Am Not – Extraterritoriality

Am Not –  Extraterritoriality MC Unrest Productions 2019

This new Am Not release comes in relative quick succession to other two other limited cassette releases issued in 2018. Those being the Unpunished : Appendix tape (reviewed here) and the Incursions tape (reviewed here). Extraterritoriality is a six track / 24 minute, pro-pressed and labeled tape is also limited to 102 copies, and according to the liner notes was recorded in ‘Grand Brexia’ which clearly alludes to thematic preoccupations.

Speaking of theme, Side A addresses ‘Brexit’ and the current turmoil on both sides of the stay / leave divide, while also juxtaposing this against earlier debates over such matters as Commonwealth immigration. But like all good post-industrial music no clear stance or easy answer is provided either (cleverly Side A of the tape is noted to be labelled as ‘exit’). Cleansing Violence opens the tape a straight down the line Am Not track with pulsing bass tone, jagged noise and aggressive processed vocals, which could have easily been lifted from any of the main albums. In other words an excellent track, but when lyrical phrase “rivers of blood” is used it would no doubt be a direct reference to Enoch Powell’s infamous and controversial political speech from 1968, and perhaps within the context of this release is referring to the extreme right views of fringe Brexiters. Things then take a decided left turn with Better Together chats quite an experimental angle with simplistic rhythmic pulse, distant noise and cleanly spoken vocals. The sonic approach then gets even weirder on Ever Get The Feeling You’ve Been Cheated?, which features a sample of Kirsty MacColl’s song A New England, but slowed down to a crawling pace which then generates a euphorically maudlin tone. Added to this are 1970’s interview samples which decry the loss of ‘England’ to mismanagement of immigration, while the track is concluded with Johnny Rotten sneeringly asking the question of the track’s title. Conceptually this track is extremely strong and certainly effective in a pitch-black humor sort of way.

Flipping over to Side B, it thematically it returns to focusing on Hong Kong returning to China (this side is labeled ‘entry’), which was previously addressed by the track Home from The Developing World album (reviewed here). In fact the track Homecoming plays out as an alternate instrumental version of Home, given the same rolling militant rhythmic structure is employed with crowd babble and protest singing overlaid. The following track Red Emperor, White Forces arc back to a directly punishing power electronics track, with wailing crowd chatter, incessant pounding / grinding structures and flange processed vocals. Great stuff. I Will Not Be Reborn In The People’s Republic Of China is the last on offer siting within more of an ambient frame of reference with intertwining synth drones and central interview sample talking of reincarnation being a spiritual matter and not a political concern.

By now Am Not’s name and status in the underground is well established. Extraterritoriality is equally high quality as the balance of Tamon’s output, but also slanted towards a more playfully experiential expression. Evidently this is explained by the fact that for this release Tamon applied a methodology to work faster than typical and within a limited space to time. But regardless of how this came about, I am pleased a secured a copy of this quite limited release.

S.T.A.B. Electronics – Enemy OF Pigs

S.T.A.B. Electronics – Enemy OF Pigs LP Unrest Productions 2019

Is it really four years since the last S.T.A.B. Electronics was issued in 2015? I guess that is the truth of it, but it certainly feels it was only a couple of years ago at most. Ah, how time flies. Anyway, here is the new brutal power electronics offering from this UK project, and in pulling no punches Enemy Of Pigs is without question an aggressive aural attack. But also in truth this was perhaps was to be expected.

Given its relatively straight forward and no-frills power electronics approach, each of the seven tracks are structured around a number of blended sonic layers, broadly consisting of looped/ mid-toned harsh distortion, industrial strength/ noise infused drones and smatterings of dialogue samples. In also acknowledging the project’s trademark and standout vocals, these are again present in their white knuckled profanity laden rage, where lyrical focus spans both social commentary on matters such as identify politics, as well as those tracks of clear personal catharsis. Yet it is pleasing that tonal variation has been employed in the way which the vocals have been treated, processed, mixed and layered, meaning they are far from one dimensional in approach.

To speak of specific tracks, album opener High Infant Mortality features a Jim Jones ‘drink the kool-aid’ related sample, which itself has been looped and repeats throughout a track of shuddering bass heavy noise and vocals which are smeared with distortion across the mix. The following track Slug then ups the brutality with churning static and vocals which barely contain their spite and rage. Her Dead Eyes is another visceral standout based on the hard and nails sonics, as well as the delivery of and thematic focus of the vocals. Likewise, the cascading looped distortion and quivering noise Sic Semper Tyranis provides the backing for another vocal barrage, which themselves have been pitched and slowed for added impact.

If you have heard earlier material from S.T.A.B. Electronics you are going to know what to expect here. Yet even with that said there is a noticeable refinement and control in the way in which these tracks have been constructed, layered and mixed, making for yet another storming addition to the S.T.A.B. discography. Issued in limited editions on vinyl and cassette.

Code Neda – Tomorrow Double The Body Count

Code Neda – Tomorrow Double The Body Count MC Unrest Productions 2018

For context, Code Neda’s debut tape from 2017 can be broadly bracketed under a death industrial sound tinged with ritual heavy electronics (reviewed here). However, on this follow up it features a more direct heavy electronics sound, where ten track make up an album length tape.

The streamlined approach is immediately evident when the opening track The Devil and the Child bursts forth from the speakers with grinding bass emissions, sweeping static and heavily processed/ morbidity toned vocal proclamations. System is another display of honed simplicity, with a central mechanised ‘beat’, blended with layered bass pulsations and again with the treated vocals. In its maintenance of a strikingly direct  heavy electronics approach, sonic variation is delivered with air-raid sirens (Europe Was Lost), corkscrew spiralling drones (Jackie Duddy), subdued power-electronics menace (Confession) and fast-paced rhythmic pulsations (Blood On Your Hands), while the tape concludes with the subdued Bloody Ritual with is stilted and repetitive loops and morbid vocalisations.

Clearly Unrest Productions is pretty much a perfect label for material of this fare, and while clearly working within the broader parameters of its chosen genre, Code Neda has demonstrated a wealth of ideas and skill of sonic execution which makes for a excellently honed heavy electronics release. Pro-printed tape and cover round and the physical packaging. You know what to do.

Concrete Mascara – Decay Sequence

Concrete Mascara – Decay Sequence MC Unrest Productions 2018
Any new material from Concrete Mascara is a welcome prospect, with this EP length tape featuring six new tracks. On the last full length, Perennial Disappointment (reviewed here), the boosted mastering did not really capture the essence of Concrete Mascara’s sound but this has thankfully been reinstated here. Their trademark raw and sonically overblown distortion features heavily, hewn into rough pulsating loops and broader structural movements. The agonizingly howled vocals are also present, being partially hollowed out and flitting between being semi-buried to roared upfront.
Pleasingly, the tape contains that particular raw and ripping sound of thick chaotic distortion, where atonal and overblown synth lines are blended with higher pitched ‘whistling’ feedback textures. With an at times deep and hollowed-out aesthetic, it partially evokes a live-in-studio-type method of recording, but certainly allows for space and the separation of sonic elements within the mix. There are select moments present that are perhaps unexpectedly minimalist and restrained, which function to elevate the mood when things really let loose. Blood Discipline is one particular track which pulls back on sonic intensity in a more controlled manner, but being structured around a throbbing atonal synth line and other minimalist elements, it only functions to highlight the fierceness and aggression of other barely controlled tracks.
Limited to 123 hand-numbered copies, it has been issued on professionally duplicated tapes and features a minimalist and understated design, which gives no hint of the agonized harshness contained within.

Am Not – Unpunished : Appendix

Am Not – Unpunished : Appendix 10” EP Unrest Productions 2018

In its first version Unpunished : Appendix was issued in an extremely limited edition of 24 deluxe cassette box-sets. Only being available at a live performance in Paris, needless to say it sold out immediately, so having a repress of the four tracks on 10” vinyl is certainly welcome. Although the title refers to this being an ‘appendix’ I don’t get the impression that this is leftover material, rather new material which builds upon the themes and concepts explored on 2015’s exceptional album Unpunished (reviewed here).

Sonically speaking, the four tracks follow the now recognisable sound of Am Not, which, while being meticulously composed power/heavy electronics, does not forgo a suitably rough and raw industrial sonic edge. Opening track And Then We Shall Know commences relatively calmly with two intertwining loops (deep throbbing bass and higher modulated tone), which soon gives way to heavy and raw pounding industrial structures, and the proclamation-style rough vocals, achieving the typical blending of Am Not’s sound. Dark Star Kinshara follows and is another track of rough industrial-tinged heavy electronics that ups the intensity slightly and is also underscored by a dour organ-style drone. Intriguingly this track is: ‘dedicated to the ongoing Congolese space program’, which it turns out is an actual thing, but one with a lengthy and chequered history with alleged links to Nazi scientists and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. Side B offers another two distinct tracks, with Extremophilia II being a mass of thick pulsing loops and swirling mid-toned textures, with prominent dialogue samples and a rough vocal barrage framing the lyrical theme. The final of the four tracks, the instrumental State Funeral, is the most surprising of the lot, blending rough junk metal timbres with highly cinematic, neo-classical elements. With its stoic martial industrial percussive leanings and central dour organ melody, this on first listen is not immediately recognisable as Am Not, yet is a stunningly great track all the same.

As for presentation, the packaging is as slick and considered as the music, including four postcard inserts and four-panel booklet with mini interview to provide further information on the group and its thematic/lyrical preoccupations. Another mandatory release from Am Not and Unrest Productions.

Kontinent – Pornography of Power

Kontinent – Pornography of Power MC Unrest Productions 2018

As an initial comment I am not sure if Kontinent should be referred to as a ‘side project’ of Kevlar, however putting such designations aside, Kontinent is the solo project of one of the duo behind Kevlar. In then noting that Kontinent’s past releases have broadly been within a modern post-industrial/ power electronics style, this is no different to what is displayed on Pornography of Power, albeit there is a noted increase in aggression and sonic fieriness.

This new release follows relatively quickly on the back of 2017’s album Statis, where Pornography of Power is another expertly crafted release, featuring eight brisk and focused tracks within an industrial meets heavy/ power electronics framework. On the thematic front, song titles such as Pure Power, Bring Back The Violence and Higher Civilisation provide a hint at preoccupations, given the vocals can only be deciphered in a fragmentary fashion due to sonic treatment. Yet the cover imagery provides further context, which of note includes an image of Anders Breivik and a quote appearing to be attributed to him, being: “violence is the mother of change”. As for the sonic content, the detailing and layering of the tracks provided variation and complexity throughout, where looped elements converge and intertwine, while gradually falling in and out of sync to disorientating effect. The distorted and echo treated vocals make them a standout element in their anger infused, proclamation styled delivery.

To some degree there is a certain blurring of lines between the sound, style and approach between Kontinent and Kevlar, which is be expected given who is involved. Yet there is simply no complaint on this point if the high calibre material such as this continues to be issued from both projects. With Pornography of Power being limited to 123 pro-duplicated tapes, I suspect this may get a re-issue on vinyl at some point, which would be a welcomed prospect.

Serration ‎– Machine Survival

Serration ‎– Machine Survival MC Unsound Recordings 2018

Via the sub-label Unsound Recordings, Unrest Productions have signing yet another new and strong project to the roster, this time being Serration from Detroit, Michigan (based on information listed on Bandcamp).

Seven tracks of focused and controlled industrial/ power electronics tracks feature on Machine Survival, ranging from three to six minutes each. Looped distortion and grinding drones are used in relatively straight forward formations, while the vocals as perhaps expected are processed into a layer of echoed distortion that bleeds across the middle of the sonic spectrum. The mood of the tape broadly one of ominous dread than overt aggression, although the pulsing distortion of Sacrifical Deployment and air raid siren noise of The Inevitable Desolation are certainly tensile and anything but relaxed. Thematically speaking the song titles and imagery allude to a focus on the military/ industrial complex, and while the utilised samples might have provided more context, their message alludes detection due to being buried deep in the mix.

If any criticism is to be leveled at this tape, it would be that it aligns too closely with the sound, feel and direction of other releases on issued on Unsound Recordings/ Unrest Productions. While this does deliver in terms of sound and approach, it perhaps suffers by not having significant differentiating elements to make it stand apart. Yet even with that said, this is a completely minor observation, particularly if both the project ad label continues to maintain this sort of standard. Limitation of 80 copies, so you know what to do.

Augure Concret ‎– An Act Of Desperation / Cephalophore

 

Augure Concret ‎– An Act Of Desperation MC Fall Of Nature 2017

Augure Concret ‎– Cephalophore MC Unrest Productions 2018

Augure Concret are a new industrial / power electronics project from the UK who have issued two tapes in relative quick succession (in November, 2017 and February, 2018 respectively), however I have no idea as to the time-frames over which the material on these two tapes were composed and recorded. Regardless of this, An Act Of Desperation is the debut release, featuring eight compact and to the point tracks which are framed around an ominously aggressive mood. Compositionally the track feature layering of caustic loops, deeps slow percussive thuds, raw junk metal type noise, semi-melodious loops and somewhat distant vocals which are still decipherable in their yelled presentation with slight echo treatment. The overall sonic tone is thick and hefty, where the slow plodding motion of the tracks gradually elevates in intensity. Some tracks specifically bring to mind Grunt of Human Larvae and their penchant for using creaking junk metal sound sources as a central part of their sonic framework. Therefore such comparisons should give an indication of the detailed compositional approach and rawer and ripping noise infused edge of the material found on An Act Of Desperation.

Cephalophore is the second follow up tape and demonstrates a clear evolution in sound and approach, given it features four untitled longer form tracks which sprawl out over greater length. Thick and spitting distortion open the album as a backing to a dialogue sample discussing schizophrenia, before launching into a chaotic noise infused ‘rocks in a cement mixer’ loops, while a melancholic synth line cuts through strongly and the vocals are rendered unintelligible through their distortion treatment. The second track is split into two halves, where the first segment incorporates whistling noise, mid-toned tensile drones and roared vocals, while the later section is instrumental in scope and shows a willingness of the project to explore controlled and atmospheric spheres through the use of looped and layered orchestral strings which are underpinned by a plodding bass hum and muted mid-toned static. Excellent stuff. The first track on Side B is a particular standout with its shuddering cascading loops, distant underpinning synth line and semi-buried gruff vocals, with gradually elevating momentum and mid pitched noise.  For the final track it is controlled rather than outwardly aggressive, being subdued and sparse overall, vocals are cavernous and distant and mid-toned, chattering noise.

Clearly both of these tapes demonstrate Augure Concret to have definite level of skill and a wealth of compositional ideas. However in comparing the two Cephalophore stands above An Act Of Desperation, as it is more varied overall in style and approach and willingness to pair back on overt aggression and bodes well for Augure Concret caving out their own niche sound and approach within a power electronics infused industrial style. Best be quick if interested in these as both of these professionally duplicated tapes are extremely limited – 60 copies for An Act Of Desperation and 121 copies for Cephalophore.

Abscheu ‎– Pretense

Abscheu ‎– Pretense LP Unrest Productions 2017

Although knowing virtually nothing about this project (including even the country of origin), it is again a case of Unrest Productions showcasing young projects who are effectively the new guard of the post-industrial underground. Pretense is the second release from the group, following 2016’ Breviary Of Chaos tape, and while having missed out on the debut, this functions as my introduction to Abscheu and can be quickly heralded as a stellar release.

Although billed as power electronics, the sound of Pretense sits in the militant tinged and industrial infused end of the genre’s sonic spectrum. Six tracks feature on the LP, where the material is framed around a clean and defined mix of scrabbling and unsettled loops, sustained noise, heaving bass thumps and spoken, sonic treated vocal proclamations.  Broadly the sound is stalking and controlled rather than pushing towards unbridled aggression, although the material does build up toward the final title track, which also includes some strong dialogue samples to flesh out the album’s concept *. Given its thematic focus and militant/ tactical sound, an oblique comparison could be made to Genocide Organ’s Under Kontrakt album, albeit here in a more streamlined and direct style. Either way this is a clear indication of the strength of Abscheu’s sound.

Visually speaking, the clean design of the cover illustrates cultural conflict and societal unrest from differing angles, but without lyrics of further detail being presented the listener must engage in detail with the release to better appreciate the themes on display. Without question this is another outstanding release from the Unrest Productions stables and again highlights the label as the current leading underground outlet for uncompromising and expertly executed material.

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* – the promo blurb further expands on the concept: “From Europe to Middle East via Sub-Saharan Africa, Abscheu have been watching some of the most determined acts of violence. Studying how bloodthirsty groups wash their hands by adorning their motivation with divine command. Seeing zealots justify murderous wrath by invoking their favorite sacred book whenever necessary. A self-proclaimed court where justice is selectively rendered. A confusing purgatory where hatred is given a legitimacy. A sneaky trickery designed to mislead one’s enemies in the maze of one’s lies. «Pretense» is the exploration of that system from various perspectives. «Pretense» is an unquestionable judgment before men – definitely not before that thing they call god”.

Kevlar – New Fears New Fights

Kevlar – New Fears New Fights LP Unrest Productions 2017

Since 2014 Kevlar have issued two full lengths and a cassette EP, with New Fears New Fights constituting their third full album. In then making a perhaps obvious comparison to earlier output, while I do like Kevlar’s prior albums (Alpha Strife and Criteria), at the same time I found they tended to not stay in rotation long in favour of other listening choices.  But it is from this perspective where New Fears New Fights standard apart, given there is an immediate sense of urgency, increased aggression and overt antagonism to this which elevates it to the next level.

To then comment on a projects within an industrial/ power electronics style, clearly there is no shame in reflecting inspiration, but this is also on the proviso that the end result needs to be more than a mere copyist project. Although direct comparisons can be drawn here to now classic elements from German and UK scenes (i.e. simple shuddering synth lines, layered loops, cascading distortion and antagonistic flanged vocals), with their focused and honed style Kevlar absolutely achieve a personal and most importantly a current take on this sound. 8 tracks feature on the album, with each spanning 4-6 minutes each, which should give an appreciation of the direct focus on display.

With a battle cry sample of “we must not be afraid to define our enemy”, Triumph Of Fear kicks in hard with driving loops buzzing distortion and crowd and alarm field recording adding to the overall tension. A great start.  With Power To Act feeling as if a lengthy bridging piece to the more focused Power Of Blade, with the later being a standout track of burrowing distortion, layered loops and flange treated if the attacking and antagonistic vocals which are mixed prominently upfront in the mix (…and which partly reminds of The Grey Wolves classic track Victory Through Violence). The title track then rounds out Side A with a stuttering rhythm, bulldozing drones and proclamation styled vocals. Another excellent track.  Mechanism opens Side B, and another example of simplicity creating fist pumping and blood boiling impact, achieved via urgent cascading loops, a general buzzing and queasy tonality (…and while a number of vocal samples are employed the main decipherable element is repeated word “incompatible”). Martyrs Crown with its brooding and atmospheric tone and looped method of construction reminds of German styled heavy electronics/ power electronics approach not too far from that of Ex.Order or early Anenzephalia. Despite is forceful tone, blown out oscillating noise and jagged tonal outbursts, Barbed Wire is entrenched with a morbid by aggressive tone to round out the album.

Based on Unrest Productions’ current roster, the label is shining a spotlight on the UK underground which from the outside looking in appears to be the strongest and most active underground scene currently operating, with Kevlar’s New Fears New Fights being a pinnacle example. Packaging wise the simple greyscale cover and insert features only basic information and functions to hammer home its direct impact. Although not reinventing the wheel Kevlar have issued an extremely impressive industrial/ power electronics LP and which is absolutely representative of the best of what the underground has to offer right now.