#15

Endless Time – Force c62

There's some solid psychedelic drone being pumped out here, but the lo-fi recording is just killing me. You just start to get into a piece and then some tape hiss or synth feedback flares up and wrecks it. I get that Endless Time wanted to add a bit of fuzz, make it gritty, but it's just not doing it for me.

905 Tapes


Forest Funeral – Demo cd-r

This is what I think of when I hear people say 'dark ambient'. Creating a depressive ambiance, Forest Funeral drags you down into utter bleakness. My only, minor complaint with this is the last track, included as a bonus, doesn't quite mesh with the mood set by the earlier pieces. I'm definitely going to be checking out more of Forest Funeral's work.

Smell The Stench


Orphan – Gone Tomorrow cd-r

Orphan's sound has evolved noticeably since I Don't Have A Home. Aside from the increased presence of vocals and percussion, Orphan has drifted away from drone and toward ambient and dreamy pop, with some tracks having a rough, industrial edge. That description really doesn't give the the music on Gone Tomorrow justice, so how about this; it's damn good and you should hunt down a copy.

Self released


Sathanas Urine – We're Nothin' More Than Sathanas Urine cd-r

Honestly, I don't know what the fuck to make of this. Total lo-fi, harsh, black metal chaos with this weird rock n' roll undertone; it's all over the place. Oh, and each song is around 10 minutes or more. Maybe the closest comparison I can think up is Vondur? Happy Flowers playing black metal? Who the fuck knows.

Smell the Stench


Yana/Make Believe Bombs – Split c20

Up first is Yana with some top notch audio collage work. Found sounds get blended with some synth howling to create an nicely layered work. On the flip MBB starts out with a lone horn improving, then some low key electronics join in and things get dreamy real fast. Somewhere along the line that horn fades away and things become very minimalist; just a hint of that synth accompanied by a foreboding scraping sound. Why u no have this?

Felt Cat Records

#14

Battleship – Neon Ranch c20

Battleship serves up a tasty little selection of rhythmic, trance inducing experimental stuff here. As you're loading that awesome wizard-shaped bong, make sure you've got Neon Ranch ready in the cassette deck. Sweet.

905 Tapes


Heart Heart Julia/ T rust – Split c21

You remember how at the end of Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, they traveled into the future to learn to play their instruments and then their future, skilled selves return to rock out? Well, not even that sort of temporal paradox could help out Heart Heart Julia. It's a whole mess of improve racket that's just taking a shit on you for having listened to it. On the flip is T rust, who play some minimalist, lo-fi psychedelic music. Rad jams, too bad they share this tape with musical fail.

Felt Cat Records


Nebula VII – Through Emptiness cd-r

An ep of harsh drone constructed from digital reverb, Through Emptiness starts out somewhat interesting, but quickly becomes stale and repetitive. This isn't “minimalist” or “a-tonal”, it's just 16 minutes of rumbling noise. Over and over and over again...

Smell the Stench


Northern Forest – Winter North cd-r

Things start off sounding like new age music for Satanists. For twenty minutes, Northern Forest goes overboard with cheesy music sequencers and synths. Really? I was dreading the release's other track, but was pleasantly surprised by a piece that blended low key synth with nature recordings. Kinda missed the 'black ambient' mark, but the last track shows potential.

Smell the Stench


Smoke – Haze c47

So, here's the thing: when you look at Haze in the light of it being an entirely improvised album of black metal, it's kinda impressive. But, when approached as just a black metal album, it leaves something to be desired. The screams, blast beats, and harsh guitars lack cohesiveness...because it was all just improvised, duh. I found the lack of structure and lo-fi recording technique on Haze to be a deal breaker, but if you like your black metal raw and chaotic, definitely check it out.

Hair On My Food Tapes

#13

Ben Billington – Brave Grave#3: Drums c92

One man, a set of drums, and 90 minutes of tape. I'll be honest, I'm not a percussion aficionado, so this is a little outside my comfort zone. That said, I enjoyed what this had to offer. It's pretty damn intense, but also manages to incorporate some laid back, atmospheric elements. This isn't the thing for everyone, but if you're into drums or want something different, snag a copy.

905 Tapes


Garrincha & The Stolen Elk – Black Sambo/White Mamba c21

Oh, you gotta dig this; rhythmic drone with wild strings and horns. Really rad, but I want more than just 20 minutes. Recommended.

905 Tapes



i AM esper – The Slumber of the Grayscale Moths/Over the Atlantic c90

A collection of two i AM esper albums and some bonus material, side A starts off with the monsterous ambient dirge that is The Slumber of the Grayscale Moths. The side is rounded out with the bonus track “Listen and Glisten”, which is similar to Slumber, but noticably more upbeat sounding. On the flip is Over the Atlantic, which alternated between tracks of feedback oriented drone and spacey guitar loops. Niiiice.

Frozen Tendril Records


Lace Bows – Morte Do Artista c82

Morte Do Artista is the perfect soundtrack to drifting off into space. But, if you want to appreciate what Lace Bows is doing here, you have to really listen and not let the album become pleasant background noise. Over an hour of minimalistic synth, the sound ebbs and flows and one begins to feel this isn't a linear piece, but cylindrical. If you like them low key, this is for you.

Bum Tapes


Majutsu no Niwa – Ecstatic Crystallization c60

Lurking somewhere between noise, drone, and psych rock is the feedback drenched realm of Ecstatic Crystallization. Driven by a reverb-soaked guitar, I found it a little to abrasive and chaotic to really get into. Not a bad release, just not particularly my deal.

Sloow Tapes



Pürple Zhrö – Sorgho N'sryo cd

This seems to be little more than a collection of sounds and noises arranged arbitrarily to form a handful of “songs”. Sporadically throughout the album there are brief moments that resemble something like music, and it's actually enjoyable, but these are few and far between. There's obviously some talent behind this racket, too bad it's being wasted. Who knows; maybe I just don't get it.

Sturmundrugs Records

#12

Caligine – L'Autunno di Rame cd

Ever since hearing the Ter ep a couple of months ago, I've been eagerly awaiting Caligine's full length to be released. Unfortunately, this anticipation only added to the utter disappointment upon finally hearing L'Autunno di Rame. The album starts out with a track that consists of two squeaky, twangy guitars improvising over the sound of the surf rolling onto the shore. And this goes of for nine minutes. This is followed by another nine minute piece with a meandering guitar and two out of synch voices reciting a poem. The album is rounded out with three tracks that clock in at under four minutes apiece; one featuring an incredibly obnoxious sawed violin, and the other two enjoyable enough, but not particularly memorable. Going back and listening to Ter, it's disheartening to see how drastically Caligine's sound has deteriorated.

Sturmundrugs Records


Chicaloyoh – Thorns c36

It'll probably take a few listens before you can get a grasp on Thorns. Slow, spaced out psychedelic guitar stuff with a little bit of vocals, percussion, and flutes, this isn't the sort of thing for everyone. There's a hypnotic effect to much of the music on here, like if the songs were just a little bit longer, you'd have fallen into a trance. Nice...

Bum Tapes


Flesh Forest and The Elephant Only Zoo – Ice Cream Funfest c15

While still firmly rooted in an electronic sound, FF&TEOZ's music is changing. There was a level of uniformity with the songs on T.Hawk, but here their style varies noticeably from track to track. Elements of chiptune, post-rock, and various others are woven into the 10 pieces. This constant genre shifting could be annoying, but they manage to pull it off rather well. Not sure if I'm 100% sold on the vocals in a few of the tracks, but that's just me. Recommended for those of you who dig unusual, laid back electronic stuff.

Impossible! Records


Singhasari - Kebangkitan Nusantara cd

This is an impressive ep of black metal that incorporates traditional southeast Asian folk music. Yea, black metal with gamelan, it's kvlt. Not speaking Malay, the lyrics are a mystery to me, but some internet sleuthing revealed Singhasari to be concerned with standard black metal topics of nationalism, animistic paganism, and reverence for the past. Well played with a unique sound, Kebangkitan Nusantara is essential for black metal fans. Can't wait to hear more from these guys.

October's Mist Records

#11

Bill Shatnerrr – You put the Round Burger on the Square Wonderbread cd-r

You've really got to be into the dissonant hardcore sound to appreciate what Bill Shatnerrr is cranking out; “spastic” is an understatement. The crazy break-downs and tumultuous blastbeats aren't anything new or earthshaking, but the boys are good at what they do.

ZX Tapes


Collapsed Arc – In Confidence c20

The long and the short of it is that In Confidence will melt your mind. A collection of short, looped samples, it's pandemonium at it's finest. I especially dug the glitchy drum machine tracks and the pieces that were vocalization heavy. If 'experimental music' has started to bore you, Collapsed Arc is the cure.

905 Tapes


Manners – Look Into Look Unto ep

Playing quiet, folk music with a slight psychedelic undertone, Manners is the sort of band you really have to be in the right mood for. The acoustic guitar, whispered lead vocals, sparse percussion, ghostly female backup vocals, occasional violin; it leaves you with a feeling of desolation. Look Into Look Unto isn't going to see daily play on my phonograph, but when I'm in a certain state of mind, it'll be on there for a while.

Grinding Tapes


Syrinx – Detach cd-r

Syrinx manages to skillfully walk the line between mechanized drone and harsh ambient, producing some impressive work. There's something sinister about Detach, especially when the flutes make an appearance. Recommended.

Smell the Stench


Wisdom Tooth – Baby Neptune c42

This is ridiculously incredible. A pop band with lots of garage and folk sensibilities, Wisdom Tooth leaves you scratching your head and giggling at the same time. I don't know what Wisdom Tooth is doing, but they're doing it right. You should probably check this out

Spooky Town

#10

Evolv – Thoughtless Thoughts cd-r

Those on the fence about post-rock will probably be inclined to label Evolv as “nu-gaze” and dismiss it entirely. Playing minimalistic, electronic stuff, it's easy to see how the dreamy sound on Thoughtless Thoughts could be mislabeled as shoegaze. Whatever. It's got a entirely ethereal feel to it; nice change up from some of the heavier stuff I've been listening to. You like post-rock or spacey electronic stuff? Well, then this'd be worth checking out

Frozen Tendril Records


Hate Meditation – Spiritual Awakening cd-r

Can someone tell me what is up with all these Finnish black metal bands having vocalists that sound like Donald Duck? Anyhow, whatever musical talent contained on this album is ruined by the idiotic buccal vocals. Shame too, because musically, things are sounding good. But, the quack attack just ruins it.

Smell The Stench


Pine Smoke Lodge – The Final Clear Water Nightsky c47

I imagine this is what it sounds like to be out in the woods one night when you stumble upon a ritual taking place to summon some long forgotten Phoenician deity. It's two tracks of mysterious and slightly foreboding drone that have a certain ceremonial aspect. Must be the skillfully incorporated bells, flutes, and chanting. Highly recommended.

905 Tapes


Tizagoth – Ahriman Corps c45

Have you ever wondered what Burzum might sound like if Varg had been Persian and more into harsh drone? Well, your query has been answered: Tizagoth. It's somewhat unfair to pigeonhole Tizagoth as a Burzum clone, but the influence, both musically and ideologically, is obvious. I mean, there's even a cover from Dauði Baldrs. The range of music varies considerably, from minimalistic medieval sounding stuff to droned-out noise, with the majority of the tracks falling more towards the middle of the two. A few of the harsher pieces seemed a little forced, but otherwise I enjoyed Ahriman Corps.

Hellhouse666 Productions

#9

Gorgonized Dorks/xAOAx – Split 3' cd-r

This is, easily, one of the worst releases I've had this misfortune to review. Basically, it's some sort of poorly conceived concept album where these two noisecore bands fuck around, attempting to play some punk and hardcore. This is so miserable that it's not even worth delving into everything that sucks about it. Strangely, the final track by Gorgonized Dorks is a synthed out, instrumental surf rock piece (completely out-of-character with their other half-assed punk tracks) that was mildly enjoyable. Aside from those three minutes, this release is utterly worthless.

Jerkoff Records


Necrocannibalistic Vomitorium/sLoth – Split 3' cd

NxVx start this split out with two tracks of grove oriented rock n' roll topped off by dueling vocals of high pitched shrieks and guttural mumbling. Ok, I wasn't expecting that. It's interesting stuff, a fair bit of C.S.S.O. influence floating around. Up next is sLoth with five tracks of pointless no-wave ruckus. Somewhere in my record collection I have sLoth's splits with Noothgrush & Floor and I don't recall them sounding like this. Despite NxVx bringing it to the table, sLoth tanks the split. Plus when you factor in the outrageous cost of getting this shipped from Ukraine, it's not worth it.

Horns and Hoofs Records


Tortured Voice – A Hate To the Weak c50

Depressive, minimalistic black metal out of Mongolia, Tortured Voice is a pretty grim one man outfit. I wouldn't go as far as calling this melodic, but it's definitely for those who appreciate more atmospheric black metal. You only get three songs, plus a bonus of instrumental renditions of each track on the B side, but it'll be enough to hold you over until Tortured Voice release a full length.

Hellhouse 666


V.A. – European Fastness cd

So, this has been out for a while, but I'm just now getting my hands on it. My excitement at finally receiving a copy was swiftly quelled upon hearing the first band up, Britain's Ocksen. While technically proficient, they lack passion and play a generic style of modern grind. France's Xaros is next and their sound is pretty much interchangeable with Ocksen. A Den of Robbers from Belgium follows with a slightly better sound, but it's still unimpressive. I was starting to think this would be a total loss, but then Britain's The Afternoon Gentlemen were up and let loose with some tracks of epic thrashcore. Finally, Scotland's Ablach round out the cd with some low down, brutal grind. I really wanted to like this, but 2/3rds of the music is mediocre and forgettable. Do yourself a favor and just go hunt down releases from Ablach and The Afternoon Gentlemen.

Junky Monkey