MILITIA - Belgian industrial

Started by FreakAnimalFinland, February 10, 2010, 10:11:20 AM

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FreakAnimalFinland

Just placed order for Militia 20 years celebration release. It's CDR in box with inserts. Pretty high price for cdr, but I guess 100 copies won't last too long.

It sounds strange that to celebrate 20 years, such remarkable band does mere CDR release, but well..   Seems like Franks sideproject is going to have its cdr officially re-issues as CD soon by Belgian label.

Since the band has always been such a important and remarkable project for myself, I find it amazing that all the time I find people who actually never heard their works. Especially not the early best ones. When I have some time, got to give them all spin again and write something...
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catharticprocess

If I remember right, Frank recently said that Neuropa is going to reissue everything.


FreakAnimalFinland

That would be good. I think earlier talk was about Cold Meat. And knowing how slow they can be...

Anyways, as I started to talk about Militia, I simply couldn't refuse to put possibly their best release loud on stereos.
MILITIA "machinenzimmer / kingdom of our lord" mCD
Praxis Dr Bermann TH-20
In PDB overview at http://www.special-interests.net/forum/index.php?topic=38.0  I said:
Fuck, if I said the 3xLP was their best... well, it is only because this is SHORT. It is 20 minutes, packaged in A4 "special" sleeve with horribly pixelated images. Music is phenomenal. Just superior to about everything, but due being miniCD on oversized pixelated sleeve, it loses on 3xLP set.
Really, only reason I might rate this lower than 3xLP is length. But if we look to material itself, this is simply unbeatable. One could say that what Test Dept could have been, Militia actually IS. Compositional skills of Militia is beyond all the other percussive industrial out there. Even if you find many times that the base of track is some steady beat of bass drum, there are layers of clang of radiators, large sheets of metal, obscure tones of synths, perfect reverbs,.. It doesn't sound as if they just grabbed "whatever available", and bang that. Instead it sounds as they went to search what makes the desired sound, and the compose the percussion patterns for each distinctive percussion instrument. These two tracks also are superior in composition. It's not only about one thing. But the flow of tracks from point to another is seamless, yet very clear changes. There nothing what sounds like it was sampled or uncontrolled by people at top of their skills. The massive droning choir like climax of the track with religious speech, sweeps anything what was left after near 10 minute percussive beat.
Next track is something like Test Dept at their best video soundtracks. High pitched fast junk percussion sounds almost like train going on tracks. Very clearly floor tom sound giving bounding base on track. Sometimes nearly random sounding, but perfect sounds of sheets of metal and "ping" of iron bars/pipes thrown around. No distortion really. Not beyond the analogue warmness. It's all slightly saturated and very close to surface. It doesn't sound distant, which is the problem of many later Militia works. Modern day digital recording probably couldn't provide the same atmosphere. After c. 4 minutes  the divine organ drones start to fade in. It is very strangely out of timing compared to percussion. But while you'd think it could mean it ruins the track, actually it doesn't. Perhaps even opposite. Song slowly fades out, in utmost repetition, but something that could simply go on and on for perhaps LP side worth without getting old.
I hope this, will be among first to be re-issued. I guess it is the smallest edition of Militia releases?
E-mail: fanimal +a+ cfprod,com
MAGAZINE: http://www.special-interests.net
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bogskaggmannen

That MekanOrganik CD were also originally meant to be released on CMI to my knowledge. Anyone heard it yet?

Bloated Slutbag

Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on February 10, 2010, 10:35:12 AMMILITIA "machinenzimmer / kingdom of our lord" mCD

I remember being surprised at how good this was, the lone standout in a large order. And the review certainly brings back memories... which sadly remain memories. I think within one week of first spinning the damn disc fell out of the oversize sleave and hasn't been seen nevermind heard since. Every now and then I come across the a4 package and obligingly dig in half hoping The Kingdom Of Our Lord has miraculously reappeared. Bar reissue I seem condemned forever to play out this same humiliating ritual. At this stage it's probably for the best that things stay this way. If it were to reappear now after all these years I'd probably shit myself. More than usual, I mean.
Someone weaker than you should beat you and brag
And take you for a drag

nyarluna

The CON-DOM/MILITA "Scorched Earth Policy", was my introduction to MILITA.  Subtle tones and bell like structures build into a true rhythmic industrial piece.  The Catholic back track. ..."and by the way boy's, if any of you become missionaries, never say that to a cannibal"! 

I had been thinking this was "Machinenzimmer/Kingdom of our Lord", but reviewing the track list it is different. 

VOLKSLIED
ZEGE HYMNE
OMOUCINU
DRESDEN
REVILLE
GLOCKENSPIEL (LIVE VERSION)
NECRONOMICON (LIVE VERSION)

Will really need to check out the aforementioned having been totally engrossed with this project since discovering their industrial superiority!

FreakAnimalFinland

Technically the cdr is pretty low.
73dpi pixelated inserts and cdr with sticker label thrown into oversized carboard mailer box with pixelated pretty dull sticker in top of box.
Music is just good. It's compilation, don't know if anything really is different version than on original release, so if you happen to have all Militia, this could be pretty pointless purchase, especially considering the quality of packaging and format being cdr. Personally, I consider this still great, since it worked as perfect eye-opener, that while I considered some of the later works pretty weak sounding compared to my favorites, when listened as this kind of compilation, the flow is pretty much solid album type. I really need to re-visit past releases. Recently finally listened "nature revealed" and it was actually really good compared to what I remembered it to be.

1           New European Order     6:12     
2         Necrronomicon    4:36    
3         Kingdom Of Our Lord    12:14    
4         Symbiosis    8:02    
5         Ni Dieu, Ni Maître    6:30    
6         Mikael Bakunin    7:00    
7         Vox Populi    7:10    
8         A Kite Of Glass In A Blood Red Sky    7:03    
9         The Final Level    7:08
E-mail: fanimal +a+ cfprod,com
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FreakAnimalFinland

Quote from: bogskaggmannen on February 10, 2010, 10:45:44 AM
That MekanOrganik CD were also originally meant to be released on CMI to my knowledge. Anyone heard it yet?

I have so far only heard the 2 track promo. But listened it like 5 times. Which proves that there is definitely something there. It is like Militia gone "organic". Which in the other hand, is nothing new really. This material would not stand out too radically if it was released as Militia. Thing is, that style of percussion, tempos of rhythms, style of compositions, they all follow very closely the high standards and the styles of Militia. The main difference is that instead of hard and cold industrial junk elements, it seems more warm & natural. Drums don't sound militaristic, but rather nearly shamanistic. percussion elements don't sound like decayed industrial wasteland, but soil worshipping wood, glass, field recordings, etc.   Spoken word isn't aggressive yelling of political statements, but more of children talking of rainy mist of whatever. I've already forgotten what samples said exactly.
I keep mentioning The Ruralist Brotherhood in about every forum I've taken part (hah), and repeatedly notice it interests nobody else. Anyways, I just went through the "The Ruralists - Celebration" book yesterday, and this MekanOrganik seems like certain kind of manifest like they were. It rejects certain popular culture values and easiest audience ass licking methods. It goes into certain "romantic" (no goths, no teeny vampires) approach perhaps? Something what is most definitely "uncool". Simply well done with intent and drive to something what seems to be personal & important to artist, and to me, it is very inspiring material. I really wait for the full length, and hope it is as good as the promo cdr I got.
E-mail: fanimal +a+ cfprod,com
MAGAZINE: http://www.special-interests.net
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P-K



QuoteNeuropa Records will release ALL previous MILITIA works on 6 seperate CD's. The first CD of the "MILITIA Archive Collection" will contain the complete track list of the MILITIA contribution for the 3LP compilation set "War Against Society" (a Praxis Dr. Bearmann release 1997), the 7 inch "Pain/Familiedrama" (Praxis Dr.... Bearmann 1997) and "Kingdom of our Lord/Maschinenzimmer" (Praxis Dr. Bearmann 1996). The CD's will come in 3-fold digipacks. Collectors items !!

Plague Haus

Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on February 20, 2010, 12:06:33 PM
Technically the cdr is pretty low.

Not what I wanted to read. The price + cost of IBAN transfer made this a very expensive CDr.

FreakAnimalFinland

Now been listening to actual MekanOrganik CD. 8 songs, nice simple artwork digipak. One could say that what I wrote before based on two tracks, is valid for this album. It has many Militia -like elements, but all transformed into warmer & more organic (although very hi-fi sounding) approach with many kind of electro-acoustic sounds, but also drive of rhythm, samples and percussive beatings. Most definitely recommend.
E-mail: fanimal +a+ cfprod,com
MAGAZINE: http://www.special-interests.net
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BARRIKAD

Would not Cold Meat re-release all old Militia?

FreakAnimalFinland

Archive vol. 1 is out. So people who missed Familiedrama, Machinenzimmer or War Against Society. It seems like a must release!
E-mail: fanimal +a+ cfprod,com
MAGAZINE: http://www.special-interests.net
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jc

has anyone heard the live provocation MC that recently came out? any opinions?

FreakAnimalFinland

I think I just got the replacement tapes on mail. Haven't listened how it sounds yet now.
Very raw, very old sounding. Closest to compare with Con-Dom split tape and war against society. But with additional decay and rotten rusty sound.
E-mail: fanimal +a+ cfprod,com
MAGAZINE: http://www.special-interests.net
LABEL / DISTRIBUTION: FREAK ANIMAL http://www.nhfastore.net