archive for April, 2009

Belle Epoque – A La Dèrive

Friday, April 17th, 2009

Belle Epoque are a French band that play authentic screamo in the style of e.g. Daïtro and Raein. they play intricate melodies that at their softest resembles mid-90s mid-west emo, and at their hardest resembles City of Caterpillar and various other semi-progressive screamo bands. Envy even, but not as epic – more caustic. but despite not being as epic as Envy, Belle Epoque are definitely hypnotising, and well worth a listen or two or three hundred. a magnificent screamo band that deserves everyone’s attention. the music is hauntingly beautiful at times. especially when the guitars twinkle like Mineral and Christie Front Drive, until it gradually progresses into heavy riff-based screamo. amazing.

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4volt – Array

Friday, April 17th, 2009

“Array” is the continuation of what was started on “Elevate”. it is less ambient and droning, and much more catchy and upbeat. you may recognise some of the tracks on this album from a3o’s “The Infernalist” or “The Misadventures of Lomen” (if you haven’t seen either, go get them – they are hilarious). this is the maybe most catchy effort 4volt has put in. not as droning and creeping as his previous efforts (especially Aware) was. this has an analog sound with plenty of blip blops and the like. it is ultra catchy and mega aewsome. I highly recommend picking this up. it is idm at it’s very finest!

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4volt – Elevate

Friday, April 17th, 2009

with his third album, 4volt aims to utilize a much more analog sound. this album is an idm masterpiece of intense synths and upbeat rhythms that will get yo feet movin’. it is very much a complete change of style for 4volt. but that does not at all mean you won’t like it if you’re more of an ambient nerd than someone who enjoys electronic music in general. it still has the signature 4volt stamp on it. the quality stamp. so get this. enjoy!

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4volt – Elements

Friday, April 17th, 2009

4volt’s second album is full of many elements that are layered upon one another. and all the songs have pretty different elements as well. this album ranges from classical music influences to Nintendo influences to good ol’ ambient. “Elements” is much lighter than the first album. where “Aware” was mostly dark and creeping, this album is pretty light-hearted – but intense in its own way. where the first album had the listener in suspense due to the creepy atmosphere, this one has the listener mesmerised because of all the beautiful elements and how they are blended masterfully. it just sounds so soothing – it’s amazing. an incredible effort from 4volt, that deserves your attention! get this!

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4volt – Aware

Friday, April 17th, 2009

not an album per se, this is really a compilation of standalone songs. the title “Aware” was chosen because this “album” demonstrates 4volt (a.k.a. Jeremy Peterson) and his «awareness of music as a form of expression and experiment». it is dark, moody and creeping ambient, creeping down your spine with a creepy atmosphere. and it has its catchy moments as well, actually. some tracks have so catchy beats, you might’ve felt like getting up and dancing if it hadn’t been for the fact that this music might scare the shit out of you. could easily accompany Doom III on a 50″ in the dark.

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Noisy Sins of the Insect – Discography

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

you guys know what the best thing about having your own blog is? *you* decide what’s going to be upped on it. you know what the second best thing is? you can write whatever the hell you want in the descriptions. this means I won’t have to worry about sounding “subjective”. you see when I write more “professional” reviews, I try not to use words like “good”, “awesome” or “mind-blowing”. instead I try to describe the music and the feelings it give me, as objective as possible, in order for other people to get the general sound and vibe the reviewed record gives, instead of forcing my opinions down their throats. but here, on this blog, all those boundaries are gone! thus: DOWNLOAD THIS ALBUM! DO IT NOW! BECAUSE IT IS TOTALLY BRILLIANT, AND IT IS SO GOOD THAT YOU WILL START TO WONDER HOW THESE GUYS CAN ACTUALLY *BE* THIS GOOD WITHOUT BEING SOME SORT OF UNNATURAL FORCE OF NATURE OR SOMETHING ELSE NON-HUMAN!!! okay. went a little overboard there. but you get the overall message – it’s a good album. Noisy Sins of the Insect is one of the very finest screamo bands. they play a pure bred screamo in the vein of Saetia. high-pitched screams and an extremely dynamic and aggressive melodic approach signalizes their sound. the jazzy and dreamy feel to this album will get you carried away into a trance, from the first second to the very last. so download this, and let it seduce you.

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Iskra – Iskra

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

this is without a doubt one of the most violent and intense albums I have ever put on this blog. and it definitely deserves to be on here. the music is very heavy and violent, but what is even better (or worse) is that the lyrics are equally extreme. and you can tell that these guys are serious when they urge you to «work illegitimate jobs, evade any tax» while stressing that «direct action is the only recourse for developing opposition». this is without a doubt an anarchist punk band. they practice what they preach. and the music is crushingly heavy, and a definite fresh breath of air – no matter what you were listening to prior to putting on this record. it is non-stop energy and intensity. it is one of the freshest albums ever, and you should not miss out on it!

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Iskra – Demo

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

by the early 90s the metal genre had grown overly technical and cold. the genre was simply drowning. then suddenly, from the Norwegian forests and mountains came a genre known as blackened metal. this was a genre that stood out in stark contrast to the other metal genres. it was lo-fi, had shrieking and painful vocals, no palm mutes and no concern as to whether it was actually technically impressive or not. it was simply raw. Iskra are kind of to punk rock what Darkthrone were to metal. it is raw, it is heavy, it is in your face like nothing like it – and it is awesome. this demo of lo-fi Amebix-like “blackened crust”. Iskra crosses black metal with crust. and the result is a very heavy form of crust with black metal guitars, kind of resembling Burzum (on speed). it also has much in common with the 90s power violence scene in terms of the political lyrics and how raw the music is. one detail Iskra does not share with black metal at all however is the sentiments that are evident in their lyrics. this is without a doubt anarchist punk rock, as creative and interesting as the likes of Rudimentary Peni and Crass. you will basically need to hear this to get this – so download it and have a go!

click here to download