Embrace the power of the mountain, feel the magic of the Vanir, and hide in our magical forest from Ragnarök…
When talking about Nordic Folk Music, one usually thinks about bands from European soil; from Sweden, Norway, Russia, Germany, Scotland, you know… I am quite open-minded and I don’t get scared that easily anymore (I dwell around this planet for more than half a century in the meantime), but hey, a Viking / Folk act from Uruguay, of all places?
A short one...
The ever-productive sound-artist (bleak) never disappointed me with any of his many outfits, and this one, Carrion, being one of his most fruitful ones, comes up once more with a new piece of psychologically-unacceptable fairness. It’s a lengthy one-piece record, clocking 37:09 minutes. Oh yes, adorable visual artistry, by the way.
When same-minded spirits, mutually-thinking brains sort of unphysically gather…
…nope, that’s not the opening sentence I am searching for. This time, it’s quite difficult for me to start this review, because, you know, I want to do more than just expressing my appreciation for this new recording, as well as for the artist behind it. I want to have the aural effort being ‘structured’ in an embodiment of respect, gratitude, recognition and comprehension, with the creator being granted for both his expressive kindness and sonic craftsmanship…
This review deals with a re-issued release, so I will mainly copy-paste my initial thoughts (laziness, I guess), written down a year ago, with some small adaptations and additions here and there.
I never mind writing a review for ‘older’ material; at least when it’s worth being promoted somehow. That’s the case right here. Since the sympathetic Swede Pär Boström kindly offered me a copy of the latest Aindulmedir album recently, I had no (personal) doubt to write down my thoughts on it. I did like the former recordings by this specific act from Pär (you might know him as well from e.g.
You Will Not is not the first collaboration in between the ‘artists’ behind Empty Pool and D¥$FUNCTion. The first is an anonymous project from An English gentleman who lives in Andalusia, if I am well informed; the latter is one of the many outfits by Sir (bleak), a mysterious (human?) being from the U.K., who is active in several other projects, and who runs different small and independent labels.
Slithering Black Records is quite a young label, but it fastly grew up to be(come) one of the most important and influential labels within the worldwide Industrial / Ritual / Dark / Martial Ambient scene. Handalien, Scott Lawlor, Mike Benoit, Omensworn, Fabio Keiner, Maris Anguis, Her Menacing Pet; it’s just a small selection of fabulous artists involved with this label from Rhode Island (the smallest state, by the way, from the U.S. of A.).
Welcome to the sounds of the Dark Realm…
(review written by Erik - thank you!)
I have to admit I’ve never been an eager fan of Stoner rock, and this album isn’t going to convert me. Although it’s not 100 % stoner, as I also discern vague elements of other metal styles.
Not that it’s that bad an album, but it’s just not my cup of tea. There’s not enough melody in the music, and sometimes it’s a bit of a cacophony. And I like my vocals clean and sharp, which isn’t the case here.
Brazil-born damsel IO is one of the most productive / active human beings lately. She is, and I quote, ‘visual artist, scenographer, fashion designer and musician’. When talking about ‘musician’, she’s active under different pseudonyms or throughout serial recordings, such as IO, Dragonflies In The Garden, The Flower Book, Modor, Black Paintings, The Hunt Of The Unicorn, For Children: The Gates Of Paradise, Danse Macabre and who knows what else.
