PLAYLIST with COMMENTS/REVIEWS

[Baglady]

BIZARRE UPROAR & GELSOMINA - Assisted Self-Sterilization CD (Freak Animal, 2007)
Gothenburg's elusive power electronics fella Implicit Ruin handed me this the other day as thanks for a favor. Knowing I'm more of a pure noise guy, he stressed that "I know what your thinking, BU and all, but I think you'll like it." He presumed correctly! Just a few seconds after the shouted opening, I thought of Incapacitants. Always a pleasant sensation. The overall focus on this disc is shrill feedback, electronic tones and currents ringing and chafing, acoustic metal mess, and ecstatic screams and howls buried somewhere beneath. The booklet and the titles might try to steer one's impression in a certain direction, but this is just noise joy at its finest to me. The third track, the title track, is the outlier here, with its more structured build, hammering loops and focus on huge metal sounds. Although it lends variation to the album, it's the only moment where the album starts to drag a bit for me. It is a great piece in itself though, and it has grown on me over repeated listening. But it is the more free-flowing deep rivers of strident feedback, singing electronics and acoustic rattling that really makes the album, I think, with the second track "Bizarre Sterilization / Bizarre Castration", being the absolute peak. The final track, "Ei Enää Äpäriä 2", is a perfect closer though, pitching up the high-pitched yet another notch while letting in some lowend rumble in the process. And is that a theremin or a synth wailing away at the end, in heart-warming El Shanbara Thereminosis fashion? Brilliant and rich noise album. What a pleasant surprise!

I'm not sure if I even have anything else by BU in the shelves here anymore, but I do have some Gelsomina that I haven't played in ages. Time for a recap!

[FreakAnimalFinland]

PETOLUONTO tape
Found this from metal distro at death metal gig I was recently. 2016 experimental-industrial-electronic tape from Finland. Hit & miss kind of thing, but not bad!

ALFABLOT tape
Same thing. Same label, 2016, Finnish ritual-industrial-electronics, 4,50 euro from metal gig tape box. This is actually pretty good! If long tape would have been maybe shortened into best 30 mins, it would have become more focused. Some electronics, some scratching of violin and such perhaps? Some other normal instruments, but usually used in non-musical ways.

No idea if this guy is still around, and what he is doing. Alfablot was 100 copies edition, but don't see even mentioned at discogs.

[Zeno Marx]

Militia - New European Order 1996
VA-War Against Society 1997

It's easy for me to forget how great Militia is at what they do.  I hit these specifically for Militia, but I was deep into it all.  Law.  I have to revisit Law.  It's been a while.  And I'm now in the mood for digging through some Test Dept live recordings.

*anyone have a rip of these?  PM me.  I'd like to be mobile with Militia.

[FallOfNature]

Going through a Dungeon Synth week. Sat through a lot of albums but this was this evenings -

Chaucerian Myth - Meditations: The Visions of Margery Kempe
Mostly too light for my liking. A few sombre moments, but overall too flowery.

Sequestered Keep - misc releases
Hit and miss. The good stuff is great, the bad stuff I cannot even tolerate to see a full album through. But when he does hit the mark it's one of the better fantasy DS projects for sure.

Blood Lord - Unwelcome Guests
I like this a alot. Chiptune or whatever. Sounds like Castlevania or Ravenloft put to music. Goofy, but I like it enough to own both tapes.

Mortwight - various releases
Blurs the line between DS and darker ambient. Not cavernous or primordial like say Herbst9 or Terra Sancta type ambient... more of a moss covered cemetery at night vibe. Pretty good indeed.

[ConcreteMascara]

BIZARRE UPROAR & GELSOMINA - Assisted Self-Sterilization CD (Freak Animal, 2007)

An absolute classic in my book. My favorite Gelsomina release but also one of the best BU releases, even though I like more of the different eras. Those time stretched bits in the 2nd or 3rd song in between the feedback and metal abuse are especially memorable. I remember I picked this up at Hospital back when it was in Manhattan and absolutely punished my ears on the train ride back to NJ that afternoon listening to this on my walkman CD player. Not exactly nostalgic for the days I always had to walk around with a CD player but it was nice in those moments where I picked up something new and could listen right away.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Sir Ashleigh Grove "The Nimply Power Sessions Parts I - VII Audio Memoirs Of A Gentleman Aesthete" CD
Siren
Just recommended some friends, that I am quite amazed this Siren Rec cd can be found still for 15€ or less. Brilliant stuff, from mr Metgumbnerbone.
There is one very long song based on loops, but mostly it is very hand made, rusty, industrial-noise. CD starts almost as if it could be somewhere between early TNB and Jeph Jerman mangled together with hints of early NWW. Soon comes in rusty tones and other sounds.
Normally, most things Siren records seems always hard to find or expensive, or both… would not mind getting few missing things but counting out Gero senzuri champion re-edition cd when it came out, can’t remember last time when I bought from discogs…  Those who doubt this CD being worth 10 euro.. check:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdV_ifSq-pY

The New Blockaders – Schadenklang LP
Hypnagogia
It took loooooong fucking time to get the handmade edition of this TNB LP. It was one of those moments when Rupenus almost managed to ruin his legacy of noise maker in being such a lousy businessman, hah. I suppose all, or most eventually got what they were supposed to. This LP with line-up that was c. 10 years ago. More NOISE, less playful & experimental on this one. Not bad, but I kind of felt and feel that Hutchinson is best when he does his own works, not working for other people. Gillham has done good with S&Q. You can't really call them youngsters, but I think a lot of people would do better when pushing their own works forwards, not teaming up with legendary veterans, even if it may feel neat to collaborate with the heroes.

The New Blockaders With Ferial Confine – The Final Recordings LP
Dom Bartwuchs
When listening TNB & F.C. LP, it displays how there is different approach with those guys above. When someone tries to do ”what TNB does”, it feels as if nobody quite gets what it really was Rupenus & co did, as something quite magical is in those original era works. Sonically it is something very unique.

Violent Onsen Geisha CD
Not my favorite of band, but one of those CD’s, where name of project, graphics, and overall bizarro goofiness makes it good, even if -noise- ain’t VOG’s best… hah..

DAVE GILDEN "texas chainsaw dopefiend" CD
Most people I have seen praise Gilden so much. I have heard also slightly amused remarks asking what is really the thing with Gilden, why his work was largely unnoticed for decades, and suddenly all the newbies are praising him - as opposed to ton of 90's noise makers. I get both perspective. This is great reissue of noise tape that has probably bigger reputation than its content really is. I may be even heretical enough to say that tape on Slaughter Productions would be better?? Slaughter being of course ultimately classic label, but perhaps MSNP connection here appeals some part of scene even more? That said, that this is such a great tape, but question why praise Gilden, why not.... mid 90's Stimbox? Lasse Marhaug? haha... well.. who knows! I am guessing that it is easier to get hyped on mythical already long gone project and almost impossible to get tapes, than mid 90's artists who has discogs full of cheap items...?

[MT]

Sutcliffe Jügend - "The Victim as Beauty" CD

This was the first power electronics CD I ever bought, and have to say I picked up a perfect starting spot. The impact this CD left was strong and intense. I never thought music could be used like that, being new to the genre, I was thrilled of the concept. I felt like I was watching the whole abduction, rape and kill right there. And I still think this CD has a unique and brilliantly executed idea, sounds are used in creative way to, for example, illustrate ripping a part of clothing off of the victim. Just a short sharp noise at the right spot. Intensity is also still there, Tomkins vocal delivery is over the top, as it should, you can almost feel the spit on your face when he goes into blind rage screaming. I was never a fan of the later SJ material, certainly worship the old. But this is a masterpiece from the "later" era.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Konstruktivits "Black December" LP..
oh yes, mostly old school industrial beats, but… good beats. Barely dance, more cold industrial with odd electronic sounds and voices. I like the name of band, design, idea, and music… its something I learned to like, after liking all other things. Haha..

Lettera 22 ”true form” LP
A Dear girl called Wendy
Listened this couple times and its so good stuff. When noise scene is so small, it is hard to measure where L22 falls in the genre. People I know, appreciate, or even worship what Letter 22 does, or did. But when I think have I seen them in many gig or fest line-ups? Interviews? Reviews? Hmm… not really. I guess ltd ed euro noise LP has destiny to be under-acknowledged…

[Potier]

Lettera 22 ”true form” LP
A Dear girl called Wendy
Listened this couple times and its so good stuff. When noise scene is so small, it is hard to measure where L22 falls in the genre. People I know, appreciate, or even worship what Letter 22 does, or did. But when I think have I seen them in many gig or fest line-ups? Interviews? Reviews? Hmm… not really. I guess ltd ed euro noise LP has destiny to be under-acknowledged…

I wouldn't say they are under-acknowledged or overlooked or whatever - it just seems that their 15 minutes of fame are up...I do recall there being a lot of hype for this project right around the time this record came out and they were more productive. Great record nonetheless...to be rediscovered...maybe...it's 11 years old now...

[TS]

Lettera 22 ”true form” LP
A Dear girl called Wendy
Listened this couple times and its so good stuff. When noise scene is so small, it is hard to measure where L22 falls in the genre. People I know, appreciate, or even worship what Letter 22 does, or did. But when I think have I seen them in many gig or fest line-ups? Interviews? Reviews? Hmm… not really. I guess ltd ed euro noise LP has destiny to be under-acknowledged…

I wouldn't say they are under-acknowledged or overlooked or whatever - it just seems that their 15 minutes of fame are up...I do recall there being a lot of hype for this project right around the time this record came out and they were more productive. Great record nonetheless...to be rediscovered...maybe...it's 11 years old now...

And rediscover it, I did. Killer stuff! This thread is a great resource. Lettera 22 has a bandcamp site too, for anyone who would wanna check it out, but "True Form" isn't on there.

[Baglady]

MANIA - Raw Nerves & Unseen Eyes CD (Freak Animal, 2020)
My first encounter with Mania was the split cassette with The Rita on Harsh Head Rituals, closely followed by his LP with Bloomer, the  Ultra-Negative CD and the "Swedish tapes". And it's still these that I hold closest to heart. Judging from what I picked during the 2010's, his focus then moved towards more raw acoustic sound, and with great success, obviously. I'm not sure why that period of his didn't do that much for me. Sure I missed the unhinged air of his earlier releases, but it's not like what I now heard couldn't hold its own. The stuff sounded great; tension, timbre, texture... But this CD, recorded 2010-2014, just works for me. And it is the combination of temple-exploding noise/PE and rich sounding toolshed-rummaging that does it. The old and the new. No shortage of anything. A great album!
I can't seem to find any info on the material though. Was this meant to be an album, or is it bits and pieces picked and edited much later than 2014 to work as a whole? Either way I'm glad it exists. Such a solid summary of Mania's sonic width and strengths.

[Bloated Slutbag]

Lettera 22 ”true form” LP
A Dear girl called Wendy
Listened this couple times and its so good stuff. When noise scene is so small, it is hard to measure where L22 falls in the genre. People I know, appreciate, or even worship what Letter 22 does, or did. But when I think have I seen them in many gig or fest line-ups? Interviews? Reviews? Hmm… not really. I guess ltd ed euro noise LP has destiny to be under-acknowledged…

I wouldn't say they are under-acknowledged or overlooked or whatever - it just seems that their 15 minutes of fame are up...I do recall there being a lot of hype for this project right around the time this record came out and they were more productive. Great record nonetheless...to be rediscovered...maybe...it's 11 years old now...

And rediscover it, I did. Killer stuff! This thread is a great resource. Lettera 22 has a bandcamp site too, for anyone who would wanna check it out, but "True Form" isn't on there.

Indelibly scarred as among the best projects ever. 15 minutes of fame? Like...try not having released shit for a good bit. If that's the measure* then the measure sucks ass.

* it is

[MT]

Grunt - "Hehku" CD

Nice artworks, and all handmade, really like the extra touch these have, like IOPS releases usually have. A side step from Grunt lineage, so to speak. At times this almost reminds of Clinic of Torture, harsh ripping sound. Vocals exchange between spoken word and wild high pitch screaming, which is one of my favorite elements of Grunt! Lyrics, which are more like poems, are well written and create the atmosphere for the release. non-finnish speakers miss out on it, but that's life. But as for noisier Grunt, "installation of blood and steel" remains as my favorite.


Grunt / Montage - "split" CD

In the vein of "Hehku" I decided to take this from the shelf and refresh my memories of it. Grunt material sounds like 2005-2006'ish material, recognizable. Strong and piercing elements of scrap metal, feedback and occasional vocals. Solid stuff. Montage surprised me, cause I was somehow expecting Japanese harsh noise, but it was more like combination hn/pe, with vocals, thick synths and wild noise. Veeery good!


Final Solution - "Live Series 1-4" tapes

I have gone though 4 tapes now, missing 5. And it is a handful, Legendary PE unit in it's most raw form, recordings are not always superior audio quality, but it just adds to the madness. You get very familiari with EJ Vodkas ripping vocal sound and his stage antics. Speeches between songs are essential to understand the full extent  of FS. Exchanges between crowd that goes to hilarious lengths.
"Are you guys fucking nazis? Racists? Sexist? Sadist? Yeah, we're ALL of that! We do abortions on weekend and sell crack!"
Most songs consist simply of crude synth lines and screaming vocals, with most  obscene lyrical work. Definately works for me!

[Theodore]

Immolation By Scum - 1984-1988 -Corrupt Records- CS : I bought this very recently and i am listening a lot. I didnt have an idea about this project but somehow i had added it in my Discogs wantlist. When ? Why ? Cant remember. But looking Discogs stats i can guess safely. Me peeping HKSO's collection / wantlist and probably this caught my attention and 'saved' it to check, look for any rips later, which i never did. Seeing it in a salelist some time ago i finally tried to do my research. Couldnt find anything except the guy's site which has samples, tracks uploaded : https://www.patrickmaun.com/music/ . A couple i listened from the tape made me give it a chance, more by instict than they convinced me. Wise decision ! Tracks uploaded there are by far not the best of the tape, neither representative i could say. Cause, in these 90min guy explores many different approaches. Synths, found sounds, rhythmic parts, vocals . All with compositional skill, music structure. Side A is industrial / noise-y / raw / dark, and it would make a great stand-alone release. At some point through a track S-Core came to mind. Side B for the most part is mellow, musical, ambient, electro-ish. Not my thing, but OK it doesnt annoy either, easy listening, i let it play. Side A alone is more than enough for me to say this is a good tape.

I havent listened any other samples from his site. I ll do. I am curious to see where the project / he directed to after this release. By reading his comments though, it seems he isnt very fond of his early 'aggressive' work ...

[online prowler]

Listening to a couple of Grunt trax via youtube off late from the latest full-length Hehku on IOPS. Enjoying very much the soundscape, production and composition. The general sound of the album seems to me a more immersive and physical production than the previous. Enjoying this very much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKc3b2GmUIc