DecayREVIEWS: Cerebral Roil “Cloven Hoof Stomp” Feral Fang Media , 2011)

On February 22, 2013February 22, 2013 By AdminIn ReviewsLeave a comment

While west coast noise vagabond Cerebral Roil has done some pretty memorable/dangerous/ and low key – aside from a few small print run editions of split CDRs and compilations, this is the only Cassette I can muster up – which is a shame because the recordings are quite nice.

side A of “Cloven Hoof Stomp” opens up with nervous tick harsh distorted menacing fuzz, distortion and chaos. Which is no surprise – ear splitting mix and whatever else feeding back – an axe connected to a giant spring and a turntable saw are sole of CxRx more unique looking and menacing sounding custom made instruments (which we are at decaycast usually have a soft spot for). the danger of enduring a split open head and or concussion grenade explode during the listening to the cassette is quite unlikely, (though we have resided in Oakland before) which makes one be able to delve into the sound a bit more, without fear of laceration.

The b side is more along a similar harsh noise theme of speaker ripping harsh noise of psychosis. Menecing ear wrenching high pitched tones slowly but surely saw an X along the back of the neck of the listener and eventually decapitation is inevitable.

This tape bleeds sounds of an insanic cave , deep in a trench, plotting revenge. this tape is harsh sounds, but often a few times the recording Is a bit overdriven, and then if backs off and more clarity is present, but it works well as a push pull and isn’t so blown out that it totally annihilates the entire mix it’s just a bit HOT in the red is all- works for the sounds, but the tracks overall could use a bit of dynamics to push the loud parts louder, and give a break to the ear This cassette is short and sweet noise blaster of serial killer feedback psychotic brain loop noise. A must have for all the “true crime” and “fantastical psychotic workshop training camp hazing music fans” . Overall, a solid release , all the sounds are pretty interesting in the harsh sense – blasted out noise – s – a solid release overall though, will be seeking out more from CxRx.

written by: Malo

FERAL FANG MEDIA

decayREVIEWS : Sleep Of Ages / Vasectomy Party CS (Forever Escaping Boredom Records)

On February 22, 2013February 22, 2013 By AdminIn ReviewsLeave a comment

The A side is Sleep Of Ages, noise / cut up/ drone “budget” harsh style electronics project from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Starts off with some keyboard tinkering, looping phrases of fuzzed out midrange – warming up it sounds like but after about forty five seconds it begins to hit a stride, gaining volume, distortion and intensity, and the next thing you know- you’re in the center of an all out harsh noise attack- cutting, clawing and stretching the ears of the listener to use a reverse feedback audio weapon to the brain cavity. Sleep of Ages carves feedback, distorted hits and layered synthesizers and mixer feedback? To create an interesting blend of harsh textures with the occasional pause and drop in volume. These dynamic harsh cuts and sudden changes in pacing, sound sets and intensity are the more visceral moments of the tape. Bubbling fuzz decays of a sinking barge oscillating the waves with its busted propellers / the sound of broken bones transmitted over an ancient CB. Sleep of Ages side peaks in intensity and sonic textures and the organized “chaotic structure” stands on a peak, elaborates itself and then CUT- quietness then building back up to a rumbling oscillating fuzz machine which cannot control itsel f , looping shuddering and dying , pretty interesting work overall.

The B side, occupied by Vasectomy Party starts off with a few samples and the. Slowly builds to a fuzz wall of chaos. A VHS WIND of broken iron machines scraping along concrete chasing down its maker for revenge.
Much more monotone in volume and dynamics, yet the mood ever so slightly undulates between dark, broken and confused, THIS IS the sound of a hijacked transmission in space – the noise of the spinning universe printed back to 1/32″ tape – only archiving the nastiest hisses and scrapes. this machine is angry and it’s shaking inside. Walls
Of vocals and screaming blood feedback coat the speakers with a bleak sonic presence. A diseased churning stomach V P twists classic style harsh noise – overblown howling vocals, broken, jarring pulsing syntheizers, junk and garbage sounds – a whipping environment-a few areas seemed a bit underdeveloped but just when it would start to lose me a new sound set will
Come out and confuse and alienate- interesting sounds and approach overall on both sides and 4 panel collage foldout which really adds to the tape – and full color labels on both sides – great looking tape,
Out interesting release overall

http://sleepofages.wordpress.com/

http://vasectomyparty.bandcamp.com/

Forever Escaping Boredom Records

decayREVIEWS: COMPACTOR “Desensitization Reprocessing” CS (OOBR, 2012)

On November 30, 2012December 22, 2012 By AdminIn ReviewsLeave a comment

COMPACTOR “Desensitization Reprocessing” CS (OOBR, 2012)

COMPACTOR “Desensitization Reprocessing” CS (OOBR, 2012)RIGHT FROM THE FIRST PUNCH – Compactor squishes fuzzed and thizzed big beats – spastic churning,hissing machines – phasing out of value the automaton human rhythm production facility – this is beat dominant- off the bat with grind core styled sequence percussion with looping scraping drowning and pulling robots dragging each other through the background of the soundscape – nice track breaks give breath to separate ventures to a at times minimal
Techno jukebox gone awry with subtle layers of hissing and hawing in the distance – creeping closer and then back into the unknown . …..

The B SIDE gives a bit more breath as it moves at a slower pace to give pulsing developing beats time to build the structure before they inherently self destruct. A drone fly peeps at your cochlear as this tape often sounds like a sound tropes trapped inside another sound trapped inside another – with different layers of pulsing fuzz that ebb and flow giving clarity to the beat and then swelling it back into obscurity. Compactor sandwiches a nice mix of harsh blown out recording techniques which give a live feel, and some cutting and chopping which speak t0 a larger compositional mantra, This tape is a brain/ sound compactor in itself – somewhere broken between noise / electronic death drums and bass stabs of shaking resonance :: compactor brings a complete sonic package of the rolling down the road of percussion on fast fwd style – whatever that is- ??? But the second half of the second side slowly shifts into a distant hum – you are trapped inside the chickens stomach after it crossed the road- subtle bleeps, slips, and rakes are quietly eclipsed by an ominous dark droning buzzing – the best part ! A great end to a good tape!!!

compactor.bandcamp.com

Out Of Body Records

decayREVIEWS: DEIGN “PECUNIARY HUCKSTER” C20 (OOBR)

On November 14, 2012December 22, 2012 By AdminIn ReviewsLeave a comment

Out Of Body Records is at it again, WE REALLY LIKE THIS IMPRINT!! And up next is a project from PTM Jim…
DEIGN cuts, chops, hisses, smashes and pisses their way through intense, dynamic cut up chopped sounds and emotions, at times screeching and at times rumbling, jarring, dark, the sound of entropy. High pitched washes of white noise, sucking out your last breaths The DEIGN soundsdrum up to menacing shaking pulses of doubt, alienation, nervousness, sound mixes with blood, pus, and disease plagued cochlear. Stainless steel easrplugs cant save you from this menacing sound clawing in your ear and carving it out from the inside. There is someone watching you, waiting, broken brain, ready to attack and throw your motionless corpse back into the cog of the machine where it was spawned from. THIS IS DARK DARK CUT UP SOUNDS.

Rumpling pules, chaotic feedback modulation, scratchy cut up (tape?) sounds, industrialized distant rhythms, blood hymns, and unknown objects pushed in the red seemlessly blend together different levels of the conspiracy of self doubt- This tape contains sounds to break down the psyche and start over. MEANINGS regurtitating themselves in the form of the sounds of a pack of rabid dogs being slayed in the distance, approaching, the blood smell is metallic, a grating, gnarley wind of death invades your ears and into the skull. Personal political monsters are no match for this alienating anomaly.

Look as the eye in the sky proves you are alone from your own perspective, while a nervous, scattering, broken machine subtly yet intrusively hovers above. DEIGN is top notch in the harsh/cut up/industrial, whatever the fuck game. Check this out, as it’s becoming a treat to hear a project in this aesthetic vein that works with such care and intent. Dark, cynical, jarring cut up industrial / noises played with purpose and a nod to the void at the same time. The art and overall production value of this release is no surprise as Denton, TX Out Of Body Records delivers top notch production value which elevates this tape to another level.

writted by malo

DEIGN

Out Of Body Records

DECAYreviews: GNAWED / RXAXPXE Split Cs (Industrial Culture Records)

On July 2, 2012July 8, 2012 By AdminIn ReviewsLeave a comment

DECAYreviews: GNAWED /RXAXPXE Split Cs (Industrial Culture Records)

This arrived in the mail a few weeks ago out of the blue, I rip open the package to make sure it’s not a bomb ( it has the weight of one, not that I’ve ever picked one up, but let’s just say the whole package seemed “bombey” . Anyways a cassette tape encased in two sheets of metal bolted together, holding the cassette tight in it’s grips. (Yes, you actually had to unscrew one or two of the bots to get the cassette out, pretty unreal) It almost seemed as if the piece were fabricated for the project, either way the sterile presentation of the metal case leads the imagination wild as to the sounds that could be contained inside.

The GNAWED side opens up with dark, growling LFO scraping manipulation madness, oscillating undulating thwrawts of ripping bass, almost instantly bringing the listener down into the perspective on all things unnerving. Muddled CB radio esque style vocals emerge from the modulating squelching feecback synthesizers and a more dynamic space emerges and then it clutters into chaos, vocals and synths building up into a maddening, nauseating eclipse of chaos. A vortex in the universe starts sucking in on itself, creating broken vacuum stuttering synthesizer and vocal swells which unveil a dark sloppy underbelly of your subconscious; the rattling machines which you are slowly turning into. This is really well paced harsh industrial, but the clarity and sounds never really suffer as a result. Individual sounds blend together to thicken the chaotic sound, yet are never pushed to a point of muddying the mix, donr very well IMO, A great glimpse into the dark, chaotic harsh sonic world that is GNAWED.

Flip the tape and RXAXPXPE HITS YOU right off the bat with a bleeding, oozing, clawing harsh noise wall, layers and layers of feedback occasionally give way to high pitched squeals of what sound like a baby bird caught in a high pitched machine that needs lubrication BAD. Cluttering and clanging dark undertones modulate the wall but it remains LOUD steady and pretty unchanging, then it DROPS; giving way to a second track which is just as errie, yet has a slower and more refined pacing to it, Scratchy in the beginning and then the feedback decays into a middle-low bass drone which slowly modulates- sub oscillators help dig out your grave. The title and sounds of this all point to the soundtrack to the burial of the listener, Slow moving, relentless, and maddening. High pitched blasted distortion waves come in and out over the bass drone, but it goes on for a few minutes, and then CUTS in and out and in and out, until your not sure where the entire thing started. Distant distorted vocals slowly creep in and become a more prominent part of the mix but actual words/lyrics are pretty indistinguishable, would be nice if the lyrics are available somewhere? Aside from “personal meaning” to the artist him/her/them selves, I have honestly become frustrated with listening to people sing, yell , scream with no access to the content, i would like to know, but ONLY if the artist wants me to know, kind of a side rant, but the music and project title, only lead me to assume the lyrical content is harsh/negative/etc. Maybe I’m wrong. About 10-12 minutes in really gets going in a distinct, yet concise direction on the XRXAXPXEX side, a sudden cut of a feedback wall brings in a new more dynamic feedback wall, which holds the most meat- sounding of simple mic and feedback scraping whilst possesing an internal tension which elevates the track to the peak of the RXAXPXE side. It’s a bit more raw in it’s fidelity, yet controlled and articulate, and the groaning vocals play a wonderful counterpart to the stop – start flutter of the feedback punches. A solid tape overall and worth checking out if your into the harsh/industrial still that borders on wall at times.

written by : malo

available still from http://industrial-culture.com/