Asva & Philippe Petit – Empires Should Burn…. CD
Small Doses/Basses Frequences
This one arrived out of left field. Being unfamiliar with both artists my expectations were set pretty low. Although the material I’ve heard from Small Doses has always been pretty good I really didn’t know what to expect. The artwork conjures images of ethnic sounds and world music but with a hint of decay.
What is contained within is some excellent ritualistic dark ambient music reminding me of a cross between Halo Manash and Arktau Eos, two excellent artists off of …

Reviver/Aghori – Split C30
Existential Cloth Recordings
Here’s a quick split tape with cool psychedelic artwork. Reviver does his usual thing utilizing low dirgy drones but it has less of a death industrial vibe and more of a dark ambient vibe surprisingly. It’s just not as aggressive as usual.
I didn’t know what to expect from Aghori, but we have some sounds matching Reviver’s style. Although it says on the tape that side B consists of only one track entitled The Same Path Twice the side is broken up into three tracks. …

Kshatriy – Transforming Galaxy CD
Muzyka Voln
Ah, nothing like good ‘ol space ambient to help ground me this morning after a hard night of drinking. At least this stuff will soothe my headache appropriately. First off, love the packaging. Very tasteful, colorful, and psychedelic mix of images make up the artwork on this slick digipak.
The sounds and style of Transforming Galaxy might be a touch predictable; harmonious synth drones, deep resonances, crackling samples. But it is well executed nonetheless. The synths aren’t overtly melodic or cheesy, the merging of electronic and …

V/A – Milwaukee Noise 2005-2010 12xC30
FTAM
Thought I would bring reviews back with a bang with this monumental box set of twelve – yes you read it right – TWELVE cassettes of noise from artists active in the Milwaukee noise scene between the years of 2005-2010. The release costs $40 and that may be hard to justify but I got a chance to see this sucker first hand before I handed over my cash and it’s not really until you hold it in your hands that you realize how much work …

Dead Times/TRTRKMMR – Split LP
Aum War
Here’s a heavy split with 2 like-minded artists representing the blackest of harsh music. The packaging is simple white print on black backgrounds and includes a nifty insert/sleeve with all the info needed on it.
TRTRKMMR is up first with tracks that start out as aggressive power electronics. Chugging distortion, samples, aggressive vocals in the black metal style of things. A track or two in things turn into this kind of ultra-distorted black metal stuff with harmonies emerging somewhere deep under the overdriven layers. Finally, leaking …

Burial Hex – Six Wings LP
Nostilevo
It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a Burial Hex LP yet here is the newest from this now enduring project. Burial Hex is a black noise project focusing on ritualistic and occult elements in dark ambient music. Recently having performed at Existence Establishment’s own Industrial Liberation Festival 2012 the act has really evolved while still staying true to the original vision.
Upon further investigation I’ve found that this recording actually has a somewhat interesting backstory that explains the similarities in each side (from the label): …

Limbs Bin – Primitive Response 7″
Familiar Combatants/Tickled Meat
This is a sick little record featuring roughly 12 intense minutes of face-melting power violence influenced noise and power electronics. Much reminding me of Dead Boomers who also boast of power violence influences. The formula works quite well and makes for some interesting more primitive rhythmic and punk-influenced sounds.
Each side has three tracks which keeps things moving quite fast. Side A features the title track Primitive Response which is a quick sqeal of feedback leading into heavy power electronics explosions. Sweeps Week follows …

Gnawed/RXAXPXE – Split C60
Industrial Culture
Here’s a professional tape release limited to 100 copies splitting the sides between each artist. At 60 minutes there’s a wealth of material here and it’s a great introduction to both artists. The label was kind enough to send me the special edition so I could get a taste of the extra effort which is two metal panels screwed together putting the tape in a kind of “vice”, a nice touch.
Gnawed is up first with 6 heavy tracks and coming in with a sound that is …

Divine Shell/Buildings & Mountains – Of Mine Own Brood C30
Blood Dirt Cassettes
Here’s a split cassette between two newer artists. Divine Shell creates loud and aggressive harsh noise and power electronics while Buildings & Mountains is a more eclectic project spanning the genres of noise, experimental, and electronica. I enjoy each of the projects on their own, but I have to admit I went into this one with an eyebrow raised on how they would mesh together on a split.
Divine Shell presents a mix of tracks with the first a scathing …

Corvuz – ночной туман CD
Zhelezobeton
Here is my first exposure to this Russian dark ambient project and a thorough one it is. ночной туман spans about 60 minutes and is translated as “Invisible Landscapes”.
Corvuz spans styles of new age, and ritual ambience reminding me much of the works of acts like Herbst9, Circular, and Vidna Obmana. The range of sounds here is quite nice and features a diverse set of elements in each track. Usually you will find synth pads, some acoustic element – like guitar or sung vocals – …