2015 October update
Vinyl
Creation Through Destruction / The Haters – Split 7" (Little Mafia Records) 8e
harsh noise
CD
Axnaar – Collected Filth 2013-2015 CD (Filth and Violence) 12e
Black metal / noise. Not for the weak.
Bizarre Uproar – Fifteen Years Of "Filth & Violence" - Dog CD (Filth and Violence) 12e
Re-issue of a tape from Fifteen years of filth and violence box.
Bizarre Uproar – Fifteen Years Of "Filth & Violence"- Metal CD (Filth and Violence) 12e
Re-issue of a tape from Fifteen years of filth and violence box.
Bizarre Uproar – Fifteen Years Of "Filth & Violence"- Nazarene CD (Filth and Violence) 12e
Re-issue of a tape from Fifteen years of filth and violence box.
Bizarre Uproar – Mother CD (Filth and Violence) 12e
Re-issue of tapes + bonus
Leila Abdul-Rauf – Insomnia CD (Malignant Antibody) 12e
As a solo composer, San Francisco based, multi-instrumentalist Leila Abdul-Rauf stylistically diverges from her current and previous work in much heavier projects (Vastum, Ionophore, Hammers of Misfortune, Amber Asylum, Bastard Noise), and finds a home on Malignant side label, Antibody. Insomnia represents her first CD release following an LP on Saadi Saati in 2013, and a collaborative 7" with Tor Lundvall on Dais Records in 2014. Insomnia brings the spirit of these earlier releases to a new level of dynamic richness, with additional instrumentation and several guest contributions. Brass, piano and various other textures are delicately woven into filmic soundscapes that echo the sounds of memories faded through time. Solemn vignettes seem to emanate from an early morning dream state, the late autumnal tones and noir-ish melodies drifting through fog, evoking feelings of quiet isolation and solitude. Recalling haunting and desolate places, a private world is exposed, where time and space are distilled down to what remain of distant pasts and hidden emotions, melded into a symphony of ethereal melancholy. In 6 panel digipak with striking and complementary artwork by renowned artist Mark Thompson, Insomnia represents some of the most beautifully emotive and introspective work ever to grace the Malignant roster. For fans of: Tor Lundvall, Caul, Lisa Gerrard, Dead Can Dance.
Mauthausen Orchestra – Sexual Depravity And Pleasant Atrocities 4xCD (Urashima) 47e
One of the key figures of the Italian industrial scene, Pierpaolo Zoppo starts releasing his own tapes of his project Mauthausen Orchestra under the astonishing label “Aquilifer Sodality” in 1982. Pierpaolo Zoppo does not leave much up to the imagination with the titles for these early Mauthausen Orchestra albums. Sex. Death. Blood. Combing through topics such as sexual violence, perversion, torture and murder and picking them apart with the right maneuver as to not come off as cheap and careless is not an easy task. Mauthausen Orchestra's atmosphere, one of true debauchery and calculated sickness, coalescing with the sobering awe of his industrial racket blanketed by the 80's true lo-fidelity, raw recording procedures has yet to truly be matched. Pierpaolo Zoppo remains one of the pioneering exploits from the incredibly macabre Italian industrial scene that began with Maurizio Bianchi and continued through Mauthausen Orchestra, Sigillum S, The Sodality until Atrax Morgue. It's hard to ignore how the extremity of the poetics from the Italian scene literally bleeds beyond art and into life for many of these artists.
Reissue of challenging early '80s Italian noise decimations from the notorious Mauthausen Orchestra for the first time in cd edition and completely remastered from original tape which includes MO's long-deleted four titles Anal Perversions, Host Sodomy, Bloodyminded and 2 nd Movement. Each cd housed in individual mini-LP gatefold sleeves with new art and packaged in a hard black box with white lettering ink, limited to 199 copies.
"Anal Perversions" is a fierce nihilism that overflows into the undefined territory between sex and maniac desire, marking our brains and our skin. A single act of sensory rape trying to deconstruct any rational particle that approaching the sound composition.
”Host Sodomy” represents an unprecedented noise assault, without sparing any form of perversion, relinquishing any moral obligation in the pursuit of the late charge.
‘'Bloodyminded'' offers a side of oppressive ferric noise devolving into anguished vocal terror and another slightly more nuanced side, adhering to a similar schematic. If nothing else is doing it for you, try this at your own risk.
‘'2 nd Movement'' carry us, once again, as real rituals of a civilization without gods, in a pure world of suffering. Infinite modulations towards a sky that has now disappeared and locked in concrete.
Of Earth And Sun – Uncoiled CD (Malignant) 12e
A new entry into the Malignant family, Of Earth and Sun is the project of Denver based Matthew Hunzeker, who skillfully utilizes a variety of both organic and electronic instrumentation ranging from bone trumpets, vocals, oscillators, and drum machines to create impressive soundscapes of heavily ritualistic inspired drones and intoxicating, near cataclysmic invocations. These are not intimate, candle-lit ruminations, but something that operates on a much grander, more corporeal level. As Hunzeker describes it, "the music plunges listeners into the depths of the supernatural; into a completely inhospitable environment from the point of view of human understanding, acquiring a dark psychedelic sound verging on noise and doom, which transforms into an unfathomable inner cavity of mystic and ritual symbolism that viscerally affects the energies flowing in the body and mind".
At first, the 9 tracks that comprise Uncoiled seem monolithic and almost overpoweringly dense, but repeated listens reveal them to be intensely hypnotic and mesmerizing, often times starting with singular, elongated vocalizations or slow motion thrums that rapidly blossom into a cascade of swarming drones and thumping pulsations. By the end, they've been transformed into a consuming mass of saturated, turbulent sound, falling somewhere between the visceral, immersive nature of Theologian and the meditative, organic darkness of Halo Manash. Skillfully assembled and evocative, what Of Earth and Sun create is immersive, heavy, and riveting, and represents a unique new vision onto the scene.
Sewer Goddess – Painlust CD (Black Plagve) 12e
Sewer Goddess’ 2010 CD debut, “With Dirt You Are One”, seemed to come and go in the blink of a rotted eye, and while there have been numerous tape, compilation, and live recordings since then, nothing could possibly prepare you for the evolution in sound that has occurred since then. Recent material and performances have certainly hinted at it, but “Painlust” goes beyond all expectations and delivers what is up to this point, their benchmark recording. Now backed by a full fledged band and recorded in studio, Kristen Rose and co. have taken a blade to the original Sewer Goddess template and ceremoniously cut the fat, leaving a lean, sinewy carcass that’s as much doom metal as it death industrial. The 6 tracks here are an asphyxiating death march that’s concise and devastatingly heavy, the lurching, sludge driven guitar, dissonant riffs, and bass all in a rigid lockstep with heaving, pneumatic percussion. Bound with bewitching and often maniacal vocal shrieks and moans, and heaps of ghastly electronic filth, it’s a brilliant dichotomy between human and machine, resulting in a listening experience that’s at once enthralling and terrifying. In jewel box with 8 page booklet, designed by Andre Coelho.
Solco Chiuso – Human Textures CD (Lost Empires Records) 12e
first full lenght album from this Italian act devoted to industrial/Noise.
40 minutes of cold Industrial with harsh blasts of noise and morbid atmospheres.
Solco Chiuso starts this analog experience with no compromise.
No politic, no sex, no philosophy, no human diseases.
Only pure noise.
Sphäre Sechs – Enceladus CD (Malignant) 12e
A follow up to the highly acclaimed and quickly sold out Tiefschlaf CD (TumorCD56, 2012), this project of Phelios’ Martin Stürtzer and Christian Striztel finds the duo traveling even further out into space, beyond the reaches of light and into realms never before explored. While the overall approach is similar to Tiefschlaf and there’s certainly some shared DNA at play here, the seven tracks that comprise Enceladus feel weightier and darker…a glorious amalgam of drift and synth drone that seems to extend beyond any visual measure, the tones and textures floating off into an infinite expanse, pulled and stretched by an unseen gravitational force. Space inspired dark ambient can be a tricky thing…a common theme attempted by many with some measure of success, but few capture the coldness, stillness, and awe inspiring beauty of the interstellar void so brilliantly as Sphäre Sechs. Recorded solely on analog equipment without the use of computers, Enceladus is a deeply mesmerizing and hypnotic excursion best played on headphones or in solitude for maximum effect. 4 panel, matte finished digipak with metallic ink highlights designed by Alonso Urbanos.
The Vomit Arsonist - Only Red CD (Malignant) 12e
Two years after "An Occasion For Death", Andrew Grant's The Vomit Arsonist returns with a vengeance with his second full length for Malignant, "Only Red". Inspired and galvanized by Brighter Death Now's US shows in 2014, Grant's latest takes on an even more visceral and dynamic feel than works past, and is unquestionably the heaviest thing he's ever done. If An Occasion for Death showed moments of self discipline and hints of subtlety, no such restraint exists here, as everything about this record feels amped up to an entirely new realm of intensity. This is The Vomit Arsonist in full attack mode, as explosive and bludgeoning percussion loops emerge from a churning, monolithic pit of corrosive electronics, menacing transformer buzz, chain dragging atmospherics, and gasping machine exhalations. Throw in a heavy dose of processed, acidic vocals and the whole record becomes an adrenaline fueled ride,wrought with tension, extreme nihilism, and palpable hostility. With Only Red, Grant has laid down a new flag at the summit of an already impressive catalog. Final track is a remix of Go Without featuring Kristoffer Oustad. In 6 panel digipak, mastered by John Stillings.
Theologian – Pain Of The Saints 2xCD (Malignant) 15e
5 years have passed since Navicon Torture Technologies' 2009 masterpiece finale, The Gospels of the Gash, and the last time Lee Bartow recording something specifically for release on Malignant, so it is with great honor and pride that he is welcomed back into the fold. During this span, primary releases on Crucial Blast and Handmade Birds have established and solidified his "new" project, Theologian, as a consistent and fruitful source for epically scaled and sprawling industrial soundscapes, and the 2CD set Pain of the Saints continues that trend, laying forth a dizzying 2 ½ + hours of music. Once again, Bartow has sculpted an impeccable and highly detailed excursion into tortured yet brilliant realms, where contrails of burning frequencies and blackened atmospheres intersect with densely concentrated rhythmic pulsations, ethereal, blissed-out shimmer, and the majestic monoliths of smoldering, post-apocalyptic desolation. There's a lot to absorb here, but the focus is precise even as the palate of sounds is broad and varied, a true testament to the deft skills of someone who's spent the last 15 plus years creating some of the most inventive and revolutionary sounds in modern industrial music.
Yen Pox – Between The Horizon And The Abyss CD (Malignant) 12e
Arriving on the scene in 1993 with their self-titled demo, Yen Pox immediately made their presence known with an ability to create monumental, light devouring soundscapes that transcended all that had come before it. Proceeding releases, including their debut CD, Blood Music, 2000’s New Dark Age, and the collaborative CD with Troum only solidified their standing and reputation. With Between the Horizon and the Abyss just being their first full length recording in over 15 years, Yen Pox will never be accused of being prolific. After all, with the two members spread out between Indiana and Washington State, creating new material doesn't exactly lend itself to convenience. But on the rare occasion that recordings do arise, it’s nothing short of masterful, reminding listeners why they’ve achieved such notoriety with such a limited discography, and why their recordings are consistently recognized as benchmarks within the dark ambient genre.
Time between releases has been well spent, with the new material taking the early template and expounding upon it greatly, adding layers of industrial churn and structure to the infernal kosmische sprawl they’re so adept at creating. And yet throughout its entirety, Between the Horizon and the Abyss is remarkably polished and fluid. Within its realm, no seconds feel wasted, and every sound feels purposefully placed, even as it moves and flows in perpetual motion; strains of a distant angelic choirs fall beneath a complex array of arcing tones, liquidous, molten textures, & harrowing orchestral shimmer, with fervent masses of malevolent atmospherics billowing forth in glorious detail.
While this technically falls under the banner of dark ambient, what Yen Pox has managed to create goes far beyond genre specifications and boundaries, crafting a new benchmark and adding a high water mark to an already stellar discography.
Tapes
Bagman – New Wave Of British Murder CS (Obsessive Fundamental Realism) 7e
“New Wave of British Murder” is the last nail in the coffin of the extreme Power Electronics project BAGMAN. Side A presents the entire “New Wave of British Murder” album – recorded in 2010, but never made public until now – whereas side B features rare and unreleased tracks. Crude and hateful PE on C-60 chrome tapes. Comes with a 12 page booklet featuring extensive background info on the murderers addressed in the album and collage art work
Black State – Voices Of The Dead Battalions CS (Filth and Violence) 8e
Noise/PE
Dead Body Collection – I Have No Regrets For A Woman Scorned CS (Compulsion Rites) 6e
"Dr. Alex needs no introduction. The caustic and frigid walls of Dead Body Collection have cemented the project’s place in history, and he continues the funeral march with this release of solid, unrelenting aural punishment in an enjoyable yet strenuous listen. Inserts printed on red card stock."
Dead Body Collection / Uitgeschakeld – Split CS (Palinopsia Recordings) 6e
HNW. 50 copies
Dead Body Collection – Witch's Ashes Scattered By The Wind CS (Palinopsia Recordings) 6e
HNW
Empty Front – Cities Through Windows CS (the тide øf тhe εnd) 6e
Limited to 100 copies
Second tape from this apathetic synt pop duo. Dance the night away in your bedroom.
Qualm – Qualm CS (the тide øf тhe εnd) 6e
Second tape of filthy mongoloid stomp.
Limited to 88 copies.
RAPE – RAPE II CS (Filth and Violence) 8e
Power electronics
Red Light – Red Light CS (Institute of Paraphilia Studies) 8e
Anonymous project issued ultra limited 3"CD some years ago, and IOPS got opportunity to publish this as tape format for bigger audience. Vocals, raw noise, piercing high pitched feedback and heavy distortion.
Sadio – Sophisticated Methods In Torture CS (Freak Animal) 8e
SADIO is Kommando Skingraft (fin) and Grunt (fin) project. Debut CD consist 10 tracks of extremely fierce material. All recordings were conducted studio-live, in loud and rough situations. No multitracking or editing. Album consists loud and piercing power electronics assaults as well as brutal noise and more experimental moments. Rare blend of influences ranging from Final Solution, Strict, Ramleh, Sutcliffe Jugend to turbulent storming noise of Monde Bruits and Solmania to brooding dark obscurities of Herman Kopp and odd electronic rhythm pulses of Club Moral. Naturally not very far from own works of participants of project!
Taint – Indecent Liberties CS (Industrial Recollections) 8e
Re-issue of 1995 power electronics classic!
Creation Through Destruction / The Haters – Split 7" (Little Mafia Records) 8e
harsh noise
CD
Axnaar – Collected Filth 2013-2015 CD (Filth and Violence) 12e
Black metal / noise. Not for the weak.
Bizarre Uproar – Fifteen Years Of "Filth & Violence" - Dog CD (Filth and Violence) 12e
Re-issue of a tape from Fifteen years of filth and violence box.
Bizarre Uproar – Fifteen Years Of "Filth & Violence"- Metal CD (Filth and Violence) 12e
Re-issue of a tape from Fifteen years of filth and violence box.
Bizarre Uproar – Fifteen Years Of "Filth & Violence"- Nazarene CD (Filth and Violence) 12e
Re-issue of a tape from Fifteen years of filth and violence box.
Bizarre Uproar – Mother CD (Filth and Violence) 12e
Re-issue of tapes + bonus
Leila Abdul-Rauf – Insomnia CD (Malignant Antibody) 12e
As a solo composer, San Francisco based, multi-instrumentalist Leila Abdul-Rauf stylistically diverges from her current and previous work in much heavier projects (Vastum, Ionophore, Hammers of Misfortune, Amber Asylum, Bastard Noise), and finds a home on Malignant side label, Antibody. Insomnia represents her first CD release following an LP on Saadi Saati in 2013, and a collaborative 7" with Tor Lundvall on Dais Records in 2014. Insomnia brings the spirit of these earlier releases to a new level of dynamic richness, with additional instrumentation and several guest contributions. Brass, piano and various other textures are delicately woven into filmic soundscapes that echo the sounds of memories faded through time. Solemn vignettes seem to emanate from an early morning dream state, the late autumnal tones and noir-ish melodies drifting through fog, evoking feelings of quiet isolation and solitude. Recalling haunting and desolate places, a private world is exposed, where time and space are distilled down to what remain of distant pasts and hidden emotions, melded into a symphony of ethereal melancholy. In 6 panel digipak with striking and complementary artwork by renowned artist Mark Thompson, Insomnia represents some of the most beautifully emotive and introspective work ever to grace the Malignant roster. For fans of: Tor Lundvall, Caul, Lisa Gerrard, Dead Can Dance.
Mauthausen Orchestra – Sexual Depravity And Pleasant Atrocities 4xCD (Urashima) 47e
One of the key figures of the Italian industrial scene, Pierpaolo Zoppo starts releasing his own tapes of his project Mauthausen Orchestra under the astonishing label “Aquilifer Sodality” in 1982. Pierpaolo Zoppo does not leave much up to the imagination with the titles for these early Mauthausen Orchestra albums. Sex. Death. Blood. Combing through topics such as sexual violence, perversion, torture and murder and picking them apart with the right maneuver as to not come off as cheap and careless is not an easy task. Mauthausen Orchestra's atmosphere, one of true debauchery and calculated sickness, coalescing with the sobering awe of his industrial racket blanketed by the 80's true lo-fidelity, raw recording procedures has yet to truly be matched. Pierpaolo Zoppo remains one of the pioneering exploits from the incredibly macabre Italian industrial scene that began with Maurizio Bianchi and continued through Mauthausen Orchestra, Sigillum S, The Sodality until Atrax Morgue. It's hard to ignore how the extremity of the poetics from the Italian scene literally bleeds beyond art and into life for many of these artists.
Reissue of challenging early '80s Italian noise decimations from the notorious Mauthausen Orchestra for the first time in cd edition and completely remastered from original tape which includes MO's long-deleted four titles Anal Perversions, Host Sodomy, Bloodyminded and 2 nd Movement. Each cd housed in individual mini-LP gatefold sleeves with new art and packaged in a hard black box with white lettering ink, limited to 199 copies.
"Anal Perversions" is a fierce nihilism that overflows into the undefined territory between sex and maniac desire, marking our brains and our skin. A single act of sensory rape trying to deconstruct any rational particle that approaching the sound composition.
”Host Sodomy” represents an unprecedented noise assault, without sparing any form of perversion, relinquishing any moral obligation in the pursuit of the late charge.
‘'Bloodyminded'' offers a side of oppressive ferric noise devolving into anguished vocal terror and another slightly more nuanced side, adhering to a similar schematic. If nothing else is doing it for you, try this at your own risk.
‘'2 nd Movement'' carry us, once again, as real rituals of a civilization without gods, in a pure world of suffering. Infinite modulations towards a sky that has now disappeared and locked in concrete.
Of Earth And Sun – Uncoiled CD (Malignant) 12e
A new entry into the Malignant family, Of Earth and Sun is the project of Denver based Matthew Hunzeker, who skillfully utilizes a variety of both organic and electronic instrumentation ranging from bone trumpets, vocals, oscillators, and drum machines to create impressive soundscapes of heavily ritualistic inspired drones and intoxicating, near cataclysmic invocations. These are not intimate, candle-lit ruminations, but something that operates on a much grander, more corporeal level. As Hunzeker describes it, "the music plunges listeners into the depths of the supernatural; into a completely inhospitable environment from the point of view of human understanding, acquiring a dark psychedelic sound verging on noise and doom, which transforms into an unfathomable inner cavity of mystic and ritual symbolism that viscerally affects the energies flowing in the body and mind".
At first, the 9 tracks that comprise Uncoiled seem monolithic and almost overpoweringly dense, but repeated listens reveal them to be intensely hypnotic and mesmerizing, often times starting with singular, elongated vocalizations or slow motion thrums that rapidly blossom into a cascade of swarming drones and thumping pulsations. By the end, they've been transformed into a consuming mass of saturated, turbulent sound, falling somewhere between the visceral, immersive nature of Theologian and the meditative, organic darkness of Halo Manash. Skillfully assembled and evocative, what Of Earth and Sun create is immersive, heavy, and riveting, and represents a unique new vision onto the scene.
Sewer Goddess – Painlust CD (Black Plagve) 12e
Sewer Goddess’ 2010 CD debut, “With Dirt You Are One”, seemed to come and go in the blink of a rotted eye, and while there have been numerous tape, compilation, and live recordings since then, nothing could possibly prepare you for the evolution in sound that has occurred since then. Recent material and performances have certainly hinted at it, but “Painlust” goes beyond all expectations and delivers what is up to this point, their benchmark recording. Now backed by a full fledged band and recorded in studio, Kristen Rose and co. have taken a blade to the original Sewer Goddess template and ceremoniously cut the fat, leaving a lean, sinewy carcass that’s as much doom metal as it death industrial. The 6 tracks here are an asphyxiating death march that’s concise and devastatingly heavy, the lurching, sludge driven guitar, dissonant riffs, and bass all in a rigid lockstep with heaving, pneumatic percussion. Bound with bewitching and often maniacal vocal shrieks and moans, and heaps of ghastly electronic filth, it’s a brilliant dichotomy between human and machine, resulting in a listening experience that’s at once enthralling and terrifying. In jewel box with 8 page booklet, designed by Andre Coelho.
Solco Chiuso – Human Textures CD (Lost Empires Records) 12e
first full lenght album from this Italian act devoted to industrial/Noise.
40 minutes of cold Industrial with harsh blasts of noise and morbid atmospheres.
Solco Chiuso starts this analog experience with no compromise.
No politic, no sex, no philosophy, no human diseases.
Only pure noise.
Sphäre Sechs – Enceladus CD (Malignant) 12e
A follow up to the highly acclaimed and quickly sold out Tiefschlaf CD (TumorCD56, 2012), this project of Phelios’ Martin Stürtzer and Christian Striztel finds the duo traveling even further out into space, beyond the reaches of light and into realms never before explored. While the overall approach is similar to Tiefschlaf and there’s certainly some shared DNA at play here, the seven tracks that comprise Enceladus feel weightier and darker…a glorious amalgam of drift and synth drone that seems to extend beyond any visual measure, the tones and textures floating off into an infinite expanse, pulled and stretched by an unseen gravitational force. Space inspired dark ambient can be a tricky thing…a common theme attempted by many with some measure of success, but few capture the coldness, stillness, and awe inspiring beauty of the interstellar void so brilliantly as Sphäre Sechs. Recorded solely on analog equipment without the use of computers, Enceladus is a deeply mesmerizing and hypnotic excursion best played on headphones or in solitude for maximum effect. 4 panel, matte finished digipak with metallic ink highlights designed by Alonso Urbanos.
The Vomit Arsonist - Only Red CD (Malignant) 12e
Two years after "An Occasion For Death", Andrew Grant's The Vomit Arsonist returns with a vengeance with his second full length for Malignant, "Only Red". Inspired and galvanized by Brighter Death Now's US shows in 2014, Grant's latest takes on an even more visceral and dynamic feel than works past, and is unquestionably the heaviest thing he's ever done. If An Occasion for Death showed moments of self discipline and hints of subtlety, no such restraint exists here, as everything about this record feels amped up to an entirely new realm of intensity. This is The Vomit Arsonist in full attack mode, as explosive and bludgeoning percussion loops emerge from a churning, monolithic pit of corrosive electronics, menacing transformer buzz, chain dragging atmospherics, and gasping machine exhalations. Throw in a heavy dose of processed, acidic vocals and the whole record becomes an adrenaline fueled ride,wrought with tension, extreme nihilism, and palpable hostility. With Only Red, Grant has laid down a new flag at the summit of an already impressive catalog. Final track is a remix of Go Without featuring Kristoffer Oustad. In 6 panel digipak, mastered by John Stillings.
Theologian – Pain Of The Saints 2xCD (Malignant) 15e
5 years have passed since Navicon Torture Technologies' 2009 masterpiece finale, The Gospels of the Gash, and the last time Lee Bartow recording something specifically for release on Malignant, so it is with great honor and pride that he is welcomed back into the fold. During this span, primary releases on Crucial Blast and Handmade Birds have established and solidified his "new" project, Theologian, as a consistent and fruitful source for epically scaled and sprawling industrial soundscapes, and the 2CD set Pain of the Saints continues that trend, laying forth a dizzying 2 ½ + hours of music. Once again, Bartow has sculpted an impeccable and highly detailed excursion into tortured yet brilliant realms, where contrails of burning frequencies and blackened atmospheres intersect with densely concentrated rhythmic pulsations, ethereal, blissed-out shimmer, and the majestic monoliths of smoldering, post-apocalyptic desolation. There's a lot to absorb here, but the focus is precise even as the palate of sounds is broad and varied, a true testament to the deft skills of someone who's spent the last 15 plus years creating some of the most inventive and revolutionary sounds in modern industrial music.
Yen Pox – Between The Horizon And The Abyss CD (Malignant) 12e
Arriving on the scene in 1993 with their self-titled demo, Yen Pox immediately made their presence known with an ability to create monumental, light devouring soundscapes that transcended all that had come before it. Proceeding releases, including their debut CD, Blood Music, 2000’s New Dark Age, and the collaborative CD with Troum only solidified their standing and reputation. With Between the Horizon and the Abyss just being their first full length recording in over 15 years, Yen Pox will never be accused of being prolific. After all, with the two members spread out between Indiana and Washington State, creating new material doesn't exactly lend itself to convenience. But on the rare occasion that recordings do arise, it’s nothing short of masterful, reminding listeners why they’ve achieved such notoriety with such a limited discography, and why their recordings are consistently recognized as benchmarks within the dark ambient genre.
Time between releases has been well spent, with the new material taking the early template and expounding upon it greatly, adding layers of industrial churn and structure to the infernal kosmische sprawl they’re so adept at creating. And yet throughout its entirety, Between the Horizon and the Abyss is remarkably polished and fluid. Within its realm, no seconds feel wasted, and every sound feels purposefully placed, even as it moves and flows in perpetual motion; strains of a distant angelic choirs fall beneath a complex array of arcing tones, liquidous, molten textures, & harrowing orchestral shimmer, with fervent masses of malevolent atmospherics billowing forth in glorious detail.
While this technically falls under the banner of dark ambient, what Yen Pox has managed to create goes far beyond genre specifications and boundaries, crafting a new benchmark and adding a high water mark to an already stellar discography.
Tapes
Bagman – New Wave Of British Murder CS (Obsessive Fundamental Realism) 7e
“New Wave of British Murder” is the last nail in the coffin of the extreme Power Electronics project BAGMAN. Side A presents the entire “New Wave of British Murder” album – recorded in 2010, but never made public until now – whereas side B features rare and unreleased tracks. Crude and hateful PE on C-60 chrome tapes. Comes with a 12 page booklet featuring extensive background info on the murderers addressed in the album and collage art work
Black State – Voices Of The Dead Battalions CS (Filth and Violence) 8e
Noise/PE
Dead Body Collection – I Have No Regrets For A Woman Scorned CS (Compulsion Rites) 6e
"Dr. Alex needs no introduction. The caustic and frigid walls of Dead Body Collection have cemented the project’s place in history, and he continues the funeral march with this release of solid, unrelenting aural punishment in an enjoyable yet strenuous listen. Inserts printed on red card stock."
Dead Body Collection / Uitgeschakeld – Split CS (Palinopsia Recordings) 6e
HNW. 50 copies
Dead Body Collection – Witch's Ashes Scattered By The Wind CS (Palinopsia Recordings) 6e
HNW
Empty Front – Cities Through Windows CS (the тide øf тhe εnd) 6e
Limited to 100 copies
Second tape from this apathetic synt pop duo. Dance the night away in your bedroom.
Qualm – Qualm CS (the тide øf тhe εnd) 6e
Second tape of filthy mongoloid stomp.
Limited to 88 copies.
RAPE – RAPE II CS (Filth and Violence) 8e
Power electronics
Red Light – Red Light CS (Institute of Paraphilia Studies) 8e
Anonymous project issued ultra limited 3"CD some years ago, and IOPS got opportunity to publish this as tape format for bigger audience. Vocals, raw noise, piercing high pitched feedback and heavy distortion.
Sadio – Sophisticated Methods In Torture CS (Freak Animal) 8e
SADIO is Kommando Skingraft (fin) and Grunt (fin) project. Debut CD consist 10 tracks of extremely fierce material. All recordings were conducted studio-live, in loud and rough situations. No multitracking or editing. Album consists loud and piercing power electronics assaults as well as brutal noise and more experimental moments. Rare blend of influences ranging from Final Solution, Strict, Ramleh, Sutcliffe Jugend to turbulent storming noise of Monde Bruits and Solmania to brooding dark obscurities of Herman Kopp and odd electronic rhythm pulses of Club Moral. Naturally not very far from own works of participants of project!
Taint – Indecent Liberties CS (Industrial Recollections) 8e
Re-issue of 1995 power electronics classic!