Auralatrocityabyss - Aural Atrocity Abyss

The Mark Inside EP

Yellow Lazarus

Released in January of this year, this smorgasbord of various electronic styles by new German group Yellow Lazarus probably should not appeal to me as much as it has. However, I tend to try most things Out of Line Music Label puts out, so I gave it a go. There's a lot going on here, style-wise, and it definitely pulls from several electronic styles I've never been into. However there's a catchy aggressiveness to this EP that has really gotten to me, and I've found myself listening to it a lot.

Consisting of 5 tracks, the release is all over the spectrum sonically, pulling influences from everything like dub to hardstyle, ebm, and synthpunk, just to list a few. I think part of it's appeal is that everything is mixed together so well, alternating from one stylistic influence to another seamlessly. The EP also tends to have an aggressive delivery that reminds me a bit of groups like Atari Teenage Riot or Mindless Self Indulgence, however it maintains a poppy catchiness as well. The variations between the three vocalists also keeps things fresh, and mixes melody, growls, and screams wonderfully.

My favorite track is the last one, "Half a Cigarette", though "Dead Slot Machines" is a close second. I really find all of the tracks great though, and have serious respect for how well they've brought various styles together. The EP is melodic, raw, poppy, groovy, fun, catchy, hard, and all around awesome.Honestly my unfamiliarity with many of the electronic styles utilized means my ability to describe the tracks is limited, unfortunately. Which just means you should listen to it!

Their full length was supposedly in the works, however I do not know if there have been delays due to current events. As of January it was slated to be released later this year.

You can pick up the digital album via Bandcamp and probably most other digital music retailers. I don't know of a physical version existing, if it does it would probably be found at Out of Line Music's webstore.

Beneath The Crimson Eclipse Imperial Demonic

Melodic black metal in the style of Dark Funeral, Dissection, and Dimmu Borgir. The vocals in particular stand out for clarity, and like any good band in this style, the riffs are blistering and catchy.

It is available on Bandcamp and physical copies are up for pre-order through Black Lion Records.

Oranssi Pazuzu

Mestarin kynsi, by Oranssi Pazuzu

6 track album

Mestarin Kynsi

Oranssi Pazuzu

The latest release from Finnish psychedelic black metallers Oranssi Pazuzu is possibly my favorite release of theirs yet. This is primarily due to the track Uusi Teknokratia, the first single off the album.

Overall the album is more of their maddening, psychotic black metal weirdness, but the whole thing seeps an anxious tension that ramps the listening experience up a notch. Several of the tracks exemplify a slow descent into auditory lunacy, with melody giving way to wild noise and back again. The eerie, ethereal synths steadily morph into fuzzy, aggressive guitars, with the crescendo of insane vocal howls dragging the listener through the muck of madness. The last track in particular devolves into utter wild noise to close out the album, fittingly enough.

As for the aforementioned Uusi Teknokratia, it is a lesson in anxiety. The track builds at just the right pace, a crawling, mounting tension that erupts into full blown chaos. It is creeping dread incarnate, before becoming completely unhinged. The synths and vocals blend perfectly, carrying the first part of the song, as the rest of the instruments begin to alter their repetitive melodies and rhythms before exploding. Yet even in the midst of the chaos the synths and vocals continue dragging the listener through the spiraling madness. Finally, you're given a seemingly peaceful reprieve, yet one that continues the anxiety of the first half of the track, with sounds that would suit the lead-up to a jump scare in a horror film. Honestly I cannot say enough good things about this song, and have become obsessed with it.

Kuulen ääniä maan alta is another stand out track, terrifyingly grating, and with the same extreme tension. Despite the fuzz and dissonance, the track remains thoroughly catchy, and is easily my second favorite on the album. This album is a great outing from a band that have really begun to absolutely master the art of dissonant weirdness, and I strongly encourage giving it a listen.

There's also a great Silent German Expressionism/ Film Noir style music video for Uusi Teknokratia, though it is a shortened version of the song, primarily missing the haunting outro.

You can pick up a digital copy from the band's Bandcamp page (cassettes are sold out), and physical copies via Nuclear Blast or even Amazon.

Panoptikum

Die Kreatur

Somehow this release flew under my radar, which I feel is more on Napalm Records than me, probably being buried under an armada of pirate metal. Dero of Oomph! and Chris Harms of Lord of the Lost combine forces for a new Neue Deutsche Härte outing as Die Kreatur.

This project definitely draws from both musicians' respective sonic tendencies. I find several of the tracks particularly remind me of Oomph!'s amazing album Ritual, released last year. I would also guess that is where this project formed, considering Chris Harms' guest spot on "Europa" off that album. However I find the first half of the album tends to be more aggressively abrasive in sound than most material either musician has recently released. Which is not a bad thing, and definitely roots the album more in metal than rock. Harsh vocals abound, particularly from Harms, and many of the songs are rapid and full blast. The latter half seems to mellow just a tad, with a little more symphonic and even medieval metal elements, particularly with tracks like "Schlafes Braut," and "Glück Auf!," Overall though it retains the industrial metal crunch throughout. I have not picked a favorite track yet, but I find " Mensch/Maschine," "Zwei 100%," and "Unzertrennlich" mighty enjoyable.

If you enjoy Industrial metal / Neue Deutsche Härte, I strongly encourage checking out this album.

You can pick up a copy from Napalm Records, digitally on Bandcamp, and on Amazon.

Emperor

US Tour 2023

Rotting Christ 2/17/23

Come and Take It Live

Photos by me.