- "nusquam" meaning: nowhere, in no place, nothing, for nothing -
Swartwoud is a unique kind of beast. It is nothing that you've probably heard before. Or at least in my neck of the woods. After the bullocks that happened with Zaltu, Lord Orgun put Zaltu on hiatus and started focusing on is experimental Black Metal project, Swartwoud. Last year, Hexental took us into a journey of bleakness and cacophony. With Nusquam (Swartwoud's new release), we now enter a void that is dark, cold, and empty. It's a place where those who have nothing can fit in. If you're planning to enter the abyss that is Nusquam, then step in with no light. And let the darkness guide you through.
When you hear the drum beats of "Ubermenschlich" (German for "superhuman"), you feel like you're in a ritual. You see shadow looking figures, dancing around the flames, revering a entity that is very superior. On "87.7N.142.2E (North Pole Song), the guitar riff has a very militant vibe, as if Ogun ready to lead and conquer (most likely Santa's Village). And you can hear a bit of a Rammstein influence on the vocals. "Hellbound" is my favorite track. I'm always a sucker for a guitar that starts off calm before going into total chaos. Vocals are very menacing. As if someone has upset that entity and it has now unleashed it's wrath. Not sure if I'm hearing it right, but it sounds like Ogun does some guitar bending. And it sounds really sick. Things start to calm down when "Ex Nihilo" kicks in. We escaped the darkness, but for some reason we still feel trapped inside the abyss. And when we hear those ambient keyboard/organ come in on "Nusquam". we realize that we are in here forever. All alone and just floating around. Having to embrace that isolation.
I wonder if things didn't go sour with Zaltu, would we be hearing Nusquam today. This is definitely a perfect predecessor to Hexental, as Nusquam has a better sound, a better atmosphere, and more creative. The violin on "Eindelik" was a nice touch. It just had a raw and ugly feel. Perfect for the Swartwoud sound. And it's those little things that I appreciate from Swartwoud. With this project, nothing is off limits for Lord Orgun. Swartwoud is the platform where he can express himself, however he wants to. Many influences make what Swartwoud is. But where many bands who have many influences sound like they're everywhere, Swartwoud managed to make it sound as one. So whether it's heavy, ambient, noisey, mellow, it will still sound like Swatwoud. Not sure what the average metal listeners would think about Nusquam, but for those who enjoy a very left-field sound, there will be some stuff that you'll dig. It's a shame that we won't be hearing new Zaltu for a while, but I'm glad to hear some new Swartwoud. Nusquam has really kept Swartwoud really interesting, and that's what we need in extreme and experimental music. Sometimes we have to be challenge outside of our comfort zone. Especially if you're hungry for new music. If Orgun continues being creative, pushing his sound, and willing to give Swartwoud all his focus, then hopefully we will be hearing Swartwoud's phrases everywhere.
Nusquam can now be stream on youtube.
And if you dig it, you can order the cassette by sending a email at swartwoud999@gmail.com
Ever since they declared their love for Pink Floyd, Enslave have been pushing themselves from just being another Black Metal band. Some fans of their early Black Metal recordings, may have been disappointed, as they felt like Enslaved has abandoned their early sound. But there are those who welcomed it. As to them, it was something new, and kept them interested. Enslaved were already a unique band to begin with. They were took Bathory's Viking them and took it to a whole new level. And with their new album, In Time, we still hear Enslaved continuing their Prog journey.
"Thurisaz Dreaming" comes out of the gate swinging. The tremolos are just blazing. Cato Bekkevoid is just pounding on those drums. And Grutle is just relentless with those vocals. And then keyboardist/vocalist, Herbrand, comes in to make things diverse. But his delivery in the 4:30 mark is just epic. I also really loved his singing on "Building With Fire". It's also one of my favorite song writing by Enslaved. The way the song progresses is only something that a band with the experience that Enslaved has. "Nauthir Bleeding" is another song progresses really nicely. The set-up is nice and mellow. Then the song starts to kick arse once we hear Grutle. The solo around the 4:30 mark added a very nice touch before things get intense again. And finally, you can't end a Enslaved album without something EPIC, to send the listeners off. "Daylight" fits in perfects. Just listen to the choir vocals. That totally screams "EPIC". It's also a perfect movie soundtrack about a Viking who just came back to his village, after laying waste to his enemy. You just want to raise your sword up high for Odin and the warriors up in Valhalla, having a drink.
In Time is probably my favorite recent album by Enslaved. I definitely love their earlier stuff. But ever since they changed their sound, I would have to pick In Time. Everything about it is just so good. From the production, the musicianship, Grutle and Herbrand's vocal delivery, and of course the lyrics. In Time may not be old-school Norwegian Black Metal, but it does kick a lot of arse. It also helps if you let the music sink in. Believe me, it's gonna be one hell of a journey. If you haven't heard Enslaved before, then I suggest you look for their early stuff before getting into their more progressive/experimental stuff. If you love extreme and epic music, then you'll dig In Time. Sadly I don't have mead on me, so I raise my cup of Mt. Dew: Code Red for Enslaved.
"Rating: 5 Hitlers Punched In The Face"
You can purchase In Time here, along with a instant download.
On this episode, I'll be playing bands from Australia. Also music from Amorphis, Enslaved, and the collaboration between The Body and Krieg. Hope you guys will enjoy.
Playlist:
Girlflesh - "Monster"
Asylum Sisters - "Harder, Darker, Louder"
Hope Drone - "Every End Is Fated In It's Beginning"
The Body + Krieg - "Bottom of the Bottle, Bottom of the River"
Earlier today, I made a promo video for the Santa Ana Noise Fest VII, at the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art. If you live or know someone who live in the area, and is a fan of experimental music, please share this video
For quite some time, Chelsea Wolfe has been changing the game, when it comes to singer-songwriters. Her mix of folk, doom, and electronics, have been a breathe of fresh air. Her last 3 releases have been unique, so I was really stoked to see where she was going with Abyss. Little that I know, that Abyss was gonna be Chelsea Wolfe's heaviest album. But then again, the album was inspired when Chelsea was going through sleep paralysis. I would think that would make quite the heavy and dark record.
The album starts off with "Carrion Flower", a heavy-bass, electronic track. If you enjoyed "Feral Love" from Pain Is Beauty, then this song takes it to another level. Pretty much this song sets up the entire album. "Iron Moon" can be considered the best doom song that Chelsea Wolfe has composed. And the same could be said about "Dragged Out". That guitar tone on the chorus sounds wicked. "Crazy Love" is a nice look back at her early sound. And by the end of the album, we hear more electronic-based stuff.. And how can I forget about her haunting piano in songs such as "Maw", "After The Fall", and "The Abyss".
Abyss is definitely a step forward to Chelsea Wolfe's sound. The heaviness of the music is what really made this album enjoyable. But don't worry, she still sounds beautiful on this album. Of course there's songs where she sings through reverb, which gives that haunting atmosphere. And there are songs where she doesn't, and still sounds great. Not sure if she'll ever go back to the heavy sound on her next record. Especially since I mentioned earlier, this was all due to Chelsea's sleep paralysis. I've always heard stories where people have said that when they go under sleep paralysis, that there are times when they feel that someone is pressing down on them. And to me, that's how I see those heavy parts on the album. So don't be afraid to jump into the Abyss, and just let it sink in. It will be quite the experience
Okay, let's point out the obvious; Many people have a love/hate relationship with Myrkur's music. Some find it beautiful and unique. Others say it's not "trve" to the Black Metal standards. When I listen to Myrkur, I hear a woman who is just giving her take on Black Metal. No following any guidelines, just playing her heart out and hoping that what comes out is something special. If you heard Myrkur's S/T ep, then you should know what to expect from her first full-length album, M. So what Myrkur gives us is a atmospheric black metal journey, in a bigger scale.
M starts off with "Skogen Skulle Do". A song that gives you a taste of Heaven, before sending you down to Hell. "Onde Born" is a beautifully written song, This is a song geared towards fans of Alcest, than Burzum or Darkthrone. And the same thing can be said about "Jeg er Guden, I er Tjenerne". Then you have tracks like "Nordlys" and "Bysunn Lull", which may not fit in a Black Metal album, but it does give a feeling of loneliness and isolation. "Mordet" and "Skadi" definitely shows that Myrkur can play some serious, grim Black Metal. And then there's a bonus track called "Skaoi". Another song that opens up with choir singing, before going into the Black Metal shriek. Which is a huge part of Myrkur's sound.
M may not be for everyone. But for those who don't mind some melody in their Black Metal, might enjoy it. The dark and the light do blend very well, without forcing the two sounds together. What also may have made this album sound so great is Krystoffer Rygg (aka Garm), who helped to produce the album. If anyone knows anything about Black Metal and Experimental music, it would definitely be him. Huge fan of Ulver, so it's great seeing him work with Myrkur. And the blokes in Nidingr did great filling the rhythm section. If you're not sure about this album, you can always stream it at bandcamp and youtube. Hopefully that will give you an idea and know whether to purchase it or not. But I'm happy I bought this and show my support. M is quite the Atmospheric Black Metal experience. And I can't wait to take another journey into the sound that Myrkur has brought into the World of Black Metal.
For a couple of years, I've been following Lights And The Windows bringing their ambient-driven Post Hardcore/Alternative sound to the SoCal scene. You hardly hear bands in the LA/OC area playing the sound that LATW are doing. And because of that, it really makes Lights And The Windows stand out. Especially hearing them live, it is quite the sonic experience. A while back, there was some issue with their rhythm section. But despite the bullocks that was happening within the band, they were able to get into Fuel Music Studio with a new line-up, and record their first release.
The e.p. opens up with a rework of "New Days Sun". This one took time to get use to, since I've heard the demo version many times, last year. This one had a much bigger feel. Of course that has to do with being in a professional studio. And I also don't remember if the bass was up on the mix in the demo version. But on the e.p. version, the bass sounded really tight. The band has also included gang vocals on the tracks "Battle Cry" and "Underfoot". Definitely a nice touch to their sound. "Underfoot" has a nice alternative rock sound. But I have to say that "Battle Cry" is the most progressive track on the e.p. The song starts off with almost a NWOBHM/Prog Metal feel. Maybe it's because of the way Stefan delivered his vocals, which were excellent on that song. Then "Battle Cry" goes into metallic hardcore territory when the gang vocals come in. "Fall Down" displays the post-rock sound that a lot people praise LATW for (or at least I do). The ambiance in Devin's guitar tone is something to get yourself lost into. If the band were to submit a song to Heidi & Frank's "Should I Stay, Should I Go" segment, "Blazing Heart" would be perfect. It has a pretty sweet hook that I'm sure your average listener would fancy. And finally we end with "Myopia". A song that I pretty much heard grow. I remember Devin sending me a mp3 file called "pt. in E". And years later, that intro would become what "Myopia" is now. The track finishes up with a solo which is described as "instrumentals of awesomeness".
To appreciate a band like Lights and the Windows, you need to have a understanding of post-rock and progressive music. The e.p. is catchy without sounding generic. And it is also heavy without having to be heavy. In an early interview with Dimebag Darrell, he mentions how being heavy doesn't have to pertain with sound. If you want it to be heavy, you have to do it with feeling. And to me, that's what Lights And The Windows have accomplished with their S/T ep. Also if you want to have a great listening experience, I highly recommend listening to it on headphones. With that, you can hear every detail that makes this e.p. so enjoyable. So if you enjoyed this band live, then it's time to pick up this e.p and enjoy the tunes in the comfort of your own home.
Today's show, I'l be playing new music by Publicist UK, Chelsea Wolfe, and Ghost. If you enjoy these songs, then hopefully you'll follow this bands on social media and purchase their music at all music outlets.
Playlist:
Publicist UK - "Levitate The Pentagon" (Forgive Yourself)
What's there to say about Leviathan that every music critics and bloggers haven't said already. During the 00's, I was reading a lot about these one-man Black Metal bands, in metal magazines. One of them is Leviathan. A project started in San Francisco by Wrest (Jef Whitehead), back in the late 90's. For over a decade, not only has Whitehead been putting out the most grim and kvlt-ist black metal in the US, but has also been pushing the black metal sound. On "Scar Sighted, you'll hear Leviathan creating it's own sonic path, and standing out from the rest of the Black Metal bands, who are only settling for the traditional/raw recording.
When Jef did "True Traitor, True Whore" in 2011, it was a very dark time for him, and the album didn't turn out the way he wanted. With "Scar Sighted", Jef finally cleaned himself up and put all his effort to create his best work to date. "-" is a slow ambient track that start things off. Of course once "The Smoke of Their Torment" begins, then we know we're in for one Hell of a record. "Dawn of Vibration" is a perfect example of how Whitehead is able to bring something new to Leviathan, while still keeping the Leviathan sound. The same thing with "Within Thrall" If there's one thing that Jef Whitehead can do is create some very haunting sounds. And of course, "All Tongues Toward", which is my favorite track. From the opening drum beat to those ripping riffs, everything about that song sounded perfect. Definitely one of my favorite songs of 2015.
If you were a fan of Leviathan's early work, I like to thing that you'll still enjoy "Scar Sighted". Even though the production is better (wonderful job by Billy Anderson), it still has that grim and raw presence. Some "traditional" black metal fans may have some issues, but Jef Whitehead have said he doesn't care what the internet BM community thinks. The album is very dark and intense, which is why this is one of my favorite black metal album of this year. Hopefully with Jef's sober life and his first child, that it will help him to push Leviathan in a very creative way. "Scar Sighted" totally gets "5 Hitlers Punched in the Face" Already looking forward to the next Leviathan record.
I swear it seemed like it was yesterday, when "Nudes" came out. An album that has been getting a lot of great feedback. And of course brought attention to the one-lass juggernaut known as Girlflesh. In January, Girlflesh's Roxxi Wallace released her 2nd full-length, "Almost Human". Of course this was released on her birthday (Jan. 27), and it's pretty sweet that Ms. Wallace celebrated her birthday by sharing her art.
The first track, "I Want To Believe", starts off with Wallace singing through a reverb effect. To me, those few first seconds does have a loneliness feel to it, before the beats start kicking in. "Sad Birthday" is a song I wish I would hear on the radio. The chorus is really catchy and does stick to me. "I'm a Whore For the Fourth Reich" is definitely step forward to the Girlflesh sound. A song that I know will be accepted at goth/industrial bars in L.A. And I have to say I enjoy the Nazi-xploitaton- esque song title. I wouldn't mind hearing more of this on the next Girlflesh album.
From the lyrics to the music, "Almost Human" does have a darker vibe than "Nudes". Which is what I really wanted Girlflesh to go for, since there's more places to explore on that side. And according to Girlflesh's bandcamp page, "Almost Human" is a "conceptual album telling a story of confusion, isolation and existential dread", which is a good way to describe this album. Especially when hearing "I Want To Believe". That's a perfect track to start off this album. For sure, Roxxi's production skills have improved. And only 21 yrs old, the young Aussie still has plenty of time to grow even bigger. But right now, I really enjoy where Roxxie is taking Girlflesh. And I wonder, by looking at the first two album covers, if on the third album, will the torso be fully clothed. Sort of a closure to this era of Girlflesh. But anyways, if you enjoyed "Nudes", then you're really gonna enjoy "Almost Human". Roxxie Wallace earns herself another "5 Hitlers Punched in the Face".
You can purchase "Almost Human" at the link below:
NAMM show this week, so there's nothing much going on. I'll be attending the Kantation post-NAMM show at Malone's in Santa Ana, Ca. Hope you guys will enjoy today's playlist.
Today's episode, I'll be playing some Kyng, Today Is The Day, and Cough. I also got some news about C.O.C, the Jarboe + Helen Money collaboration, and Kantation. And a rant about people asking me about Black Sabbath. So hope you'll enjoy the show.
Today Is The Day's last album, "Pain Is A Warning", was a really good rock record. Almost had a AC/DC feel to it. Pretty much had me thinking if they're going with this direction on the new album, or do something different. With "Animal Mother, there's a bit of "Pain", but also has some early stuff in the mix.
The opening title track is a perfect example. Just like in "Expectations Exceed Reality", Steve Austin whispers before going full force. Definitely a worthy TITD opening track. "Outlaw (acoustic)" also has that "Pain Is A Warning" sound. There single, "Masada", is a great track to give a idea what to expect from "Animal Mother. But I am a huge fan of "Godcrutch" and "Heathen". And the closing track, "Boodwood", almost sounds like a Radiohead song. That's a song that took me off guard. I did not expect a song like that on a TITD album. Huge kudos for that.
Even though "Animal Mother" isn't "Willpower" or "In The Eyes of God", but it's still a heavy record. One thing for sure is that I enjoyed this than the last two release. It's awesome to see that Southern Lord put this album out. Now I can't wait to see what Steve Austin and Co. will do in the next album. Austin still sounds badarse and he really got a good rhythm section to back him up. "Animal Mother" gets a good "5 Hitlers Punched in the Face".
When I heard the name Girlflesh, the first thing that comes to mind is a female version of Godflesh. Sort of how Gallhammer are seen as a a female version of Hellhammer. Even though Girlflesh have a electronic sound, Girlflesh is nothing like Godflesh.
Roxxie Wallace is the mastermind behind Girlflesh. And I have to say that this Aussie sure knows how to create some killer beats. Everything that I love about experimental/electronics are on her album, "Nudes". From trip hop to dark ambient, "Nudes" is quite the musical experience.
Another thing I like about "Nudes" are the song titles. "Bass-Moi" sounds like a play-on-word of the French film "Baise-Moi". And Lilya 4-Ever comes to mind when I saw the song,"Ennui 4EVA". But "Gore Habit" is the most creative song title I've ever heard. And probably my favorite.
It's nice to see another musical artist from Australia, since I really don't hear many bands from Australia. Or at least introduced to any Australian bands. Only a few. I know back when Roadrunner had that SignMeTo page, there were some cool Australian bands there. But lost contact from them when the site was shutdown. Anyhoo, if you enjoy some electronics, then "Nudes" by Girlflesh might be the album for you. These sick beats gets "5 Hitlers Punched in the Face".
In this day and age, it's really hard to be original. All we can do is make the best art that we can. If it sounds good, then hopefully that will be enough. But Chelsea Wolfe has created something so unique, some of us have a hard time to label her music. And when you can't put something in a box and put a tag on it, then you've created something very original.
The best I can describe Chelsea Wolfe is that it's a cross between folk and doom metal. Her vocals are very lovely, but also have a haunting feel, thanks to the reverb. You can also say that there is also a Black Metal influence. Especially her shriek on "Pale On Pale".
Other than "Pale On Pale", "Demons" is also a great track. Of course "Demons" is a re-recorded track from Chelsea's first album, "The Grime and The Glow" I do have to say that I enjoy the "Apokalypsis" version. "Tracks (Tall Bodies)" is also great. That's a song I like to put on when I just want to relax.
Of course by now, you've hear many awesome things about Chelsea Wolfe. Especially since she had some sessions on PBS. So if you're looking for some new music, I recommend "Apokalypsis" by Chelsea Wolfe. And if she is coming to a town near you, totally go and check it out.
In the past decade, there have been bands who take a lot of influence from Death Metal. And you can hear it through bands like Earth Crisis, Lamb of God, and countless others. But lately I've been hearing some bands who have a Black Metal influence. Of course you wouldn't call these bands "Black Metal", but you can't deny that Black Metal has a impact on their sound.
Deafheaven are one of those bands who have a Black Metal sound, but you wouldn't call them Black Metal. They also throw in some post-rock, shoegaze, noise, and audio sample. Very hard to put them in a box. Especially since there are a lot of bands who also experiment with this sound.
Sunbather is Deafheaven's 2nd album. The vocals are awesome and grim. Similar to Ihsahn. The guitar are a cross between post-rock, post-hardcore, and black metal. And the drums can be very punishing. The ambient stuff are amazing. And there's also a track that has a Godspeed You Black Emperor influence.
Sunbather" is a great album. For sure it's a top contender for album of the year. Deafheaven sure got something unique that I can get behind. Really looking forward to their next album. I'm sure it will have a huge impact on the extreme music scene. I will totally say keep an eye on this band.
Probably one of the most anticipated albums of this year. Mostly because this album was hyped to be a "back to basics" album. On the last Pig Destroyer albums, PD dabbled on a lot of experimental stuff. With "Book Burner", they wanted to make a killer grind album.
"Book Burner" may not sound like "Prowler in the Yard" or "38 Count of Battery", but it's still a intense album. And with the loss of drummer Brian Harvey, Pig Destroyer were able to get Misery Index's Adam Jarvis to play the skins. "Book Burner" also has guest vocals by Jason Netherton (Misery Index), Richard Johnson (Agoraphobic Nosebleed), and Katherine Katz (Salome, Agoraphobic Nosebleed). Most of the songs I enjoy are with Katz, Her and Hayes sounded great on "The Bug". But of course I'm a huge on female vocalist in extreme music. Scott Hull also has some great riffs on "Booker Burner". Especially on "Valley of the Geysers" and "Kamikaze Heart".
Now if you have the deluxe edition, you get a short story that J.R. wrote called "The Atheist". And also a second CD with some awesome hardcore punk covers by The Misfits, Minor Threat, and Circle Jerks. If it's still available, I highly recommend getting the deluxe edition. Evan though I would have like for PD to continue from "Phantom Limb", "Book Burner" is still a heavy album. By itself, I will give it a 4/5. But with the deluxe edition, I give it "5 Hitlers punched in the face"
To purchase "Book Burner", click on the links below
