Breaking the Will "Normalization"

Breaking the Will "Normalization" c20
NF-10

Although this tape is nearly three years old, it is never too late to give credit where it is due. Being the (at the time) second release from the midwestern Harsh Noise project Breaking the Will, “Normalization” showcases an impressive sense of maturity and grown compositions. Dynamic and unfaltering junk mangling, the tape gnashes and splices seamlessly between sections of mid-range static grinding to low-end twisting. Feedback finds it’s way to bleed through the walls of metallic sound and often times helps to bind movements together. The use of climactic jittering and allowing the pieces to build to monumental heights before letting them truly “hit” is flawlessly executed...this release never gets tiresome. Each sound has it’s fair levels of space while maintaining relativity with the composition as a whole rather than allowing each frequency to blend into a bag of mush. Side B contains a personal favorite display of this spacing (around the 2/5th point the build-up reaches maximum altitude while a thin layer of bass-driven rumble slowly molds underneath until finally connecting and stealing the spotlight), and ultimately I feel this side is the strongest of the two. However, Side A is a stellar opening with a much heavier emphasis on a mid-range assault and a “faster pace”, in the end working hand-in-hand with the more dynamic flip-side.

Copies of “Normalization” are available on the New Forces blog. Highly recommended for metal-abuse/slice-and-dice HN addicts. 

Developer + Water Torture "The Developer Remixes" c10

Developer + Water Torture  “The Developer Remixes”

Fact-081

Dayton Ohio’s master of cut-and-splice Harsh Noise, Developer, discovers a new sound-source for this c10...Buffalo, NY’s Powerviolence trio Water Torture. This being said, the mutilations held within hold little (to no) resemblance of the original pieces done by the group...instead they have been generated into a chaotic sound collage by the veteran hands of Matthew Reis. Bubbling rushes of static, occasional blast-beat bleeding, and layers-upon-layers of slice-and-dice mania, there is no breathing room for the duration of the tape. At times the sound circulates within the “typical” Developer style (stops-and-starts, stimulating waves of impenetrable mid/low range HN bliss), whereas other instances it has more of a Noisecore feel (side B in particular towards the 3/4th mark). The briefness of the tape feels tidy and complete, however it would have been great to hear more...using WT as the source of sound gives the recording a wholesome quality as Reis dismantles the group into malleable forms he can compose with. Truly an energetic listen and is by no means much different than other Developer works in terms of his signature breakneck approach to cut-up Harsh Noise, but the charm is heavy and thick. Cannot get enough!

Copies of this tape are available on the Factotum blog. 

Get Hard "Forced Addict: Part One (Four Months)

Get Hard "Forced Addict: Part One (Four Months)" CS
WP-010

In honor of October 31st; "Forced Addict: Part One (Four Months)". These two tracks are the product of the twisted inner-workings of Jake Vreeland, sole creator of the minimalist Noise/Power Electronics project Get Hard. Low-pulsations/uncomfortable sample placements (it is hard to tell if it is Vreeland himself or ripped-audio) is the method of choice. Loops and blown-out high-register sounds end "The Taste", my personal favorite from this c10. A haunting soundtrack for a nightmare (or in this case, Halloween).

"You're my precious little doll...you're so innocent, and you're mine forever." 

.

Copies of this are currently unavailable on the Waterpower website. Forums/Discogs are the only current option. 

Miscreant "Reflection" CS

Miscreant "Reflection" CS 
WP-026

Thumping and bumping Power Electronics two-piece from the Bay Area. Mechanical sounds mixed with pulsating low-end textures with the occasional high-end spurts and bursts for good measure. Disgusted lyrics executed with barbaric vocals (divided amongst both performers), covering subject matter that is not suited for the weak. Light sample use on Side B.

"...Meat Market on parade, this is the dawn of a cowards era..."

.

Support the label/artists and purchase the physical copy here.

-EE

Aerugo "Demo MMXII" CS

Aerugo "Demo MMXII"
SA-01

Debut output from two-piece USBM outfit Aeurgo released via Sanctum Abyss Records. I had the pleasure of receiving pre-production tracks months prior to this release, and the progression that has is displayed on "Demo MMXII" is astounding. Horrifying guitar-textures bred with a blood-curdling vocal performance, buried underneath a low-fidelity mix that requires your utmost attention. USBM riffing with attitude, no transcendental garbage included. If the Doom-styled "Depths of Despondency" doesn't tickle the whites of your eyes, nothing will.

A raw exercise in unadulterated primality.

.

Although the digital is available, purchase the cassette here for a full experience. 

-EE 

Order of Nine Angels "Red Ritual" CS

Order of Nine Angels "Red Ritual" 

CW/OS-09

Three-tracks of ritualistic Black Ambient/Noise spanning over the course of sixteen minutes. "RR" features minimalist synthesized soundscapes, tender layers of occasional static, and black metal vocals to match. Hauntingly tranquil, highly recommended.

OO9A is the creation of Jason Wood (Grinning Deaths Head, Crooked Cross, etc.)

.

Note: This is a personal rip. Purchase the cassette here for a full experience. 

- EE

Rosy Palms "Empty Vessel"

It upsets me deeply that I have been so busy/incredibly lazy, as I would love to keep this blog as active as possible. In effort to do so, I want to try and keep things fresh...by posting links to new stuff, constructing basic write-ups, just spreading whatever I can in the most effective and time-efficient way possible. My mind is too cluttered and my writing style is too trained to "half-ass" anything, but I don't care anymore. If activity means poor-construction, so be it.

Anyways, back on topic.

Check out Rosy Palms EP, "Empty Vessel". Dark, hypnotic, evil Noise. Sample-filled, dry-to-the-touch, and completed with molasses-thick fuzz, it hits the spot on all fronts. Falling short of ten-minutes in length, you will find yourself pushing that "repeat" button very, very frequently. You have been warned.

Phenomenal stuff, download it here.

- EE