Pulsating Cyst – Horrible Signal 7″
Obfuscated Records
Here’s a release where neither artist nor label rings a bell, but there’s a sticker on the package that boasts glow-in-the-dark vinyl! You have my attention. Deep green artwork with card stock inserts and stickers make this a worthy fetish item before even spinning it.
The material here was recorded from live performances so it’s good you can get an idea of what the project sounds like live. Luckily the quality isn’t held back at all from this because the production is very thick and …

Ophibre – Drone Works for Differing Audio Formats and Encoding Methods CDR
Sentient Recognition Archive
Here’s one for all the audio geeks and the just plain curious. Drone Works for Differing Audio Format and Encoding Methods is just that, a disc that; a disc that is in the .cda format (data is arranged as a regular ‘playable’ CD) which features audio that was once encoded in the format that the track was named after.
So since each track is named the exact type of audio encoding that was applied to the source it’s …

Fungi From Yuggoth – Fungi From Yuggoth C30
Diazepam/Lightbulb
Here’s a tape housed in a polar fleece sleeve, I can only assume it’s to protect the outside world from the cold heart contained within these sounds. Fungi From Yuggoth is based on a series of poems by H.P. Lovecraft and this release is available as either a tape from Diazepam or a free download from Lightbulb records.
The promo blurb suggests that the music is recommended for fans of Brighter Death Now and I would have to confirm that’s not far off. There …

Theologian – The Chasms of My Heart CD
Crucial Blast
Here’s the latest release from Lee Bartow the man behind now defunct project Navicon Torture Technologies. 2012 was a busy year with at least 2 new full-length releases from Bartow under the Theologian moniker. For those of you who haven’t experienced the new chapter in his work what you can expect is less power electronics, and more power drone. Although Theologian sound isn’t too far off from the bar set by NTT in the past.
The Chasms of My Heart is probably one …

Failing Lights – Failing Lights CD
Intransitive Recordings
This is actually my first exposure to the project even though this was released a while ago. For those who don’t know Failing Lights is the primary solo project of Mike Connelly, also known as 1/3 of legendary noise units Wolf Eyes and Hair Police. He lives in Michigan, where he runs the Gods of Tundra label.
This self-titled release runs a gamut of various styles and sounds. Some droning noise, sound collage, and even free improv influences. Clocking in at 39 minutes the album …

Deprivation – From the Gutter to the Grave C30
Diazepam
Here’s some extremely lo-fi and raw power electronics/death industrial delivered in a black plastic bag, you know the kind they put liquor or porno into after purchasing it. Worth mentioning is that the tape comes with a simple photocopied art booklet to further explore the concepts dealt with in the album.
Repetitive samples, darkened noise textures, walls of distortion and experimental weirdness is all something you’ll find within the album. The first two tracks are a good showing of noise/pe but the standout …

Being/A Snake in the Garden/Diaphragmatic – July 2012 Tour C30
Self Released
This is a seriously stacked lineup of some of the best harsh noise acts currently active in the U.S. scene today. For those most addicted noise fanatics they have also posted an epic tour video that spans many performances from this exact tour. With this tape each artist contributes a track and then they wrap it up with a massive 3-way collaboration. Quite the piece of ear candy for those with rotting teeth out there..
A Snake In The Garden is …

Kristoffer Nystrom’s Orkestar – Overlook Hotel CD
Malignant Records
Overlook Hotel is the softmore effort from Kristoffer Nystrom’s Orkestar; the collaborative project between Swedish industrial legend Peter Nystrom (Megaptera, Negru Voda), and Norwegian up and comer Kristoffer Oustad (V:28, Plague Machinery). What they present here is a new installment with a classic sound of ambient and rhythmic industrial music.
The Night Corridor sets the mood perfectly with echoing ghostly sing-songs heralding the night and it leads into the follower Cleaning Still Houses which presents the style that the bulk of the album follows …

Body Cargo/Pogrom – Resistance CD
Terror/Cipher Productions
Here is a split with 2 collaborative tracks between these 2 power electronics artists. The theme is resistance, gorilla armies, political rebels. There’s something about when power electronics artists explore political subjects that I really enjoy.
Body Cargo is up first offering several layered tracks of harsh sounds. The tracks are quite detailed and present a traditional power electronics sound not really bringing anything new to the table but that is fine. Black Smoke Obelisks is worth commenting on because of its more ritualistic chanting qualities …

Temple of Set – Temple of Set C32
Cult of Craft
Here’s another snazzy looking release from Cult of Craft this time bringing the noisy sounds of Temple of Set, another act I am unfamiliar with. The packaging is simple yet classy with a bow holding the tape onto the heavy stock.
The sound and style of Temple of Set remind me much of Temple of Tiermes and it’s not just because they have similar names. With this self-titled tape you will get long droning tracks of distorted synth tones. The production is …