Category: Shoegaze

Swiss progressive/post metal band NevBorn comes up with a one-track EP, lasting eighteen minutes, inspired by the death of Icarus. In that time, they blasts elements from post rock, progressive metal, hardcore, nineties Scandinavian metal, arena rock and ambient through your speakers in a pretty epic manner. I know, all those elements combined might sound somewhat confusing, but somehow these guys have managed to create a coherent and narrative modern day opera (without the opera vocals, obviously). This is heavy songwriting at a very high level, that's for sure.

Funeral Mourning - Left Seething Yet Unspoken & Veneration of Broken Worlds

black metal / doom

Nihilistische KlangKunst

Another one-track EP comes from Australian act Funeral Mourning and this one is dark, impending and intense. The massive track contains heaps of funeral doom inspired awesomeness, thriving on a sluggish tempo and deep growls. I love this, but I love nearly all funeral doom acts. Evoken, Shape Of Despair, Esoteric... You name it and you'll find their influences on this fantastic EP. Even more so, the lingering guitar solos give the whole thing a stunning psychedelic effect. So, obviously, I will recommend this EP to all funeral doom fans out there. This is a perfect example of how brilliant this genre can be.

Grace Meer - Your King

electronic / coldwave

website

Fans of acts like Austra and Zola Jesus should start paying attention to Grace Meer. On this EP, she delivers four epic songs with overwhelming symphonic and cinematic elements. 'Vortex' might be the exception on that recipe by coming up with an 'Army Of Me' (Björk) like rhythm but those cinematic elements are always present and always breathtaking. 'Heal' and closer 'Your King' are my absolute favorites on this EP but I'm very sure that all these songs will often appear on my day-to-day playlist. Grace Meer is dragging darkwave into the modern day electronic music scene, which is a good thing..

Moonlight Desires - Just The Hits: 1981-1985

heavy metal versions of eighties hits

Armed by guitars, drums, bass and a strong affinity with the heavy and power metal scene, Moonlight Desires reworked a bunch of eighties songs. Songs by Duran Duran, Rod Stewart, Simply Red, Level 42, Frankie Goes to Hollywood.and others are being "metallized", which quite often results in pleasant surprises. I mean, you can bang your head to 'Holding Back The Years' now, who would have thought. In all, this is a fun album, well executed and stubborn but respectful to the originals. I can only applaud that and advise you to check this album out.

Khohd - Mea Culpa

progressive / psychedelic rock

Hailing from Liège, Belgium and formed in 2011, Khohd deliver their own take on psychedelic and progressive rock. Seemingly influenced by bands like Russian Circles, Tool and Hawkwind, the three songs on this EP are immersive rock anthems, often nudging towards the metal scene. And even then they can come up with some surprising riffs and electronics. Let me put it this way, I'm already responsible for getting one Walloon band on Dunk! Festival (Wyatt. E). So let's try that again. I'm sure that these guys will play an interesting gig if they're booked. Definitely recommended stuff...

Balcanes - Decrépita / Decadencia

noise rock / industrial

Spanish bulldozer Balcanes return with a two track 7" single. In the past, they pleasantly surprised me with their in-your-face blend of noise rock, industrial and hardcore and now they seem to take their sound to the next level. The two songs drive on a repetitive, almost Godflesh like tempo, intense Melvins guitars and The Jesus and Mary Chain noise and feedback. This stuff is harsh and makes me repeat my previously uttered wish for a European tour. This will blast the roof of many underground venues on this continent, I'm 100% sure of that.

Big ‡ Brave - Ardor

noise rock / sludge

When I listened to this Montreal based three-piece for the first time, my initial thoughts were "putting Babes In Toyland in today's sludge metal scene". In a way, I like to stick to that thought since we're dealing with sluggish noise rock tunes and grungy female vocals. Fact remains, Big ‡ Brave make a lot of noise, including guitar feedback, thundering drums and excellent vocals. My favorite track is 'Lull', which seems to be a bit calmer and more gentle than the other two, who mostly resemble steamrollers. In all, this is a brilliant album with forty minutes of overwhelming noise rock which comes highly recommended.

Brant Bjork - Europe '16

stoner rock / psychedelic rock

Napalm Records

website

Brant Bjork drops his first live album and it's an acid trip from the get-go. These twelve tracks were recording during his 2016 tour and simply contain everything Brant Bjork is known for. Expect sneering riffs, hypnotic guitar solos and a drugged out Woodstock atmosphere. For fans, this obviously is an absolute must have. Besides, these are excellent recordings, perfectly representing the live atmosphere of this seasoned and talented band. So nope, there is actually no reason not to purchase this album if you're a fan of Brant Bjork, period.

Purtenance - Paradox of Existence

death metal

Xtreem Music

Finnish death metal horde Purtenance has been around since 1989, so it's probably no surprise that this EP contains four skull crushing old school death metal tunes. Accompanied by deep growls, the intense riffs and thunderous drums beat the listener into a bleeding pulp, just like bands like Hypocrisy, Morbid Angel, Avulsed, Immolation and so on have been doing over the years. For fans of traditional death metal, this EP is an absolute must-have. 'Vicious Seeds Of Mortality' is my personal favorite here, but I'm damn positive that each and every one of these tracks will cause a whiplash here and there.

Killing Volts - Why Should I Say Yes

alternative rock

Hailing from Switzerland, power rock combo The Killing Volts ask an interesting question on "Why Should I Say Yes". Well, these four songs might be a good reason to say "yes". to this band. With electrifying rock 'n roll songs and the powerful vocals of Tania, The Killing Volt certainly convince. If you're into Bikini Kill, PJ Harvey, Babes In Toyland, The Breeders and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, these rockers are something right up your alley. The cover version of 'Tainted Love' is very enjoyable and the others can easily rock your socks off. So yeah, better check this out before answering the question.

Tulipomania - On the Outside / Don't Be So Sure - Seahawks Remix

alternative rock / dream pop

Gloomy pop rock songs, balancing on the edge between alternative rock and dream pop, that is what Philadelphia's Tulipomania delivers. The music feels like a blend of Radiohead, Tindersticks and Talk Talk. It's fragile, but potent enough to maintain the listener's attention. 'Don't Be So Sure' comes off their 2016 album 'This Gilded Age' and received an hypnotic downtempo remix by Seahawks. This single is definitely worth checking out and makes me curious about upcoming projects.

Sketchquiet - Novos Sketches

indie rock / alternative

Brazilian one man act Sketchquiet returns with seven brand new tunes. Armed with an acoustic guitar and electronics and influenced by post rock, alternative rock, drone folk and indie rock, this act comes up with minimal but enjoyable songs that somehow remind me of acts like Manu Chao meets Ween. The immersive 'Sobrou Alma' is my favorite on this EP but I can add that all songs carry this introvert, somewhat gloomy atmosphere. In a way, this is a quite unique piece of work, perhaps one you will either love or dislike, but I urge you to check it out anyway.

Zephyra - The Darkest Black

death metal

Swedish melodic death metal band Zephyra return with a new single, a so-called bridge between their previous album 'As the World Collapses' and their next one. This song, 'The Darkest Black' is an excellent piece of death metal, laced with a few symphonic elements. To me it sounds like something between Dark Tranquility, Children Of Bodom and Arch Enemy. Fans can easily trust these Swedes to deliver the goods. If this single serves as the appetizer for the upcoming album, the melodic death metal future looks a bit brighter again.

Nekrohowl - Epitome of Morbid

death metal

After a long - and great - intro, this death metal horde from Dhaka, Bangladesh drags us right down into the old school of death metal. The songs are brutal, mostly fast paced and drive of fierce riffs. Obviously, grunts and growls appear when needed. Ancient Sepultura comes to mind, along with Obituary and Bolt Thrower. What strikes me the most, is the often slapping sound of the bass. It's a cool way to play it and it doesn't sound like it does not belong in these songs. Nope, if you ask me, Nekrohowl know a thing or two about creating decent old school death metal and we should treasure that. Great job.

Tombstalker - Chaotic Devotion

death metal / black metal

The last two death metal tracks for today come from American evildoers Tombstalker. and their latest 7" single 'Chaotic Deviation'. They couldn't have chosen a more suitable title for this thing. With their pummeling, chaotic blend of death and black metal, Tombstalker drag us along on an extreme - but well executed - trip through hell. Somehow, Dismember comes to mind but these Americans seem to go a bit deeper, a bit heavier on the harsh and abrasive sound. I like that and I definitely like these two pieces of extreme music. Be sure to check it out if you want to beaten to death by music.

Existente - Theta Series EPv1

ambient

After all that death metal, it's time for something to set my mind at ease. That something is this soothing EP by American composer David Wesley under his Existente moniker. While Wesley's output usually consists of dub and techno, Existente delivers peaceful drones and dreamy ambient sound-scapes. The five tracks are based on the principles of sacred geometry, which might explain the repetitive and immersive nature of the whole thing. Fans of Biosphere and Brian Eno will undoubtedly appreciate this music, and so will I for the foreseeable future. This is an excellent ambient EP, period.

Indeed - Sinecure

alternative rock / grunge / stoner rock

Hailing from Budapest, Hungary, Indeed comes up with a great mix of rock styles. They seem influenced by everything between The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Tool and Nirvana and they translate those influences in a bunch of excellent rock songs. Besides, these guys are skilled musicians with decent songwriting abilities and a flair for variation. I can absolutely recommend this album to all fans of nineties rock music. It's nothing earth shattering, nothing renewing but simply a well attuned and talented band having fun writing and performing thier songs. That's what's rock 'n roll is all about, no?

Exsom - Roundtrip

heavy metal

Swiss five piece Exsom pay homage to the golden age of heavy metal with this new EP. The band has been around since 2011 and seem inspired by bands like Helloween, Edguy and Iced Earth. With excellent guitars, plenty of tempo changes and flashing solos, Exsom certainly convinces, even though sometimes the music gets a bit too complex for me, but that's a personal matter. It's clear that these guys can handle their instruments very well. The vocalist has enough power to convince and the whole thing is immersive, certainly for seasoned metalheads. So yups, one to check out, that's for sure.

Euphrasia/Woeful Silence - Split MC

doom / drone / black metal

Two one-man projects have teamed up to create a haunting split EP. One is an atmospheric black metal act while the other nudges more towards the drone and doom metal scene. Yet, in a way, certainly by atmosphere, these two acts seem to complement each other.
On his side of the tape Euphrasia blends drones and soundscapes with eerie black metal, highlighting in the fierce and chaotic 'Flächenbrand'. Side B. is for the depressive and haunting version of Woeful Silence with two gnawing and intense pieces of blackened music. This is a nice split, one I certainly recommend.

Audiolepsia - Muses

post rock / progressive rock

Oh wow, how could I have missed this? This album by Spanish post rock act Audiolepsia is simply amazing. I'm almost sorry for adding them to "brieviews" instead of writing a longer review. With seven exquisite post rock anthems, reminding me of God Is An Astronaut, PG Lost and This Will Destroy You, these Barcelonians have certainly convinced me. The tracks are well built, well varied and immersive enough to take the listener on a long journey. I can imagine these guys playing these songs on Dunk! Festival and easily becoming a highlight. For post rock fans, this comes as recommended as breathing.

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Devlsy - Private Suite

15/9/2017

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black metal / shoegaze / experimental

Aeternitas Tenebrarum

A fantastic album described by the record label, Aeternitas Tenebrarum, as “an attempt in merging black metal and shoegaze”, Devlsy is a Lithuanian four-piece experimental black metal group that impresses by their firm audacity, technical impeccability and astounding level of originality. The final result is a brilliantly conceived milestone. Sagaciously maintaining a discreet, but pure black metal layout into their sound, while ardently sidelining its virtuous melodies with an opaque sonorous melancholy expanded by a consistent diagram of coherently insightful harmonies, Private Suite is a graceful work, where an epic art is not only predominantly and evidently abundant, but profoundly monumental at the axis of its expansive overtones.

With a dutifully and perceptively pragmatic scope, the album is very concise. A little more than thirty five minutes, it has only six tracks: Corridors, Hatching Tomb, Bring My Word, Patient#6, Porta Formica and Horizon Attached. With a thunderous authenticity, and a brutally dry essence that inserts a new living cohesion into the genre, Private Suite has perpetually melodic guitar lines inverted in a horizon of majestic and stylistic beauty, that reevaluates the whole significance of black metal into a completely different sonorous perspective.

A greatly conceived album, full of energetic creativity, that really conceives the spirit of its own peculiarly quintessential perception of art, Devlsy seems to project in a more dense and sensible sonorous context the expansive reach of its deliberate, but at the same time subjective proposal: to conflagrate a new cosmogony of sophisticated and deeply humane introspective art.

The terrain of Private Suite is a sonorous poetry profoundly infatuated with the expansive commitment of its own sincere and dispersive integrity. With songs conceived in a horizon of stone precision, masterly inserted in an artistic frame of volatile, eccentric and genuine rapture, the voracious sensibility of Devlsy rearranges in a completely new diagram of captivating beauty the pure and rewarding essence of black metal!

Wagner

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Brieviews 26

27/8/2017

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Odd Nosdam - Lif

ambient / experimental

Sound In Silence

The new ambient album by Anticon founder Odd Nosdam is a strange, otherworldly experience through electronic sequences, tape loops and gloomy soundscapes. According to the biography, the album was recorded during a period of constant rainfall. In a way, you can hear that on these (mostly) short but immersive pieces of music. There is a certain feeling of isolation, not being able to enjoy being outside. The overall sound is cold, metallic and rather harsh, so this is not a gentle, relaxing ambient album. Then again, it is a interesting record to listen to. This ambient grabs your attention and won't let go. Of course it's a recommended one...

Crisopa - Transhumante

ambient / electronic / downtempo

Sound In Silence

Somewhere between classical music, ambient, post rock, shoegaze, trip hop and intelligent dance music we find Crisopa and his latest effort, 'Transhumante'. The tracks on this album are elaborate electronic anthems, laced with soundscapes, percussion and bass lines. Boards Of Canada come to mind, but also The Eye Of Time, Miwon, Autechre and Blackfilm. My favorite tracks are 'I Am The Lord Of These Ruins' and 'Fast Dive' but I can definitely recommend this album to every downtempo electronic music fan out there. This is an exciting album which never lets you down.

Menin - Lord of Pain

doom / sludge metal

It's not often that a stoner rock, doom and sludge band reminds me of death metal but while listening to title track 'Lord Of Pain' Dismember suddenly came to mind. Ministry too, and Godflesh, and Yob, and Conan. Needless to say that I immediately loved the shit out of this tune. Does the term "death sludge" exist yet? 'Logrus' is another brilliant piece of sludge doom, spiced with hints of industrial and a total disregard towards your eardrums. This thing just keeps getting better and better. Hypnotic, intense, immersive and crushing, this one has everything a self respecting doom fans could possibly want.

Ed Carlsen - Elusive Frames

ambient / classical

Moderna Records

website

I was going to write this review earlier but somehow this EP inspired me to write a passage for my next book instead. It's a book about depression and burnout, so don't expect a very jolly EP. Yet, Ed Carlsen managed to create something beautiful, something inspirational. Based around the piano, Carlsen produces melodic emotions. I can feel a sense of loneliness, solitude and melancholy. Here and there cello, violin, viola and soundscapes appear, perfectly aligned with the majestic piano. I think this EP will accompany me a lot in future writing processes. Highly recommended beauty...

American Anymen - Flag Burner

punk / antifolk

Straight from the NYC "antifolk" scene and carrying a credibility similar to the English punk scene, American Anymen come up with three acoustic anti Trump songs. Acoustic, yes, but they still rock and they showcase a fierce hardcore punk attitude. I like that, it feels genuine and real. So in a way, this EP is more punk than punk rock, more alternative than alternative rock and more hardcore than hardcore. My favorite track is the opener 'Flag Burner' but I'm sure all three of these tunes will often appear in my day-to-day playlists. I suggest you do the same. Besides, the lyrics are awesome...

Stömb - Duality

progressive metal

For me, instrumental music is always more favorable than music with vocals. Most of my favorite bands are either instrumental or fronted by a vocalist who knows to shut up once in a while. So it's no surprise that I absolutely love this EP by French progressive metallers Stömb. With six complex and immersive pieces of music, they have certainly convinced me of their know-how. My favorite is the gnawing and screaming 'The Red Way', which is a world class progressive metal track, but undoubtedly, this whole six-track comes highly recommended to every progressive metalhead out there.

Crejuvent - Time

death metal / industrial

Solo projects are excellent if you have material that other bandmembers think it's just too weird or "out of their style". That certainly counts for Crejuvent, producer, writer and vocalist for bands such as Novacrow, Kryocell, Exhumation and others. On this EP, he showcases his rotten inspiration in a unique and interesting way. Technical, melodic, industrial and brutal, those seem to be the keywords here. Apart from the instrumentation, nothing on this EP is usual or normal, not even in the world of metal. On the other hand, it blasts, it surprises and it's one of the most captivating extreme metal releases I've heard this year.

Haze of Summer - Znoi

black metal

I know, the cover picture doesn't really scream "black metal", neither does the band name and neither do their photos on facebook. Then again, the music goes heavy on the drums, fierce on the guitars and brutal on the vocals. I hear a lot of nineties influences, somewhere between Children Of Bodom and Falkenbach but the current post-black metal scene is also represented as the main influence seems to be Deafheaven. Although easily categorizable as black metal, the music explores and destroys the boundaries of the genre, which in my opinion makes this an absolute highflyer. So yeah, I urge you to check this out, especially if you're into unique stuff.

The Great Russian Empire - Low Ends

shoegaze / alternative rock / dark rock

Speaking about unusual music, here is The Great Russian Empire and their astounding debut EP. Rooted in eighties new wave but just as much influenced by the alternative rock scene of the nineties and today's drone folk genre, this double bass act comes up with surprising songs. Although they are genre-bending, constantly jumping from one style to another, the dark rock foundation always stands. Type O Negative meets Nick Cave meets Ween meets Joy Division, something like. Something pretty damn contagious too, I can guarantee you that.

One Arc Degree - Ashore

ambient / downtempo

Back to the softer, calmer side of the music spectrum then, where we find One Arc Degree and their immersive new EP 'Ashore'. This beauty is a must-have for all fans of glacial ambient, lingering soundscapes and deep downtempo percussion. The four tracks on this EP take you on a gloomy trip through the arctic and its barren, snow filled landscapes. I can't pick a favorite. Initially, that would be the opener 'Emotional Machinery' but each track seems to grow on the listener. At first, the beats in 'The Circus In The Stars' but once when the music is well on its way, you'll be dancing or at least nodding your head. Great EP, makes me hungry for more.

Audioboyz - The Rise of Gqom

electronic / techno / experimental

Hypermedium

Perhaps I should explain what "Gqom" exactly is, since this genre is not often featured on Merchants Of Air. Gqom is a dark, deviant and experimental spinoff, rising from underground techno scene of South Africa. The music is repetitive but doesn't answer to traditional techno arrangements and beats. Instead, you get an hypnotic amalgamation of percussion, noises and drones that will quite often surprise you. In fact, for most techno fans, this might be a bit too off the hook but European IDM fans might as well absolutely adore this sound. It's nervous but different and that's almost always good.

Nabaath - Firestorm Bringer

black metal

Ukrainian (once Russian) black metal act Nabaath throws a new EP/single into the mix and it's a smasher. In two tracks (and an eerie, droning outro) Nabaath blasts all that is holy and pure. This is old school black metal in all its grim and powerful glory. There is not much else to be said about this EP, I think, except for the fact that it's a certain must have for fans of the most obscure and evil music on this planet.

Hellstorm Of Flaming Nothingness - The Universe Is An Abyss Of Suffering

drone / ambient / minimal

Belgian minimal drone act Hellstorm Of Flaming Nothingness returns with a new EP and with "minimal drone" I mean "extremely minimal drone". The four tracks on this EP are dark, gloomy soundscapes. No percussion, no soothing ambient passages, no surprising electronics, just mow tuned nihilistic drones, impending and desolate. "You Contain The Soul Memory Of A Million Dead Stars" is my favorite here, a track that sounds like The Blob is coming for you. That being said, yes, these are awesome titles. But apart from that, this EP comes highly recommended if you want music to scare you.

Pask - Psychogenic excoriation

noise

From the same mind as Hellstorm Of Flaming Nothingness but just as user friendly as a rectal exam, Pask represents the harsh, chaotic side of Björn. This five track EP is a grinding noise assault on your eardrums and your sanity. In five tracks, Björn seems to exorcise a few demons and phobias. His motto is "True Belgian Fucked-Up Noise" and that's exactly what you get on this thing. Unless you're a hardcore Merzbow fan, chances are small that you will like this EP but I don't think Pask minds. I don't even think he'll hear you over all this noise.

Henning Baer - 32-bit EP

techno

Soundcloud

Minimal techno with a somewhat lazy, or laid back, attitude, that's what you can find on this EP by DJ and beats creator Henning Baer, a common name in the Berlin scene. This certainly is something for the house music aficionados among us, those who are into electronic beats, minimal soundscapes and gloomy atmospheres. These tracks are produced for late night adventures on the dancefloor with 'Protect' being my favorite one. In a way, this repetitive tunes remind me of the old days of techno, right before the acid kicked in. The acid house that is.

Chalk Hands - Burrows & Other Hideouts

post hardcore

Hailing from Brighton, UK, Chalk Hands deliver two epic pieces of modern day extreme music. Pianos Become The Teeth, Caspian, Isis and Envy seem to be their main influences, judging from the energetic blast of post hardcore I'm listening to right now. Yet, beyond the sheer brutality, there is still some room for melodic passages and immersive instrumentalism. I like that, it gives the whole thing some welcome variation. Perhaps, if all goes well, Chalk Hands are on their way to the main stages of many post hardcore events. With this kind of energy and enthusiasm, they truly deserve that.

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Crash City Saints - Are You Free?

19/8/2017

shoegaze

Now, that is a good question. Are we free? Do we really grasp the concept of freedom? Opinions might and will differ about that subject, so let's not engage in an endless discussion. Yet, if there is one aspect in life that breathes freedom, it's music. Music is both the most universal and the most personal thing on this very planet. You can't touch it but you can change it. You can't taste or smell it but it will be with you for your entire life. Music is free, but it too has to do exactly what the musicians tells it to do. Then again, there are a number of drone ambient musicians who let the music create itself. It's complicated.

Anyway, I'm currently listening to an album by American shoegazers Crash City Saints. I don't know the band. I have never heard them before but the name seems to ring a bell. A quick internet search teaches me that the band formed in 2002, released an album ('Glow In The Dark') in 2010. According to their facebook page, they like bands like Ringo Deathstarr, Scott Cortez, The Hex Bombs, The Big Pink, Japandroids and Meshuggah. Odd.

The album begins with a slow, lingering shoegaze tune in 'Ice Cream Headache' before suddenly blasting off with tempo and shoegazing goodness that often reeks of doom metal, as in 'Smile Lines'. Eventually, once I'm over my initial feeling of surprise, 'There Is No School Tomorrow' pulls me over. Jesus And Mary Chain comes to mind and if that happens, I'm dealing with something good, something I will definitely like.

In a way, the album describes the story of a teenager growing up in a dead-end small town in the early 90s and finding sort of a path to salvation by listening to bands like My Bloody Valentine, Smashing Pumpkins, Galaxie 500 and so on. Personally, I can relate to that. I too grew up in a small village and I too quickly seeked my salvation in music, although I listened to different bands. (blatant self promotion: because of that lifelong search, I wrote a book about music, 'Cecilia's World'.)

But let's get back to the songs on 'Are You Free?'. I can't find a single one I can't appreciate. 'Spirit Photography' is a brilliant shoegaze track while 'Act 2' brings out a noisy, experimental approach to alternative rock music. 'Dawn Of A Bring New Nothing' somehow reminds me of Slowdive or Cocteau Twins, so now might be a good idea to mention that Simon Raymonde contributed on this album.

'Annabella' is one of my absolute favorites. I love the electronic noise opening and the rest of the song is immersive as hell. Speaking about electronics, 'It's Not a Party Until Someone Breaks Your Heart' is a weird but danceable tune, seamlessly followed by the shoegazing disco tune 'The Hour Of The World', another one of my favorites here. Oh well, I guess you will by now know that I absolutely love this album and that I recommend it to all shoegazers out there.

Serge

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Carta - The Sand Collector's Dream

16/8/2017

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dreampop / ambient / shoegaze

Saint Marie Records