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The Mary Hart Attack – The Falling Sun

27/4/2017

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shoegaze / post-punk / alternative rock
Greedy Eyes
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Things you do not want to experience as a band: arriving at your rehearsal room only to find out that someone had broken in and stolen the equipment. That happened to Belgian post punk act The Mary Hart Attack and, needless to say, they were devastated. Still, they stubbornly kept working on their debut full-length and crowdfunded themselves some new equipment. Now, that album is ready to be released, and it's a blast.

The album opens with the song 'In Dreams' which is basically Joy Division meets Sonic Youth. There is a lot of noise and feedback, tonnes of energy and a dark, aggressive atmosphere. In short, the perfect opener for a brilliant post post record. From then on, the band takes on a what can only be described as a vintage post punk journey. The earlier mentioned bands are never far away, which is a good thing.

'Spiders' is a great song too, slower but immersive as hell. It is followed by one of my absolute favorites here, the uptempo and mesmerizing 'All Wrong No Bliss' which drives on an almost industrial drum beat. This one will get many people shaking their butts off at gigs, no doubt about that. Who knows, maybe I will be one of them too. My feet are already tapping along and my head nods like a madman.

By now, we're halfway through the album and I have decided that this album is one where we Belgians should be proud of. It's one of the most dynamic and entertaining alternative rock albums I've heard recently, just listen to the murderous 'This Room' (after it's strange intro). If that doesn't get you off your feet, you might as well amputate them. That was a little joke, please do not amputate your feet.

Anyway. I guess it's clear by now that The Mary Hart Attack is a firm candidate to become the next big thing in alternative Belgium. I won't be surprised when these guys appear in Humo and on Studio Brussel a lot from now on. I will be surprised if they don't end up on the bills of Pukkelpop, Rock Werchter or Marktrock. They definitely deserve it, especially with such a vintage sounding and immersive album as this one.


​Serge
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Horte - Horte 

11/4/2017

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psychedelic / shoegaze 
Svart Records
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Now here is something unique, something that's quite hard to categorize too. Usually, genres are quite easy to define, except maybe for the highly experimental ones. Yet, this one is not, and to be honest, it's not even that experimental either. It moves somewhere between psychedelic rock, shoegaze and noise pop. It's rock music, but also laced with electronics. It would easily fit in with the bands on today's post rock related festivals but it might also have just arrived here from the seventies. 

Horta is a band from Finland, specialized in music that will guide you through an adventurous journey. This self titled album is just that, a narrative and trance inducing piece of music that will please fans of psychedelic sounds everywhere. Bands that come to mind include Hawkwind, Slowdive, Cocteau Twins, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Tangerine Dream, Can, Ozric Tentacles, Neu! and even Dead Can Dance. I know, that's a load of different things to throw into one album, but somehow these Fins have pulled it off.

I'm not going into a song-by-song description here, but I will say that there are some brilliant shoegaze rockers, with '78' being the highlight in that aspect. On the other hand, there are calm, soothing ambient passages and psychedelic ballads, mostly accompagnied by beautiful vocals. There are drones, soundscapes, post rock resembling passages and amazing synths. In all, this is a stunning piece of work, one I will recommend to every fan of music that touches your very soul. This is one of those albums you do not want to miss...


Serge


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Brieviews 22

31/3/2017

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Lynhood - Septembre

ambient / experimental / shoegaze
Atypeek
Amazon
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Lynhood is the solo project for French bassist Chloé Della Valle, founder of the Grenoble label. Lynhood is also a very interesting take on ambient, drones, noise pop and shoegaze. Armed with a bass guitar, her dreamy voice and a loop station, Lynhood creates textured pop songs with a gritty edge. That now results in this four track ep which at times is extremely melancholic. While opener 'Tree' is a gentle tune, 'White Emperor' is a tremendous tearjerker, gloomy and deeply introvert. In all, this ep is not an easy pill to swallow but certainly one worth the effort. It's simply another interesting take on drones and ambient. Try it out...

Duality - Archeology

metalcore / metal
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French metal act Duality come up with a complex but immersive take on progressive metal and metalcore, a genre I'm not always a big fan of. However, the three songs on this ep are laced with oriental influences, unusual vocal lines and tantalizing electronics, which make this thing a lot better than I expected. The songs are quite slow but still contain heaps of energy and grinding riffs. My personal favorite on this ep is 'Osiris', an intense piece of work that will often surprise the listener. I suggest you check it out, musical surprises are always a good thing as they open your mind for new things.

Never Train - Dnar

hard rock
Inverse Records
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They call it "street rock", but I think the term "hard rock" will fit the band very well. I mean, uptempo rockers with a dirty edge and plenty of power, both in the riffs and in the vocals, that spells hard rock in my book. Never Train, a band from Finland, does nothing really new but they did record three highly convincing pieces of good old fashioned rock 'n roll. There is a little bit of Skid Row in here, a dash of Ramones and even a touch of Guns 'n Roses. So this just can't go wrong. Opener 'First We Live' is my favorite. 'Hope In Youth' is a rocking dance floor filler and closer 'Dnar' is simply an uplifting piece of old school hard rock. You might need this...

Dominique Charpentier - L'attente

classical / ambient
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The email that contained this ep, also contained the words "It's a piano solo album", which is probably the truest thing I have ever read. On this ep, there is a piano and ten massively experienced fingers who gently help the instrument reveal its dreams. The five short pieces on this ep are soothing and minimal classical pieces that can lighten up every day. I don't care what genre you usually listen to, dear reader, but I strongly urge you to purchase this album. Music like this should be in everybody's collection. Everybody needs moments like these, moments to meditate and look into their own soul. This album can help you with that...

Vautour - Vautour

drum & bass / industrial metal
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With the energy of a metal album, French electronic act Vautour comes up with six massively energetic pieces of industrial music. Fans of Chase & Status or Pendulum will undoubtedly embrace this thing. There are references towards hardcore techno, dubstep, drum & bass and breakbeats but also towards rock and metal, be it a highly electronic form If you ever see a moshpit forming during a drum & bass gig, it will probably be while Vautour is playing live. In all, this debut is an interesting piece of work, one which will definitely get your dancing boots on. I can see good things happening for this act in the future.

Moonlight Prophecy - Eternal Oblivion 

progressive / thrash metal
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Philadelphia's Moonlight Prophecy is a Progressive, Thrash and Neoclassical Metal project from multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Lawrence Wallace, and that is pretty much all you need to know before getting your hands on this stunning ep. Mostly instrumental, this three-track is loaded with shredding riffs, epic guitar solos and a massive drum sound, all coming with a gloomy atmosphere. People have said that this compares to Nevermore meets Testament and I'm not going to disagree with that. Fans of epic, technical and immersive metal can easily trust this project to deliver the goods. So yep, recommended as hell, this one...

Era 9 - Warrior

nu metal
Soundcloud
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This single by Montreal based rock band Era 9 is a very nice appetizer for their upcoming album (planned to be released in May). This song seemingly blends influences from Linkin Park, Paramore, Lacuna Coil and even Skrillex and throws them into one immersive piece of music. The result is a possible hard rock charts hit, a song that would do perfectly well as a Wrestlemania tune, for example. So yes, it's worth to check this out. I'm already curious for the upcoming full-length and if you're into anything that smells like nu metal, you should too...

Electric Floor - Fader

synthpop / new wave
Vipchoyo Sound Factory 
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With elements from indie rock, new wave and synth pop, this trio politely invites you to the dancefloor, especially if you are a fan of Echo & The Bunnymen, Psychedelic Furs, The Cure, Human League and so on. These five tracks seem to come directly from the eighties but will just as well please fans of modern day indie rock. Opener 'Bluedive' and the gloomy 'Borderland' are my favorites on this five track but all the songs are worth your attention. So yes, for a nostalgia trip, this is definitely a highly recommended ep and to be frank, I'd rather go see these guys on stage than Depeche Mode.

Headless Horseman - 47009

techno / industrial
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Speaking about invitations to the dancefloor, this one is something for the discotheques and dance festivals around the globe. Headless Horseman delivered a four track ep, loaded with beats and eerie soundscapes. Yet, instead of the regular 4/4 beats, this act gives the whole thing an industrial touch, reminding me of acts like Imminent, Sonar, Morgenstern or Synapscape. The opener, 'Widow's Peak' is my favorite here, along with the Scorn-like dark dub track 'The Day She Vanished'. So yeppers, for a techno record, this is a bloody good one, one that will find the way to my playlists quite often from now on.

Lonely The Brave - Diamond Days

alternative rock
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British band Lonely The Brave delivered a nice four track ep, named 'Diamond Days'. On this ep, the band comes up with small rock anthems, seemingly influenced by alternative rock, indie and post rock. Opener and title track 'Diamond Days' is a possible fan favorite, an intelligent rock anthem that would fit perfectly well in today's alternative rock community. 'Two Heads' is a bit heavier and 'Collider' is another awesome anthem. The ep closes with a nice version of 'The Rat', originally recorded by The Walkmen. In all, this ep might not be earth shattering but it's definitely a nice addition to your collection.

Misto - Infinite Mirrors

post rock
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This debut ep by Italian one-man post rock act Misto has been released last year but it only reached us a short while ago. Usually, when that happens, the release ends up in the pile of albums-we-don't-have-time-for but this time I'd like to make an exception. Why? Well, this is a very nice six-track ep, containing some gentle post rock tunes. This certainly is one of those ep that would perfectly fit in your massive post-rock playlists, there where Explosions, Godspeed, Mogwai, Caspian and Astronaut also roam. So go ahead, download these tunes help me in hoping that Misto will form a band and tour soon...

Grave Plague - The Infected Crypts

death metal
Give Praise Records
Redefining Darkness Records
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On to the extremes then, courtesy of American death metal horde Grave Plague. Their sole goal is to resurrect the old school version of death metal and on this two-track ep they do exactly that. With a sound that reminds me of something between Dismember and At The Gates, this quintet blasts two ferocious slabs of vintage death metal through my speakers at a very high paste. The whole thing is quite short but powerful enough to demolish a small suburb. So if you're into grinding riffs, sick grunts and pulverising tempos, this one should have a spot in your collection. Period.

HaatE - Crystal : Farewell

dark ambient / black metal
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Italian black ambient act HaatE returns with a mesmerizing and hypnotic ep, one that has everything it needs to be a solid reference to this dark and mysterious genre. Although mostly rooted in dark ambient, there are elements from black metal and the whole post-black/rock scene. The end result is a sonic journey that never disappoints, never gets stale and continuously contains this cold, eerie and haunting atmosphere. I can only recommend this thing to all you dark souls out there. For people like you, this music is comforting and calm while it's dark and scary for others. Great work, a must-have.

Kolfskop - Cambozola Superster

experimental rock
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The weirdest ep in this edition of Brieviews comes from Belgian trio Kolfskop. These guys from Ghent once had an idea about how music should sound, threw that overboard and started experimenting, influenced by Zappa, Waits, Beefheart and Primus. Now, they come up with this strange ep, one that has the words "avant-garde" written all over it. Nonetheless, this thing comes highly recommended because it's something you just don't hear very often anymore. Oh, and it's all in Dutch, but don't let that stop you. After all, plenty of Belgians are musical geniuses as well as completely mad.

Eli van Pike - Herzschlag

gothic / industrial metal
Darksign Music
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A German-American cooperation, deeply rooted in the dark industrial metal scene, that has got to be interesting. And it is, certainly for fans of bands like ASP, Oomph, Wolfsheim and so on. This single contains the gothic rock song 'Herzschlag' and a bunch of EBM/industrial/future pop remixes. Personally, I would have preferred one or two other songs on this single, just to add a touch of variation, but nonetheless, this is an interesting example of today's gothic scene. So I guess the choice is yours, and I strongly suggest checking this single out. If you like it, why not get the whole album?

Fork / Göttemia - Indre Enfold

punk
Kraftpest
Fork
Göttemia 
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And we end this edition of Brieviews with two bands from the Norwegian punk underground, bands that have been playing live and touring for years and became quite good friends. Fork comes up with two energetic punk songs, nudging towards alternative and noise rock but still raunchy enough to please hardcore punks. Göttemia adds three aggressive punk tunes to the mix, perfectly capable of getting that mosh pit started. Both acts seem to do exactly what they want, which obviously is in perfect punk tradition. So, punk of all ages, check this out. You'll love it.
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Planning For Burial - Below the House 

9/3/2017

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shoegaze / drone / doom
The Flenser
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I've said it before and I'll say it again: the world of one-man bands is an intriguing one. Solo acts have been fascinating me for years. Many of them come up with dark, enigmatic music, exploring their deepest emotions, fears and ennui with all kinds of instruments. Of course, loopers, samplers and software make it possible for people to work alone but still, doing it all on your own is quite an achievement, especially when the result is a perplexing piece of work.

Planning For Burial is such a one-man project, formed by Thom Wasluck. His music is slow, harsh, emotive and gloomy. 'Below the House' is an introvert but bombastic piece of work, loaded with influences from shoegaze, doom metal, nineties dark rock, ambient and drone. It is an album that comes from deep within the artist and it reaches out to all those who are into sonic darkness.

Opener 'Whiskey and Wine' first comes up with the droning beauty we know are respect bands like Nadja and Jesu for. However, soon the blackened sludge metal vocals come in, making the whole thing even harsher than it is. Here, Deafheaven comes to mind but they soon disappear when the following songs show different vocals, clean ones. On 'Somewhere In The Evening' another side is shown, the one that reminds me of  a band like Anathema.

To show his know-how in the noise and dark ambient scene, Planning For Burial threw the dark track 'Past Lives' on this album. Right before that 'Warmth Of You' drags in influences from dark rock and new wave bands, like Killing Joke meets A Place To Bury Strangers. '(something)' is soothing ambient tune, serving as an intro for the stunning tandem 'Dull Knife pt. I & 2'. Here, like in the opener, the noise elements seem to return. If Skullflower would make a shoegaze album, it would probably sound something like this.

In all, this is another one of those albums that throw their listeners into a whirlpool of drones, despair, depression and solitude and that's perfectly fine by me. If you are one of those people who prefer slow music which is loaded with sentiment, you need this album. On a medium volume, it's an enjoyable alternative rock album. On high level it's a massive blast of drones, drums and doom. So it's perfectly suited for every situation...


Serge
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Aidan Baker w/ Claire Brentnall – Delirious Things

17/2/2017

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dream pop, shoegaze, ambient
Pleasence Records
Gizeh Records
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Here is Aidan Baker again, by now probably to most frequently occurring artist on this website. Not that I mind, Baker's works are pretty much always welcome in my inbox,, whether it's Nadja, Caudal, Hypnodrone Ensemble, his solo musical endeavors or his cooperations with people like Karen Willems or Tomas Järmyr. In that, this release is no different. but in some other aspects, this is a completely new direction for Aidan.

That new direction is mainly guided by his interest in coldwave, shoegaze and dream pop, but also by the distinct voice of Shield Patterns' vocalist Claire Brentnall. Together, Baker and Brentnall have created something amazing, something that almost made me replace the genres on top of this review with the word 'magic'. Away from the usual drones and soundscapes we are used to by now, this cooperation beautifully pierces itself into the dream pop scene.

With that, I do indeed recommend this album to every fan of acts like Cocteau Twins,  This Mortal Coil and here and there even early Dead Can Dance. Apart from two interludes, this album is filled with atmospheric, dreamy songs. Brentnall's vocals fit in perfectly with the soundscapes and often appearing mild drums. Opener 'Delirious Things' and the breathtaking 'Wingless' are jewels, and they are far from the only ones on this album.

So yes, this is an awe-inspiring album, one that will undoubtedly become a favorite for many fans of Aidan Baker. I don't think I am the only one who wants to experience this magic live and I hope that I will have that opportunity one day. But for now, this album is going straight into my day-to-day playlist, perhaps even twice so the songs appear more often. I suggest you do the same. This is pure magic...


Serge
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Violet Cold – Anomie

14/2/2017

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experimental / black metal / shoegaze
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Anomie is an album to be released on March 1, by Azerbaijani musician Emin Guliyev, under his artistic nom de plume Violet Cold. With six tracks – the eponymous Anomie, She Spoke Of Her Devastation, Lovegaze, My Journey To Your Space, Violet Girl and No Escape From Dreamland – Violet Cold’s music is a complex mixture of several different – and at a first glance, disparate – genres, like atmospheric black metal, blackgaze, ambient electronic music, shoegaze and post black metal, amongst others, resulting in a peculiarly unique blend of sonorous artistry, that has created a singular kind of experimental music, in the whole history of the underground scene. A very surreal album, with sad nuances, opaque colors and emotional soundscapes, Anomie is certainly a very unique composition. With beautiful harmonies, and a fantastic melodic layout, the record is full of abyssal and enchanting dream-like fantasies, as well as sincere disdainful loyalties, deeply inserted in the vastness of a pure and cosmological vision, that resurfaces at the core of an unseen labyrinth of agony, never testified in a work with such level of sensibility, in the underground music scene before. 

With the serenity of unspoken, but deeply energizing harmonies, full of soul, relinquishing beauty and aggrandizing features of spontaneity, this is certainly a refreshing, embellished and interesting album. Deeply committed to a general level of uneasy originality, which, at least to a certain degree, seems obvious, given the fact that so many different genres are combined with the genuine proposal of creating something unique – though ambient elements do prevail most of the time throughout the album’s length –, Anomie is a magnificent record. Authentic and singular, certainly this album is anything less than a major outstanding work. 

Splendid, fulfilling, original, faithful to its roots, and genuine by the sake of its purpose, there is no other album that could be highlighted as a possible comparison. A formidable artistic achievement, you are never bored throughout its fifty three minutes long run. In the end, you will be asking yourself when something with such a powerful magnitude will ever be created again.   

A great experimental work, with a phenomenal final result, Anomie is a sensational record, being a splendid work in the experimental music category, probably the best ever made. With the perfect infusion of so many different elements from a lot of different genres, what has been created on this album is marvelously unique and unparalleled in the history of underground music. A splendorous sound from a different world, a different dimension and a different galaxy, you will never believe what you are hearing, in the first place. A majestic exemplar of artistic excellence, Anomie is an album that deserves its place of honor.  



Wagner
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Sweet Nico - R Evival

8/2/2017

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dream pop 
Raging Planet
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Apparently, somewhere in Portugal, someone is incredibly sad and melancholic. At least, that's what I think after listening to some of the songs on this gloomy and emotional album. Sweet Nico is a dream-pop duo consisting of vocalist and lyricist Marisa da Anunciação and guitarist and producer David Francisco of post-rockers When The Angels Breathe. Together, they wrote and recorded nine songs that will undoubtedly weigh on your soul, and they top it off with a cover of Mazzy Star's 'Fade Into You'. You can indeed say that Mazzy Star has been a major influence for Sweet Nico, along maybe with acts like Slowdive and Radiohead. Yet, in a way, the songs on 'R Evival' gnaw deeper, probably because of the edgy, lo-fi sound of the whole thing. 

When I close my eyes and let my imagination wander, I can see images of an abandoned village, soon to be completely demolished. Yet, somewhere on the edge, in an old, gloomy café, sad music is playing, slowly lingering over the empty streets and into the moonlight. The music feels like ancient blues, driving on soundscapes and percussion which are just as sad and nostalgic as the voice the accompany. Sometimes, the tempo goes up, caused only by the percussion and drums. All else remains slow, dreary and mirthless. Colors seem to fade away, nature seems to retreat. For now, there is only that old café and that murky music.

So no, this is not a happy album, not at all. This is something for shoegazers, dream pop addicts and sombre minds. Fans of Mazzy Star, Slowdive and The Jesus and Mary Chain will definitely appreciate songs like 'Honeymoon', 'Love Caravan' and 'Rain'. The latter is my personal favorite here, a heavily emotional ballad, so minimal it almost hurts your heart. So if you're in for a decent crying session, or you just want to wander in the darker regions of your innerself, you might want to give this album a shot. In that case, this comes highly recommended. 


​Serge
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Brieviews 19

26/1/2017

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Alex Cordo - Origami

progressive metal
Amazon
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This one is a guitarist's dream, the musical equivalent of a karate student looking at his sensei. Alex Cordo is a classically trained guitar player who brings his skills into the world of progressive rock and metal. The songs on this album are instrumental metal anthems, narrated by technically perfect guitar play. Fans of flashing guitars, heavy rocking music and technical skills will probably adore the hell out of this album. If you're into Vai, Malmsteen or Satriani, you will undoubtedly appreciate this compositions and you'll definitely find a spot in your already massive collection to add this. So go ahead, check it out and enjoy the awesome landscapes of Alex Cordo...

December Hung Himself - Perseidi

dark ambient
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Speaking about landscapes, this Italian duo surely knows a thing or two about atmospheric and cinematic music. Formed by the guitarists from Thank U For Smoking, Drought & Charun, December Hung Himself take their post-rock and black metal experiences into the world of dark ambient and drones.The result is a must-have for fans of Atrium Carceri, Inade, Kammarheit and so on. If you're into minimal dark ambient, there's no doubt that this album deserves a spot in your collection. Here and there you can find a hint of melody, guitars and gloomy electronics. To conclude I have to say, the trippy closer '​Beta Persei' is pure genius

Last Builders of Empire - Hades

post rock
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American quartet Last Builders Of Empire also seem to know their way around post-rock and with this ep they show exactly how versatile this genre can be. Opener 'Descent of Perithous' is a classic post rock anthem, something between This Will Destroy You, Mono and Wang Wen. 'Clinostat' reminds me of the heavy and drone-infused regions of the scene, with bands like A Swarm Of The Sun. 'State Of Grace' brims with symphonic arrangements and then there are two more awesome tunes to be discovered. You guessed it, this ep definitely is worth the effort, and an excellent sonic journey into the Ancient Greek underworld.

Tuath - Things I Don't Know

shoegaze / psychedelic
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Irish noisemakers Tuath come up with a dark and gritty four-track ep, breathing a vintage shoegaze atmosphere but also incorporating elements from ambient, noise rock and even a hint of sludge doom. The title track is a strange episode with soundscapes and a long vocal sample, but definitely one I can often listen to. The other tracks rock quite heavy, here and there even getting a psychedelic and occult edge, like The Jesus And Mary Chain meets Hawkwind perhaps. If you know Tuath, you know that these guys aren't easy to categorize but that's exactly their strength. So, my advice, check it out, you'll be surprised.

Cyclocosmia - Immure

symphonic doom
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Progressive, symphonic, female fronted doom from London, created by producer James Scott, vocalist Aliki Katriou and guest musicians from all over the world. The result is an interesting album, blending the symphonic approach of gothic metal with the heavy riffing of vintage death doom and progressive technicality. So don't expect Nightwish or After Forever but expect a blend between Draconian, Ayreon, Dream Theatre and more modern metal acts. Even though it's not easy to correctly categorize this ep, I would certainly recommend adding it to your collection of unique and stubborn metal releases. I does deserve a spot there.

Hummingbird Of Death / Beartrap - Split

grindcore
Here And Now Records
Give Praise Records
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Grindcore, grindcore, grindcore, guttural, grindcore, short, attack, grindcore, punk, thrash, grindcore, growl, scream, grindcore.

I think that's pretty much all a grindcore fan needs to know about this fierce split between Hummingbird Of Death & Beartrap. It's a single, containing a bunch of extremely short and extremely aggressive hardcore punk influenced pieces of grindcore.

Oh, did I already mention grindcore?

​Grindcore 

Feller Buncher - 203040

alternative / metal
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A feller buncher is a type of harvester used in logging, something I jokingly called an "industrial treehugger". That aside, Feller Buncher is also a metal band from Paris. they have just released this heavy ep, highly influenced by sludge metal and the ever awesome power of the riff. Yet, the music reminds me more of bands like Danzig and Channel Zero, which I guess isn't that bad to be compared with. Although the tempo isn't always fierce, there is plenty of energy coming from these five tracks. Metal Fans should doubt no longer and start banging their heads to this massive machine...

Desiderii Marginis - Songs Over Ruins

dark ambient
Cyclic Law
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When this email came in, I was pleasantly surprised, but mostly because I thought it was a brand new Desiderii Marginis album. However, this is a reissue but nonetheless an interesting one. Back in 1997 and released by Cold Meat Industry, 'Songs Over Ruins' became a landmark dark ambient album, one that influences acts and labels all over the world. Now, the good people at Cyclic Law decided to reissue this masterpiece so more fans can get their hands on a copy of this. All I can add, is "go ahead and buy this thing", this is the stuff that gave birth to an entire scene...

Pintandwefall - Red and Blue Baby 

indie rock / pop rock
Svart Records
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On the somewhat joyful side of the musical universe we find this pop rocking girl band and their damn catchy tunes. With elements from indie rock, grunge and punk, Pintandwefall present a lo-fi version of acts like The Breeders or Throwing Muses. Opener 'Come To Rest' is my absolute favorite on this album, a song that easily gets stuck in your head. 'Seasimularo' is another fav, somehow bringing the sixties back. In all, this simply is a very enjoyable album that undoubtedly goes right into my day-to-day playlist. I'm sure I'll be smiling every single time one of these songs roll through my speakers.

Ric Gordon - Just Can't Get Enough

punk rock
Russian Winter Records
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While moving, punk rocker Ric Gordon discovered a box with fifty copies of his 1979 debut ep. So he decided to reissue them and make them available on CD and digital formats as well. In that case, I guess this is officially the oldest release ever to be reviewed on Merchants Of Air. Do I recommend it? Obviously I do, this is old fashioned rock 'n roll that is actually old enough to be old fashioned. There is a sense of timelessness in these songs. If you like acts like Ramones, Misfits and Status Quo, I suggest you check this thing out. Vintage just got a lot vintager... 

Gentle Savage - Introduction

rock / blues
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"Let the good times roll", they sing in opener 'Bring Back Rock`n`Roll' and I can't help but agree. Let me introduce Finnish blues rockers Gentle Savage and their first tribute to rock 'n roll. In three songs, one catchy, one rather psychedelic and one pretty damn southern, these guys delivered an awesome debut, something for fans of everything between Hendrix, CCR and Black Crowes. Obviously, this gem calls for a full-length in the near future, followed by a tour. So, I guess it's clear, Gentle Savage are here to bring the soul back to rock 'n roll and judging from this ep, they're doing the right thing...

Funeral Mourning - Descent MMXV

funeral doom / black metal
Nihilistische KlangKunst (cd)
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Right, enough joy and happiness. Time to drag our depressed souls through endless floods of despair and misery, courtesy of Australian act Funeral Mourning. That might sound as a little joke, but I'm damn serious about this album. This is an atmospheric funeral doom blast, one which easily fits the gaps between your Esoteric, Evoken and Shape Of Despair albums. In two lengthy tracks, this act definitely convinces. If you want the assaults on your sanity to be slow, intense and punishing, you need this album. Hell, it's stuff like this that made me become obsessed with this whole genre to begin with...

Adam Probert - The Battle For Tomorrow

noise / drone / spoken word
Sonic Entrails
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Noise music and activism often go hand in hand, and that is exactly the case with this album by spoken word punk poet and dignity in care campaigner Adam Probert. The music here can be compared to acts like Con-Dom, Atrax Morgue, Brighter Death Now and Propergol, although Probert's tracks are not as harsh and punishing as the others. Yet, the whole remains in the drones and minimal noise regions and contains a heap of spoken words and samples. My suggestion, download the album, play it loud, listen to the words and think about them, even if you're not into noise, just listen and think!!!

Steelballs - Steelballs

heavy metal
Witches Brew
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We've been travelling through time a lot in this edition of Brieviews. Right now, we're in the eighties, where bands like Helloween, Manowar and Grave Digger were the heroes of metal. Formed in 2013, Steelballs is a band from Argentina who honor that era of heavy metal. So how do they do it? Not bad, my friend, not bad at all. Raging heavy metal, flashing solos, high pitched vocals... it's all here and it comes to you like a freight train. The ep contains four fine tunes which will easily remind you of the bands I previously mentioned. To some it might sound outdated but to others this is timeless metal, period.

Teleport - Ascendance 

death metal / black metal
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A band that answers the question "bands we like" with "insane ones" immediately demands respect. With that alone, this Slovenian band gained my interest, but also with the term "cosmic metal". Apparently, that means, "a complex and progressive blend of black and death metal which aims to pulverise your very soul into a massive black hole of musical extremism". So yes, blast this thing through your speakers and prepare to bang your head into an endless vacuum. Fans of extreme metal can easily trust this ep to bash them into a bloody pulp because take it from me, these guys can play.

Serge
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Brieviews 18

14/1/2017

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Hurray, the first edition of Brieviews of 2017 is here and once again it's a damn varied one. From shoegaze to grindcore and from techno to djent, it's all in here. I'm sure that there is something you like in here. Enjoy...
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Blushing - Tether

shoegaze / dreampop
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Two husbands and wives making music together, that's always a better idea than go on a joint bicycle trip while wearing similar fluorescent bike-wear, not? Well, it certainly proved to be an excellent time spending idea for these four Americans, making blissful dreampop and shoegaze. In these four tracks, they easily please fans of Slowdive and Cocteau Twins while also coming with with some gritty grunge sounds. Opener 'Tether' is a damn catchy tune, one that might easily get stuck in your head. The other songs are perfect shoegazing tunes, once again highlighting in 'Mess'. This truly is a recommended ep.

88 Mile Trip - Blame Canada

stoner rock
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Another neat idea comes from Canadian stoner rockers 88 Mile Trip. During a beer drinking and record spinning session, they discovered some awesome songs from their home country and decided to cover the ones they like the most. That results in groovy stoner rock versions of songs by Bachman Turner Overdrive, Red Rider, Doug and The Slugs, Neil Young and Stampeders. Yet, the band manages not only to cover the songs but to make them their own, eventually resulting in a surprisingly coherent sounding ep. Although, as good as the ep is, I can't help but continuously singing South Park's 'Blame Canada'. Perhaps a cover idea for the future? 

The Empire Line - Syndicat de la Couture

electronic / ambient
Avian
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Scandinavian multi-disciplinary artists Jonas Rönnberg & Christian Stadsgaard come up with some haunting electronic ambient like only experienced techno producers can do. Opening with the creepy 'Fragrance Arpege', this ep is as atmospheric as it is varied. 'Cafe Anglais' drives on electronic percussion and unidentified noises while 'Jewelry Armoire' is post-apocalyptic soundtrack material with eerie soundscapes. Closer 'Syndicat de la Couture' eventually brings out the analog beats and techno influences, but in a good way, a trancy and somewhat hypnotic way. Nice little gem, certainly recommended.

Movement Of Static - Novelty Seekers

post rock
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We also have something nice for fans of post rock, namely the Greek band Movement Of Static who have released their quite promising debut ep. Although, ep, the whole thing last over half an hour, which gives us plenty of time to get acquainted with these beautiful tunes. In four songs, Movement Of Static provides the listener with an excellent blend of post rock and ambient with some heavier passages and loads of atmosphere. Opener 'Telomeres' is a brilliant piece of work, dark, creepy and immersive, like Godspeed meets Deftones.  If you like well-varied post rock music, you just can't go wrong with this ep.

Cowards - Still

black metal / hardcore
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Somewhere in the extreme spectrum of the musical universe, we find French horde Cowards and their brand new ep 'Still'. With a blend of black metal, hardcore and sludge, this act plans a vicious assault on your sanity. The music is gritty, noisy and more in-your-face than you can imagine. Pulverising riffs, blasting drums and a vocalist who seemingly feels like he doesn't need his lungs, this thing is out for nothing less than utter destruction. However, they do have a sense of humor, brilliantly covering The Horrorist's 'One Night In NYC', which actually is one of the coolest covers I've ever heard. Anyway, if you want music to murder you, this ep might be worth a shot

Dead Neanderthals - Dolphin

heavy jazz / noise rock
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Dutch heavy jazz combo Dead Neanderthals are seemingly doing everything in their power to make something unique. As a gift to their fans, they uploaded this eleven minutes lasting epos of sax, drums, chaos, intensity and insanity. It's stuff like this that connects the jazz scene with the grindcore and noise rock scenes and I have no idea what most jazz fans will think about this. That aside, I would recommend checking it out, preferably at a ridiculously loud volume and start throwing things against the walls. It therapeutic, I promise, you'll feel a lot better when it's all over. Rare jongens, die Nederlanders...

The Stone Cox - Blackboard

alternative rock
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Hell yeah, time to rock 'n roll  and for that French combo The Stone Cox are the perfect companions. On this ep, they come up with three high energy rock tracks, influenced by everything between Led Zeppelin and Foo Fighters. The first two are heavy and groovy rockers that can get every party started. Closer 'Not Going Home (Hard Red Sun)' somewhat reminds me of a band like The Scabs and shows a more musically gifted side of this band. Anyhow, rockers of all ages can easily appreciate this ep and I hope that soon this will be followed by a full-length. 

Death Metal Pope - Harvest

doom metal
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Imagine that, a death metal pope, growling his yearly "urbi et orbi" from a black and red painted Vatican. Would be funny. However, this Death Metal Pope has nothing to do with Christianity and just barely with death metal. This is a doom metal band which often comes very close to Black Sabbath and on other occasions blasts some guttural grunts and some psychedelic passages in your face. Although I still had my doubts in title track 'Harvest', 'From The Dust Returned' convinced me that this is an awesome ep, one that is certainly worth your attention if you're into old school doom. A must-have for doom fans, that's for sure.

Ben Blutzukker - Analog Blood

heavy metal
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German one man electro band Blutzukker becomes German one man metal band Ben Blutzukker and comes up with something surprising. As you can see on the cover, one of the influences is Guns 'n Roses but the whole thing sounds more like an Abbath side project, exploring the massive history of heavy metal. The four songs on this ep are quite gritty metal songs, reminding me of acts like Venom or Motorhead. Not bad for songs that were initially electro/industrial tunes. My favorite is 'Red' but I'd certainly recommend every open minded metalhead to check this out and compare the songs to the originals.

A Cunning Man - Practical Applications Of Theurgy

power metal / heavy metal
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Another one man project, and one with a quite unusual twist. A Cunning Man describes his act as "One man metal project with a strong Scottish accent", something I can't deny. Of course, the Scottish accent makes the whole thing sound somewhat weird and drags it into the world of pagan metal. Yet, the music feels like a mesmerizing amalgamation of metal styles, from the power metal of bands like Hammerfall over black and death metal to modern day arena rock. The ep contains three songs which certainly deserve your attention, especially if you want something familiar yet unique. 

Beneath A Godless Sky - ​Beneath A Godless Sky

hardcore / progressive
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French djent-act Beneath A Godless Sky comes with a debut that will pierce you in more ways that you could possibly imagine. Now, personally, I'm not a connoisseur of the whole djent scene, which to me makes this whole ep sound like something between Meshuggah, Periphery and Tesseract. I guess that's not a band list of bands to be compared with. I do know that the songs on this thing are loaded with energy, intensity and brutality. Besides, some passages here are damn immersive and most riffs are well-worth of an intense headbanging session. In its entirety, I know that this is nothing for me but for fans of progressive hardcore and djent, it is definitely a must-have.

Elusion - Desert Of Enticement

symphonic meal / gothic meal
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This debut by Belgian band Elusion does not sound like a debut, far from it. If you told me that this was a new effort by After Forever or Epica, I might have believed you. The three songs on this ep are high quality symphonic metal songs, played by seasoned musicians and sung by a talented  woman. What's more, these songs rock, making them perfect headbanging material. Personally, I didn't really follow this particular genre anymore but I'm damn sure that these three tunes, especially the folky closer 'Facade' will appear in my day-to-day playlist quite often from now on. They should appear in yours too if you're into this genre.

Rumah - A View To The Sea

techno
Wolfskuil
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At festivals, I often wander into the dance hall, even though I do not consider myself a techno fan. However, I usually enjoyed these sonic adventures for a while, which is exactly why I sometimes decide to review a techno ep This one comes from English producer Rumah and contains four high energy dance tunes, mainly inspired by the Detroit scene of the nineties. The first act that came to mind to compare this ep with, was Joey Beltram and you can add people like Jeff Mills or Dave Clarke to that list as well. So yes, this is a recommended release if you're in for some decent, old school dance music.

American Anymen + Lise - Oui

alternative / singer-songwriter
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From the United States comes a nice cooperation between anti-folk act American Anymen and singer-songwriter/keyboardist Lise. In four songs, both acts seem to explore the possibilities of this get together. Opener 'Nobody Made Me Smile Like You Did' is an excellent ballad while 'Less Complex' and 'Does Anybody Still Think Of Me' are uplifting rock songs, driving on acoustic guitars. Closer 'H' is another ballad, but probably my favorite track on this album. I wouldn't really know who to compare this ep with, Beck maybe? But then again, nice pop songs like these don't need comparison, they just need to be listened to.

The Vomiting Dinosaurs - Exoplanets

death metal / thrash metal
Grimoire Records
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And we end this edition of Brieviews with a short but destructive assault by American thrash-death horde The Vomiting Dinosaurs. In mere  fifteen minutes this trio blasts nine songs of gore and brutality over their listeners and I'm sure those listeners will enjoy the abuse.  Most of the songs drive on fierce hardcore punk tempos and issue an array of guttural growls and screams. If this stuff doesn't get your grindcore party started, you are not having a grindcore party, that's for damn fucking bloody sure. A favorite? Nope, this whole thing is only fifteen minutes long, which makes the entire thing well suited for a session of audible SM.

Serge
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Angela Martyr - The November Harvest

20/12/2016

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drone / doom
Avantgarde Music
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After several releases Morgan Bellini decided it was time to put Italian shoegaze and drone doom cult act Vanessa Van Basten to sleep and embark on a new sonic adventure, That new adventure received the name Angela Martyr and somewhat further develops the much appreciated blend of styles, created by Vanessa Van Basten. In the past, the act seemed to be influenced by acts like Godflesh, Jesu and Swans and those references return on this outstanding debut.
On 'The November Harvest', this act once again blends shoegaze, doom metal and drones into an immersive sonic whirlpool. The whole thing sounds like a mix of Slowdive and Godflesh. Slow, droning doom songs sluggishly roll out of my speakers, accompagnied with soft, clean vocals. Some of the songs, including 'Carsleeper' and 'Deathwish' bring Nadja to mind, Undoubtedly, this music will make a lot of head nod in approval, currently including mine.
That being said, I think it's about time that bands like this one appear on psychedelic doom festivals like Desertfest and, why not, post rock festivals like Dunk! Festival. Ok, perhaps that might be a bit selfish of me because I really, really, really want to experience this live, but I also think they will both fit in perfectly and provide the necessary variation on these events. You should have guessed by now that I've already become a massive fan of Angela Martyr.
My favorite songs on this album inlucde opener 'Deviant' and follower 'Georgina'. However, what I like most, is just get lost in these massive drones and riffs, all the way to the awesome and huge closer 'Angela Martyr'. I suggest you do the exact same thing. If you're a fan of Nadja, Jesu, the late Vanessa Van Basten or anything in this genre, 'The November Harvest' should definitely have a spot in your collection.


​Serge
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Barst - The Western Lands

21/11/2016

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drone / ambient / post rock
Consouling Sounds
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Aah, the Belgians. What a bunch of drone geniuses we have. Dirk Serries, Stratosphere, CHVE, Syndrome, Ashtoreth,... the list is getting bigger and bigger. Now we can add another project to that list, one named Barst. After numerous live performances, splits and cassettes, this one-man project is now ready to release his first full-length. The album contains two tracks, each lasting for over twenty minutes. However, before you expect some nice, blissful ambient, please read on. This might be one of the most varied and surprising albums in its genre.

First off, the massive achievement wouldn't have been possible without a little help from his friends. On this album a heap of artists lent a hand: Mike Armine (Rosetta), Dehn Sora (Treha Sektori, Sembler Deah, …), Karen Willems (Inwolves), Mathieu Mathlovsky(Mathlovsky), Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe (Empusae, Onus, …), An-Sofie De Meyer (FÄR), Tokyo Oyo and Herr Man. If you know some of these acts, you might start realising just how varied this thing really is. I'll try to guide you through.

The album opens with a drone, and so far this was pretty much exactly what I expected. Yet, then it happens. In the first track alone, the music ranges from ambient to post metal to martial industrial to ritualistic chants. Besides the usual drone-ambient acts mentioned above, acts like Deutsch Nepal, Russian Circles, Sophia, Biosphere and even Dead Can Dance come to mind. This is a heap of influences pressed together, no wonder the track lasts this long. Track two even adds a dash of gloomy techno with sludge metal vocals to the whole thing. I've never danced to drone music before.

So yes, for this genre of music, 2016 has been a fantastic year, especially in Belgium. Lots of our most respected artists have released a brilliant album and, in my humble opinion, Barst tops it off in the most varied way imaginable. I can only recommend this gem to pretty much every fan of inventive and original music. You can be sure that this thing will end up somewhere in my end-year list, just like I'm sure that you will often stare at your speakers in absolute disbelief. 

Damn, I love this job...


​Serge
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Brieviews part 16

20/11/2016

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Mök - Kamikaze Slug

black metal / crust punk
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Sometimes strange thoughts appear in my mind. This time the sentence: "blackened crust punk played by people who can actually play their instruments" popped-up halfway through the second song. With chainsaw-guitars, eerie vocals, grunts and brutally dynamic drums these guys actually created a stunning piece of work. Darkthrone or Mayhem come to mind but also extreme hardcore punk of bands like Amebix. The well-played and quite varied combination of both styles make this a raunchy and filthy delight to listen to, perfectly suited to squatted building parties and grungy underground venues. Recommended stuff...

Malacoda - Ritual Aeterna 

symphonic metal
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Hailing from Canada, symphonic metal horde Malacoda comes up with a dark, horror inspired ep. These sixs track are loaded with immersive tempos, excellent guitar play and plenty of keyboard sounds. The end result reminds me of something between Dimmu Borgir, Nightfall, Moonspell and Kamelot, which obviously means that this music is epic as hell. My favorite track is 'I Got A Letter' but there's a lot of gothic goodness to be found on this thing. Fans of dark melodic metal surely can't go wrong with this. There's plenty of variation, tonnes of atmosphere and enough energy to keep you rocking...

Venkman - ​Thunder Thief // Some Rainbows

funk / alternative
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Right, time to explore something completely different for a while, which takes us all the way to this English act and their uplifting funk. I reviewed their work before (read) so I was curious about these two songs. With good reason too. This is stuff for world music festivals and sunlit family events. 'Thunder Thief' has a warm and dynamic sound, possibly inspired by traditional African music. The second song, 'Some Rainbows' is my favorite of the two. It brings a touch of indie rock, a dash of ska and loads of soul together to create something you just have to dance to. This goes right into may day-to-day playlist.

Rodney Cromwell - Fax Message Breakup

synthpop / electronic
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Time to put on our dancing boots and enjoy some gloomy dancefloor fillers. This ep apparently was inspired by the infamous break-up between Phil Collins and his second wife but don't let that confuse you. The title track is a Depeche Mode meets OMD meets Pet Shop Boys track which will definitely cause some ass-shaking. I also really dig the Cure inspired guitar line in this one. The remixes range from strange disco to even stranger techno tunes but are nonetheless quite joyful tunes to light up your Sunday blues. The vocals say "I can't do this anymore", but I personally hope he'll do this more often...

Dead High Wire - Satellite State Brain Drain

post punk / alternative / indie
Kinky Star
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Earlier this year, I had the pleasure to introduce these guys on our website (read) and now they return with a brand new ep. This new release contains four tracks and showcases the evolution of the band. Opener 'The Germans' for example reminds me of acts like Cabaret Voltaire. while 'Defectors'  is a damn immersive rocker. 'The Grey Zone' and 'Chains'  punk things up a bit but still remain loyal to the whole post punk and indie atmosphere. I specifically like the first two tracks. Somehow they feel like they have the power to attract a lot of new fans. But rest assured, this whole ep is a prime example of energy being put to good use. Awesome ep.

Flayed - XI Million

hard rock
Kaotoxin
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Hell yeah, my favorite French rockers return with a new ep, one that once again blasts with energy and adrenaline. What you get on this ep is exactly what you would expect from a band like Flayed: heavy blues-infused rock 'n roll with rough vocals and that always awesome Hammond organ. If you're into everything between Deep Purple, AC/DC and Black Crowes, you should get your hands on this gem. The opener and title track 'XI Million' remains my favorite but I'm sure that these five fine tunes will blast through my speakers a lot from now on. Oh, and there's a smashing version of CCR's 'Fortunate Son' on this one too. 

Maira - Maira

black metal / shoegaze
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I never really understood the whole "blackgaze" thing. Ok, the bands blend shoegaze with black metal but the genre still sounds like black metal to me, perhaps a bit more psychedelic but still. That is, until these guys from Austria showed up in my inbox. On their debut ep, they actually manage to shatter my doubt about this genre. While these two songs are still infused with a decent dose of black metal, Maira comes up with clean vocals and, well, actual shoegaze and post rock. The result is somewhat surprising but nonetheless highly interesting. I will keep an eye our for these guys, and I suggest you do the very same thing.

Killer 4 - Killer 4

grunge / alternative rock / punk
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Those Italians sure know how to rock, and Killer 4 are here to prove exactly that. With their sleazy blend of grunge and stoner rock, dressed in a filthy punk attitude, these guys want to rock your socks off. For me, this really is a nice throwback into the nineties where the guitars were distorted, the vocals were raspy and the drums blasted the whole thing forward with a lot of energy. There are five songs on this ep, all guaranteeing a wicked and wild rock 'n roll party. You take care of the booze and the girls and Killer 4 will take care of the raunchy soundtrack for your nineties themed ​debauchery.

Nick Noro - Vietnamm

rock 
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The frontman for American metal/hardcore band Survival comes up with an interesting piece of rock music. Although the music doesn't seem to be very complicated, it's not easy to place this in a certain category. I hear flashes of English punk rock, some influences from bands like Sisters Of Mercy, Killing Joke, or The Damned. There are samples and electronics, but most of all, there is sheer energy and some damn immersive pieces of kick-ass rock music. The whole comes with a tremendous in-your-face attitude which makes this ep quite irresistible for fans of pure  and uncompromised rock music. 

Birthday Kicks/Screaming Dead Balloons - Tonight at Vault Relics

post punk / alternative rock
Vault Relics
Birthday Kicks
Screaming Dead Balloons
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Speaking about in-your-face rock music, here's a nice 7" for your listening pleasure. Side A features Greek fuzz-rockers and their immersive version of 'She Talks To Rainbows' (originally a Ramones song). Of course, in this case the original will always remain better but this sure is one damn good version. Side B brings the gloomy post punk from fellow countrymen Screaming Dead Balloons. This is my favorite of the two, combining lingering guitars with noise rock and a hint of psychedelic rock. So yeah, I'd say "check it out", it's a nice addition to your already impressive collection.

Chanvre - Valkyrie Mecanique

alternative rock / noise rock
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By now, we at Merchants Of Air know France as a country with headstrong musicians doing their thing, regardless of trends or genres. Take this trio for example. They're armed with guitars, bass, drums and a bunch of effect pedals so you might expect quite anything. Yet, even then your expectation might be wrong. Once you press play, you'll be engulfed in a whirlpool of noise rock, post punk, psychedelic rock, sludge, math rock and sheer weirdness, all accompagnied by French vocals. The result is a strange but nonetheless enjoyable ep that just might get you dancing or banging your head. The choice is yours...

Dark Clarity -  Dark Clarity

hard rock / heavy metal
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Dark Clarity is a melodic rock band from Finland. Although they formed back in 2008, several line-up changes slowed down the growth of the band, only now resulting in a first release. Judging from the songs here, those setbacks didn't stop them from becoming a heavy rocking band with an eye for epic heavy metal. My favorite song here is the uptempo 'False God' which even reminds me a bit of Helloween. Other bands that come to mind, include Manowar, Iron Maiden, Gravedigger and Saxon. Not a bad set of names to be compared with. I hope their line-up now remains solid so they can start conquering the metal scene...

Anal Trump - That Makes Me Smart

grindcore
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With Travis Ryan of Cattle Decapitation on vocals, San Diego grindcore outfit Anal Trump comes up with a short and vicious assault. The longest song on this album is eighteen seconds long and I had to listen four times while writing this thing. So yes, this is sick, gore grindcore in perfect Anal Cunt / Napalm Death tradition. It comes with a lot of shit that someone named Donald Trump has been spewing out, like 'I'd Date My Daughter', 'Build That Wall' and 'Breastfeeding Is Gay'. So if you miss Seth Putnam, hate Donald Trump, think music should be torturous and have no problem with the fact that downloading this release will last longer than actually playing it, you need this.


Morbid Panzer - Only The Total Death

black metal / thrash metal
Into Dungeons
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Since we're dwelling in the putrid extremes of the metal scene, here's a brutal piece of blackened thrash metal for to add to vulgar little pleasures. German horde Morbid Panzer comes up with two songs that will tear your ears off your head. Grinding guitars, pounding drums and screams from the deepest pits of hell will surround you and you will bang your head uncontrollably. The ep reminds me of those old black metal albums from acts like Mayhem, Impaled Nazarene or Darkthrone. So fans of everything other people might find disgusting, get your hands on this brutal gem. You know you want to.

Cancer - Terminal

black metal
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Right, let's go even deeper into the sound of utter despair and haunting imagery. Our infernal search for the sickest, grimmest and downright terrifying music now brings us to Australian horde Cancer. The band consists of members of Deadspace and Inquinamentum, so I reckon there has been a lot of experience in these musical regions. Musically, this five-track ep is one of the creepiest depressive black metal releases I've heard in awhile. Fierce, primitive and crushing black metal, accompagnied by frightful howls will definitely reappear in your nightmares. This is only suited for seasoned black metal adepts, that's for sure.

Harmonic Generator - Skull

punk / alternative rock
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Hurray, here is part 3 of Harmonic Generator's 'Heart, Flesh, Skull & Bones' tetralogy. Once again, these Frenchmen throw a bunch of high-energy punk rock songs in our faces. They borrow elements from old school hard rock, noise rock and every other guitar-based energy producing genre and turn the whole thing into a rock 'n roll party you can't resist. Opener 'Dreams & Tears' is my favorite on this ep but I suggest every fan of alternative rock music to check this out. And while you're at it, get your hands on the others as well and join me in waiting for the final act in this rock-opera.

Shroud Eater/Dead Hand - Split

doom / sludge
Southern Druid Records
Shroud Eater
Dead Hand
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We end this edition of Brieviews with a crushing steamroller in the form of a 7" by two bands from the American stoner doom scene. Shroud Eater kicks off with an immersive piece of music, driving on monolithic riffs and strong vocals. Fans of acts like Yob, Elder and Conan will be absolutely thrilled with this track. Dead Hand drags the whole thing deeper into the noisy sludge scene but their track is equally immersive and enjoyable, if you're into eardrum-ripping guitars. This track also contains a beautiful psychedelic passages, which only adds to the overall quality of this release. Doomers, you know what to do!!!


​Serge
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Fall to November Sky – Autumn Light

7/11/2016

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black metal / shoegaze
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The most recent album of Russian project Fall to November Sky – which is led by the same unknown musician responsible for the project No Need to Open Your Eyes – Autumn Light was released on November 1. With seven tracks – being them this soul doesn't need mask, last evening of summer, ...and her eyes dissolved in dark, circles, cold november sunrise, astral journey and apathetic call of autumn –, here Fall to November Sky is more philosophical and reflexive than ever. Extending his serene dimensional musical horizon, to form soundscapes of meditative possibilities, characterized by very peculiar and transcendental artistic ambitions, on this album, our mysterious musician seems determined to make his music sound more fluid and organic, decidedly compromised to embrace a fully formed ocean of resounding artistic fertility. Summarizing and uplifting his singular style, an impressionistic mixture of post rock and shoegaze, Autumn Light is an album that comes with distinction and sobriety, more free than the usual harmonically adorned songs featured on previous records.  

Characterized primarily by the dispersion of a peaceful tranquility that excels the interior feelings of all tracks, Autumn Light is a work that displays cohesion and sincerity. With little of the Post Black Metal more apparent on his previous releases, here the work is diluted into a more dispersed framework, that builds in the dissolving sonorous walls of its beauty exceedingly transient atmospheres, with a sparse melancholy that fully comprehends oceans of sound at the heart of a space that turns the majestic light of an isolated afternoon into the distorted sorrow of a forgotten anger. 

With a great sense of space and sound, the harmonies that softly reverberates a tenuous intensity into the poetic devices of the music are easily felt by the sensibility that expires within each and every note that dilacerates the universe built by the delicacy of the rhythms. A work that seems composed at the height of a lucid, intense, frivolous and quiet storm, Autumn Light is an album aimed to bring peace, tranquility and calmness into a turbulent world, devoid of any major human abilities. 

A very poetic work, filled with colorful, soft and exuberating harmonies, Autumn Light was marvelously built at the core of a profound sensibility, that understands the ethereal design of music, and perceives it to be the soul of an intense universe, filled with particular seasons, and considered eternal, for an everlasting sense of grace.     



Wagner
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Erudite Stoner - Erudite Stoner 

7/11/2016

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post rock / doom / shoegaze
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Erudite Stoner is the namesake and eponymous debut of Brazilian musician Matheus Novaes. With an unprecedented degree of originality, that works from a curious stream of several different influences, combined in an organically creative arrangement of detailed textures and dynamically accurate nuances, that saturates the rhythm in favor of a gray numbness contorted in a panoramic set of harmonic sensitivities, Erudite Stoner combines classic guitar playing with doom and black  metal influences, intertwining his incredibly out layered sonorous prospect with a darkly innovative shoegaze approach, in such a high level, never seen before in the history of underground Brazilian music before.

Daring, inconspicuous, serene and refreshingly pungent, with a unique style of playing, meticulously precise and depressingly melodic, his over excelled musical proficiency is sustained by his superbly refined sense of building a brightly cohesive, dense and atmospheric layer of sound. With nine songs – being them  Spiritual deliverance, Alienist, Ride to nowhere, Far away from city walls, There is no home, Waiting for the storm, Sand Path, Roads to somewhere and Left behind –, Erudite Stoner, on his debut, really mesmerizes and attracts the listener, with its hugely undertaking exploration of metrically harmonic cadences, surpassing horizons of beauty that conquers a vastly dimensional sonorous demise, that awakes  fully transformed in the heart of a sorrowful conscious exhilaration.

An exceedingly poetical work, with a solidly impressionistic rhetoric of underlying beauty, the delicate punctuations that flows marvelously below each and every note of his tracks reveals a minimalist impersonation of sound, impressively built to disperse tears of solitude, eternities of sand and castles in the air. A work that perfectly blends the classic with the original, the influence with the authorial and the traditional with the innovation, Erudite Stoner’s debut is a compelling force within the underground scenario. Being already hailed by worldwide underground music websites and magazines, with reviews and interviews popping up from all four corners of the globe, Matheus Novaes has proven himself to be Brazil’s next big thing. With an amazing degree of talent, timing, pace and self-reliance, an elusively displayed baroque ability to disseminate into the air a panoramic construction of a rhythmically profuse galaxy of sonorous expansion makes the listener lose himself into a hole of infinite delight. The dark sobriety of his music is not only a lucid stream of artistic voracious technique, but, on the verge of its expansive dilution, defines hidden possibilities, that solely converges the interior elements of his songs into an overdeveloping conjuncture of majestically abrasive sonorous devices. 

Already being recognized by his unprecedented musical talent, and a striking ability as a fully accomplished songwriter, Erudite Stoner has already matched several scores of best-selling Bandcamp album. Boasting the underground with his impressive, exhilaratingly precise and formidably penetrating peculiar style, Erudite Stoner sets into another level the remarkable degree of experimentation for which his album stood for. And yet, being so fantastically simple, on the other hand, his ferociously deep and pervasively ordered style of playing digresses from the organic form that highly disunites his cosmically melted and amusingly creative musical distinctions and artistic disruptive definitions. 

Set to break boundaries, and define new ones, Matheus Novaes, with his project’s debut, Erudite Stoner is an organically active fusion set to propel to a new level the Brazilian underground scene. With an astounding degree of originality, audacity, creativity, ability and technique, Erudite Stoner becomes a matter of national pride. It’s so amazing to see this coming in a country that misunderstoods so much it’s extraordinary geniuses. With an appreciative, inconceivable and impressively higher ordeal of sensorial beauty, this is an album doomed to make history. And this could not have been different, being the work of one of the most talented musicians of his generation. The free flowing sonorous expression that will turn a joyful redemption into a new form of understanding music.     
 

​Wagner
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Killing Surfers - You Never Cared

7/11/2016

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alternative / rock / shoegaze
Crooked Tree Records
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A captivating and amazing album by an emerging alternative rock band from Brazil, You Never Cared, by Killing Surfers, is a six tracks album – Pillow Face, Another Horizon, I Wanna Sleep, She's Like Heaven, Sunrise and Medications – with beautiful and delicate escalating harmonies, poetically uplifting and surprisingly wonderful. Being somewhat a weird, but functional mixture of an indie rock apparently influenced by The Smiths, with a puncture of The Verve, The Velvet Revolver and New Order, this is one of the most surprising gifts I have heard from my own country in a while! With a refreshing degree of originality, and an intriguing ability to surprise, their strong melodies speak as wonderfully as an eternal horizon could fulfill an everlasting sense of beauty into your eyes. With gracefully amazing lines of guitar, striking vocals, powerfully fulfilling, but soft at the same time, You Never Cared is a major underground achievement, and Killing Surfers – I strongly hope, for sure they have talent to do this – it’s the future, and the only future we need in the underground Brazilian scene.

With a fulfilling sense of poetic joy, the second song, Another Horizon, not just reminded me the amazing grace of The Smiths, but overwhelmingly surpassed a marvelous sense of transcendental sensibility. With a compassed strengthened rhythm, a fine sense of security, and a magically divine output, characterized by refined harmonies, You Never Cared is a straight and dynamic shot, direct to the point. Poetic, enthusiastically emotive, spirited and free, this is a groundbreaking achievement not just for the band itself, but for the entire underground Brazilian scene!

A great, great album, that made me really happy while listening to it, this is a state of the art work! Coming from a region from Brazil – the northeast – mostly known as a stronghold of popular regional genres of music, few people, possibly including myself until I have listened to them, knew that such an astounding, cool and carefree alternative rock band could arise from this corner of the country, that is mostly hostile to this genre.

Certainly the future of the underground – if they manage to undertake all the difficulties that being in a rock band means in a country like Brazil – in the national scene (and why not internationally also? they certainly have talent for it), Killing Surfers is an amazing alternative rock band, and You Never Cared is the best alternative rock album that I have heard in a while. And certainly, musically, restores my faith in my own country, for a long time!            


​Wagner
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Fvnerals - Wounds

21/10/2016

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drone / doom / shoegaze 
Golden Antenna Records
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Sometimes, I imagine Merchants Of Air as a massive building, with rooms where unknown inhabitants display the emotions, fears and joy of the music that is being played. In some rooms, they're dancing, while in others strange rituals are taking place. Others are banging their heads, with their fists raised towards the society we are forced to live in. Then there is the basement, where hopelessness, despair and inner darkness roam.

This one is the latter.

Fvnerals is a band from Glasgow, Scotland, specialized in creating floods of sonic bleakness since 2013. Over the years, they recorded two eps, debut full-length and now this brilliant piece of work. Always driving on a torpid tempo, Fvnerals combine drones, soundscapes, eerie doom metal and shoegaze into something that sounds as far away from happiness as it possibly could. Down in that basements, this particular inhabitant is down on the floor, screaming, crying, weeping.

There are seven songs on this album, each perfectly following the previous one. In five or six listens I wasn't able to pick out a favorite track since everything fits so well together that this feels like one long concept, displaying emotions like depression, anxiety, lethargy and isolation. Over the music, which reminds me of something between Earth and Slowdive, the vocals of Tiffany Strom guide the listener through all this crushing despair.

What I did notice during my listening session, is the fact that this album grows on its listeners. Gradually, songs like 'Void', 'Shiver' or 'Teeth' gain their own identity. So yeah, of course I will recommend this gem to everyone who likes a decent slab of audible darkness once in awhile, whether it is shoegaze, doom or drone. You will definitely find something to exorcise your inner demons with on this album.


​Serge
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Poomse - This Is How We Fail

6/10/2016

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alternative / indie / shoegaze
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Well, that last album was so enjoyable that I don't feel like play some heavy stuff today. Which, of course, is good news for Poomse, a four-piece from Mallorca, Spain. In their email, they wrote "Though our songs are a bit 'softer' than most of the music you review we've got some elements from post-rock and mathcore so, why not try?", and I can't agree more. Of course their music has a place on Merchants Of Air. After all, they just release and damn pleasureable album.

There are indeed some influences from post-rock noticeable on some of these songs. However, if my knowledge of musical history is correct, post-rock evolved from shoegaze and slowcore, which makes a better description for this music. These are mostly slow pop songs with a great sense of melancholy, reminding me of bands like Low, Codeine, Red House Painters and at times even South San Gabriel meets Slint.

In a way, you can see most of the songs on 'This Is How We Fail' as folkish singer/songwriter tracks, enhanced with a full band. Songs like 'Out Of Tune', 'Break' or 'California' are quite minimal pieces of music, without too much technicality, which keeps the whole thing down-to-earth and intimate. Here and there you can hear a flash of grunge, like in my favorite track 'Worker Bees', a song that has something cabarettesque.

In all, 'This Is How We Fail' is an excellent alternative pop rock album, one in a genre you don't encounter that much these days. If you're a nostalgic person, longing for some nineties melancholica, this definitely is your thing. The level of songwriting is excellent, there's enough variation and there are some beautiful tunes to be discovered here. So check it out, you won't be disappointed.


​Serge




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Brieviews - part 12

17/9/2016

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Oh yeah, another set of brieviews on Merchants Of Air, another chance to discover some new gems in the gigantic pool of releases. Today, we're once again going to ignore genre restrictions and provide you with some seriously divergent pieces of music. Enjoy...

Reptilians From Andromeda - Sonic Rabbit Hole

alternative rock / post-punk
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A little bit of Ramones, some Sonic Youth, a flash of Teenage Jesus And The Jerks and a touch of Slowdive, that might get you an idea of what Turkish garage rock act Reptilians From Andromeda have released upon the world. The ep opens with some rough, mid-tempo tracks but suddenly dives into noise-rock insanity with the eerie 'We Are Who We Are', which sounds like Hole on some weird drug. Right after, they pour a synth-poppy shoegaze thing in our ears. Weird, very weird, but damn immersive and definitely ready to make their entree into the world of noise-rock and garage rock, and entree through the grand gate if you ask me. Interesting stuff...


Postman - There

noise rock / experimental / post punk
Epileptic Media
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An experimental rock act that reminds me of bands like Cabaret Voltaire and Crash Course In Science, that is odd. I think the last one that managed to do that, was Black Dice. Anyway, Postman seems to draw influences from everything between Ween, Joy Division, Sonic Youth and the aforementioned bands to come up with some surprising songs. The set-up seems to be minimal, synth, drums, guitars but what they do with those instruments, is far from limited and often results in decent gloomy pop songs. 'Escape Velocity' is one of my favorite tracks but I strongly suggest to check out the album if you're a fan of strange, out-of-the-box releases. Hell, there's even a hint of dub and reggae here, or even Iggy Pop, or post-rock... Great stuff!


Chelsey and the Noise - Losing Landscapes

electronic / electro-rock
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Somewhere in California, this duo is barking out a strange blend of glitchy electronics and rock music which kinda reminds of something between Lydia Lunch, Archive and Autechre. The songs on this ep are quite danceable pieces of music, but come with a gloomy new wave atmosphere. Their main influences seem to be Glitch Mob, Sleigh Bells and Purity Ring but, to be quite honest, I like this little ep a lot more than those acts, especially the somewhat industrial 'Edge Of Infinity'. There is a certain gritty feeling about this one, an impending atmosphere. It reminds me a bit of some Tricky songs but, again, way better. 'Parish' is a brilliant piece of joyful glitch electronics, something you definitely should check out...


Aanod - Yesterday Comes Tomorrow

metal / metalcore
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French extremists Aanod move somewhere between metalcore and the melodic death metal of the Götheborg scene. Yet, somehow they combine it with a modern sound, plenty of variation, electronics and epic ambient textures. The result is a massive and pounding ep, loaded with energy and sheer violence. The music feels suited for the tiniest of venues and the biggest of metal festivals alike, which isn't easy to accomplish I think. For the record, metalcore isn't really my thing, but I can surely respect the level of songwriting and the technical skills of these guys. So, all you metalcore kids, check this one out, it might as well become one of your favorite bands.


Moanaa - Passage

post metal / doom
Arachnophobia
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Hailing from Poland, Moanaa have released a debut in 2014, now followed by a blast. With elements from post-rock, doom, sludge metal and psychedelic rock, they create a highly immersive sonic adventure. In some strange way, these songs remind me of a heavy and more intense version of some Cure songs, played by a mishmash of bands, including A Place To Bury Strangers and Cult Of Luna. The overall atmosphere is intense, dark and downright crushing at times. The vocals usually are clean, except from a few growling outbursts, something I can truly appreciate. In all 'Passage' is a tremendous album, perfectly suited for any post-metal fan out there. Check it out, you need this.


Mumrunner - Gentle Slopes

shoegaze / alternative 
Wolves and Vibrancy
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Alternative rock and post-punk, interlaced with joyous dreampop, that's what you get on this ep by Finnish quartet Mumrunner. The four tracks on this album remind me a lot of acts like Cocteau Twins, Slowdive and even The Cure. 'Shawshank' is my favorite song on this ep, an uptempo earworm that gets stuck in your head, an ability most of the songs actually have, even the punky shoegazer 'Cascais'.  This truly is stuff for the dark and murky dance floors all over the world, which obviously comes highly recommended. I hope I get the chance to see this quartet soon. I'm sure they will guarantee an immersive live performance, causing entire venues to dance the night away...


Dätcha Mandala - Anâhata

psychedelic / blues / folk
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Oh man, I absolutely love this newfound interest in seventies music. Take this French trio Dätcha Mandala and their latest ep for example, a brilliant piece of psychedelic blues rock which could have come directly from the studios where people like Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles recorded their stuff. 'Misery' is a gloomy blues ballad (with a beautiful guitar solo) while 'Mojoy' is a pretty heavy rocker, somehow reminding me of Black Crowes. Both songs are excellent examples of how this newfound interest should sound: vintage, convincing and perfectly executed. I hope this single will be followed by a full-length and a tour soon. 


Colosso - Obnoxious 

death metal
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Portuguese horde Colosso have released a behemoth, a pungent blend of death metal and industrial, loaded with soundscapes and sheer ferocity. The result might indeed be one of the most impressive death metal albums in 2016. Somehow it reminds me of a mix between Carcass and Limbonic Art, crushing the boundaries of one genre and smashing right into another one. This album is a ranging assault of blast beats, haunting screams and vicious, often droning riffs and pure noise created with the sole intention of demolishing anything in its path. I admit, you have to be used to some level of crushing death metal before you can handle this, but once inside, the beast never lets go.


Shlømo — Vanished Breath

electronic / techno
Wolfskuil LTD
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Dance music right after death metal, because why the fork not? Besides, this isn't ordinary, stale and unimagined techno. In fact, there's only one true techno tune on this ep (and its remix), 'Obsession'. True, it's not my favorite but it might get some people dancing. Opener 'Vanished Breath' is more like an eerie ambient tune while a great track 'The Ritual' is a breakbeat inspired vintage electro act. Speaking of vintage electro, 'M.U.M.' seems to come directly from the seventies when people like Klaus Schulze and Kraftwerk were pioneering in experimenting with electronic music. So yeah, this fits perfectly on this edition of brieviews. 


Marta De Pascalis – Anzar

electronic / ambient / experimental
The Tapeworm
Touch Shop
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Speaking of acts like Kraftwerk, Schulze and Tangerine Dream, here are two pieces of circular synth and tape-loop music, courtesy of Italian artist Marta De Pascalis. Both are long tracks, seemingly based around a central theme but constantly moving and changing. Title track 'Anzar' really takes me back to those early electronics pioneers, often coming up with some folkish melodies along with the cold synth sequences. 'Emerso' sounds a bit darker, somewhat nudging towards the ambient scene. In all, I like this one a tad better than the opener, probably because of its lingering soundscapes. In all, this certainly is an interesting release, which comes highly recommended to anyone who loves those old, almost psychedelic electronics. But be quick, there are only 100 copies of this tape...


Jonas Van den Bossche & Benne Dousselaere - The Multiverse Ennui Can't Last Forever

experimental / ambient / noise
Silken Tofu
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Another strange two-track album comes from Belgian label Silken Tofu, who released this one-session recording of Jonas Van den Bossche & Benne Dousselaere. These two tracks are elaborate audio-adventures with drones,  noise, soundscapes, synths, guitar and minimal percussion. On hand hand, the music reminds me of acts like De Fabriek, Machinefabriek; Maurizio Bianchi and Tim Hecker, while there's also a hint toward ancient electronics and gloomy eighties electro. It constantly changes, mostly driving on one or a few drones. In fact, the only thing that remains a constant on this album, is the quality. This thing definitely comes highly recommended.


Illum Adora - Son of Dawn

black metal
bigcartel
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From "meh", over "hm, interesting" to "fuck yeah" in mere thirty seconds, that's not an easy task to accomplish but this German trio somehow managed to do exactly that. I wasn't fond if the opening of this ep, but gradually it grew on me and halfway through 'Eyes of the Scythe Wielder', I was heabanging along with their chaotic and primitive approach to black metal. Nothing fancy, no over produced feel good shit, just sheer violence and intense blasphemy. This ep sounds like it comes directly from an underground bunker in the early nineties when the blackened scene was just beginning to make headlines everywhere. If you like your black metal true, bleak and vulgar, this is your album of the week.


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Notape - Notape

1/8/2016

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post rock / ambient / shoegaze
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The eponymous EP by Notape – an atmospheric ambient post-rock project with shoegaze elements, authored by an unknown Russian musician – is an intriguing and very lucid album, with seven short tracks, released on June 16. Although doesn’t satisfy you in any way, by virtue of its shortness, is filled with an impressive beauty, and casual poetic elements, that sounds so good to your ears, that you will hardly believe what you are listening.

A very promising project, that certainly could be compared to the greatest highlights of the genre, its uncompromising sound, delayed atmospheres and beautiful guitar starlight headlines will impress you deeply. Although its seven tracks span a little more than twenty minutes overall, you will feel amazed and captivated by the subtle ambiences and compounding, delicate and soliciting atmospheres that this anonymous musician creates, with his music. 

The fact that he appears to be originally from Klin, Russia, the hometown of another anonymous Russian musician, that has to prominent projects on the underground scene – Fall to November and Sky, and No need to open your eyes – given the fact that I also came to be acquainted with this project on the Fall to November Sky FB page, makes you think if this is not another project by the same musician. Their styles also being a little similar, makes the suspicions stronger. Nevertheless, regardless of these speculations, we should always think about the music first. And if you like a very thoughtful, poetic, melodic and exceedingly ethereal kind of post-rock, then this should be obviously for you. 

With soft, serene and charming melodies, this seven short tracks have everything you need to feel deeply amazed. The guitar lines and the rhythms are soft spoken, with continuous nuances of ascendant patterns, astoundingly arranged in a cohesive constitution of sonorous intricacy. Regardless of the particular individual that creates these beautiful compositions, we are talking about a very talented musician, with a precious gift for composing very precise sound layers, and arranging harmonies in the precise corners of his instrumental fields of creative ley-outs. 

Although this is a really short EP, you should give it a chance. It is as beautiful as it could ever be. A very stargaze shining modern and poetic post-rock, you will feel enchanted at the very first second. Guitar sequences played precisely at the right notes, unusual poetic cadences built at the virtuosity of a higher artistic evaluation and soft atmospheres wandering by the instantaneous illusions of a very ephemeral universe constitute an odyssey of sound peculiarly unique, as you have never heard before, making your emotions flow from out of your mind. 


​Wagner
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Novanta - Hello We're Not Enemies 

20/7/2016

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electronic / dream pop / shoegaze
Seashell Records
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Well, that's a fairly decent way to start a conversation, "hello, we're not enemies". I think it's a suggestion every single person on this planet needs to stick to. After all, hasn't it been enough with all the hate, fear, abuse and aggression? Isn't it time we need to put the humanity back into the human race? Wouldn't a little love, empathy and respect make this world a better place for everyone and everything living here?

Italian one-man act Novanta surely seems to agree with me. This project, formed by Manfredi Lamartina, dwells in the gentle but gloomy area of shoegaze and post-punk, using dreamy electronics as a basis to explore his sound. Guitars and an often equally dreaming voice make up the rest of the music, highlighting in songs like 'Tell A Story', which comes close to trip-hop or the heavy shoegaze 'Goðafoss'.

That being said, this album is pretty varied to begin with. While listening to 'Mike', I can't help but think of Smashing Pumpkins for some reason. '​Akureyri' delves into the sound of acts like Boards Of Canada or Bonobo. 'Blue Lagoon' hints towards Slowdive while 'Melted Eyes' combines eerie drones and soundscapes with almost distresses vocals. That's plenty of variation, without losing grip on his own style, and that certainly deserves a compliment. Recommended stuff? Absolutely!


Serge
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