Putrescent Tapes #2
Putrescent Tapes New Batch – 2022 –
Cassette/Download
https://putrescenttapes.bandcamp.com/
https://putrescenttapes.bigcartel.com/products
Putrescent Tapes has established itself as a strong, young
cult Harsh Noise Label in America. The label based in Pennsylvania and has been
producing batches of tapes since 2017. I have reviewed the label before and was
impressed by the work they sent to me back in 2019. https://1208fullerave.blogspot.com/2019/01/putrescent-tapes.html
. I am sure that it has gone on forever, but I notice young labels of now create
an identity via the batches of releases they put out, often curating new,
obscure projects to create an identity and reputation. Dagger seems to focus on
grimy, menacing Harsh Noise and Wall work.
Flesheaterforest – Deathmatch –
Cassette/Download – 2022
https://flesheaterforest.bandcamp.com/
1. 555.
2. Bone.
3. Frozen.
Deathmatch is the first time I
have heard the project Flesheaterforest, so I am going in blind. Blackened
rumblings and scrapings create 555 in a unique way, it doesn’t sound like
anything else. The nearest distant parallel to this I could think of is the Esoteric
cave noise of Tunnels of Ah. Percussive,
Industrial clanging as if made from a guitar or homemade instrument is being
hit in Bone. This track has a direct aggression that bounces around with the
sole source of sound manipulated to create quiet and noisy passages of sound. Frozen
combines all the characteristics of the previous tracks with a synthesiser
providing a rhythm, whilst scraping noise screams across the whole track. Warped
violence is projected at the listener as the work continually loops falls and
escalations. All I can say is that Flesheaterforest is a unique, odd, strong
project and Deathmatch is a powerful release.
Kadaver – Never Again (Part
II) - Cassette/Download – 2022.
https://kadaver.bandcamp.com/
1.
Sardinepackung.
2.
How To Destroy Basically Anything.
Kadaver is Michael Zolotov,
based in Israel. Kadaver has gradually risen to the top ranks of modern Death
Industrial. This is the most well-known project in this batch of releases and
has been active for several decades.
Sardinepackung uses a stripped-down
Harsh Noise sound, that feels deliberately digital, it isn’t loads of layered
distortion, just a movement of humming noise, that introduces different
elements of abrasion over various parts of the track to create tension and
maximise the sound’s volume. The progression of noises and their continually
rising intensity builds up to a massive sound. How To Destroy Basically
Anything hums itself to life, choppy distortion stabs into the sound. The track
seems to resonate on those two elements for a long time as they contrast and
morph around each other. As things melt down the sound becomes increasingly
fractured.
This is a great release that
leaves me scared as the closing samples play out. However, Kadaver and Great
are two words that are frequently used in the same work.
The Ide of Earth – The Idea of
Earth – Cassette/Download – 2022
https://theideofearth.bandcamp.com/
1.
Congested Dig.
2.
Chairoscuro.
3.
Dank Eternity.
4.
Man Bites Nature Bites Man.
5.
Treading Horizon.
6.
Treading Corpse-Filled Waters.
Condemned walls of loops burnt
into drones, stagnant sonics and bio-walls in the redundant name of
mechanization and industry decimating this planet. Mantras of pollution for the
future of our end. STAGNIC. Biography off the project’s Bandcamp.
I like the Harsh Wall this
project delivers, the challenging nature of the work uses a digital distortion
and a fractured, rhythmic distortion to make Congested Dig. Sharper frequencies
replace this to deliver Chairoscuro, interruptive sharp noise if further
interrupted by short gasps of distortion – I admire how this project uses
playfulness and annoying, irritating noise to build work. I think this
demonstrates an innovative approach that is in line with the kind of Harsh
Noise Inner Demons Records favours. There is what I call an early, primitive
noise approach that is refreshing on Dank Entity – I feel they make nods to SPK
or early Premature Ejaculation. The treble assault on this track is sharp and
brutal on the ears. A manic savagery takes over for Man Bites Nature Bites Man,
it is as if the project delivers increasing methods of sonic brutality. Ominous
Drones and loops are Treading Horizon the subtle shifts in tone and speed of
the pulsations cause constant movement in the work. The finale uses a busier,
direct violence for Treading Corpse-Filled Waters. Choppy blasts of distortion
and screeching race across each other. This is a great, challenging,
confrontational release.
Шумоизоляция – Supreme
Pleasure – Cassette/Download – 2022.
https://shumoizolyatsiya.bandcamp.com
1. Supreme Pleasure (Part I)
2. Supreme Pleasure (Part II)
This Russian project has been
active since 2017.
A pure cold, consistent blast
of wall, the density of each wall is heavy with no space or recognisable back elements
of non-noise sound. Each Supreme Pleasure is very similar to the other, both
share practically identical textures. There is a warm bass glow whilst a mass
of static drags across it. The depth of the bass changes slowly to vary the
intensity of the work throughout. Pure
Russian coldness, good, bleak work.
Wallmart – Super Bowl Sunday –
Cassette/Download – 2022
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/eddie-ej-giles-of-final-solution/id1591297508?i=1000575350236
1.
Halftime Performance.
2.
Post-Game Review.
This is a project by Edward
Giles of Final Solution who runs the group Wallmart on Facebook. Final
Solution is a now a key chapter in the development of American Power
Electronics, I am obsessed with Hydra, the project of FS Greg Scott (RIP &
respect x 1000) The resurgence of FS with the reissue of their material and
emergence of their live tapes seems well in motion over recent years. There is
a book on Greg Scott’s work due soon.
Sharp, shifting wall noise
acts out on Halftime Performance. This wall has a thick, crispy texture, kind
of like a Lion Bar made into sound. There is a fast pace shooting through it, sharp
shards of sound slightly overlap the edges giving a fuzzy edge texture. I am
unsure of what background sounds are there, the density of the wall makes it
hard to tell, but with the theme of American Football, it isn’t hard to guess. A
sense of overdrive is forced into the sound midway through, adding urgency to
the work. The sharpness of the work increases making it a spikier wall at the
end.
A sharper noise assault
introduces Post-Game review, before the wall takes the lead of the sound. A
slower drag to the bass sound and a faster sharp noise drags across it,
demonstrating a tension across the texture. As the accelerated blast and
dragging bass shift the tension becomes the main movement, it is as if it is
pulled across the track slowly and violently. The hum of the back drones starts
to sing through the tension for a time, until the main bass roar takes prominence.
This is a new arm to the work
of Edward Giles, a strong release with good attention to detail.
White Widow – Void Infirmary –
Cassette/Download – 2022.
https://whitewidowphilippines.bandcamp.com/
https://whitewidownoise.bandcamp.com/
1.
Lesser Banishing Ritual.
2.
Mind Eraser.
3.
Corroding Black Granite.
4.
Black Avalanche.
5.
Void Infirmary.
6.
Serpentine Chain Jail.
Lesser Banishing Ritual is
haunted, warped noise. There seems to be a background sound that sounds like
wailing, like how harsh noise wall works, but with a cage of noise rather than
a mass of distortion over it. The sound goes loopier on Mind Eraser, choppy
noise cuts across other sharp, fractured noise to create a hailstorm of blips
and scratches. Corroding Black Granite makes use of distinct, sustained,
sharper noise in a wailing grid of sound. The dramatic intensity of the
individual sounds rises throughout the track. Black Avalanche uses similar
methods, but it is amplified via a heavy back bass running through it. The full
palette of noise frequently reduces allowing for duos of noise to play off against
each other for sustained periods of time. The sharper noise resonates and
sharpens at the end, violently clashing with hum and crackle to maximum
intensity. The title track, sputters distortion, whilst the fractured wailing weaves
through it as other noises cut in, this creates a heated sonic argument. The
overall sound is like a death surrounded by buzzing flies laying eggs on the
carcass. The imposing Serpentine Chain Jail delivers a bleak finale to the
album, it sounds like hell.
This Philippines duo have been
releasing since 2019, I honestly think we have some new up and coming greats
here as they are bloody good and Void Infirmary is a great release, possibly
one of the best things I have heard all year.
Cursed Moors – Cassette/Download
– 2022.
1.
Cursed Moors s/t.
This is a new anonymous project that I am keen to hear.
Oh yes, this is orgasmic from
the offset, screaming feedback wails at me over distorted acceleration, it is
fucking nasty. This is violent, busy, attacking Harsh Noise. This is like a
mass of violence with individual elements clearly defined through the business.
It roars out well at times, accelerating and rising in volume when needed. No
prior history adds mystery as you can’t categorise or track it. I am curious if
this is the Dagger guy having a sonic fight with himself into new territory. Either
way this is bleak and brilliant. Possibly another 2022 champion release.
Nevis Kretini, destroyer of
all cliques and eradicator of my own ego - 2022.
