient lovers, if you listen to Sílení’s Long Forgotten Bowers, you will get hooked. We sure did!

Empty Chalice – Mother Destruction

dark ambient

Toten Schwan Records

‘The preparation of Mother Destruction was attended by a person who ‘no longer exists’and which is not mentioned in any passage…’ are very strange introducing words that accompany, this Italian dark ambient release in the press folder. The brain behind Empty Chalice is Antoninne A. The weird atmosphere of this recording spreads death, doom and melancholic darkness. The tracks are build up with grim soundscapes mixed with noisy samples, industrial vibrations and ritual ambiance.
Antoninne A. had some guests featuring on the album. Ashtoreth (Peter Verwimp), Rare Form and Kurgan Hors were able to lift

Mother Destruction above standards in this genre. The album is a varied piece of work caught in a deep haunting, emotional prison. Sacrifice and dedication are translated in penetrating sounds and choruses. The nightmare never seems over in this pungent journey of hellish fires.
Another quote from Empty Chalice: ‘… the lost ones are retracing the path of the oldest fairy tale: coming home’. Well, we did come home and we still feel home between the moods and vibes of this wonderful dark ambient recording.

NIMH – Beyond The Crying Era

dark ambient

Winter Light

The Winter-Light label has a special gift and sharp nose for talented electronic artists, devising unusual and out of the box sound architecture. Nimh is an avant-garde, deep ambient, industrial electronic project formed by the multi-instrumentalist and sound designer Giuseppe Verticchio. His distorted drones mixed with dark ambient blasted unexpectedly and without mercy through our headphones. The enormous sound waves made us gasp for air and left us speechless after the first track.
Beyond The Crying Era is a selection of dark ambient and experimental tracks recorded

over a ten year period. Nimh is active since 2001 and has already more than twenty physical albums released. Sound chasers will be pleased and excited with the multi-layering of soundscapes, field recordings, voices and the experimental manipulations of samples this album contains. The sustained drones create darkened and emotive moods. Beyond The Crying Era is an outstanding soundtrack for a SF/horror movie that does not exist. It’s time to dig deeper in Nimh’s music history. Speaking about a discharge!

Anantakara – Momentum Lapses

dark ambient

Anantakara, is a Belgium based project from Philippe Wauman. His meditative music is more than just ambient. He prefers to call himself a sound calligrapher who engenders a blend of ambient, electronica, neoclassical and ethnic jazz. Philippe Wauman is also member of the Belgian ambient trio Aerodyn.
The music has a calming effect without entering the path of flatness. The combinations of jazzy tunes and different approaches in adding diverse electronic sounds make this album an interesting piece of work. Slow repeating rhythms deliver a tension, high enough to grasp the listener into

the world of Anantakara. We’ve noticed psychedelic influences appearing in the mysterious structures of the tracks. The eight adventurous ambient pieces on Momentum Lapses are filled with a variety of lovely compositions and moods. Rumors told us that this album will be released on CD in the future. Anantakara stands for “ to make infinite” in Sanskrit. In some way this album does.

Serge (1-6)
Patsker (7-11)

Splendidula - Post Mortem

9/4/2019

doom / post metal / sludge metal

Formed in Genk, Belgium, Splendidula does something bizarrely interesting with doom, sludge and post metal. In fact, what they do is so unusual that I had to listen to the whole thing a few times before it finally dawned on me. Sludge metal is slowly turning into what we used to call "gothic doom". Or in other words: "Am I listening to a long-lost The Gathering album?" Perhaps there I gave this band the biggest compliment of all, and not just because of the female vocals. Being compared to that legendary band is a heavy burden to carry but it truly feels like this band contains some extraordinary talents. But let's start with the beginning.

The intro made me giggle and search through my Misantronics collection. I'm sure it's a coincidence but opener 'Post' sounds a lot like my own ambient work from a few years back. I don't mind, it's a neat opener. Plus it's followed by the smashing 'Nami', a melodic yet heavy metal song that made me write that opening paragraph. Immediately that nineties female fronted metal sound comes pushing forward, much to my delight.

Just for the record: I refuse to call this gothic metal, but yeah, there are resemblances. 'Too Close To Me' even raises the bar, nudging back toward goth rock and pagan doom, perhaps influenced by leading ladies like Chelsea Wolfe. And, since we're going into the "why-the-hell-not" stuff, there is a cool psychedelic rock solo in this song. Yeps, they've got it all.

I can't say all of these songs are unique pieces of metal. '.38' is an excellent doom metal tune, well executed and performed. Yet, halfway through the album, the listener knows that this act is capable of so much more than excellent doom metal. Take 'Insanity' for example. Now there is a standout tune (just like 'Nami'), driving on grinding guitars and guided by Kristien's strong voice. Another one of those highlights is the strange 'Stream Of Concioussness', containing odd sounds and an infectious, rolling bass.

In all, 'Post Mortem' is a great album and yeah, perhaps a worthy replacement for the now defunct Bathsheba. Kristien is a formidable singer/songwriter, backed by a well-adjusted band. I haven't had the pleasure of seeing them live yet, but if their stage performance is a solid as their songwriting skills, Splendidula will be ready to conquer the bigger doom metal stages. My advice? Check it out, and then check it out again, and again. This is a grower.

Serge

Brieviews 59

11/3/2019

Tim Linghaus - About B. (Memory Sketches B-Sides Recordings)

ambient / classical

Sound In Silence

A nice gem from the ever expanding Sound In Silence label, containing seventeen short yet playful ambient pieces. With the piano as central instrument and gently synths freely floating, Tim Linghaus delivers something I can only compare to the "nouvelle cuisine" of ambient. The tunes are delicious and highly enjoyable but oh so short. Fans of Olafur and Nils will definitely enjoy this and so will everyone who is need of a little breather once in a while. My advice? Purchase this album and let these tunes become your tiny moment of serenity during your busy day. You deserve it, and so does Tim Linghaus.

Antoine Panaché - Endling

experimental / noise

The bizarre world of Antoine Panaché is as enigmatic as it's uncomfortable. This project has often found a way to be featured on this pages and with its new output, 'Endling', Panaché once again deals in the opposite of normal. Basically driving on noise, the six tracks on this tape are audio experiments in old fashioned musique concrete style, here and there also influenced by everything Cold Meat Industry has ever barked out. My favorite is closer and title track 'Endling', a mysterious and angsty piece of music. On the other hand, if you like angst, you should certainly start with 'Zwarte Agnes'.

Misty Bliss - Misty Bliss

alternative rock / psychedelic rock

Right, time for some good old fashioned rock 'n roll, courtesy of Swiss duo Misty Bliss. Inspired by the extravagance of classic rock and the gloomy overtone of gothic rock, this duo throws four great songs in my speakers. Opener 'Misty Bliss' is a strong, anthemic piece of rock music, something fans of everything between Led Zeppelin and PJ Harvey can appreciate. Blues fans will drool over 'Love Confession', at least if they can also appreciate post punk and garage rock. Then there is the punky closer 'Take On The World', the fastest song on the EP but a trustworthy rock 'n tune. Heel yeah!

Thecodontion - Jurassic

death metal

Xenoglossy Productions

Hailing from Rome, Thecodontion comes up with something they call "prehistoric metal of death". This four track EP, 'Jurassic' contains four tracks, created by bass, drums and vocals only, with lyrics about fossils and prehistoric creatures. Yet, they do manage to create a rough, chaotic and primitive version of death and black metal, not so much old school as well, pre-school. Then again, back in the glorious days of Pangaea, there was no melody, no flashing guitar solos and no professional recording studios. So, if you like your metal obscure and chaotic, Thecodontion definitely deliver the good.

Wang Wen - Endless （theme song for "Space Challenge"）

post rock

Chinese post rock juggernauts Wang Wen surprise their fans with a ten minutes lasting anthem, a genre defining theme song in two sections. Kristian Karlsson (PG Lost) produced the song and Magnus did the mastering. Along with Wang Wen's elaborate crew list, the addition of these seasoned craftsmen turns this music into a baffling group effort, one that every post rock fans will surely appreciate. Balancing on the edge between post rock and score music, 'Endless' is yet another one of those beauties by Wang Wen, a long, anthemic and immersive piece of music that can stand the test of time.

Blair Coron - On The Nature Of Things

ambient / classical

A beautiful and immersive album by Scottish pianist and sound sculptor Blair Coron, 'On The Nature Of Things' narrates the splendor of contemporary classical music. For the most part, this album brings a minimal but soothing listening experience. It's quiet and gentle but is also contains a few dreamy ambient anthems, like 'R/B/G/' or poetry like 'Ode To The Cimmerian' or the folkiish 'Olives and Marzipan'. In all, this is a surprisingly interesting album and quite varied for something that roams in the world of classical music. My advice? Check it out, you'll definitely found something you like here.

A Vintage Death - Acrid Death Fragrance

doom / black metal

Hailing from Italy, one man doom metal band A Vintage Death unleashes a first EP, titled 'Acrid Death Fragrance'. Founded by solo member Carmine, this project combines melodic doom with elements of black and death metal. The result is a rough, harsh version of bands like Saturnus, November's Doom and so on. The four song are decent, excellent at some points but the production value somewhat diminishes the experience, which is too bad. It's obvious that Carmine is a talented musician with good ideas and great songwriting abilities. All he needs now is a professional producer and, why not, a live band. But for now, this EP is an excellent debut.

Ûngrûn - Demo 2019

black metal

Tartarus Records

Dutch/Frisian black metal outfit Ûngrûn (featuring (ex-) members of Verwoed / Dool / Kjeld and Lugubre) comes up with two ferocious, skull battering pieces of black metal. Titled 'It Hiele Brânoffer' and 'De Oanstjit Ta Hjar Ûngerjuchtichheit' these tunes will pierce your eardrums and destroy the the final signs of sanity behind it. Mostly driven of hyperspeed drums and shrieking guitars, these tunes are instant favorites for fans of Dodecahedron and many other avant garde black metal acts. This is simply another one of those brutal forces from the Netherlands, which comes highly recommended.

Anna Havoc - Anna Havoc

hardcore

website

Don't let the band name and the lovely painting on the cover fool you, Russian combo Anna Havoc will rip your eardrums apart and you will love it too. That is, if you're into harsh, intense and chaotic hardcore. In five tracks, Anna Havoc bashes a tremendous amount of stinging riffs, battering drums and fierce vocals through your speakers. The tempos are suffocating and the abrasiveness is pulverizing. Their furious hardcore is infused with elements from sludge metal, noise rock and a hint of black metal or grindcore. The result is one baffling five piece EP with heaps of brutal energy.

Beyond Our Sight - The Void Within

metal / death metal / metalcore

New band from Ghent, Belgium, deals in thick as fuck riffing, serial killing drums and ferocious growls. Plus, here and they doomy clean vocals appear, along with a load of other influences, all brutal, obviously. If you're into bands like Lamb Of God, Gojira, As I Lay Dying and Machine Head, you might want to lend these guys an ear and get your hands on a copy of this seven track EP. Personally, I'm not a fan of this stuff, but I know the genre well enough to consider Beyond Our Sight a force to be reckoned with in the near future. Just listen to the pulverizing single 'Strenuous' and you'll know what I mean.

In The Woods… - Cease The Day

24/2/2019

progressive / black metal / doom

Debemur Morti

In The Woods… were once a legendary progressive metal band from Norway during the 90’s. They released a total of five studio albums, three singles, one compilation album and one live album throughout its initial existence. The band disbanded in 2000 and reformed surprisingly in 2014.

With the album Pure they continued their story with a new lead singer James Fogarty. In 2016 the Botteri brothers left the band leading onto Alex Weisbeek and Bernt Sørensen joining In the Woods... for bass and guitar sessions. Drummer Anders Kobro is the only original member left.

With all those band member changes In The Woods… sounds still like In The Woods… The sound of the band has still the same powerful resonance and intelligence like on the albums Omnio and Strange In Stereo. Cease The Day has a more varied and intensified sound. The music feels more atmospheric and has more black metal influences. Their weeping guitar sound has moved more towards a melodic direction with a very wide-ranging approach of vocals. Black metal screaming and clean singing joining each other in balance.

In The Woods… is still refining their sound and experimenting with various tunes and moods. The keyboards are used to give the songs on Cease The Day a creative and distinctive mood. Elements of doom, progressive and black metal are melted in this very interesting piece of work. Slow old school pieces chance to aggressive soaring black metal and visa versa. The guitars speed up and resonate heavier than they ever did before.

Cease The Day is mind-bending with an avant-garde touch. In The Woods… shows that the path they walk is powerful and covered with surprising ambience. The story of this band hasn’t been told completely. From their debut Heart of the Ages (1995) until today with Cease The Day (2018), this band sounds still original, progressive, melodic, heavy, kaleidoscopic and timeless. We could stay day and night in the woods listening to In The Woods…

Patsker

Oldd Wvrms - Codex Tenebris

6/2/2019

doom / drone / post metal

Cursed Monk Records

This website is grooving into its fifth year. I started Merchants Of Air in 2014, back then by reviewing random albums from bands I admired. It didn't take very long for other bands to send their music to our mailbox and, even though some people might not believe it, our mailbox can now be compared to an ever-flowing river. One of those first bands was Oldd Wvrms from Houffalize, Belgium. They appeared here several times, with reviews for 'Mater Serpentium' & 'NØT' (2015), 'Ignobilis' (2017) and a gig in Antwerp Music City (2017). They also appeared on one of our birthday compilations. So if there is such a thing as a "traditional" Merchants Of Air band, it might be these guys.

'Codex Tenebris', their latest album, is another sonic adventure of epic proportions. It will be released February 15 by Cursed Monk Records. With five lengthy tracks, Oldd Wvrms once again deliver an impending and immersive instrumental doom metal album. I used the word "traditional" before and it quite fits with this full-length too. This album feels like a natural next step for this band. Elements of drone ambient, stoner rock, black metal and post metal infiltrate the riff loaded tracks. The result is a meandering sound, something that resembles a lava flow.

There is one element on this album I simply adore. Large passages in 'A l'or, aux ombres et aux abîmes' and 'Misère & Corde' drive on a brilliant rolling bass, adding a lot of groove to the whole thing. Along with the strong drum performance, this bass delivers a solid foundation for the guitars to do their thing. And halfway through the latter song, that thing is amazing, somewhere between Tool and Russian Circles. This combination guarantees shaking heads in front every stage where these guys play.

'La vallée des tombes' is my favorite track here, although I have to say that I've enjoyed every single second of the whole album. Yet, musically, this track is one of those unforgettable doom metal anthems that grab you by the throat. This surely is some melancholic and dark music, perfectly suited for a late night gig in a forest in Zottegem (*wink*). Anyhow, this album is a stunner, another perfectly crafted piece of Belgian sludge doom post metal or whatever you like to call it these days. My advice: pre order the hell out of this monster. You will not regret it, I promise.

Serge

Brieviews 58

29/1/2019

Split/Cross - Rise Of Discontent

hardcore / grindcore / crust

Pennsylvania trio Split/Cross is seriously pissed off. Formed by members of The Human Race Is Filth and Bittered, Split/Cross delivers eight ferocious tracks, ranging from blackened crust punk over sludge doom to grindcore and even the harsh industrial sound of Nailbomb (in opener 'Blindspot'). That level of variation is not only very welcome but also gives the EP the feel of a concept album. The concept here being "fuck politics, fuck religion, fuck society, fuck humanity", something like that. Fact remains, this eight track is a tremendous kick in the nutsack, aggressive and raging, thus recommended!

Wan - Gammal är äldst

black metal

More fearsome aggression, this time from Swedish black metal quartet Wan. Formed in 2009, Wan have one mission: hail Satan in the most vile, raw and old school way possible. This five track EP is exactly that. Without any form of compromise, Wan unleash their grinding sound, bases on ear piercing riffs and murderous drums. If you are one of those people who wander through record stores, feeling nostalgic about the nineties and its harsh, gritty and chaotic sound, you definitely need to check out this EP. No doubt, Satan will be extremely pleased with this offering.

BufferState - Anthropy

grunge / alternative metal / progressive rock

Hailing from the city of Ghent BufferState delivers a very decent mix of stoner rock, alternative rock and metal. Although this is a mix that has been done before, BufferState does manage to create something rather exciting, something you need to listen more than once to fully appreciate. Inspired by bands like Tool, Deftones, Opeth and Alice In Chains, this is one of those Belgian bands to keep an eye on. Perhaps not on this EP but one day they will write and record and huge hit in the alternative scene, I'm certain of that. So, get your hands on this rocker so you can later tell your friends that you were a fan from the very beginning.

Doomcult - Life Must End

doom

Dutch one man act Doomcult returns with a good old fashioned doom metal album. Inspired by everything between Trouble and Mournful Congregation, this act delivers an interesting take on the age old genre. In a way, you might compare most of these tracks to funeral doom, slow, melodic and dark. Yet, the vocals are rough, without really grunting, something near sludge doom and those in Cathedral, for example. The result is a satisfying piece of doom metal, highlighting in songs like 'Sulphur' and the cool rocker 'Ashes'. Don't expect anything earth-shattering but an excellently executed set of slow heaviness, which is certainly good enough for me.

Hey Life - Masquerade

alternative rock

Ever wondered what a good version of the Spin Doctors would sound like? Well, here are French funk rockers Hey Life and their surprisingly infectious debut EP, 'Masquerade'. Opening with the butt-shaker 'Likeholic', this five track is pure pleasure. Although this delves deep into the funk and groove rock of the nineties, there is a high Michael Jackson level in this music, combined with heavy rocking guitars. 'One More Dollar' is one of those tunes that can every festival goer on his feet and shouting 'hey, hey, hey' along with the music. Yeah man, this is pretty darn cool.

Geostygma - The Die Is Cast

death metal

Here is a lesson in dealing with an album I do not like. French death metal combo Geostygma delivers furious modern day death metal with deathcore elements, tempo switches and pig squeals. Those things are not my favorites. I simply don't like it. However, I do recognize influences from bands like Aborted or Dying Fetus and I do hear that everything on this four track EP is executed to perfection. Within its scene, this definitely is a band to keep an eye on. They know what they're doing and how to maintain a certain quality. The fact that it's not my cup of tea is not Geostygma's fault. Recommended? Sure, if you're into this stuff.

Two Trains Left - Sorry & Pathetic

punk rock

We're still in France but with something more catchy and listener friendly. Two Trains Left is a relatively new band in the French punk scene, delivering the lighter side of the genre. Think Blink 182, Sum 41, Paramore or Green Day and you're pretty close to what Two Trains Left sound like. Rapid pop punk with melodic grooves and heaps of energy, plus the possibility of having a few fan favorites, that's what you can expect. Besides, while many punk rock bands drown in onesidedness, these dudes manage to be quite diverse and varied. So, punk rockers, put this in your ears and shake that booty.

Liya - Listen

electronic

Blind Mice Productions

Right, enough with the guitars for now. Let's check what the electronic scene has to offer. Hailing from Israel, singer songwriter Liya comes up with a four track EP, titled 'Listen'. While opener 'Holding On' is a radio friendly EDM track, Liya mostly loves to wander in the regions of synthpop and darkwave. 'No Meaning' showcases that brilliantly and the enigmatic 'Always About You' is a possibly fan favorite. Trip hop act Monophona comes to mind here, which surely is a huge compliment. In all, this is highly enjoyable synthpop, suitable for fans of everything between Depeche Mode and Eurythmics.

I Ya Toyah - Code Blue

electronic / darkwave / EBM / Industrial

Another interesting piece of electronic music comes from I Ya Toyah and her in-your-face album 'Code Blue'. With hypnotic beats, harsh synths and gritty electronics, I Ya Toyah brings a somewhat listener friendly version of acts like Atari Teenage Riot or Ambassador 21 and I think Lords Of Acid fans might also enjoy these tunes. Elements of electronic dance music meets with old school industrial and drum & bass, all accompanied by strong vocals. This album contains ten tracks, all coming with a familiar electronic sound but also with some unusual twists and sounds. So yeah, this might be an interesting album to check out if you're into pungent electronics.

Wozniak - The Space Between The Trees

shoegaze

Hailing from the beautiful city of Edinburgh, Wozniak comes up with a captivating six track EP, loaded with elements from dreampop, psychedelic rock, postpunk, post rock and shoegaze. Yet, for an EP, this thing is quite long, thanks to the massive and mesmerizing track 'Deceiver'. In all, there is forty minutes of pure shoegaze bliss to be found here, from the gloomy opener 'Slacker' onward. So I guess this thing could count as an album and in that case, 'The Space Between The Trees' is a highly promising dreampop album, somewhere between Slowdive and The Jesus And Mary Chain. Shoegazers: you know what do.

Sullen Guest - IIIIXXI

3/1/2019

doom / death metal

What better way to start another rotten year on this dreadful planet than with a soul depraving doom metal album. 'IIIIXXI' by Lithuanian doomed four- piece Sullen Guest was released back in March but it reached us only now. According to the added note, this album is "their best Sullen Guest stuff" and they "are doomed to look forward to your fatal feedback". For the latter, I'm not sure sending the album to Merchants Of Air was a good idea to begin with. We rarely do "fatal" feedback. We're way too nice for that, or too open minded. Plus, I'm a doom metal fan, so I'm afraid my feedback will be rather positive and uplifting and for that I sincerely apologize in advance.

Sullen Guest was formed in 2013 in the city of Vilnius. Since then, the quartet has been sending vile waves of riffs, drums and growls though innocent instruments. That sonic torture now results in a pulverizing doom metal album, one with an excellent blend of styles and influences. These days, doom metal is a surprisingly varied genre so this album could have gone either way. Yet, these guys have taken the slow, melodic and depressive path, something opener 'Dies Irae' immediately showcases. Without any need for intros or atmospheric meandering, this track quickly delivers the melodic riffs and methodical drums. The whole thing feels like a mix between Saturnus and Evoken, which I think is a good thing.

Most of the tracks on this album follow that example, with 'Altered State' being an absolute highlight. This is one of those songs that pushes an album into end-year lists and listeners into fans. My Dying Bride comes to mind here, without the violins but definitely a potential fan-favorite. 'Denial pt. 1' opens with grinding riffs before blasting out in a sluggish and intense funeral doom track. And so it goes on and on. I'm not going into a song by song description because that would turn out to become and endless repetition of the words "funeral", "doom", "awesome" and "slow". I'm afraid that this is just one of those brilliant pieces of doom metal, highlighting numerous times ('The New End' is another one of those smashers). So yeah, I am really really really sorry but this album comes highly recommended for all fans of melodic doom metal.

Serge

Brieviews 54

25/11/2018

Syrinx - There Is Distance Between Us

drone / ambient

Sombre Soniks

It feels so good to see English trio Syrinx return. Sombre Soniks releases their first album since 2011 and it's a gem. 'There Is A Distance Between Us' is one long sonic meditation, fifty nine minutes long. It opens with slowly meandering drones and soundscapes, quiet, at times impending. Calmly, a whole story develops, carried by mysterious sounds and eerie atmospheres. I guess it's safe to compare this album to artists like Troum, Vidna Obmana or Rapoon: gloomy ambient soundscapes best to be enjoyed with eyes closed and mind open. This certainly is a nice comeback.

Mule Skinner – Airstrike

death metal / grindcore

Formed in 1990, Mule Skinner is a death/grindcore band from New Orleans USA. Airstrike is their comeback album, twenty three years after their debut Abuse. Their heavy neck breaking underground grindcore works addictive. Time has passed but the sound of Mule Skinner is still crushing skulls and bones. Deep venomous vocals and high speed riffs blowing even your wall paper away. The bass tunes have a very important contribution in this recording. Airstrike is an album with evincive grindcore. Thirteen songs of blasting power. Highly recommended to fans of Terrorizer and the early Brutal Truth.

Stone Wired – Habitual Discomfort

death industrial / dark ambient

Exabyss Records

Stone Wired is a project of Mortum (Gyorgy Turoczy), released on his own Underground Death Ambient Label From Hungary, but active in the USA. The sinister deep industrial sounds work like a suffocation machine. Stone Wired explores the boundaries of dark ritual music. Harsh electronics are used to make the listener aware of the habitual discomforts of life. The artist has already released dozens of tapes and cdr’s. He creates sounds and noise with other aliases like Human Vault and Odour Sonour too. If you like dark and obscure underground electronics, Stone Wired will be your perfect guide.

I Am Waiting For You Last Summer - Together

post rock / ambient / electronic

Russian act I Am Waiting For You Last Summer is one of those bands who explore genre boundaries without limitations. Loved and respected by electronic, ambient, downtempo, post-rock and alternative pop communities, these Russians have played over 200 shows allover Europe, including Dunk! Now they come with a sweet and enjoyable three-track EP, 'Together'. The three songs are short but they will warm up your day and bring a smile to your face with their. It's Explosions meets Plaid or Mogwai meets Boards Of Canada but most of all it's gentle, soothing music that deserves a place in your collection.

Brad Couture - Strung - Vol. I

ambient / classical

Brad Couture delivers another beautiful breather in a rough and busy world. For that, he only needs a piano and a tiny bit of electronics. The two songs on 'Strung Vol.1' are short minimalistic piano pieces, 'Pleiades' and 'Radial', coming with a strong feeling of melancholy. It's easy to imagine vast wintry landscapes or scenes with broken-heart people while listening to this music. If you are a fan of cinematic ambient and slow piano melodies, you don't want to miss out on this one. Put these two tunes in your winter-playlist and the darkest of seasons will shine a little brighter this year.

Comatose Vigil A.K. - Evangelium Nihil

funeral doom

Non Serviam Records

Seven years after 'Fuimus, non Sumus...', funeral doom trio Comatose Vigil A.K. return with a new album. 'Evangelium Nihil' contains four tracks, four monolithic pieces of funeral doom metal, containing all the ingredients that make this genre so attractive. Slow, torpid music, driving on droning guitars, sluggish drums and deep growls. Fans of the band and fans of Esoteric, Evoken, Shape Of Despair and so on can easily trust Comatose Vigil A.K. to deliver the sonic burial they crave so much. This album is a walk in the darkest and deadliest labyrinths of the human soul, one which every funeral doomster will adore.

Dxvxdxd Sxlf - Of Wolves & Men

gothic rock / alternative / metal

Dxvxdxd Sxlf (read, Divided Self) is a French band with a lot of symbolism and a lot of influences, from literature about madness and insanity to dark rock bands like Moonspell, IAMX and Deftones. Their first effort is a four track (+ four unplugged versions) EP which is quite hard to comprehend. Opener Under The Gaze Of Christ' seems influenced by gothic metal and melodic black metal but suffers from rather unfitting vocals. These vocals perform better, more powerful on the groovy doom/post track 'Dreamer On Ecstasy' and the gothrocker 'The Path'. In all, this is an interesting EP, not a smasher but a nice introduction to a band that is still finding a solid sound.

Shelther - When Comes The Flee

drone / ambient / folk

Here we go again, a drone/ambient release by a member of one of Belgium's many (sludge) metal bands, something that almost always sounds interesting. Shelter is the solo project from Lethvm's drummer Antoine Matthys. With 'When Comes the Flee' he delivers a one-track EP, lasting over thirty minutes and bathing in atmosphere. Armed with a guitars and a bunch of effects, Shelher steps into the same forest where Ashtoreth, Stratosphere, Syndrome and CHVE wander. Opening with folkish guitar plucks, this track grows, evolves and narrates, beautifully honoring this tradition of Belgian drone ambient. Brilliant piece, highly recommended!

Temple Music - Εποχές Vol. II

dark ambient

Sombre Soniks

Alan Trench returns with two new pieces of sonic meditation, good for a total of over forty minutes of droning soundscapes and cosmic ambient. 'Summer Dominoes' is a lengthy sound exploration, evolving in an almost unstable manner. Minimalism certainly is the keyword here, even the term 'I-Dose' comes to mind. This is music to meditate to, thus perhaps my favorite of the two. Track two, 'Laughing In The Tower' is more complex, darker and also noisier. Here, haunting voices appear, along with vague melodies and eerie soundscapes. Yet, if you want your music to narrate strange adventures, you need this one.

Hey Life - Masquerade

alternative rock / funk rock

What would happen if Jamiroquai and Queens Of The Stone Age crawl into a studio? Well, French rockers Hey Life might come close to that. One part of the band is hooked on alternative rock while the others have the funk floating through their veins. The result is this uplifting five-track EP, loaded with energetic rock songs for the whole family to enjoy. It's not every day that Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pulp, Rage Against The Machine ànd Michael Jackson come to mind when I listen to an album. For some reason, these songs are infectious and sheer fun. Dancing is recommended, smiling is obligatory.

Rosalyn - Single Mother

indie / dreampop

Rosalyn was born right after the release of 'Heiligenstadt', The View Electrical’s sophomore album. Vocalist Frédéric Aellen wanted to create something more intimate and acoustic so he locked himself up with a guitar and a laptop. The result is a four-track EP, moving into the regions of dreampop, slow/sadcore and indie pop. In a way, the songs here are bittersweet pop songs, powerful enough to entertain people in front of a stage but intimate enough to guide emotions in a lonely bedroom. My favorite here is the piano version of 'Rusty' but I'm sure many people will adore these melodies.

I Hate Models - Spreading Plague

industrial / electronic

Perc Trax

Let's finish this set of Brieviews with something completely different. It might look like a death metal album but don't get I Hate Models wrong: this is nutkicking industrial hardcore techno, or something like that. I guess you can compare this to Horrorist meeting Combichrist making it perfect for acid rave-caves and gothic industrial parties alike. Hell, even rhythmic noise freaks can get their much needed shots of electronic aggression. The single comes with a remix and an extra track, 'Martial Order'. So put on your dancing boots and stomp the night away.

Serge (2 & 3 by Patsker)

Fordomth - I.N.D.N.S.L.E.

11/11/2018

funeral doom / black metal

Endless Winter

I still don't really know why Italy delivers such an array of mesmerizing doom metal releases. The number of dark and ominous albums from the boot of Europe is impressive, to say the least. Something extremely dark is luring in the underground, that's for damn sure.

Here is another one of those surprisingly haunting doom metal efforts, courtesy of Catania, Sicily residents Fordomth. Formed in 2013, this band started working on their debut in 2015. Yet, due to line-up changes and other set-backs, several years passed before its official release.

But it was definitely worth the wait. 'I.N.D.N.S.L.E.' (which stands for "In Nomine Dei Nostri Satanas Luciferi Excelsi") is a pulverizing piece of doom metal, laced with sludge, post-metal and depressive black metal. Torpid, sluggish and direful, Fordomth borrows elements from Evoken, Ahab and Nortt, but their list of influences also contains bands like Primitive Man and Wiegedood. The album contains four tracks and a gloomy intro. It's a concept album about damnation, from a Satanic point of view.

Perhaps the most unusual aspect of this album is the use of clean vocals and often whispers, along with the guttural growls and the blackened screams. These different vocals alternate over seemingly eternal guitars and methodical drums., all in perfect funeral doom tradition. It's probably no surprise that the center piece of the album, 'Chapter III - Eternal Damnation' goes on for almost twenty-five minutes. Here, I can hear some influences from the post-rock/metal and even the post-hardcore scene, interwoven with the tormenting slowness of funeral doom.

The entire album is one huge ritual of catharsis and despair, recommended only for seasoned doom metal addicts. Although slow and lingering, 'I.N.D.N.S.L.E.' contains more than enough variation to keep the listener in its grasp. Of course it's not an easy-listening album. Instead, this needs to be played loud while you exorcise your own demons and fight your own neverending tunnel of nothingness. 'I.N.D.N.S.L.E.' is a remarkable album, one that will haunt your dreams for years to come.

Serge

Spectrum Mortis - Kadosh

9/11/2018

doom / black metal

Fiat Nox. Thanks to Daylight Savings Time, it is as if an eternal darkness has descended upon us again, from which there is no escape. Ghostly creatures roam the night, waiting to be summoned.

If this makes you feel like lighting a couple of candles, and preparing for an unholy ritual, I would suggest using "Kadosh", Spectrum Mortis' latest EP, as a soundtrack.

From the first notes, it's clear that this is a very honest record; these Spanish doomers are true believers of the art of darkness, their mission to facilitate satanic rituals.

Stylistically, the music is blackened death/doom metal, at times reminding me of Gothic-era Paradise Lost - which is a very good thing. Each song has its own central doomy riff (played in unison, often drenched in reverb) which is then elaborated on. About halfway, however, the songs kick into high gear, with blastbeats and tremolo riffing. Singer Sheram, who also plays bass, has an agressive growl, and sings (or sometimes declamates) most of his texts in Latin.

Highlights of this EP are the second song, Fiat Lux, and the third one, Et Filius Aurorae. This record has a high replay value, and will be present in my playlist for a couple more months. Recommended.

Koen