IUGULA-THOR

Started by FreakAnimalFinland, April 14, 2021, 09:59:48 AM

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FreakAnimalFinland

I didn't find topic of its own with search. This Italian project started probably around 1992. Discogs info says early days was heavily inspired by speed & thrash metal. It is pretty strange in context of industrial, but when you hear how Iugula-Thor did it, there is unusual approach in sampling metal guitars and putting it into industrial sound. Sounding completely unique, not "industrial-metal". Wheel of Process 12" is prime example of that. You can still hear the metal guitar appear on "Assholes" mCD (Tesco) that is less musical, more leaning to power electronics. Project seemed to be well ahead of its time in synth sounds and sampling. Doing things that 20 years later could be more commonly found in "black noise", for example. It is hard to say whether someone doing now this type of sound would have same appeal, but I always liked the clumsy martial drums, squeeling vocals, obvious effects very few would dare to use anymore. 2nd track has almost like Grey Wolves "Catholic priests..." feel to them. As if metal band would play cover of "Beyond Hypocrisy"...   Last song of mCD gives you hint of direction when Iugula-Thor was heading. Fierce highly electric type of power electronics. If the "industrial metal" is too much, this latter era of Iugula-Thor is mostly noisy and brutal, but also always unique take with nobody really having same approach - especially with vocals.
Assholes, To be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycXrD4ge5nE

Sshe Retina Stimulants / Iugula-Thor "Wrist" CD
Urashima did LP of "wrist", which is pretty neat, but original CD on Ant-Zen, cd package is extra nice. Oversized, multiple folded cardboard sleeve. Also nearly 50 minutes duration and this crystal clear atmosphere somehow feels like demanding CD. Highly distorted, but tonal keyboard noises from SRS, some of the most solid power electronics tracks from Iugula-Thor. With unique personality, and sounding unlike other PE bands. There's a lot of appreciation for especially the more rugged and lo-fi Italian stuff, but some of these (at the time) seeminly hi-tech artists are often unique. Iugula-Thor has a bit of The Sodality feel in "musicality" and somewhat theatrical way of doing it?!

Of course there are many more noteworthy Iugula-Thor releases. Their live performances has been also memorable in their oddity.
E-mail: fanimal +a+ cfprod,com
MAGAZINE: http://www.special-interests.net
LABEL / DISTRIBUTION: FREAK ANIMAL http://www.nhfastore.net

absurdexposition

Opera is incredibly heavy and has always been the only release of theirs that really worked for me out of what I'd heard. Hearing The Wheel of the Process for the first time now and it's quite striking. I'm not sure if I'm totally on board with the metal guitar sampling, but their loops are effective and the first track on the B-side, "Propeller Sodom Lucifer", is really great (no guitars). I need to revisit Wrist with a fresh perspective now.
Primitive Isolation Tactics
Scream & Writhe distro and Absurd Exposition label
Montreal, QC
https://www.screamandwrithe.com

impulse manslaughter

Yes, great project. Favorite release I own is the We Are Ready 7" on AWB.

FreakAnimalFinland

Could post the link elsewhere too, but I'll do it here..
Assisting member of Iugula-Thor, also Sshe Retina Stimulants, Sigillum S and more. Good sounding interview podcast:

https://www.mixcloud.com/jan-kruml/electronic-tuesday-02032021-paolo-l-bandera-interview/
E-mail: fanimal +a+ cfprod,com
MAGAZINE: http://www.special-interests.net
LABEL / DISTRIBUTION: FREAK ANIMAL http://www.nhfastore.net

Zeno Marx

Do any of their releases border on, or go full-on, industrial metal?
"the overindulgent machines were their children"
I only buy vinyl, d00ds.