It has been a long time (almost eight months – sad smiley…) that I did write a review for Distant Voices, a very unique label from the South of France. The label releases happy Pop Music… Nope, not at all! The label releases dark and obscure Music, from integer Contemporary Classical and Ambient to harsh Black Metal and DSBM. Their trademark, however, has to do with the physical formats especially: all of them, without exception, are handmade (going for both tapes and compact discs).
I am, to be honest, not that much ‘into’ Hardcore / Punk / D-Beat. Okay, I can appreciate it, but I am not exactly a ‘fan’. However, the Belgian (or in extension: the whole Benelux) scene might be underestimated on international scale, but there is a very vivid and strong upcoming scene going on. Actually, that’s the case since decades, yet lately the scene exponentially sort of explodes.
I used to be a devoted Death Metal fan at the end of the Eighties and during the Nineties. However, so many new bands showed up, and the better part was (and still is) crap! Okay, the very same goes for Black Metal, but the average level is, to my opinion, still much higher when talking about the latter. Within the Death Metal scene, so many fake stuff appeared, and that’s why I am quite sceptic when getting introduced to a new band.
I am not about to write a huge introduction on MZ.412. I am intending to get little deeper into the history of this legendary act when reviewing the re-release of 1995’s In Nomine Dei Nostri Satanas Luciferi Excelsi (to be released on vinyl in a couple of weeks via AnnapurnA). But praise the Horned Lord of Black Industrial, because Nordvargr, Drakh and Ulvtharm joined forces once more to continue their aural saga of diabolical destruction.
The weird entity Sect Pig strikes back with their third recording in five years, once again a short attack that confuses and enervates. …or not… Like before, the frenzy sonic outlet sees the smoggy light via California-based Nuclear War Now! Productions, being released the digital way, on vinyl (12” LP) and compact disc. Crooked Backs brings almost seventeen minutes of weird sonic terror, based on another unorthodox theme. It deals with genetic diversification, the protection of the human race via genetic selection, and related concepts.
A new band from the Indian city of Kolkata (Calcutta) is Aparthiva Raktadhara, which means something like ‘unhealthy bloodstream’. The trio, being V. Hydra (shamanic hammer-trance), Takshaka (sacred string vibrations) and Nachash (assorted mantras), recently recorded some songs, collected as Agyat Ishvar (‘unknown god’).
Hailing from Belarus, Pa Vesh En are a mysterious project that started quite recently. After two demo tapes, which were released on Germany’s finest Iron Bonehead Productions, this one-man army now offers a first 7”EP on vinyl. A Ghost comes with two new pieces (both clocking about seven minutes each), which are available as well digitally.
Praise the Horned One, bless Him with a sacrifice, for He made Myrkvid resurrect from oblivion! Hail!
I knew an American project called Wyrm (which actually means ‘serpent’), but it was a Texas-based Drone entity. But that has nothing to do with this review. There is (was) also a project with the very same name from Tennessee, which involves Le Scrambled Debutante frontman Allan Zane as sole permanent member (there are several guest and session musicians that did co-operate) and which was active during the first decade of this century.
Har are a young project but consisting of experienced musicians from Israel. The members of this Tel Aviv based act were or are in other notorious bands such as Mortuus Umbra, Witchcraft Sadomizer, Mocous Scrotum (hey guys, are you still alive?), Sonne Adam and so on. The band independently released a first EP in 2014, called Baal Ha’ov (there was a tape-edition too, quite limited, via Orgasmatron Records), and then everything seemed to fade away in total silence.
