Silverburn - Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation (MSH Music Group) [Matt Bladen]
Having been part of the South Wales/South West music scene for a number of years as a part of both Hark and an ex member of Taint. James ‘Jimbob’ Issac is no stranger to loud, extreme, experimental noises. His debut solo album which goes under the word salad title of Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation, takes all of his previous bands sounds and mashes them into a rage-filled type of terrifying catharsis.
Having been part of the South Wales/South West music scene for a number of years as a part of both Hark and an ex member of Taint. James ‘Jimbob’ Issac is no stranger to loud, extreme, experimental noises. His debut solo album which goes under the word salad title of Self Induced Transcendental Annihilation, takes all of his previous bands sounds and mashes them into a rage-filled type of terrifying catharsis.
Conceived in lockdown 2020, it took 1 year to write this album and record the basic tracks in his home studio, then another year to practice the live drumming, before finally heading to Gethin Pearson at the Institute Of Sonic Architecture Studio in Cardiff to record every instrument. If that’s not a labour of love I don’t know what is? This two and a half year journey has finally come to fruition and we have been left with SITA, the uncompromising vision of Issac in his Silverburn guise.
A more primal but somehow more eclectic set of noises than many will expect SITA takes from Hark and Taint but adds the influence of bands such as Botch, Converge, Neurosis and Helmet, along with a slew of 90’s/2000’s bands that brought the sounds of sludge, hardcore and noise music to a bigger audience, all of these influences permeating through this gargantuan record.
A more primal but somehow more eclectic set of noises than many will expect SITA takes from Hark and Taint but adds the influence of bands such as Botch, Converge, Neurosis and Helmet, along with a slew of 90’s/2000’s bands that brought the sounds of sludge, hardcore and noise music to a bigger audience, all of these influences permeating through this gargantuan record.
With a year dedicated to drumming alone, this album beats to a heavy heart, the percussion creating an anchor for the rest of the songs to build around, care taken to make sure that the other elements of the songs are built on top of these sturdy, cavernous foundations. Chugging riffs come front and centre Etheric Crush, the abrasive Annihilation opening up with the sounds of early Mastodon as there’s some melancholic wailing on the stuttering drive of Vita Potentia Animus, the approach to this record being to make the music as extreme but as inventive as you can.
The inspirations of JB worn very proudly on tracks such as the prog sludge of Pain Body (Torn From Auric Shield) and punk punch of Simulacreality. With lyrics inspired by philosophy, psychology, science and existentialism, SITA is a record of juxtaposition; all at once melancholic, defiant, futuristic and primordial, it’s the sound of Isaac’s past colliding with his future. 9/10
Title track Sun Of Other Days begins with an ethereal whisper over lapping waters. Their minimalist approach really alters the senses as the music takes a darker cinematic turn accompanied by Alexia’s haunting vocal melody. A twisted dream of soothing melancholy perfect for setting the scene of a slow burn thriller or horror movie. August Reveries music paints an image of one lost in both desolation and beauty. Slowly stirring evocative images of being trapped yet free to explore a vast uncharted landscape. And should be used in a post-apocalyptic movie.
Dissolution is when mysticism invokes an eldritch elden entity of unknown spaces existing in both the distant neather and as a bordering neighbour, this music is its song. Eerie with qualities of both impending danger and inspiring discovery. Through Dimensions, Through Horizons I rack my brain for synonyms of bleak and melancholy a small spider crawls over my hand. Watching the little arachnid slowly navigate its new environment with its new soundtrack allows me to recognise the hypnotic quality of this song and its journey. My arthropod visitor then swings off onto a packet of cigarette papers. Alexia’s repetition of "Through Dimensions, Through Horizons” enchants the image of the now slowly dancing swirls of toxic smoke.
Dark Minimalism isn’t for everyone. But if you want an emotional journey of the solemn and serene, the music of the preternatural and the heterodox. Then Sun Of Other Days is highly recommended. 10/10
Rezn & Vinnum Sabbathi - Silent Future (Blues Funeral Recordings) [Joe Guatieri]
The inspirations of JB worn very proudly on tracks such as the prog sludge of Pain Body (Torn From Auric Shield) and punk punch of Simulacreality. With lyrics inspired by philosophy, psychology, science and existentialism, SITA is a record of juxtaposition; all at once melancholic, defiant, futuristic and primordial, it’s the sound of Isaac’s past colliding with his future. 9/10
Tryst Arcane - Sun Of Other Days (Self Released) [C Hunter]
Tryst Arcane the Maltese duo of Alexia (vocals) and Julian (keys) have teamed up with guitarist Emanuel Portelli for their new album Sun Of Other Days.
Tryst Arcane the Maltese duo of Alexia (vocals) and Julian (keys) have teamed up with guitarist Emanuel Portelli for their new album Sun Of Other Days.
Title track Sun Of Other Days begins with an ethereal whisper over lapping waters. Their minimalist approach really alters the senses as the music takes a darker cinematic turn accompanied by Alexia’s haunting vocal melody. A twisted dream of soothing melancholy perfect for setting the scene of a slow burn thriller or horror movie. August Reveries music paints an image of one lost in both desolation and beauty. Slowly stirring evocative images of being trapped yet free to explore a vast uncharted landscape. And should be used in a post-apocalyptic movie.
Dissolution is when mysticism invokes an eldritch elden entity of unknown spaces existing in both the distant neather and as a bordering neighbour, this music is its song. Eerie with qualities of both impending danger and inspiring discovery. Through Dimensions, Through Horizons I rack my brain for synonyms of bleak and melancholy a small spider crawls over my hand. Watching the little arachnid slowly navigate its new environment with its new soundtrack allows me to recognise the hypnotic quality of this song and its journey. My arthropod visitor then swings off onto a packet of cigarette papers. Alexia’s repetition of "Through Dimensions, Through Horizons” enchants the image of the now slowly dancing swirls of toxic smoke.
The final track LURA follows a repetitive despondent piano motif companied with ghostly vocal harmonies and subtle guitar correspondence. Equalling the rest of the songs in this album with its subdued ontensity. The weather here is awful at the moment, but this album has convinced me that I have to go out for a walk tonight and listen to it again under cover of woodland, wind and darkness. It’s an absolutely beautiful piece of work and I’ll be disappointed if they don’t find themselves on a number of movie soundtracks. But this is Musipedia Of Metal …. Where’s the Metal? Well, I don’t care. Tryst Arcane and Emanuel Portelli have managed to spill more sadness, darkness and atmosphere into Sun Of Other Days than the majority of Black Metal bands I have listened to.
Dark Minimalism isn’t for everyone. But if you want an emotional journey of the solemn and serene, the music of the preternatural and the heterodox. Then Sun Of Other Days is highly recommended. 10/10
Rezn & Vinnum Sabbathi - Silent Future (Blues Funeral Recordings) [Joe Guatieri]
What happens when two psychedelic bands with Doom tendencies from Chicago and Mexico respectively, come together for one album? It turns out that it’s not what you would expect as traditional rock instrumentation is combined with electronic music. Born Into Catatonia starts Silent Future off with an ambient interlude which sounds like walking through a mystical forest with a fluorescent light flickering in the distance. Already putting me into a world that I didn’t expect the record to bring.
As the first track ends it naturally flows into the second song, Ancestor. It continues the ambient feel from before and introduces guitars and the rhythm section into the mix feeling very patient and hypnotic in their nature. All is not right though as a wall of distorted guitars make their attack by the end of a track, turning the song on its head. My favorite track on the album turns out to be the last song - Obliterating Mists. Both of the natural and symphonic instrumentation combine to create an Eastern feel. Then the song and album ends with a heavy crescendo which feels like a loving tribute to the legendary English Doom Metal band, Electric Wizard.
Overall, Silent Future provides a story book experience where all of the songs feel connected together, however some moments take a while to process and don’t hit you immediately. 7/10
Cult Of Sobek - Petsuchos EP (Self Released) [Rich Piva]
Cult Of Sobek are from Edinburgh, UK, but they sound more like they emerged from some bog that no human has stepped near in a thousand years. These guys are slow, plodding, and very, very growly. This is music to scare people by, like if you want to piss off your nosey neighbor just pipe this through to next store kind of stuff, because it will take a certain type of person to sit and listen to their new EP Petsuchos. I had to look up what Petsuchos means, and I was both happy and not surprised…
“The petsuchos, also known as the son of Sobek, was a large crocodile terrorizing Long Island. It is created by placing a magical necklace on an ordinary reptile, endowing the creature with monstrous power.”
That is taken from the Riordan Wiki page, which I have no idea what that is, but if there is a creature terrorizing Long Island count me in.
Back to the music. If you like Conan, Electric Wizard and bands of that ilk, this may be for you. I dig the opening title track musically, but vocally I struggle a bit with the absolute low guttural growl and those who are more clean singing leaning may run away from this quickly. There is no shortage of fuzzy riffs on this three song EP, as the second track, Lord Of The Crocodile, brings the Sabbath love, but I’m betting Ozzy or any of the other singers who shared the stage with Mr. Iommi could ever sound like the vocals here. I would love to be able to understand what is going on here because based on the name of the band, EP, and tracks, I bet there is a fun little story here, but alas, all I can do is enjoy the more upbeat of the three tracks, Maneater, musically while I wonder what the hell is going on.
Cult Of Sobek will not be for everyone given to vocals, but I see some serious potential musically on Petsuchos. I dig the vibe, and dig the playing, but struggle to get past the vocals. Those who dig the growl will really enjoy this, those who don’t should stay away. 6/10
Cult Of Sobek are from Edinburgh, UK, but they sound more like they emerged from some bog that no human has stepped near in a thousand years. These guys are slow, plodding, and very, very growly. This is music to scare people by, like if you want to piss off your nosey neighbor just pipe this through to next store kind of stuff, because it will take a certain type of person to sit and listen to their new EP Petsuchos. I had to look up what Petsuchos means, and I was both happy and not surprised…
“The petsuchos, also known as the son of Sobek, was a large crocodile terrorizing Long Island. It is created by placing a magical necklace on an ordinary reptile, endowing the creature with monstrous power.”
That is taken from the Riordan Wiki page, which I have no idea what that is, but if there is a creature terrorizing Long Island count me in.
Back to the music. If you like Conan, Electric Wizard and bands of that ilk, this may be for you. I dig the opening title track musically, but vocally I struggle a bit with the absolute low guttural growl and those who are more clean singing leaning may run away from this quickly. There is no shortage of fuzzy riffs on this three song EP, as the second track, Lord Of The Crocodile, brings the Sabbath love, but I’m betting Ozzy or any of the other singers who shared the stage with Mr. Iommi could ever sound like the vocals here. I would love to be able to understand what is going on here because based on the name of the band, EP, and tracks, I bet there is a fun little story here, but alas, all I can do is enjoy the more upbeat of the three tracks, Maneater, musically while I wonder what the hell is going on.
Cult Of Sobek will not be for everyone given to vocals, but I see some serious potential musically on Petsuchos. I dig the vibe, and dig the playing, but struggle to get past the vocals. Those who dig the growl will really enjoy this, those who don’t should stay away. 6/10