Aesthetic Death

Bereavement ravages the mind, and time promises to blunt its strength. A pale wasteland may recover one day, but the guilt that comes with fading memories takes root instead. And here, time only strengthens it.

There’s a duo from Pennsylvanian soil that intrigues me for quite some time: DD and MZ. These two entities are active under several monikers, such as Sun Wound, Infestation Ritual, Teeth Engraved With The Names Of The Dead, Desolation Swarm, Six Billion Light-Years and several more. I know that what follows right now is a purely personal, and therefor subjective, statement, but: I do adore about all of these outfits.

MesmuR are an international act, consisting of experienced (I mean that these musicians participate in different -often well-known- bands as well) members from Italy, the U.S. and Australia (and in the past, also from Norway). They did three albums in the past: the self-titled debut in 2014 (Code666), S in 2017 (via Solitude Prod.), and Terrene in 2019 (also via Solitude Prod.).

Country (for what it’s worth): Russian Federation

Members: SAA (‘sermons & fuzzmagic aka guitars & vocals), PAN (skullhammers = drums & percussions), KKV (thunderbass, i.e. bass guitars & double bass)

Recording: Temple Of Silence Studio (Autumn 2021) (except drums: Wildboar Studio)

[review for an older release (November 2022) yet of such high qualitative level]

Drifting into the sacred ocean of creation through the symbolic imagery of death…

Country (for what it’s worth): Russia (Ord) & U.S. (Demonologists)

Members: Ord Err (Ord), Cory Rowell (Demonologists), Evan Price (Demonologists)

Production: Ord & Demonologists

Mix: Andrey Volkov / Ord Err / Evan Price

[a review on a re-release, so I’ll keep it brief and concise]

My first acquaintance with Esoteric – and I guess it might count for the better part of us; at least those who were born almost a century ago – was almost three decades ago under the working title Epistemological Despondency. At that moment, I already was ‘into’ the more extreme areas of Mater Terra’s sonic dimensions, yet I still remember what I felt when listening to this debut: confusion, discomfort, as well as awe and respect.

I’ll keep my introduction on the band brief and concise. Suffer Yourself were formed in 2011 in Kyiv, Ukraine, as a solo-outfit by Stanislav Govorukha. After writing some tracks, and the recording of an official demonstrational five-tracker, he joined forces with some other musicians. These original tracks got re-recorded and made it to the first full-length, 2014’s Inner Sanctum.

Songs seen through the eyes of the dying…

Country (for what it’s worth): Denmark

Members: Casper Axilgård (drums), Atli Brix Kamban (vocals and guitars), Niels Asger Svensson (bass)

Mix & recording: Troels Damgaard Holm (Farvemøllen & Black Tornado Studio)

Mastering: Brad Boatright (Audiosiege)

Released two and a half year ago, but that does not matter, does it!? Indeed, I thought so…