Throughout more than a decade of existence, the mysterious (the members wish to remain anonymous) French act Novae Militiae has not exactly been that productive. At the very beginning, they released their debut Affliction Of The Divine (CD + digital) via Ukrainian label Nihilward Productions (re-released on tape in 2014), and in 2017 Goathorned Productions took care of the release of Gash’khalah (CD + digital).
The main sonic outfit of Raffaele Pezzella, Sonologyst, returns with Dust Of Human Race, released via one of this guy’s labels, Eighth Tower Records (part of the Unexplained Sounds Group family). I won’t go too deep into biographical or discographical issues this time; just keep in mind that this devoted artist from Italy permanently impresses with his releases.
About two and a half years after the splendid album Aphotic, Ukrainian outfit Cut The Light return, once again via Black Mara, with another dark-industrialized ceremony, this time called Outre’. Those trusted with that former one might know what to expect, because Outre’ strongly continues the vain of Aphotic, although it is remarkable that the length differs a lot.
[[[ I am ‘into the scene’, if you want to call it this way, as from the Eighties. Hey, don’t laugh; I know that I’m getting old, but that is not my fault, okay. Anyway, (Black) Metal is like a passion, my lover, and with exception of my wife + kids also my daily number one satisfaction.
With some delay, but this split is way too interesting not to pay attention to…
After the passing away of Moscow-based Goth-outfit Fright Night, Marianna Lukianova and Marina Scherba, both of them also involved with e.g. Mea Vita or Vechnost’ Nebytiya, decided to go on under the Vesssna moniker. That name is some word-play for the Russian word for ‘Spring’ (‘vesna’, which used to be a nickname for Marianna apparently).
I (quite) recently came in touch with Depressive Black Ambient Records, a Poland based label that focuses on daily happiness, instant joy and devoted ascetism. Indeed, nothing but my personal river to swim through… against the stream. They do not search for anything. Devourers of serpents, immersed in hypothermia. Where the breath is already imperceptible. Black, mourning, where we find no reason to inhale and exhale. Only chemicals and anesthesia [sic]. Why not? I’d like to dive into that polluted river.
Only a couple of days ago, Xerxes The Dark and the pretty young label Zāl Records (both of them are closely related) did release the newest Xerxes The Dark album Soundtrack To The Blind Owl, but now I’ll focus on its predecessor, being 2020’s Final Crisis.
For some incomprehensible reason I did miss Beckahesten’s 2020-debut Vattenhålens Dräpare, although Cyclic Law did kindly offer this material to me. I don’t know why, how, when, but I never got to download that great album. A shame, a pity, a stupid thing to occur.
I have to admit that I haven’t given enough attention to Nantes, France, based Throatruiner Records in the (recent) past. I did write some reviews for releases by e.g. Love Sex Machine, Protestant, Fange, Verdun, The Rodeo Idiot Engine or Vermin Womb, amongst others, but this label deserves more support for sure. Let this review be a next step within promotional spheres of mutual respect and awe.
