Compactor/Vitriol Gauge – Economic Devastation CS
Bandcamp link
It’s been a minute since I last reviewed something, but I have to say, this review pulled me out of the tomb I’ve been in. Destructive sounds from two similarly minded industrial artists comprise this take on economic progress, and damn is it a rewarding experience.
The oversized tape box format is underutilized for the most part. Thankfully the team at Waste Management knew how to maximize the dimensions perfectly. It’s not often that I am taken aback by how thoughtful inserts are since most …

Аргандаб CSUIS records Link
UIS drops another titillating compilation in less than a year. While their previous compilation covered the higher quality end of death-industrial and harsher landscapes, this one inscribes a bigger sense of mystery and sometimes downright befuddling angle to an interesting them.
To start, I think a Russian label tackling the theme of Afghanistan makes a certain kind of sense even though Cold-War era incursions are over three decades old. I don’t know how much the Mujahadin play into the consciousness of the average Russian, but this compilation seems …

Jim Haynes – Electrical Injuries LPAussen Traum records
Jim Haynes was unknown to me until I saw him live. A master at configuring hardware into precise and neurotic movements, Electrical Injuries is a saturated and cold ache of modular sounds and rusted samples.
The sounds on this album are subtle yet forceful prevarication that belie the amount of hard work Jim puts into composing his arrangements. The way these tapestries together might imply the kind of corroding VST manic fitting together normally done on a laptop. A laptop may have very well …

Анатомический Атлас Compilation CS
UIS LABEL
Looking for one of the best experimental compilations of this year? Анатомический Атлас not only has a great array of artists, but a really compelling and cohesive theme. Great curation and a mandatory acquisition!
Анатомический Атлас means anatomical atlas. Each track covers a certain aspect of medicine with respect to the enlightenment era and the tracks cover HNW, dark ambient, and power electronics. The tracks are sequenced impeccably in such a way that there are two distinct build-ups. The art for this …

Torture Corpse – Third Human Sacrifice to Samhain lathe
Auris Apothecary
From Auris Apothecary comes a fetid and grim piece of work from Dutch mastermind Torture Corpse in the usually disregarded lathe cut novelty format. Somehow, Torture Corpse managed to edge a surprising amount of depth with this release which features his Buddhist-tinted, pungent HNW approach. The track is pretty straightforward rumbling and cage shaking, laced with some possible guitar elements and a lot of static. Separating the actual track from the poly-carbon surface noise and imperfections is a great …

Pig Heart Transplant – For Mass Consumption LP
IRON LUNG RECORDS
Perhaps better known as the guitarist in Iron Lung, Jon Kortland is no stranger to noise.
In addition to his punk projects (Gob), he participated in a series of obscure projects in Reno, Nevada, quietly creating disturbing ensembles of noise and filth, firmly ahead of his time. At some point Pig Heart Transplant took root. Its previous works span a huge range of sounds and feature collaborations with a variety of musicians. Iron Lung remains his most prolific project, over …

*purchase this from the shop*

Existence Establishment helps usher in the Canadian invasion with this brutal masterpiece of wall-noise drone. BT.HN (The Rita & Sick Buildings) and Sistrenatus (formerly Funerary Call) present one long harrowing track of pure depravity. Droning overblown synths, unrelenting spasms of crunchy distortion, and subtle atmosphere form a hopeless barrage of industrial waste.

[ Excerpt 1 ] [ Excerpt 2 ] [ Excerpt 3 ]

Metallic …

Torso/GACK/Sandy Saunders – The Human Disease Zine+CDR
Divorce Records
The Human Disease is a collaboration between two artists I am not familiar with (it seems like they just keep popping up) Torso and Gack. Immediately apparent is the care in the concepts with the accompanying “zine” style packaging. A booklet filled with an insert which the CD is mounted on, and several pages of propaganda style art which appears to have little-to-no agenda but exemplifying death, disease, and hopelessness. More or less right up my alley.
Clocking in …

Strom.ec – Divine Legions Beyond Psyche CD
Malginant Records
Divine Legions Beyond Psyche is a testament to the intensity and determination of this legendary Finnish power electronics/industrial project. This vision is so excellently constructed and executed as to be a unique, original and comprehensive body of work. Not to mention, dark, disturbing, innovative, and seriously foreboding. The sounds literally make me feel the tension presented in the relevant concepts, ideas that seem very pertinent to current international tensions and governmental programs especially on that fine line where individual rights are breached. But …