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Frail Body - A Brief Memoriam

3/11/2019

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hardcore
Deathwish
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There are labels and there are well-run labels, and then there are those two or three handful of labels that really excel at what they do, making it possible to employ people and still release a bunch of records of the highest pedigrees. 
 
The mini album “A Brief Memoriam” by Frail Body is proof that Deathwish Inc. is one of those handfuls that are able to gather a loyal following by representing a certain sound, aesthetic, ideology – you name it; they have a hand for picking unknown bands that fit their soundscope, giving them time and creative freedom and then incorporating their ideas into a catalog like no other. Frail Body from Rockford, Illinois, is a young trio that promises to follow in the footsteps of bands as diverse as Orchid and Touché Amoré with their modern wavey form of screamo, adding a shade of harshly, blasted and yet suffering, angsty hardcore to a flawless list of releases.

The band is able to provide gut-wrenching shrieks and epic turnarounds in the same song (“Your Death makes me wish heaven was real”) with singer Paul Shaffer filling the gap between Jacob Bannon and Jordan Dreyer. Nicholas Clemenson’s drums are pumping and ever-present but not drenching or dominating (“Old Friends”). The guitars played by Nic Kuczynski range from semi-acoustic intro to harsh shredding or even as if played randomly in the dark corner of a pub on a busy Friday evening (listen to the interlude “At Peace” where you can also hear the band’s friends). However, there is nothing on this record that happens randomly, everything seems to serve a thin red line, although only the first four songs are new while the second half was already released over two years ago. 

That umbilical chord that “A Brief Memoriam” revolves around is the moment of having to let go of a beloved person the narrator sees dying. It looms in lines as “I guess you’ve lived a good life / Though you spent the last quarter dying and trying / Just one more day / Just one more year / Just one more moment of time” (the first lines from the opener “Pastel”) and becomes obvious with such clear statements as “I’ll hold your hand while you die / Delineate through your pale eyes / A shallow grey matching walls … But I’m trying to believe / That I’ll see you soon / In your new home” (“Your Death …”). It should be noted: never since “Stage Four” has the death of a beloved and all the emotions that come with it – despair, rage, denial, anger – been more at the center of attention from the perspective of those left behind. 


​Thorsten

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Brieviews 64

25/10/2019

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Clavicvla – Sepulchral Blessings

dark ambient
Cyclic Law
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A gray cover shower the mouldy hands of a seemingly dead person – no one could live with hands a mixture of burnt to ashes and blown up by frostbite – hanging down in front of an old garment (with one bloody stain on the left arm) as if worn by a mummy from the 17th or 18th century. This cover
gets the listener into the right mood for what will follow in the next 37 minutes.

No sunshine can permeate through the stark, distorted canvas that Clavicvla – mastermind Ittiel has concocted for the follow-up to last year’s “Sermons”, only to show that the starkness of horror scores for the most evil movies, the most gruesome images, the most horrible slow-motions need some kind of eruption: a shriek, a shrill noise wandering from left to right, a slow verbal chant to exemplify the fear to be induced.

Sepulchral Blessing” is not a bad album per se, not that is not true, in the realm of Black Ambient
this band has definitely a strong footing and will even gather more followers with this album. It is
bleak, it got a lot of atmosphere, knows how to incorporate small disturbances into the sub-bass
horror bleakness without ruining the Hadean flow. However, those of us who do not regularly watch old horror movies turning off the sound and for those who cannot envision a dark spawn of John Carpenter and Bohren und der Club of Gore lying in the grave dug up by Mamiffer and A-Sun Amissa this will not do. A class of its own – for its own scene – in its own world. Enter if you may.


Ateiggaer – Us D’r Höll Chunnt Nume Zyt

black metal
Eisenton
bandcamp
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Swiss German is already a hell to understand for anybody who is not from the Northern part of
Switzerland, but turning it into the lingua franca for a black metal record seems even more absurd.
However, one thing becomes very clear when listening to Ateiggaer’s debut EP, to be released in
mid-November: These two guys (working under the monikers Fauth Temenkeel and Fauth Lantav)
make no sacrifices, they take no hostages, they are in it for themselves and for nobody else.

Associated with the up and coming Helvetic Underground Committee from Zurich, they are able to play a furious version of black metal that has long been associated with the second wave of black metal, stemming from Norway. They infuse their fundamental rage and well-shouted visions with short passages of intricate laid-back drum fills, guitar motifs and near-Gregorian chants that connect very well with the mysticism they are here to convey, just listen to “De Dämon us Levania” (the demon from Levania) – everything blends in nicely.

The world as we see it is not theirs, they talk about spheres and gods from another realm, always
able to surprise us with minuscule differences to the usual sound. Not even a year into their
existence, Ateiggaer already got a release by popular German black metal label Eisenton – no
surprise when listening to this EP which is hopefully not their last.


Process Black - Countdown Failure 

hardcore
Deathwish
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When announcing this release of one of his numerous projects on iconic label Deathwish Inc.,
guitar player Aaron D.C. Edge said that this was a dream come true. Naturally, most any hardcore band dreams of releasing a record through Jacob Bannon’s label for several reasons – worldwide acclaim, lots of fans and, of course, the respect of the scene. However, the members of the band have already earned that respect over decades of contributing with so many bands (amongst them 
Deadguy, Kiss It Goodbye or Lumbar), so that this should not be a major goal.


Nevertheless, one goal was surely to release a standout single which they did. The noisy, low-tuned shredding by Aaron, Brock Lowry’s tight drumming or Tim Singer’s brilliant vocals (his name speaks for itself, evidently) all give the listener a shiver-evoking experience. The opener “Lies > Truth” already shows all the strengths of the band and additionally marks a deeply sarcastic lyricist.
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“I don’t want truth… just lie to me” - sometimes people want to be lied to because (maybe) the
truth is too hard to bear, right? Well, truth be told, you will have to try hard to find a better noisehardcore debut single this year. The dream has come true for these experienced musicians. 

Burden Limbs – There is no Escape

"miserable bastard music" / alternative / indie
Glasshouse Records
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Burden Limbs debut EP can hit you straight in the face when you least expect it as it displays a rougher version of the kind of dark pop that Kayo Dot presented on their latest record. The darkness is not only shown musically in a synth-driven melodrama like the self-titled track “Burden Limbs” but even more in their lyrics which are pretty straight-forward: “I'm so tired of suffering these reminders of a world I can't abide / Why else would I carve out my hatred and dissatisfaction?” The little red-glowing dots on the dark horizons are not leading the way to new-found hope but rather to blood raining in slo-mo from the skies. Not a lot of songs demand repeat as urgently as this one.

Burden Limbs can also knock you out in ways that do not sound like a doom-version of The Cooper Temple Clause but much more immediate with songs that introduce themselves into your longtimememory by means of simply intriguing lyrics by Chad Murray but also through the combination of synths, drones and gently-interwoven electronica giving you the chance to discover a lot of details and something new each time you sit down to really listen. And listen you should – these Londonboys might be up to something. They provide a great soundtrack to an overdose of medicine you don’t want to take but that you just can’t stop yourself from.

Kurokuma / Under – Kurokunder Split 7” 

doom / sludge / noise rock / metal
Astral Noize
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Split releases – an interesting thing as most of us can name a few from the tip of our head, right? Isis and Aereogramme, Melt Banana and Fantomas, Battery and Ignite, The Ocean and Burst. Sometimes however, those with the unknown bands get you the most. Mid-November, Astral Noize will bring us one of the latter category, releasing a 7” by Kurokuma and Under. The combination is really striking, because both songs at first glance seem totally unrelated only sharing a certain weirdness.

Kurokuma starts off with a cover song (well, that is not unusual for a split release) – reworking a theme song for a 20 year old Sega game classic called “Ecco the Dolphin: The Tides of Time” - fortunately, this is not a close cover but a free interpretation as they turn the whirling theme into a pretty clever doom track with a lot of atmosphere and a striking hihat use so that the listener asks himself afterwards if this might not have been the better theme for Ecco’s second adventure.

Then Under are up next with “Abysal Gigantism” and they definitely have some sense of humor, because their track starts with some field recordings from the seaside so that you hear that kind of stuff you would expect from our dolphin. Then they turn the song into an  eight minute epic somewhere between Crowhurst and Dillinger Escape Plan making clever use of vocoder, swirling guitars and waving drums all being held together by a strong rhythm section. 

In the end, this 7” leaves one impressed by the chutzpah of combining those two bands and the
clever way both complement each other turning this split into a more than welcome stray from the
path of regular splits.

Witch Trail – The Sun Has Left The Hill

black metal / noise rock / post metal
Babylon Doom Cult Records
Consouling Sounds
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Sometimes, certain boundaries should not be crossed. For example combining Motown Soul and
Classic Hardcore – that just doesn’t work. Nevertheless, some unexpected combinations might
work, just remember Zeal and Ardor combining gospel and black metal. Witch Trail do something similar – they create their own unique blend of post-metal taking a lot from Sonic Youth and Thurston Moore’s solo work and combining it with pure post-metal. And once again, Belgium (more specifically Ghent) proves to be a brilliant soil for unique combinations as the trio is really able to provide a fresh start to a genre as trodden as post-metal.

They take the classic noise-licks and use them to replace the regular post-metal riffs. This way they also implement the pop-appeal of good noise-rock into their songs. How they start “Lucid” with a noisy take on a nearly surf-twang guitar riff and then build the shrieking vocals around it, always leaving those easy and pumping noise-rock elements at the core of the song and right in the middle of our ears – impressive! Sometimes you must think of the Beach Boys (“Stupor”), but sharing the record with Stiff Little Fingers and Discharge (“Sinking”); suddenly Kim Gordon and SY show up on your mental stage (“Silent Running”) - but interestingly all of the songs are not sung by any of those but by a guy like Fenriz. These 29 minutes full of twists and turns, of clean-distorted noisy-ness and of blastbeats, of infernal shrieks and a unique soundscape really captures any open ear. 

Thorsten
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Mur – Brutalism

18/10/2019

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black metal / noise / industrial / hardcore
Les Acteurs de L'Ombre Productions
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Over the years, the boundaries between genres have vanished more and more. Some think that is not good and try to remain pvre and trve to their roots, which should be tolerated. As long as nobody gets hurt for it. Others think that it’s good to cross boundaries and explore new genre-blending possibilities. With Mur from France it is clear from the very start – they belong to the latter group.

The six-piece combine so many styles and ideas, it is hard to twist your mind around all of them –
some parts are noise, some have an industrial touch, others bear witness to hardcore roots while all of them seem to be infused with a certain black metal attitude. So if you are looking for a band between Melvins, Pitchshifter, Venom and, let’s say, Portrayal of Guilt – here it is. Unfortunately, that sounds silly as all of the bands mentioned above do not have one single thing in common, and if you then try to get a mental impression of it, just by reading these lines – well, sorry, but your idea won’t do because Mur is more. Literally, they are more than just a combination of single ideas and styles.

Over the last couple of years we have seen a lot of developments in black metal but Mur is still a new one, because Black Metal and Industrial and Hardcore (the three main pillars) have not yet been amalgamated as cleverly as on “Brutalism”. Take “Third” as an example – it starts off with an eerie, soft combination of slightly distorted, electrified guitar picking and spherical ambient passages until a hardcore drum part kicks in and changes the tone completely.

Next is the blackened screaming by vocalist Jay and the song swirls and whirls around always
accompanied by synthesizers to give it some kind of gloom-factor. The rhythm section slows the
song down with industrial-like precision before it speeds up again and the shrieking noise parts
become stronger and then fade again when a nearly alternative metal part gives us a little clarity
with the synths now dominating again – the listener is thrown from side to side trying to grasp all
that is happening.

Clearly, one might argue that Mur are trying to do too much, trying too hard to get as many people in as possible. If you want to see it that way, you can, but maybe you are missing out on the fun of a record that shows some really good ideas and is still able to convince because of a lot of overall composition work in order to sound as if everything was in its right place. 


Thorsten

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Brieviews 59

11/3/2019

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

ambient / classical
Sound In Silence
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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
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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
bandcamp
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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
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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
bandcamp
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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
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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
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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
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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
bandcamp
website
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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
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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.

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Brieviews 58

29/1/2019

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Split/Cross - Rise Of Discontent

hardcore / grindcore / crust
bandcamp
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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
bandcamp
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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
bandcamp
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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
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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
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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
bandcamp
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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
bandcamp
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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
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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
bandcamp
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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
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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.

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Brieviews 46

25/6/2018

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Federico Dal Pozzo - Untitled_VNZ

ambient / experimental / noise
Krysalisound
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Italian musique concrete composer Federico Dal Pozzo delivers a strange but enigmatic track, dedicated to the city of Venice and it's sound. The result is not so much a relaxing ambient album but an exploration of sounds from rocks, metal, water and so on. It resembles the beautiful city with its gondolas, romantic bridges and canals. In a way, Dal Pozzo takes you along a lesser known guided tour through the cities, blindfolded and only focusing on the aural aspects of the city. This tour is 49 minutes long, constantly moving and evolving. It carries a strange atmosphere but is definitely worth your attention.

Deadsmoke - Forest Of The Damned

doom / sludge metal
Let It Bleed Records
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Receiving something from sludge doomers Deadsmoke is always fun and with this two-track 7" it is no different. Halfway through opener 'Forest of the Damned II: Enter the Forest' I'm already in awe. What a delightful krautdoom this track is, uptempo, melodic and showcasing ferocious butt shaking qualities. Side B, 'Forest of the Damned III: Gray Ashes of Hope' then grabs everything that survived the wild party and mangles it into fertilizer for the ever expanding and all devouring forest. With twisted doom riffs and the power of a heavy rainfall of steamrollers, Deadsmoke once again delivered sheer awesomeness.
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Antoine Panaché - Pleasures

experimental / avant garde
Barreuh Records
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Dutch avant garde sound art performer Antoine Panaché also returns with a two track EP. Released by Barreuh Records, this tape contains two covers, 'Forever Young' (Alphaville) and 'Nocturnal Me' (Echo & the Bunnymen). However, both tracks are performed in Panaché's strange, out of this world tradition which makes them barely recognizable. They're noisy, strange and unusual but they're both highly adventurous musical experiments. Fans of so-called "outsider music" definitely need to check out these tunes. It rarely gets any odder than this, I promise.

Misantronics - Zührpruym

drone / electronic / ambient
bandcamp
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Belgian drone experimentalist Misantronics in his turn surprises with this one-track release which perfectly fits into his 'Contraformance' series. 'Zührpruym' is 23 minutes long and explores the regions of ambient, drone, noise, jazz, darkwave and electronic music. Although this is one track, you can distinguish different parts, ranging from ambient noise over downtempo electronics to glitchy jazz drums and pounding techno beats. All come together in a frenzy of soundscapes, flutes and dark electronic percussion. Of course, the overall atmosphere is rather gloomy and even somewhat dangerous sounding. Check it out!
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Woes - The Coldest Place Is Within Myself

hardcore / crust / black metal
bandcamp
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Danish noise makers Woes deliver a fierce and brutal eight track album, loaded with blackened hardcore, sludge metal and crust punk. Yet, the whole thing opens quite peaceful with a plunky intro before hell breaks loose. When the brutality finally occurs, it gnaws, claws, pierces and punishes with sheer ferocity, not always on hyperspeed but that isn't necessary. In fact, 'The Cold Wind Whispers Your Name' is quite slow for crust punk but it is one of my favorites here. In all, this is a great piece of aggressive no-nonsense extremism, well varied, massive intense and earth shattering...

Brass Owl - Brass Owl

psychedelic rock / stoner rock
website
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For some good old fashioned rock 'n roll we turn to Ohio residents Brass Owl. Formed and fronted by shredmaster Brian Tarter, this trio brings the jam back into psychedelic rock with flashing solo work, immersive bass lines and drums directly from rock 'n roll paradise. This four track EP is a neat warming up for when the band comes to conquer the world with their blues inspired stoner rock. Fans of everything between Led Zeppelin, Cream and ZZ Top better start paying attention to Brass Owl because soon you'll be shaking your ass to 'State Of Mind' and 'Mushroom Sally', I promise you.
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Dead Man's Eyes - Words of Prey 

indie / alternative rock / psychedelic rock
bandcamp
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Germany's Dead Man's Eyes do something highly enjoyable with rock music. On one hand they seem to be inspired by the English indie rock scene but on the other hand they  apparently have a massive background in psychedelic rock. The result is a nine track album loaded with neat, immersive and hip shaking rock tunes that bring everything between The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, White Stripes, Ween and Lemonheads to mind. Highlighting in opener 'Radiant Smiles', the gloomy blueser 'Be Good' and 'Two Dozen Eyes' this album is an absolute must-have for old school rockers and psych-fans.

Jübl - Thinking Sweet

dream pop / trip hop
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Jübl is the new band from Rudy (A.R. Kane), featuring Maggie Tambala and Andy Taylor. On this debut EP you can find two brand new tracks and one nine minutes lasting remix. What to expect exactly? Well, opener 'Thinking About You' does something Tricky meets Slowdive meets Sonic Youth and immerses you into a vast universe of electronically driven dream pop. 'Sweet Dreams' does something similar and in my opinion even better. On one hand this single could be a smash hit but on the other hand, today's smash hits don't have this kind of musical quality anymore. So yeah, check it!
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Autger - Eucharistia, Praedestinatio Gemina

dark ambient / neoclassical / dark jazz
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Russian act Autger seems incredibly busy, having appeared in our previous edition of Brieviews. Now, he delivers a three track EP, based on Christian aesthetics. The result is an impending, dark and eerie piece of music that ranges from neoclassical music to gothic electronic and even harbours elements from dark jazz. Opener 'Pater' is currently one of my favorite tracks from this project, one I suddenly compared to a very, very, very dark version of Enigma or a more experimental version of Diary Of Dreams perhaps. My advice, give it a shot, it's certainly a unique entity in the dark music world.

Dr Space - Dr Space's Alien Planet Trip Vol 1

krautrock / psychedelic rock
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Right, time to close your eyes and embark on a journey through time and space with Oresund Space Collective's own Dr Space. On this record you can find five sonic adventures, ranging from bluesy guitar ambient to seemingly neverending krautrock grooves. Mostly live improvised these tracks definitely grab the listener's attention while showcasing an immersive set of jams, soundscapes and guitar solos. Yet, there is also something dark, lurking behind these musical alien planets. I like that and I surely like this album, it's as if Santana is chill-jamming with Ozric Tentacles.
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A Scar For The Wicked - The Unholy

death metal / deathcore
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This is weird. This EP was presented as something for fans of Aborted, Black Dahlia Murder and Whitechapel and yes, there is plenty of death metal and deathcore galore to be found here. Yet, somewhere in between the pummeling drums, the brutal growls and the fierce riffs I hear elements from Children Of Bodom and even Cradle Of Filth screams. I'm not really a fan of deathcore but this EP is a real stand-out, well-varied, aggressive as fuck and loaded with metallic brilliance. So either the deathcore scene has grown up or we're dealing with a band that's too talented to be put in a box. You decide...

Stelios Ventas - Faded Flower 

rock
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Greek solo artist Stelios Ventas treats his listener to some good old fashioned rock songs. Being a guitar player, Ventas focuses on rough, bluesy rock tunes with plenty of solos and a load of playing joy. The songs on this EP are basic and stripped down to the bare necessities, being guitars, bass, drums and vocals. I don't think that any of these five tracks will ever become huge hits but that doesn't mean that they aren't enjoyable. Besides, 'Faded Flower' and 'Alone In The Desert' are great tracks in vintage blues rock / hard rock tradition. They'll do good in your day-to-day playlist.
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Feelament - Hate Delivery

groove metal
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How is Moscow still standing with a band like this residing there? Feelament harbours tonnes of aggression, fronted by the undoubtedly dangerous Masha. While she spills her guts in a wide variety of vocal performances, the men behind her throw a neat mix of groove metal and metalcore under her feet. The result is something massively impressive, often melodic, often a sheer beatdown, often simply insane. I hear elements of Pantera, Arch Enemy and Lacuna Coil but most of all I hear a band that might as well become a force to be reckoned with. Fucking awesome!!!
Serge
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Brieviews 44

30/5/2018

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An Evening With Knives - Serrated

post-metal / doom / alternative rock
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"Dutch three-piece band jumps on post-metal bandwagon", that would be the most negative way to describe this album by An Evening With Knives. But that would also be a bit lazy. I mean, everything Tool and Amenra inspired is popular these days and thus many musicians give it a shot. In this case, the result is an interesting set of songs, slow, doomy, fuzzy, somewhat psychedelic and bloody intense. I'm sure that fans of the aforementioned bands will appreciate these guys, even though I think they yet have to reach their best possible sound. An interesting future might lay ahead for them.

Autger - God Kissing Carrion​

dark jazz / ambient / experimental / trip hop
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Russian one man act Autger returns with a new full-length, a personal story based on Dante's 'Inferno'. With a captivating mix of dark jazz, trip hop and what feels like ritual dark ambient, this album is something quite unique within the dark jazz world. The music here seems to come from a completely different dimension, even though that old "sax player under a bridge" atmosphere is still present. My advice? I urge everyone who is into strange, unusual and mostly electronic music to give this a shot. I bet you have never heard anything like this before. This definitely nudges the bizarre, and that's a good thing.
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Lamirāl - This EP Has No Name And It's Alright

hardcore
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Right, time for extremities, courtesy of Belgian hardcore combo Lamirāl. On this EP, they catapult six heavy rocking hardcore tunes to your face, stuffed with broken glass, needles, sulphuric acid and bile. The overall tempo is suffocating, the riffs feel like sounds from behind the gates of hell and if that vocalist stands in front of you, you have exactly six seconds left to live. So if you want your miserable life crushed by the sheer intensity of music, this EP is an absolute must have. This is about as intense as a concrete boot to the teeth...

Gray Dog - The Deal

acoustic blues
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Now I need something to calm down and relax a bit. This five track EP by Belarus/Poland duo Gray Dog. Their music is a mix of blues and southern rock, brought to you in a minimal, acoustic setting. The result is an interesting late night bonfire soundtrack, best to be consumed with a cold beer. By the way, the fact that this is acoustic music doesn't mean that it lacks power. 'Why Did You Fuck Me And Leave?", for example is a damn heavy tune. Fans of everything between Muddy Waters, Johnny Cash and Pearl Jam can easily appreciate this. My favorite? 'The Pray Of Hangover'.
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Paulie Jan - Yukio (A Brief Sonic Evocation)

dark ambient / noise
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Composed as a tribute to Japanese writer Y. Mishima, 'Yukio (A Brief Sonic Evocation)' by French act Paulie Jan is a gloomy, haunting and often remorseless dark ambient release. These are deep sonic introspections, arranged by eerie soundscapes, deep but slow beats and a fearsome atmosphere. At first, I found it hard to get into this music but gradually the whole thing grew on me like only the best dark ambient anthems actually do. Now I can't get enough of these noisy skincrawlers. My favorite remains opener 'Kimitake' with title track 'Yukio' being a brilliant second. Recommended stuff!!!

Lachrymose - The Unseen

doom / occult metal
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Hailing from Greece, Lachrymose delivers an occult driven version of female fronted melodic doom metal. With influences from bands like Moonspell, Paradise Lost and Avatarium, these Greeks dwell in a dark and almost operatic region of the doom metal scene. Besides, 'This Sickness' rocks like hell and is a definite fan favorite. In all, this might best be compared to a heavy metal version of Inkubus Sukkubus or a female fronted version of Lacrimosa perhaps. All I know is that this is pretty interesting, mainly because it isn't overwhelmed with bombastic symphonic elements. This is raw gothic doom!
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Disowning - Battle of Neverness

death metal
Xenocorp
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I don't often pick out death metal albums to review so when I do something special must be going on. On this EP by French combo Disowning I'm extremely impressed by the old school sound and the by the vocals. I hear elements from some of my favorite bands from back in the day, including Suffocation, Dying Fetus and Carcass, but mostly I hear those awesome growls over a punishing array of drums and riffs. Opener and title track 'Battle Of Neverness is a massive kick in the cojones and my personal favorite 'Inner Emptiness' doubles the torment. So, old school death metallers, I think you need this.

Gravecoven - Coughing Blood

black metal / doom / death metal
Gods Ov War
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Some more vicious torment comes from Californian duo Gravecoven and their aptly titled EP 'Coughing Blood'. On this EP you will find four eerie and fearsome blackened death/doom metal tracks, mostly coming at high speeds and with a gruesome atmosphere. Personally, I would categorize this under black metal, especially the chaotic, occult driven version. I mean, with songs like 'Furious Fires' and 'The Ecstasy Of Hatred' leading the way, the path is one of total annihilation and utter destruction. So yeah, this is a massive, chaotic and punishing EP that deserves a place in every extreme collection.
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Vandal Moon - Wild Insane 

post punk / synth pop
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Also hailing from California but residing in a whole different musical universe is synthpop duo Vandal Moon. If you love acts like The Human League, Modern English or the synth pop escapades by The Cure, you have to check out this album. Eighties synths, romantic themes and a new wave breathing guitar, everything you love about the gloomy eighties dancefloors is here. My personal favorite is 'Computer Love' but I'm sure that every old goth, new waver and synthpop adept can easily add this album to his collection. This truly is as close as it gets and comes highly recommended for blackdressers

Sense Fracture - In My Escape I look For A Weapon

breakcore / industrial
Haunter Records
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Still completely electronic but from a copletely different level comes this little gem. Haunter Records co- founder, DJ, producer and writer Francesco Birsa Alessandri delivers a mindblowing EP in which "unpredictability" is a keyword. With harsh electronic beats, uncategorizable noises and eerie samples Sense Fracture creates a unique sonic universe, inspired by dark ambient, industrial, noise and breakcore. The five tracks on this 12" are relentless, harsh and abrasive. They remind me of something between Author & Punisher and Bong-Ra. Recommended? Only if you get stand musical insanity.
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Richard James Simpson - Sweet Birds Of Youth

alternative rock / blues
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... or dare we call them the bitter-sweet birds of youth? On his debut album, a compilation of older and more recent work, American guitarist and singer Richard James Simpson collaborates with friends (Joey Burns, Dustin Boyer and Theo Welch). He kicks the listener back in time to their wonder years, where one day you feel like an adult in a child's body and the other day things are vice versa. The variety in musical styles reflects this unsteady period; the majority of the songs has a stingy bluesrock feel but there's also a fantastic shoegaze track, some haunting dark ambient, some post-neofolk, experimentality in the 
style of Tool and quite a bit of grunge - vocals that remind of Cobain included. So go buy this one if you appreciate something that refuses to fit into one box.

Nhung Nguyen – Oblivion

ambient / experimental
Pany Rosas Discos
And we finish this edition of brieviews with a one-track EP by experimentalist Nhung Nguyen. In this twelve minutes lasting track, Nhung Nguyen explores everything from ambient soundscapes and loops over field recordings and found objects to weird electronics and noise. Needless to say then perhaps, but this composition is a complex and mesmerizing sonic journey. Don't expect sweet and comforting ambient, much like the real world, this track is full of grittiness and strange elements. So, this comes highly recommended but only for seasoned ambient experimentalists. 
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Rock'N'Brawl - Full Throttle Baby

5/4/2018

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punk / hard rock
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Well, they couldn't have made this any clearer, could they? With a band name like this and a highly promising title, these French guys appear to be prepared for a heavy rocking battle that will eventually end up in a dental hospital. Are they? We'll see.

Rock 'n' Brawl appeared on the French rock scene in 2013. That scene appears to be overloaded with hard rocking bands already but nobody seems to mind, especially not these guys. With a high energy mix of hardcore punk and hard rock they blast the competition off stage.

Looking at their facebook profile, I see that the band is influenced by Danko Jones, The Bronx and AC/DC. However, when I listen to some of the tracks here, I can't help but think that hardcore punk bands like Agnostic Front and Hatebreed also had their influence on Rock 'n' Brawl. 'Can't Stop The Fight' and 'Unbreakable' are fierce punk tracks that will undoubtedly cause crowd surfers and moshpits, with the inevitable broken teeth as a result.

However, sometimes the tempo goes down a bit, resulting in sweet hard rock tracks like 'Coughing To Death' and 'Loud Punch'. With 'Lack & Wounds' there is even a ballad on the album, be it a raunchy, gritty one. In fact, that's my favorite track here. It might sound weird but I really love this tune. Obviously it adds variation, but it also serves as a calm spot in a raging ocean of hardcore punk rock. So who to recommend it to? Hard core punk rockers, of course. They should really check out this thing.


Serge

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Brieviews 39

28/3/2018

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These Brieviews have been written by Serge. If you like what you read here, be sure to check out his book, 'Cecilia's World'. It's about music, life and love.

Owl - Orion Fenix 

doom / post metal
Zeitgeister
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Owl, the solo project of Valborg frontman Christian Kolf, delivers an overwhelming piece of music. Post metal, ambient and doom meet and alternate in one massive track, clocking off at 22 minutes. The track was written and recorded in eighteen hours over three days, which definitely explains the organic flow of the whole thing. In a way, this track feels like a concept album, revolving around dark and haunting emotions. Calm ambient and modern classical passages make way for intense pieces of doom inspired metal and vice versa. For fans of decent narrative music, this is certainly a must-have, and that includes sludge metal aficionados.

Stonemule - Dystopian State

metal / hardcore
bandcamp
Polder Records
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Speaking of sludge metal fans, they might as well throw their ears at these noise makers from Koksijde (Belgium). What Stonemule delivers is a massive blast of hardcore infused stoner metal, laced with grunge and doom and flirting with the extreme. How they do that? Well, first of all by a solid background of drums and bass, then by face melting riffing and finally by having three vocalists showing of their respective talents in singing, growling and screaming. The result is quite impressive, a blast of sheer energy. Eventually, they top it off with excellent musical skills by flashing some delicious solos. Nice work.
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Ritual King - Earthrise

psychedelic rock / doom
When Planets Collide
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Speaking of delicious guitar work, here is the new EP by English stoner rockers Ritual King. On 'Earthrise' they come up with three energetic songs. 'Ideology', 'Tides' and my personal favorite 'But Anyway' are uptempo psychedelic blues rock tunes that seem to come right from the early seventies. The jam-calibre is very high on these, making them all perfect candidates for live performances on sun lit (and probably smoke filled) music festivals. I wouldn't be surprised to see these guys appear on Desertfest, Up In Smokes and everything else stoner rock related in the near future.

Wykan - Solace

psychedelic / doom
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A strange and bewildering piece of psychedelic doom metal, inspired by both old school doom and black metal, this debut by Canadian act Wykan is certainly something special. On one hand you get the classic riff worship, supported by methodical drums and clean vocals. Yet, on the other hand, there is that cold, eerie and vile atmosphere of extreme metal, enhanced by screams, growls and occult imagery. Needless to say perhaps but this EP is so varied that it almost sounds like a split-release. This is intriguing, to say the least and I am already extremely curious for what this act comes up with in the future.
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Soft Science - Undone / I Don't Know Why I Love You

shoegaze / dream pop
Test Pattern Records
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Hah, I doubted this single for exactly four seconds. I didn't know what to think about the jangling guitars at first, but then, when the rolling bass and the propelling drums came in, I became interested. Then the vocals of Katie Haley and I was sold. Now, Soft Science has a place in my shoegaze folder where it appears alongside acts like Belly, The Cranes and Slowdive. 'Undone' is my favorite here but 'I Don't Know Why I Love You' is in no way inferior. Both are energetic dreampop tunes, there is very little else to say about that. So get them, on April 6, if you're a shoegazer. Of not, check it out as well.

Maff - Melañiña

shoegaze
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Then, where you're in a good shoegazing mood, you certainly have to give Chilean collective Maff a listen. I remember being rather impressed with their 2015 album. Now they return with a five track EP, blending shoegaze, dreampop, post rock and noise rock into another heap of delicious atmospheric rock tunes. In fact, opener 'Act 2' might soon prove to be one of my favorites in that genre. I love those howling, lingering guitars and that almost industrial beat. And then there are still four more awesome tunes to go. So yeps, shoegazers of all ages, you definitely need this one.
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Nostalgist - Disaffection

post punk / new wave
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Some more eighties inspired music comes from Seattle residents Nostalgist. Their music reflects the dark corners of that era, the one where The Cure, Killing Joke and Joy Division ruled. However, Nostalgist has also been listening to bands like Deftones and Alcest and they're not afraid to throw some distorted guitars into the mix. The result is a brilliant EP, containing six gloomy tracks which perfectly combine these two styles, or eras. Actually, I'm quite impressed by this effort. I didn't know this kind of awesomeness was still being made today. I'm sure that the old school goths will easily appreciate songs like 'Pendulums' and 'Present Tense'. Highly recommended !!!

Amusement Parks On Fire - All The New Ends

alternative rock / shoegaze
Saint Marie Records
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English art rockers Amusement Parks On Fire return with a three-track EP which is as simple as it is brilliant. Opener 'All The New Ends' blends post rock with britpop as only the British can. 'Temporal Rinse' is a drone ambient creeper Godspeed! You Black Emperor wished they had recorded. Finally, 'Infernal Flame' picks you up and drags you to the dreampopping dancefloor where you will gaze at your shoes for what feels like hours and hours. To be honest, apart from the name I didn't really know these guys. Now I'm a fan. They only needed three songs to convince me, isn't that neat?
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Grift - Vilsna Andars Boning 

neofolk
Nordvis
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Hailing from the lonesome woods of Scandinavia, Grift delivers two enigmatic neofolk songs. This Swedish poet/songwriter has been around since 2011 with several albums and a split-record with legendary act Drudkh.

​On this two track, he comes up with two acoustic songs. I think fans of acts like Sol Invictus, Wardruna and Darkwood can easily appreciate these stripped down folk sounds. 'Bortom Berget' is my favorite on this two track, a solid neofolk track about nature and culture. 

Giovanni Verga - Sylphic

experimental / ambient / noise
Unexplained Sounds
A more haunting and otherworldly musical view on solitude and loneliness comes from composer/experimentalist Giovanni Verga. With field recordings, no-input mixers and other kinds of sound manipulation, Verga created an alienating ambient adventure, on that delves deep into the avant garde. The line between music and incomprehensible noise is very thin. There are howling wolves, industrial soundscapes, vocal samples and mysterious drones but there are also tiny hints of melody. And obviously, there is this allover gloomy atmosphere which makes you imagine alien worlds and underground tales. Awesome
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TRI:.OBYTE - STAR ⠃⠊⠗⠞⠓ KIC 8462852

ambient / noise / experimental
bandcamp
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Speaking about sounds from alien worlds, this album certainly is an interesting one. With a mix of dark ambient, cosmic noise and tales about UFO sightings, this album takes you to new dimensions. I can easily see this music as the soundtrack for new episodes of the X-Files, or any other sci-fi series for that matter. Opener 'Some Kind Of Reflective' is haunting ambient gold and the rest of this record graciously follows it example, except maybe 'Visitation'. This one doesn't just take you to outer space, it places you right on the operation table in one of those abduction stories. This is a great release, certainly recommended.

Bloodkry - Dark Paradise

dark ambient / drone
bandcamp
Even more darkness comes from Finland, where Bloodkry reveals a new EP. 'Dark Paradise' contains four tracks, beginning with the hypnotic title track. I love the percussive elements in this one, it feels likes descending into an underground industrial complex. 'My Shelter' is a bit more friendly, melodic but also glitchy and unusual, like a post rock track that's falling asleep. 'Nowhere' is my favorite track here, a genuine dark ambient piece that brings many of the great names to mind. Closer 'Don't Forget Me' eventually comes up with repetitive industrial beats, along with hypnotic drones. Awesomeness. 
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Kloob - Remarkable Events

ambient / electronic
bandcamp
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Dani Kloob has been making music for twenty years, from underground dance tunes to atmospheric ambient. With this album, he seems to investigate where ambient turns into dark ambient, balancing on the edge between the two. The result is an immersive ambient album, minimal but rich in both sound and atmosphere. 'Remarkable Events' is a perfect album to play late at night, warmly tucked in bed, reminiscing about your life. It will guide you into pleasant and adventurous dreams. I can't pick out a favorite track, because that's a hard thing to do with this kind of minimal music but rest assured, this is definitely worth your time.

Widow's Peak - Graceless

death metal
bandcamp
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Right, time to blast some relentless death metal through my speakers. Here is Canadian horde Widow's Peak and their suffocating debut EP 'Graceless'. That title fits the load quite well. This thing is raunchy, filthy and gore, a blend of death metal, hard & grindcore, complete with deep growls, harsh screams and pig squeals. Fans of Aborted or Cattle Decapitation will undoubtedly get a hard-on from this stuff. I don't but I'm old, don't mind me. I know for sure that contemporary death metal, deathcore and metalcore fans will absolutely adore this. So, if you are one them, you'll have to check this out. Period!
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Cult of Extinction - Black Nuclear Magick Attack

black metal
Sentient Ruin
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We end this edition of Brieviews with one of the most menacing, unpredictable and chaotic releases I have heard in a while. German extremists Cult Of Extinction release a thunderous tape, loaded with a filthy and vulgar mix of death, black, grindcore and whatnot. Quite often driving on inhumanly fierce tempos, this four track aims for nothing less than your rotten soul itself. The result is a massive cesspool of noise, hammering and screams that will drain the last bit of hope for humanity out of your miserable life. I think I made myself clear. This comes highly recommended only to the most seasoned extreme metal heads out there.

Serge
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Oregon Trail - h​/​aven

19/3/2018

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hardcore
Cold Smoke Recordings
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As I'm working my way through the heap of albums to be reviewed I start realizing that this is just becoming too much. I can't keep up with all of this and I'm sure that I'm not the only music reviewer who feels this way. In today's music scene, there is such an overload in releases, some brilliant, others not so brilliant and here I am, sitting next to a pile of CDs wondering if it is all still worth the effort. I know that I won't like some of these albums, and to be brutally honest, this one is one of them. That is not the band's fault by the way. It's nobody's fault. It's just a difference in musical taste, but since we have no other active hardcore reviewers, here we go.

Oh, that sounded rather negative, didn't it? But don't worry. I'll find a group of people to recommended this album, regardless of my personal opinion about. Besides, I can appreciate the music by Oregon Trail. I'm just not fond of hardcore vocals, not even in today's sludge, post- and doom metal scene. Here, the vocals remind me of Sick Of It All, Agnostic Front and so on while the music takes on a different approach, that of post rock acts like God Is An Astronaut, for example.

That, I can certainly appreciate and the instrumental passages on this album are right on point. I also like the fact that most of the music here is mid- to up-tempo, which is a welcome change in a genre that usually takes it slow. By the time I'm writing this paragraph, I'm already through the first three songs of the album, all three are energetic and immersive post hardcore songs with the aggression of hardcore punk and the immersive nature of its adjective, "post". Yet, on 'Aven' the band suddenly comes up with clean vocals which immediately improves my opinion about them.

In a way, I certainly think that these Swiss are a talented and well-attuned band, showcasing an overwhelming sound. I'm sure that heaps of young (post- hardcore fans will absolutely worship this massive, coherent, varied and often brutal sound. For them, obviously, this is a highly recommended album. This will undoubtedly help troubled youngsters through some difficult times and for that I applaud Oregon Trail. I just won't be listening to this album very often but if you're a fan of intense and harsh music, you definitely should.


​Serge

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