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Crippled Black Phoenix – Sceaduhelm
Crusty end times rock and roll from amorphous super group Crippled Black Phoenix with Sceaduhelm on Seasons of Mist. I don’t often post something so squarely capable of mainstream success and consumption, but for reasons I’ll never understand CBP remains entirely under appreciated relative to the longevity, consistency and honestly, staggeringly high quality of their output. I’d venture that for me, they are the premier goth/sludge/post-rock/rock (whatever) band working and so spreading the word seems appropriate. While this double LP is decidedly tighter and less cinematic that prior works it retains the gloomy underdog spirit the band is known for… Continue reading
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Uboa – Impossible Light
Dichotomy of delicate noise and vocal juxtaposed against blistering otherworldly rage from Uboa with Impossible Light on The Flenser. If you aren’t familiar with the work of Australian artist Xandra Metcalfe you haven’t heard anything remotely like this. 9 tracks referenced in the label write up as “hypernoise” which perfectly captures the marriage of harsh noise, power electronics and post black metal. Moments that diverge into cinematic ambience shredded into bits and ground into a paste of melody and noise wall so overwhelming as to become euphoric. Powerful, overwhelming. Impossible Light by Uboa Edition of 800 copies on blue vinyl.… Continue reading
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Quiet Evenings – Light Billows
Blissful long form drone from Quiet Evenings (Grant & Rachel Evans) with Light Billows on their own Hooker Vision imprint. 52 minutes of drone and vocal textures, cello and tape-saturated synths. Light and heavy, dense and a million miles wide. Recaptures a bit of what I felt of the Sacred Phases catalog in the 20 teens releasing tapes from Sky Stadium and Sound Out Light. Wavy, hazy ambience reverberating on 10. Seriously take a hike and put this on headphones. Wonderful. Light Billows by Quiet Evenings Edition of 40. Professionally printed, doubled sided 4 panel jcard. Semi-transparent teal shell with… Continue reading
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Deep Cross – Scaffolded Dawn
Haunting electronics and choral hymns from Deep Cross, with Scaffolded Dawn on Phage Tapes. Over 30 minutes, six tracks of tense at times caustic sounds with a sense of both intention and spontaneity. Like a living organism, seeking, breathing, struggling to contain itself – there’s a cut up and reassembled feel to things, rough bits and jagged edges that overlap. Noise but not noise, quiet, beautiful and melodic. Treated vocal drones, tape, modular synth and an array of found sounds achieving an almost religious experience. Scaffolded Dawn by Deep Cross Professionally duplicated reissue, no edition size stated. Single panel jcard,… Continue reading
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Amulets – Not Around But Through
Howling post-rock-meets-tape-scene ambience from Amulets with Not Around But Through on Portland Oregon based Beacon Sound. Eight tracks of melodic, caustic noise, just bursting with subtle beautiful moments. Those familiar with Randall Taylor will know him for his handmade tape loops and gentle texture, this is a decidedly metal step in his catalog that would feel equally at peace opening for Pelican or Sigur Rós. The centerpiece of the record for me is a duet Lifelike with Midwife on vocal which pulls threads from blackgaze, post metal, an ambient together into a vicious heartbreaking tangle. 100% need a full length… Continue reading