Hrukjan/Elegiac

Hrukjan/Elegiac

Two book releases from the man behind Sacrificial Sounds Records/Elegiac.

One contains lyrics, essays, and artwork regarding his Elegiac solo project.

The other is a guidebook to runes- their meanings, how to use them, etc.

Both are available via Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R53WMD5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_rh3cGbVW0X41B?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088B4MFFM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_vo3cGbBQ8HW5V?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Urfaust

'Hoof Tar'

The vinyl is incredibly cool. Camera doesn't do justice to the silver foil of the inner box.

One Nightmare Unto Another from Profane Order

Absolutely massive, cavernous, howling War Metal. This album is a full sprint towards the finish line without a second to breath. Every track is exciting, and while the album sometimes feels like the ride is over too soon, you can tell there's zero filler. It's straightforward, adrenaline-inducing aggression from beginning to end. The riffs are tight and catchy, the drums never cease thundering, and the vocals roar spectacularly.

It can be purchased via Bandcamp and Nuclear War Now! Productions.

Gaerea 2/17/23

Come and Take It Live

Photos by me.

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.

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.