Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson acts under some other synonyms too. One of them is Bass Communion, which is a totally different outlet compared to his Rock-oriented bands or projects like, for example, higher mentioned Porcupine Tree, Storm Corrosion, Blackfield or Incredible Expanding Mindfuck.
Most of you will probable recognize the name of Nicolas Skog as the (sympathetic) guy behind one of Canada’s finest labels, Hypnotic Dirge Records. But he’s the guy as well who plays in Ancient Tundra, a project that surprised me enormously last year with Lost In Claustrophobic Thoughts.
One of the first Black Metal formations from New Zealand was (is) Vassafor, a band that has a limited curriculum vitae during the nineties. At the very end of last century, they broke up, but in 2004 Phil Kusabs decided to resurrect his main project. The guy, FYI, is involved with quite some other bands and projects too, but this review deals with higher aforementioned Vassafor, so I’ll stick to this one.
Soul Extremist is the very first release by a young duo (I do not know whether the members are young – just like I am – but the project was formed in 2015, and that’s what I meant with ‘young’ – except, once again, compared to my juvenile virility…). They’re called Temple Of Nihil, hailing from the Kaluga Oblast, somewhere in between Moscow at the one hand, and Ukraine and Belarus at the other.
Vortex might not be that known, but this project by German artist Marcus Stiglegger did release three albums before this one. Being inspired especially by cinematic concepts, ritual heritages and spiritual subjects in general, Marcus permanently searched for conceptual sources to create his evocative Music. With Moloch, Vortex (excerpt from the bio) ‘crafted an apocalyptic soundtrack for urban decay’.
I knew French artist Furniker (real name: Franz Schultz, very French indeed) from some material I heard via Murmure Intemporel, an experimental label from France’s soil. Recently I also received a copy of a new recording by this project of Herr Schulz, this time released via Death Carnival Records, one of the labels by the talented and devoted artist A.Arthur.
I usually do not write an article about a short preview on an upcoming release. But if asked very kindly, I can’t say no. Why should I ignore a good band anyway, especially when a review might mean some additional promotion and attention? So here I am…
You know (or you do not – what do I care anyway) that I have never disliked writing a review for older stuff. I do it with pleasure 1) to be grateful and to pay tribute to the band or label that send me that older stuff, and 2) when I think that this material is worth deserving some (of mine) additional support and promotion whatsoever. Quite the same goes for this review. It deals with the hateful French horde DUX and their peaceful recording Vintras.
With the band’s name, the album’s title, and the cover picture, I was afraid I would throw over soon. Fake Cats Project performing Russian Canon (I’m not sure, but I think it’s named after a classic composition once written by Igor Stravinsky), while seeing a clay cat with green-marbled eyes on a wooden hammock… No, this probably won’t do.
Honestly, I admit that I truly, deeply adore Iceland and its culture / nature (I have not been there yet, physically, but a befriended couple recently did, and I am so f*cking frustrated that I was not there - Ivan). And besides the natural, and at the same time the cultural aspects, quite the same goes for, at least a part, of the Metal scene going on out there - on an island with less people than an average European capital. I will not come with a list of bands that I know, or adore, for it would be, yeah, quite stupid.
