PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[-NRRRRK-]

The New Boyfriends - The Fourth Season CD (WCN)
Was really looking forward to this since I heard the teaser-ad in the podcast. Furniture is getting moved, things are dragged around, rattling chains, smashed glass, vocal noises, amp-feedback and of course some (but not too much) distortion. Some grinding sounds are added to taste, a driller may have been used too. A lot of ambience of the room can be heard. All sounding really raw and primitive in a very good way. "Shadow Motor", with it's rhythmic structure, is standing out from the chaos of the other six tracks. Put on the CD, crank up the volume and prepare for a really good, fun time. Artwork is brilliant BTW.

[MT]

Cloama - "In the State of Unbelief" 7" + tape box set
State of Unbelief starts with a sample that has a familiar effect from works of STROM.ec. Pounding rhythm with buzzsaw tones and feedback bursts, a bit reminiscent of "Revisionist Knowledge" sound. A-side serves as a kind of introduction, box set comes with a patch, two pins and few inserts with one including the lyrics. Which gives the idea what the release is about. My favorite line for sure is from side B!
 "The spy who came in from the cold / He had to learn new language / drink vodka Stolichnaya like a veteran / not to spit in the mug".
Sounds like coming to Finland! B-side of the 7" starts with a sample that I can't identify, but deals with conspiracy and conspirators. And the afromentioned lyrics get to use, again this really hateful tone in the vocal sound, if you are a fan to brutal vox in PE, this is for you. Song itself has same tasty elements from a-side but more subtle. Tape has sides C and D, and boy does it get wild here! C-side has absolute bomb vocals, haha, at times it's like late Whitehouse style intensity but with gritty distortion! So relentless that you need a damn breather after. And the machine gun throbbing with drenched in mic feed back, holy fuck! Complete madness! D side closes out the release with low grinding piece that has a sound almost like metal plates whirring against each other, a cold breeze of mechanic coldness in a soviet factory.

If I had to choose, I'd say the tape version of this is mandatory. It's like an EP with four so intense tracks.

[MT]

Edge of Decay - "Raped, Boiled and Butchered" tape
Very first EOD release I believe? Raw tape, gutter noise with proper amount of filth. I was surprised I have this tape since it was so ultra limited, but happy that I do. I think EOD was very strong from the beginning, sure the sound quality is rough and a little low on volume but who cares. It is still a real nasty tape!

Edge of Decay - "Riistettyjen Antologia" CD
Jumping from 2012 to 2020, some things have changed, somethings have not. Production wise there's of course been a huge leap. All the elements they use nowdays gets proper treatment and justice soundwise. CD begins with a bone chilling song that has samples (I believe) of crying, which is effected so that it sounds soul tearingly violent. Rough and robust starter! Songs continue with more rhythmic scrap metal work, lots of feedback and I belive it is not a synth, but there is this looming low noise, like an impending doom (see track 7). There's also a song that sounds like a bizarre marriage between old Con-Dom and Atrax Morgue. As an icing on the cake are the roaring vocals of lady Kovana in two songs. Many times female vocals are a embaressing failure (Consumer Electronics) but with Kovana it's a different game. I took noticed of this first I saw them live at a private gig, she was fucking ripping! And that same ripper action continues here, adds some really tasty context to the songs she is in.


It was a fun retrospect, and then rewind back to present day in the world of EOD. A project that has never really showed sings of weakness, just pure craftmanship. Always looking forward to their next release.

[Andrew McIntosh]

Edge of Decay - "Raped, Boiled and Butchered" tape

Managed to find their BC page, so thank you for the tip. Very nice, crude material indeed.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

DDV "Sound atlas of veneorology" CD
Trash Ritual
I have fairly often talked about noise that is not really loud and nice, but noise in terms of annoying and difficult. I think it is almost obsolete approach these days in noise, that stuff you would buy, would be most of all… annoying. When harsh noise is most often like bubble bath, and you are relaxed and satisfied during and after, and stuff like this reissue of 1982 DDV tape on CD, it ain’t like couple times, but quite many times when I tend to think…. Should I be listening to this? And why exactly?
Its 62 minutes of tormenting electronics. At the best, one could describe it as annoying sadistic bizarro electronics has non-effected clean monologue, with Johnny Rotten style vocals using excessive rrrrrr, while describing symptoms of syphilis etc.
So question is, why not listen! Noise as difficult and tormenting listening, as opposed to neat and comfortable!
DDV, the male part of CLUB MORAL. This was done 40 years ago. Pretty insane, plus I have a feeling, there wouldn’t be many who would throw themselves this brutally to public evaluation. Can’t really think who’d have guts these days to do… this odd vocals?

MERZBOW "Psychorazer" CD
Kubitsuri tapes
Almost like… christmas album? Final mix of album done dec 25, 1997.
First track is noisy and brilliant, almost 20 mins. Harsh, but also almost psychedelic swirls of synths. 2nd track is just less than minute interlude. 3rd track is a bit hit and miss. Couple days ago I was reading recent book about ”odd things in world”, and one ”chapter” was about Futurist cooking. Italian futurist would have special menus designed, where one would eat snacks with other hand, and rub different shape sandpaper pieces and other materials with the other hand, for tactile experience. One food besides ”steelchicken” was called ”polyrhythmic salad”. It made me instantly think as if that would be Merzbow track!
And now that I am listening this ”mangod” song, it feels often that it should be called polyrhythmic salad! It feels as if there was often some odd percussion driven through electronic processing. Can’t quite decide is it some synthetic, or if it is like sound of bongo drums changed into something else. Whole track seems like hit & miss, where some parts are really nice, and others feel as if Masami would be just testing out different goofy sounds and fading in and out bunch of things, without coherency. It is good for being odd, and experimental, but first track has vastly more intense vibe. Last track is long, 30 mins, and it gets noisier and full on noise blast is there in 27 minutes so you get decent amount of harshness here and if you are lucky to find decent price copy, it could be worth it.
With help of translator app on phone, could now finally read what is being said on the linernotes. Probably not a perfect translation, but you get overall impression.

(Label went inactive for years due some illness of label boss. He was away for a long time and many items were scarsely available and therefore very expensive even back then). He put out couple Grunt things. First the was tape, and he sent me 30 free copies. Before that, I had used to get 1 free copy or couple. Sometimes none. I was blown away to get so many copies from Kubitsuri. Later he did Grunt 7” that was only 100 copies pressed. It is quite hard to find.)

LINIJA MASS "Trud" CD
Angriff
Was waiting for new WCN podcast yesterday, but due the delay, decided to go for Linija Mass ”trud”. Not long since listened this, but it is really killer industrial-noise from 1997, but also unfortunate news couple days ago that Alexander Lebedev-Frontov died.
I had scheduled 4 more Veprisuicida CD’s for Industrial Recollections, but lets see…
This first Linija Mass is like slightly more primitive take on Vivenza style, with perhaps a bit more pausebutton & tape rewind involved. I recall Alexander mentioned that machine sounds were self recorded at his work, and it was not that he would try to replicate western industrial music, but just did things with sounds he was surrounded with. Really good, and this material never was done on LP, tape came few years before Membrum Debile did the vinyls. CD was done a bit later.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

N P "6725 schnittwunde" tape, aka Necromantic Phenomena. One of those obscure japanese noise bands you don’t hear that often. 1985 tape on Masami’s label is fierce noise, somewhere between Incapacitants and Gerogerigegege! Some may still remember mostly the 3 different collaborations N P did with Thirdorgan back in late 90’s, one being CDR on Self Abuse!
Actually checked the discogs for more info and Fumiyoshi Suzuki actually was member of Gerogerigegege in the mid 80's. Also few tapes of Zeni Geva. This tape on ZSF product is not even listed at discogs. I think, this might be very first of the N P stuff. Front cover says 6725 schnittwunde on top, N P on bottom, and spine of tape Necromantic Phenomena. ZSF Produkt 1985. Fumiyoshi Suzuki operated himself Omnipresent Records that put out bunch of stuff from mid 80's to late 90's, but no idea what all may have been done.

WINCE "Mushed Down Retadation" tape, short and brutal harsh noise. Waiting impatiently when project changes name, so could be advertized ”artist formerly known as wince”.

Altar of Flies "Five Tapework Compositions (For Throne Heap)" tape, I guess one of those lousy high speed dubbing tapes.. annoying high pitched snap appears like every 5 seconds. Known from certain tapes of other labels who used a bit defected dubbers… Too bad, since it is ruining a bit of this tape. Not his best, for sure, but decent stuff.

Lettera 22 ”P” tape, never disappointing, always neat Italian noise with their own twist! Less to say, but possibly best of the tapes in this pile!

Arv & Miljö ”öppna vattendrag” tape. Swedish tape noise, eh eh… on Posh Isolation! Raw and very hand made vibe, also not his best, but I like basically all A&M stuff I have heard.

TAETER ”parasite” tape, Italian turd master with his project what probably hit closest to my sweet spot! While the feedback or buzzing synth may be the ABC of power electronics, there is something else with the vocal delivery and atmosphere, that makes Taeter stand out among projects I would conclude to be: Underrated! For fans of the sleazy & juicy. Vocals are so excellent in this.

[ConcreteMascara]

IRM - Virgin Mind 2xCD - Cold Meat Industry, 2005
It's been quite a while since I've given this a spin but damn does it hold up. I fell in love with this album and IRM at a really rough time at in my life and it drags up some of those memories and feelings when listening to. Soundtrack for a suicide type vibes, or at least some bloodletting. I used to be frustrated that there weren't more PE style tracks and that there's so much more instrumental/dark ambient type stuff, but now, that's almost the best part. I'm always blown away when it starts because the first track, "Janus", is relatively simple but so fucking effective. The call and response vocals with alternating effects, the slowly building noise, the extremely grim vibes, and the Joy Division reference. Woof. I will say if you're fairly familiar with Sarah Kane and Joy Division that will enhance your appreciation of this album and any IRM release.

[MT]

Mania -  "Miserable Disposition"
Mania - "If They Move... Kill Em"
Mania - "Eros + Massacre"
Represses of the tape Tommy Carlsson did for Keiths medical fundraiser. These tapes are absolute killer, they are mastered LOUD and have real punchy sound. I recommend everyone to get these, that tasty early Mania period with Taint brutality and creeping in his Manias more brooding and striking work. A real pleasure to go through all of these, "Miserable Disposition" being my favorite out of three, if I had to choose.

Treriksröset - "Venal" tape
My exposure to Treriksröset should be a lot better, but it isn't. So tapes like these blindside me so hard, what a monster tape. From beginning to end highly conducted noise onslaught with great sound and ever evolving, interest peaking material. Best harsh noise release I have heard in a long while, like there's nothing bad about it. Everything is on spot when it comes to my taste of harsh noise.

[absurdexposition]

Mania -  "Miserable Disposition"
Mania - "If They Move... Kill Em"
Mania - "Eros + Massacre"
Represses of the tape Tommy Carlsson did for Keiths medical fundraiser. These tapes are absolute killer, they are mastered LOUD and have real punchy sound. I recommend everyone to get these, that tasty early Mania period with Taint brutality and creeping in his Manias more brooding and striking work. A real pleasure to go through all of these, "Miserable Disposition" being my favorite out of three, if I had to choose.

I will rep the dubs on these tapes until the day I die. They almost sound like CDs! Crystal clear and loud.

The material is great, too, obviously. Eros + Massacre may be my favourite. Essential editions regardless.

[HateSermon]

+1 for Miserable Disposition, but they’re all essential. Great quality print job on these too.

Hal Hutchinson “Cold Industrial Experience” FA 2021
Material that lives up to the title! I think its safe to say that Hal is in his own league when it comes to harsh industrial loops. I’ve listened to this release 3 times in a row - something that I don’t do often. Its more restrained than previous works of his, but each sound is carefully calculated and strategically placed. Plus, the recordings have an overall grit to them… perhaps different sound sources were ripped from tapes or vinyl? Just a guess. Highly recommended.

[MT]

Nicole 12 - ”Braces” 7inch
Breaking in a new vinyl player and decided to toss this on the platter. Other than how good it sounds, the material is probably the best N12 there is. All the elements I like, pulsating synth, tasteful scrap metal rattle, effected spoken word vocals with excellent lyrics. What else do you need? There are no weak spots in N12 discography, but sits on the top for sure.

[ConcreteMascara]

Nicole 12 - ”Braces” 7inch
Breaking in a new vinyl player and decided to toss this on the platter. Other than how good it sounds, the material is probably the best N12 there is. All the elements I like, pulsating synth, tasteful scrap metal rattle, effected spoken word vocals with excellent lyrics. What else do you need? There are no weak spots in N12 discography, but sits on the top for sure.

Just listened to this one the other day myself. Still my favorite N12 material. "In The Spotlight" is the kind of hit track 7"s are made for.

[-NRRRRK-]

Cannibal Ritual - La Montagna Del Dio Cannibale
Single sided C-60 with one long HNW track. There is structure and pumping and you can make out traces of some source-material. Not his best material.

Cannibal Ritual - Brutal Abortion/Fetus Slaughter
Released shortly before (or after or at the same time, I cannot remember) as "La Montagna...". Same kind of C60, this time with two tracks on a- and one long track on b-side. Enjoyed it a lot more than "La Montagna...". Static, monolithic HNW with little to no variation throughout. Nice textures and a little bit of structure. Again, there are some hints of the source-loops.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Deathkey "Throne of Blood" CDr
DK is perhaps not very appreciated in ”scene”, but when you actually listen to it, it is such and odd and unique stuff. I was wondering what the hell is this, and turns out I forgot all about it. CDR made hand numbered 5 copies, that has early, demo version of material that partly ended up later on Doctrine… double album. Its all different mixes, different vocals, full cd worth of stuff, complete with booklet and all. One of tracks ended up in compilation cd, rest was re-worked for the album. One track withDer Sturmer guest vocalist sounds as if Cruise era Whitehouse was being crunched into crackling noise by The Rita. Project is certainly for ”aquired tastes”. My fond memories is when RRR put out DK debut album with FA. Ron concluded that he wanted to put out vile noise album, and he knew this is it, but didn’t expect reactions it was causing. Haha. I was not even among the original labels that were supposed to put it out, but ended up in the game due being guy who could walk into printer and look eye to eye and say ”print me these covers, please” and not be bothered about what they may think about it, hah..

Many often wonder how come from all the nasty stuff out there, DK gets unusual amount of heat. I don't really know. DK gig in Finland back in 2015 was funny. It made it even to newspapers. One newspaper put out article with my name on it, despite I was not organizer. I called newspaper to ask was it really that ”I was not reached to give comment”.. and turns out journalist had not even tried, just made up stuff. They apologized. Venue windows were spray painted night before gig and driving back home, seeing TV screen where was news bit running on TV text channel. Maybe DK was not the biggest news, but it did spice up the story a bit. It’s nice to see noise controversy reach real media, heh…

Damion Romero "Plate 1 / Triad / Feedback In A Lovers Telegraph" CDR
P-tapes
Another great CDR I have not listened for ages, I suppose! Came of 1999. It’s mostly the distaste for cdr, as stubborn as it may sound. Covers are not very luring, but sound is something that I do wonder why there is not more reissues of DAMION ROMERO!!? Doesn’t he want to reissue anything? Isn’t there labels to do it? It seems almost sad that there would be this good minimalist drone, destined to be rotten on cheap CDR… Someone, please, Romero CDR’s into cd set, and I’d be happy to grab some.

I was glad to receive some guy send me email, suggesting to trade some 2nd hand stuff for new items in my mailorder. Of course. If you got something I want, trades are welcome any time. Even if you have no label, but just 2nd hand stuff you want to get rid off. I may be interested to trade, especially for stuff I put out. This time got couple LP’s, bunch of tapes and this old NWW/Whitehouse 150 murderous passions CD. It is the early 90’s UK cd, so it has slight disc rot appearing. Plays all perfect. I only had United dairies tape, and Susan Lawly anthology version. This album is so fierce and painful, that I really welcomed this CD version too. Vinyl rip, isn’t it!?

Airway "Live At Zebulon " CD
Troniks. If you want old free-noise, grab this. It is wild.

Wasteland Jazz Unit "Mind Obscured ‎" CD
Troniks
Really really nice harsh noise with a bit of sax and such things, but I’d say jazz haters don’t be fooled by name or instruments. It is sheer harsh blast.

Jackson-Pratt ”romantic phenomenon” CD,
another nice Troniks release. So far, didn’t hit as hard as WJU or Form Hunter, but it is also different from these. Showing nicely how you can easily grab entire Troniks CD batch (also Cherry Point Black Witchery) and trust they will be different from eachother, but also deliver the goods. I guess you know where to finds Troniks titles!

Form Hunter "Violent Adaptation" CD
Troniks
Form Hunter CD, has been on stereos multiple times. It sets the standard for harsh noise pretty high.
I was today listening new Grunt noise CD master, home, car, work, making sure it would be as it should. It’s almost exclusively harsh noise, and in 2022, it feels like… with this type of CD’s coming out, one can’t just fart out -whatever-, but noise cd would have to be really damn good to stand out. It might be that, or just smelling own farts is quite satisfying.

[MT]

Umpio - "Insektio" tape
Umpio - "Arkivo" tape
Umpio has had strong track record for me, before these the magnificent "Kulotus" 2CD blew me away, which is ridiculously good 2 cd worth of Umpio annihilation. These two tapes aren't as merciless but certainly are a warm punch in the face. Arkivo consisting of field recordings and such, I expected something more mellow, but it has it's gritty side. Insektio tape also runs smoothly from beginning to end, entertaining the whole time.

Taint - "Justmeat" LP
Excellent release of excellent Taint material, mid 90's, kind of raw style. Samples, loops and metal mashing. Works like a charm, sounds tasty and sturdy! B-side has ripping vocal work! Been a long time since I've spun this one. Out of interest took a peek in Discogs, and holy crap, people are asking for 200e for this nowdays...