The Best LPs of 2017

Whether you've been on board for the past six years or even just six weeks, you probably know that Black Metal & Brews loves music and hates deadlines. We're already two months into 2018 and the internet's already full of rhetoric surrounding albums that are surely going to be impossible to top this year. I've done it before myself and I've been wrong more often than I've been right. Point being, this list is arriving right on time or my own schedule: long after anybody cares to read it but exactly when I find it within myself to share it. I've got forty albums that ruled in some way that I'll be linking alphabetically and ten that are the real premiums, which will be in their own little grouping. I hope I can shine some light on something you haven't heard, or at least I'll validate your superiority by leaving off the things that mattered most to you (although I'm always up for a recommendation if you've got one).

I spent most of 2017 in a sort of "time out" on extreme metal and this list reflects it. Much of it was because 95% of my listening was done via speakers in a workplace environment that wouldn't tolerate loud sounds (I get it) and it had an impact on the selections I made. I'm about to make a career change that will allow me to listen to music in privacy, so expect more of a return to form with my selections in 2018. There's a lot to listen to, so grab a nice drink or bookmark this page to casually visit at your own pace. If something looks unfamiliar, all the more reason to check it out. Enjoy!

Atriarch- Dead as Truth
Azar Swan- Savage Exile
Bootblacks- Fragments
Circle- Terminal
Cormorant- Diaspora
Dead Neanderthals- The Depths
Depeche Mode- Spirit
Drab Majesty- The Demonstration
Emptiness- Not for Music
Evilfeast- Elegies of the Stellar Wind
Expander- Endless Computer
Eye of Nix- Black Somnia
Faceless Entity- In Via Ad Nusquam
Gold- Optimist
Golden Donna- Carousel Hold
Hell- Hell
Internazionale- The Pale and the Colorful
Jon Edifice- Jon Edifice
King Woman- Created in the Image of Suffering
Korean Jade- Exotics
Laster- Ons vrije fatum
Lingua Ignota- All Bitches Die
Lussuria- Standstill
Malokarpatan- Nordkarpatenland
Mastodon- Emperor of Sand
Monarch!- Never Forever
Nemorensis- The Fae Queen
Nidingr- The High Heat Licks Against Heaven
Old Tower- The Rise of the Specter
Planning for Burial- Below the House
Raising Holy Sparks- Search for the Vanished Heaven
Roman Master- Roman Master
The Ruins of Beverast- Exuvia
Sanguine Relic- Bitter Reflection in Luminous Shadows
Snapped Ankles- Come Play the Trees
Spectral Voice- Eroded Corridors of Unbeing
TALSounds- Love Sick
Tchornobog- Tchornobog
Utzalu- The Loins of Repentance
Rick Weaver- The Secular Arm

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2017



Black Cilice- Banished from Time
Black Cilice was covered on Pitchfork a few years ago with the release of Mysteries. For many, this means the band is no longer relevant. For me, it means that serious underground talent need not put on a front or change to suit a perceived timid audience. Black Cilice continues to produce some of the most ripping black metal out there and they're even doing the occasional live gig now. That may be why this is just a bit more easily examined than its predecessors, although it still contains all of the dangerous spirit that the project has long embodied. Fingers firmly crossed that we'll all get to witness the spectacle one day.

Cathode Ray Eyes- How We Lost the 21st Century
I discovered Cathode Ray Eyes by accident shortly after the release of How We Lost the 21st Century and this unreal fusion of garage rock, psych and post-punk (with a little bit of a lot of other good stuff) has been a constant listen ever since. 2017 was, for me, the year where garage rock and psych stuff really clicked (hence the Snapped Ankles album up above and the Oh Sees album below) and this was probably the first new release to really hammer it home for me. The newness of this sound means I lack a bit of the vocabulary necessary to explain how the fuzz and reverb all come together to tickle my ears in just the right way, but I'll be damned if this doesn't run circles around a lot of bands out there who are merely treading water.


Fleurety- The White Death
True masters of black metal weirdness have returned! Along with Ved Buens Ende and Arcturus, Fleurety were instrumental in luring me out from my Danny Elfman and John Zorn obsessions and towards the darker side of zany when I was still a teenager. After a collection of odds and ends, I didn't really expect the band to lunge forth with something as cohesive and jarring as The White Death, but I now can't imagine my year really feeling the same without it. No gimmicks or goofs here, just a truly progressive take on black metal without any of the negative context that "prog" and its offshoots may hold for some of us. No limitations of genre can be thrown at this, yet it embodies so much of the freedom and excitement that define black metal to me without losing its precision.



GAS- Narkopop
2017 was the year I first became acquainted with Wolfgang Voigt's long-running project GAS, which released its first album in over sixteen years. Narkopop is pure atmosphere, fusing elements of minimalist techno and ambient with a sensibility more akin to modern classical composition than dancefloor jams. The lush photographs of the forest make perfect sense with this album, which feels far more organic and intuitive than many of its companions in the electronic music world. Ambient music is often a salve for sleep or "background music" yet Narkopop remains intriguing and oddly alluring even at its sparsest moments.


Human Leather- Lazy Karaoke
I saw a lot of rhetoric in 2017 likening Ulver's newest to Depeche Mode, but if anybody wore the crown of 80's pop perfection, it was newcomers Human Leather. The innocence of youth and the pain of loss and betrayal shine through in equal parts on this emotionally rich LP in a way that few bands have managed since "Shake the Disease" was released before the members of Human Leather were even born. I've spent a lot of time talking about this album publicly and in my conversations with friends and the impact still remains. "Ugly Sister" is still the most heartbreaking song I've heard in ages and the entire flow of this album leaves me aching and enthralled. As with any good pop music, this is memorable just as much for its sadness as it is for the hooks.

Integrity- Howling, for the Nightmare Shall Consume
This came out of nowhere. I've long been on the fence with Integrity, whose music always holds the right energy but hasn't always connected with me on any deeper level. Perhaps I was finally ready, because Howling, for the Nightmare Shall Consume kicked me in the teeth right out of the gate and hasn't lost an ounce of its vitality over the last several months. These are some of the most downright feral songs in extreme music to come out in 2017 and are more memorable than things of such intensity usually are. Integrity doesn't just have hooks, it has fucking teeth.


(Thee) Oh Sees- Orc
Songs with nods to fantastical beasts, dungeons, and swordplay are all familiar turf for fans of black metal, so to find a band like Oh Sees (recently shorn of their "Thee") playing with such notions in a new genre felt like comfort in a strange new land. I fell deeply in love with Orc on my first listen and have only grown fonder of it (and the band's massive existing catalog) ever since. These songs range from spastic, explosive garage rock to quirky, funky punk and even the massive sprawling space doom of "Drowned Beast" (video above). Fans of the band may find my take on this perhaps a bit weak, but I'm still so blinded by its brilliance that I can't quite place all the elements that make it so enjoyable.



Oxbow- Thin Black Duke
Oxbow's been threatening to release Thin Black Duke since shortly after 2007's Narcotic Story. Few albums are worth such a wait, but thankfully Oxbow didn't give us a Chinese Democracy, they gave us an album of such quality that most bands never release anything like it in their career. Oxbow's already touched that mark a few times, and this offering of noisy rock is alternately cinematic and angular, keeping the listener alert and always attentive. I had the good fortune of catching Oxbow live twice supporting this and these songs are vicious on their own onstage, yet somehow even more haunting on wax. We don't deserve this, but we're all so lucky it exists.

Ulver- The Assassination of Julius Caesar
Ulver is, aside from long-running classics Coil and The Cure, my favorite band. They aren't on my list as a matter of mere favoritism. They're my favorite because they can switch gears and directions a seemingly limitless number of times and remain honest and compelling. The Assassination of Julius Caesar brought together so many beautiful paths the band has walked in such a cohesive way that the end result was simultaneously familiar and entirely new. To call this "pop" would be slightly inaccurate, yet the infectious melodies and singalong sensibility elevate these songs to the highest echelon of rock music happening right now. This is timelessness captured in a moment.


Yellow Eyes- Immersion Trench Reverie
Brooklyn black metallers Yellow Eyes have fully hit their stride. On Sick With Bloom, the band fully realized its best strengths. With Immersion Trench Reverie, they highlighted them and played to them while making the most of their potent rhythm section's capacities. I've been gushing over these guys since 2012 and I feel as though I've run out of good ways to describe what they do. It's simply exhilarating to hear such nimble and evocative guitar work, and Will's voice has never been more tortured sounding than on these songs. My favorite song changes almost daily, but that's only indicative of how unified and forceful this album is. If you want to hear how rawness and potency can be retained in intricate, complex black metal, there is no other band on earth I could recommend as highly.

Premiere: Sungod- "Frequence" from the Holodeck Vision One compilation

Since its creation in 2012, Austin, Texas-based label Holodeck Records has been instrumental in supporting many varieties of underground music. As a collective run by members of well respected groups like S U R V I V E and Troller, the primary focus is on music that pushes boundaries and captures the imagination. This Friday, the label will release its first digital compilation, a thirty song collection with everything from coldwave and lush ambient to minimalist takes on psychedelic rock. Whether you're interested in hearing new tunes from heavyweights like Automelodi, Drab Majesty, and Thousand Food Whale Claw, or catching the first glimpse of promising acts like Virgin Pool, Windows1995, and Joey, this collection is essential listening for long-term fans just as much as it is for those who have yet to familiarize themselves with the label's reputation.

Today, Black Metal & Brews has the honor of premiering "Frequence" by Sungod, one of the collection's centerpieces. This group's cosmic sound straddles the territory between classic horror soundtracks and the expansive krautrock sounds of the genre's earliest, most experimental days. It's driving rhythms are paired with sublime synth sounds and crystalline guitar leads that follow a subtle but direct arc from blastoff to the deepest reaches of space. While you listen, peruse the full tracklist below and check out the lineup for Holodeck's impending South by Southwest showcases on March 15th and 17th.




1. Omni Gardens- "Ceiling of the Mind"
2. Michael C Sharp- "Blublocker"
3. Dallas Acid- "The Orgy in San Felipe"
4. Flatliner- "Dream Last Night"
5. Jake Schrock- "Levitation Station"
6. Joey- "Fall for Sport"
7. Automelodi- "Toujours de Jamais"
8. Curved Light- "Endgame Scenario"
9. Michael Stein- "No Standards"
10. pulseCoder- "Hypermuck"
11. Thousand Foot Whale Claw- "There is a Garden"
12. Dust Witch- "Sister Planet"
13. Virgin Pool- "Cloak & Dagger"
14. Future Museums- "Calcite"
15. Sungod- "Frequence"
16. VVV- "Shahmat"
17. Kyle Dixon- "Dat Way"
18. Samantha Glass- "The Proof Inside Your Mind"
19. LACHANE- "Olneyville"
20. Smokey Emery- "Broken Clouds"
21. Dylan Cameron- "Graceless Gods"
22. Norm Chambers- "Crossing Over"
23. Windows1995- "Chills Hill"
24. Single Lash- "Insect Hell"
25. JU4N- "Gauzing"
26. Bill Converse- "OK Karplus"
27. Symbol- "Umasa"
28. Skullcaster- "Crossing the Blood Brain Barrier"
29. Drab Majesty- "Cannibal"
30. Troller- "Rodan"

A Benefit for Stephen Petrus: "When one has nothing left make ceremonies out of the air and breathe upon them"

This post was initially going to be a review of a brand new compilation, but I've decided that due to the timeliness of matters, it's most important for me to simply put this out for the world to experience without going into great depth. Why? Because when this album is a compilation set to benefit Stephen Petrus, a member of the noise community whose house burnt down on January 8th. The public might view extreme musicians as groups of unsavory people, but I can't think of too many examples of such a large community coming together like this to help one of its own in other musical genres. So, instead of spending lengthy paragraphs telling you how the appropriately titled "Recovery From Flames" from Marc Benner is one of my standout tracks or how great it is to be introduced to Petrus' own music with the killer tune "Scarlet Apocalypse I" from his project Lithopædion, I'm simply using this space to encourage you to purchase this compilation and help this fellow reclaim a small part of his life and rebuild the rest. The music is generally on the ambient side of noise, with few tracks straying into harsher territory, making this a rather listenable compilation even for newcomers to the genre. In fact, with 28 tracks occupying about three hours' time, this one's a perfect introduction to some stellar noise artists. It's currently going for ten bucks but will soon be raised to fifteen for optimal benefit for Mr. Petrus, so hop on it now. Still, if you can afford to pay more than the minimum, I urge you to do so. The bandcamp player has been refusing to work on my page, for which I apologize. Click any of the links above to visit this compilation and hear the tunes.

Founders Porter

Brewery: Founders Brewing Company
ABV: 6.5%
IBUs: 45

Today I'm reviewing a beer that's a bit more of a standard, but this does nothing to diminish its impact. I feel like beers that are more widely distributed or are available in six packs get a bit of a bad rap from some craft beer geeks. While I'm always hunting down fancy 750ml bottles of limited beers, I also appreciate getting six of the same delicious beer for a good price. When Founders announced they'd be arriving in Florida, I was thrilled. This beer has been worth the wait.

Founders Porter has a bit more of a hoppy kick than some other porters, but it blends nicely with the smoothness of malt and makes for a great drinking experience. The smooth, dark brown liquid tingles nicely on the tip of my tongue. It's not something I can drink thoughtlessly but it's not a strong and challenging flavor either. In other words, it's ideal sipping beer, which is just what I wanted today.

While drinking this, I'm listening to "Mixed Emotions" by Søren, which is part of this month's free download series from electronic/industrial/noise/etc label, Ascetic House. Each day this month a new cassette is being released for purchase. At the end of the day, the tape is taken out of the store. In addition to the tape sales, each day a new album is added to the website for free download. These albums are often rare or out of print releases, making the download quite welcome. While it's not aggressive metal, this music pairs nicely with an equally smooth and deep beer.

Top Noise, Drone, Experimental, & Electronic Releases of 2013

Hey readers, welcome to the second of my posts rounding up the most exciting and enjoyable releases of 2013. This is another catch-all type post, but instead of focusing on things that wouldn't normally appear on my website, this entry is a journey through all of the strange, potentially unclassifiable releases that have graced my ears over the course of the past year. I was initially considering making a list for harsher forms of sonic experimentation and a separate list for mellower stuff or things with roots in other genres, but I realized that I'd be in far too deep if I made a million separate categories, so without further ado, I present the best BM&B approved albums that aren't quite metal, but are entirely worth my readers' time.

25. K11- "Another Temple to the Great Beast 666" (Utech)
From horror to bliss and back, "Another Temple to the Great Beast 666" is an album that (like many here) can't truly be described with words. It's a series of experiences that weave in and out of each other. From subtle sounds of nature, as if one were actually visiting the ruins of an ancient temple, to roaring tones that evoke images of demonic rituals, this album touches on many different areas of noise and drone, keeping things fresh from start to finish.

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24. Machismo- "Severe Disconnect" (Depravity Label)

Easily some of the most static and turbulent noise I've heard, "Severe Disconnect" is like leaving reality behind in a moment of pure fear. If this group isn't out to directly cause harm to the listener, they're certainly skilled at making me think otherwise. Violence embodied. Don't know how this hasn't sold out yet. Get it while you can.

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23. Sunken Cathedral- "Sunken Cathedral" (Black Horizons)
Slow moving, textured drone atmospheres aplenty on this release. It all feels very organic and you can practically feel the moss growing on the ruins of something ancient and sacred. Blissful and mind melting, perhaps both for the same reason.

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22. Trepaneringsritualen- "The Totality of Death" (Malignant Records/Silken Tofu)
As one of the first death industrial projects I ever heard, Trepaneringsritualen has long been a reference point for me when discussing the bleaker side of music. With this two disc set, with each CD being released by a separate label, this project visits new depths that set me on edge in all the ways I needed. It's hard to state how much of an endurance test this release can be at times, but the reward is all the more enjoyable after repeated listens.

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21. Body of Light- "Volonta di Amore" (Chondritic Sound)
Surprisingly beautiful and almost entirely reminiscent of new wave, this tape instantly captured my attention and should do the same for you. My only complaint is that it's far too brief, but as always, that just means it's good for multiple listens in one sitting.

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20. Dylan Ettinger/Goldendust- "The Pale Mare/Truth" (DKA Records)
This split 7" is the first release from fledgling label DKA Records and offers one brief yet engaging track from each artist. Ettinger's side features dense beats, seemingly rooted in rap/hip-hop, which are paired with elegant and simple electronic melodies and heavily warped vocals. Goldendust's side contrasts the almost claustrophobic dance vibe of Ettinger with a hazy, mellow ballad that might seem a bit sleepy at first listen, but proves truly addictive over time.

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19. Brennendes Gehirn & Dorian Williamson- "Rites of the Aethyr" (Antithetic)
This collaborative release surprised me despite my familiarity with Williamson's primary work in drone duo Northumbria. Traveling from entirely welcoming and comforting bass drones to the vast emptiness of the abandoned remnants of once great cities, this release kept me guessing the whole time, and subsequent listens only reinforced the strengths demonstrated here. I hope these two minds meet to collaborate again. Read my review for greater details.

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18. Judas Christ- "American Gulag" (Male Activity)
This one was submitted for review and the name struck me as silly. Then I realized I couldn't stop listening to it. My review should sum up my thoughts on this fantastic offering from this bleak new group.

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17. wet nurse.- "Flux Emission" (Male Activity)
Overwhelmingly depressing power electronics with unconventional structures, if there is such a thing as a conventional structure in noise. One of the albums that convinced me that analog purists sometimes miss out on real gems. Read my full review here.

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16. Waves Crashing Piano Chords & Tanner Garza- "de Sade" (Forever Escaping Boredom)
At times terrifying and others merely disconcerting, this collaboration between two competent noise musicians was one of those tapes that REALLY wasn't long enough. With a mere two tracks of collaboration between these individuals that barely makes the eight minute mark, I can only hope that this is a teaser for some sort of horrifying opus rather than a brief melding of minds. Read my full review for further details.

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15. The Stargazer's Assistant- "Mirrors & Tides, Shivers & Voids" (Utech)
Possibly the most conventionally accessible release on this list, this album has been one of my most heavily played of the year. My thoughts on this 2x10" release can be found over at Hammer Smashed Sound.

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14. The Vomit Arsonist- "An Occasion for Death" (Malignant Records)
The melancholy drone and noise experimentation of The Vomit Arsonist caught me by surprise earlier this year and never really let go. It seems there's no occasion for which this album didn't feel appropriate this year. Read my review and go buy a copy.

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13. Swallowing Bile- "Wojtek" (Sounding Session)
To pick a single Swallowing Bile release and say "this is the one" is hard. This fresh project has already proven to be a powerhouse in the noise and power electronics communities, and "Wojtek" was the first of his albums I obtained this year. It also happened to be the one I've listened to most frequently. It's quite safe to say this is one of the only truly harsh releases I loved enough to include on this list, so if you're curious about more extreme sounds but aren't fully prepared for them, give this tape a listen and see if you're ready.

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12. Breathing Problem- "Reactive Attachment Disorder" (Wohrt Records)
Easily one of the most depressing and fluid power electronics releases of the year, "Reactive Attachment Disorder" was an early find for me and has remained as gripping as the first time I listened. While it's hard to recommend this for everybody, brave fans of the genre will find this tape incredibly rewarding. Read my review for full details.

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11. Crowhurst- "Memory Loss" (Self-Released)
After reviewing Crowhurst's ominous "Death Van" earlier this year, it was a pleasant surprise to find an even more thrilling release from this nebulous entity. What kind of music does Crowhurst perform? It depends on the release. With roots in noise, Crowhurst seems intent on spreading its horrifying little fingers in every direction. "Memory Loss" is some of the most detached yet focused work I've heard from this project to date. Listen and fall in love.

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10. Bodystocking- "Sheer Spidertouch" (Strange Rules)
As with most Strange Rules cassettes, it's rather unlikely this one will surface for purchase at any point in the near future, but I managed to snag a copy with great luck. This rather prolific side project from A Pregnant Light/Colloquial Sound Recordings mastermind is a dense, beautiful industrial endeavor and this (along with many releases on CSR sublabel Locust Leg) has captivated me in a way I may not have initially expected. The motion never stops. The beauty is more than superficial. Keep an eye out for more from Bodystocking, and don't expect it to last long when copies do surface.

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9. Synsophony- "Karmic Existence" (Acephale Winter Productions)
This free digital EP is one of the few releases I was uncertain about placing here rather than in my black metal section. Still, as an absolutely horrifying drone release, this absolutely belongs on this list and is one of the unsung albums of the year that I still can't believe didn't receive more attention. This absolutely deserves to be heard by everybody. Read my review for more information and get ready for a new EP in early 2014.

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8. Herukrat- "Anna Karina" (SVN OKKLT)
This tape is harsh noise wall with a purpose. Focused, obsessive, and in control, Herukrat guides the listener perfectly. My friend Tom at Metallic Imagery described this better than I ever could. Download this sold out cassette and lose your mind.

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7. Jason Hodge- "Hope Has Abandoned Us" (Enemata)
This heartbreaking, pensive cassette has been a frequent companion over the past year. Jason Hodge has released a few tapes this year, each of which has proven to be truly dynamic in its approach to noise. Like any of his works, this album feels fresh and Hodge's commitment to creating something unique is fulfilled through the course of his work. Read my complete review and grab a copy for yourself.

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6. Khfiva- "I" (Male Activity)
Shimmering beauty paired with depressing atmospheres. Khfiva's debut cassette's only weakness is how short it is. Read my complete review here, and visit my friend Tom at Metallic Imagery to download this long sold out gem.

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5. a death cinematic- "corrosions of traveled daydreams" (Tycho Magnetic Anomalies/Simple Box Construction)
As one of the most brilliantly packaged releases of the year, this should instantly appeal to anybody who gets into the visual component of owning music. As one of the most engaging and desolate experimental/drone cassettes released this year, this should have sold out a long time ago, but it hasn't. Get it if you haven't already. Read my complete review for more reasons you need this.

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4. Image of Life- "Weight Loss During Wartime/Walking in the Dark" (Chondritic Sound)
Easily one of the most frequently played 7" records in my collection, this one is two perfect tracks of coldwave brilliance. Whether it's the featured A-side's frantically catchy madness or the plodding gloom of B-side "Walking in the Dark," this one is absolutely amazing. For bonus giggles and enjoyment, slow things down and play it at 33 instead of 45--it gets super dark and totally fun. If only I could find a copy of their full-length cassette, I'd be quite happy.

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3. Tollund Men- "Virbius Abstract" (Nostilevo)
While Tollund Men managed to release two excellent tapes this year (possibly three, depending on the timeliness of the impending Total Black tape/shirt combo), it's safe to say that this one received more play in my house than pretty much the entire Tollund Men discography combined. While my very amateur interview with Neal touched on this release to some degree, I never gave it the proper review it deserves. I can't really put a genre to this music, but it's both melodic and uninviting at the same time. There's a heavy layer of distortion and reverb that seems to eat half the sound coming out, which only makes these four songs more intriguing, as multiple listens yield a deeper understanding of the music contained within. I seriously can't get enough of this tape and I imagine I'll be listening to it frequently well into 2014.

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2. Crown of Cerberus- "With Arms Extended to the Heavens" (Depravity Label)
Early this year I was almost certain that this would be my top album of the year, and I was almost right. The gorgeous A-side contrasts perfectly with the somewhat startling B-side, making for a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I wrote a lot of nice words about this tape over at Hammer Smashed Sound, and you should read them if you aren't convinced that you need this in your life simply by its high placement on this list.

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1. Tanner Garza- "Lucid" (Static Reason)
I feel it's almost wrong of me to feature the talented Mr. Garza twice in one list, but I'm doing it out of necessity. In almost direct contrast to the meandering madness of his other release on this list, "Lucid" is one of the warmest, most inviting albums I've had the pleasure of hearing all year. There are so many things I could say about this tape, but I've already said them on Hammer Smashed Sound, and I need not ramble any longer on this huge post.

Host: A Brief Profile

Now that my college semester is over, I have the time to focus on things that help me relax. Luckily for all of us, listening to new music and sharing it with the masses is pretty much my favorite thing to do. To get things started in a proper fashion, here's a brief profile of ritual noise artist, Host along with a download link or two for your enjoyment and enrichment. This artist directly contacted me a few months ago and my scatterbrained nature during my semester prevented me from giving a proper review, although I'd enjoyed the album he initially sent. Apparently my constant delays due to school and personal life worked out nicely for my readers, as he's since released an experimental track of sorts and has another album coming out in the very near future.

Host's first release with which I am acquainted, "Implant," is a journey of some sort, perhaps into and through the singularity. The futuristic beauty and horror that play with each other sound like the perfect soundtrack for a sci-fi film of technological advances gone wrong. Disconcerting drones buzz alongside chirping, somewhat tonal electronic textures with minimal to no percussion yet the music definitely does have its own structure. I'm always into a bit of melody or tonality making its way into noise and ambient structures, and Host does a great job of integrating accessible sounds into noisy soundscapes, creating a fantastic atmosphere. This album had my full attention and appreciation within the first minute, and I imagine it'll do the same for most of my readers who have appreciated my noise-related posts in the past. If you're still hesitant to hop on the noise/electronic train, this might actually be a pretty good starting point due to the genre-straddling nature of this release. Grab this one as a free download from Host's bandcamp page to start your journey into one of our many possible futures.

Following the crumbling beauty of "Implant" is Host's current experiment, "Evolution." This song is going to be hard to explain, as everybody has their own wholly unique experience. "Evolution" uses samples from Host's upcoming release, "Null Pointer," and combines them with random number generation, live financial, meteorological, and social data in order to manipulate the sound and alter the experience for every listener. I will admit to only perusing this potentially endless experiment once so far, although I do plan on visiting with it again. My personal experience is that of an endless series of pistons, churning ever onward with mechanical precision. It's dark, relentless, and I love it. Experience it for yourself and be sure to bookmark the page for your own future excursions. This might be the future of music, so don't be surprised if other artists start doing things like this soon.

After immersing myself in "Evolution" for about ten minutes, I feel prepared to present and review Host's impending release, "Null Pointer." Following the apparent trend of growing in size, intensity, and scope, this album's three tracks each pass the ten-minute mark and shed much of the electronic tonality in favor of cavernous low-frequency drones. Even the tiniest of sounds echoes into a seemingly infinite void. True to the album's title, it seems that everything converges somewhere immeasurably distant, with everything fading into a dull hum that never fully reaches a resolution. The mechanical churning I described in "Evolution" surfaces here as intermittent static, swelling to fill empty space left as each previous noise falls farther from audible levels. This album is more experiential than musical, which is not to say that it can't be listened to for the sake of listening, but the massive amount of detail and texture here make this ideal material for a session with headphones in a darkened room. As the last crackle of static fades into oblivion, we are left with nothing but ever-lengthening echoes for the final minute or two, giving a rare moment of peaceful closure that leads to a contemplative silence that I find most appropriate after such an experience.

It should go without saying that Host is an artist to watch in months to come, as this project has already released a handful of solid releases and seems prepared to continue putting out new noise at a considerable pace. "Null Pointer" will be released on the 27th of May, which gives us just under three weeks to prepare. As the music continues to change form and approach with each release, I can only imagine that whatever comes next will be equally engaging and rewarding to dedicated noise fans and casual listeners of drone alike.

Crowhurst- "Death Van" CS/LP (Static Reason/Placenta Recordings)

I awoke today with an anxiety in my mind that wouldn't go away.  There has been a high pitched noise in my bedroom for a week now, and it's really started to trouble me. My sleep is restless and my thoughts are hazy. I often feel like I'm not really present because I'm so exhausted. When I put on Crowhurst's "Death Van," I felt like somehow the inner uneasiness and tension had fallen out of my brain and into my computer's speakers. From the trippy and slightly disturbing artwork to the scattershot approach to noise that Crowhurst is making their name with, a ride in the Death Van takes you through pretty much any experience you can imagine.

From the opening track "Enter the Death Van" on, things are ugly, but not in the chaotic sense that such an album title would imply. Instead the noises roll through and around the listener as a slow and constant waves of sound, bringing one in and out of a claustrophobic sort of madness filled with sharp sounds and feedback. After a while, rather than feeling fear or horror, a dull euphoria sets in. By this point, you've given up on hope and instead you've embraced the insanity--this is the point where Crowhurst excels. When one is forced to find solace in the bleakest of places, Crowhurst is able to effectively guide the listener in any direction. With the help of more than a couple friends, (almost every song here has multiple guests), Crowhurst drives the Death Van full of listeners on a guided tour of Hell in a way that's almost comforting. When we are able to look fear and misery in the eye, we are able to make peace with them. At its peak moments, this album takes the hideous and makes it beautiful.  By the time we've all been beaten into submission, the gag is taken from our mouths and the chains are undone. An almost blissful rendition of the Death in June classic "Rose Clouds of Holocaust" provides a final moment of comfort and beauty, much like the last ten minutes of mental function before brain death occurs. The end is abrupt, yet haunting, leaving you with only one option: to enter the Death Van once again and repeat the cycle.

This album goes on sale on vinyl from Placenta Recordings and cassette from Static Reason on Friday, March 15th. Getting this is pretty much mandatory if you're at all interested in noise, drone, or just bizarre experimental music of any sort. Downloads aren't available from the Crowhurst bandcamp, but a full-album stream can be heard to help you realize just how rad this album sounds.

An Interview with Neal of Tollund Men

For the unfamiliar, Tollund Men is an entity that is hard to describe. Terms like minimal synth, post-punk,and darkwave get thrown around, but they really do no justice to the sounds that Tollund Men create. Mixing the fuzzed out bliss more commonly associated with black metal with the synth density and catchy hooks of new wave's darker acts, Tollund Men is a unique and fascinating project that appeals to pretty much everything I love in music. I recently had the opportunity to ask primary creative member Neal a few questions about Tollund Men's fantastic new cassette, his plans for the year to come, and the real story behind the band's name.

BMAB: Does the name of the band come from a personal anthropological interest in the Tollund Man? What was the catalyst for creating Tollund Men?
Neal: The Tollund Men moniker has caused some confusion. Because the project exists on the periphery of certain punk and metal scenes, I've had people assume that I got the name from the "Bog Bodies" series of cassettes primitive USBM duo Bone Awl released during the early-to-mid oughts. While I really love Bone Awl, getting to see them at a dive bar here in Denver around 2009, playing to an almost non-existent crowd and a smattering of irritated regular patrons, the truth is probably far less interesting. I was pursuing an English degree at the time. I was in a pretty standard (if not boring) British Literature course, when I discovered the Irish poet Seamus Heaney, who, not surprisingly, wrote a poem called "The Tollund Man." Heaney's message is socio-political in the end, but there are several themes that really speak to me--the depressing aspects to freedom, ritual meeting life and causing conflict, concepts of transgression and punishment, the past and present meeting in abstract ways. As for the "Men" instead of "Man," I just thought it was funny because I was the only one in the band. But mostly, it's just a name I picked for some shit I had been working on. 

What have been your primary influences as a musician and artist? Are these influences displayed in the upcoming album of covers and the previous covers you’ve already done, or do you try to pick things that would fall slightly outside of your typical style?
Influence is a very tenuous thing in music, especially now. I don't want to be viewed as a band that sounds like it's from the 80s, it just happens that a lot of the music that I like was made in the 80s! But that's one of the reasons I wanted to do this covers album. I wanted people to have a reference point and be able to see how Tollund Men is something new. I wanted to cover bands that listeners could make connections they normally wouldn't, who were maybe viewing it as some kind of darkwave/minimal band or whatever. Maybe it was set into peoples' minds with that first cover of "Goodbye Horses." Either way, I hope that people will hear our cover of a This Kind of Punishment song, or Halo of Flies, or Cybotron, or whatever, and be able to hear how the influences come out in different ways, that it's not just trying to sound like this band or that or this genre or that. I want to create something unique and forward thinking.

Your newest cassette is entitled Virbius Abstract. Is there a particular significance to this name? With the new release and your album of covers coming out soon, do you have tour plans in mind?
Virbius is a Roman forest god. His story is somewhat mixed with the Greek god Hippolytus, but the gist of it is: Virbius rejects the sexual advances of his stepmother, Phaedra. This makes her furious, so she tells his father, Theseus, that he raped her. Theseus spurns him by sending a wild bull to scare the horses of his chariot, dragging Virbius to his death. Each of the songs on the tape are loosely tied into this theme, making it an "Abstract." 
We are planning another small tour to the west coast this summer, probably only a week or two. We're just too fucking poor and nobody really gives a shit. 

What current artists have impressed you the most with their creative output lately?
There is kind of a running joke about how much Kevin and I like Crazy Spirit. But yeah, they're pretty cool. We've never even seen them. When we went on tour last summer, we taped a piece of paper to the front of the keyboard that said "Crazy Spirit Rules." Maybe it was with a "z." Anyway, it was sort of an inside joke. There's this video of the really amazing band Factrix, and on their keyboard is a sticker that says "Flipper Rules." We were thinking we should pay homage to a band like that. It's pretty absurd that we'd be the Factrix and Crazy Spirit would be Flipper in that scenario; it's funny. But we're both into a bunch of stuff. Right now, newer stuff I'm into is like Cut Hands, Circle of Ouroborus, Dominic Fernow stuff, Stare Case, I don't know, just all the cool shit. 

If you had your way, what would the coming year look like for Tollund Men? More albums? Tours? Peace and quiet from nosy writers like myself?

I'm trying to release about eight more things in the coming year or two and compile the singles onto one LP, and hopefully another full length shortly thereafter. We'll see. If anyone wants to hook us up with tour money we'd take it. Thanks to everyone who has supported this project. 

Free Music Friday: "Four Fanatic Years" mp3 compilation

Today's Free Music Friday comes courtesy of a blog that has helped me greatly in learning about subcategories of noise and extreme sound experimentation. The Static Fanatic shares noise of all varieties and has been a regular read of mine for the past few months. To celebrate four years of blogging and supporting the noise community, The Static Fanatic called upon a few of their friends to contribute tracks for a free noise compilation. Four artists contributed one track each, approximately four minutes in length, leaving us with a perfect glimpse into the many directions noise can travel.

Opening track, "le quartier des spectacles en ruines" by GRKZGL sounds like the inner workings of a great machine, designed to smash or otherwise destroy other machines. There are lots of winding noises and static layered upon each other, with just enough empty space in between to create a tension and sense of anticipation. It's the first I've heard from this artist, but it's definitely a promising introduction. chefkirk follows with "the roger h smith track," which is named after the man behind chefkirk. It's a hybrid of organic sounds and clipping high frequencies, that blend together to create what is apparently a representation of Roger H Smith. I like the shifts in tone presented here, although some of the denser and higher frequencies may be overwhelming to those who haven't yet delved into noise. I've heard a few tracks from chefkirk before, and I definitely recommend checking out more from him, as it's a compelling and unique collage of sounds. Justin Marc Lloyd's track. "touch, teach and hug each other," is much friendlier than the previous two, providing a soothing and chirping soundscape to contrast the harsher frequencies presented earlier in the compilation. I've never heard from him before, but this minimalist noise paired with light melodies in the background works really well for me. It may be the best introduction on this compilation for folks used to friendlier sounds. Closing out this brief but wonderful compilation is Carl Kruger's track, "glacial decay (edit)," which features some excellent background noise paired with the hum of dozens of separate tracks of glitchy electronics. I haven't yet developed the proper vocabulary for explaining noise, as I don't know how to create it myself, but this song is incredibly busy, yet it doesn't have the overwhelming intensity of the GRKZGL track. Instead, I feel as though this song is a glimpse into the future, perhaps when all life ceases to be and machines are left to fend for themselves. Another excellent tune and a perfect way to wrap up this compilation.

In case you missed the link above, click here for the download and be sure to pay The Static Fanatic a visit. You may just find your morbid curiosity gives way to actual enjoyment. Be sure to visit each of the artists' sites as well, as each of them seems to be quite prolific and may have your new favorite album just waiting at the click of a button. Thanks for reading and enjoy the static.