Slavebreed - Dethrone the Architect - 14 Track Album - L'Inphantile Collective - Released 23rd July 2012

Slavebreed

Dethrone the Architect

14 Track Album

L’Inphantile Collective

Released 23rd July 2012

Written for www.brutalism.com

Slavebreed – Athens, Greece

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Slavebreed

Discography

Live Rehearsal – Demo 2007       

Pain Syndicate - Full-length 2008         

Hibernation / Slavebreed – Split 2011    

Dethrone the Architect - Full-length    2012 

Compilation appearances:

2 Days Tattoo Core Fest (Pain Syndicate) 2008

Obscene Extreme 2009 (Doppelganger) 2009

Undead - A Tribute to Disrupt (Dog Eat Dog) 2013

Genre: Death Metal/GrindCore

In the bands own words:

“Slavebreed is a band from Athens, Greece, playing a mixture of grindcore and death metal with some crust/hard core influences. They were formed in late 2004 by Pavlos and Kostas, from the remains of Pavlos' older deathcore side-project band ("Scorned" mcd, 2001). Slavebreed recorded a 4-track live rehearsal mini-cd in early 2007, receiving positive feedback and less than one year later recorded their first full length album, "Pain Syndicate", released under L'Inphantile Collective (Czech Republic, 2008). "Pain Syndicate" received great reviews worldwide and soon after its release Slavebreed hit the road, performing live on a number of tours all around Europe, sharing the stage with bands such as Napalm Death, Fear Factory, Entombed, Doom, Ratos de Porao, Birdflesh, Afgrund, Warcollapse, Mumakil, Rotten Sound, Severe Torture and many others. On 2011 a 7” split was released with Hibernation and “Dog Eat Dog” cover was recorded for the Disrupt tribute compilation, soon to be released from Power It Up records (Germany). In the summer of 2012 Slavebreed released their second full-length album, "Dethrone the Architect", under L'Inphantile Collective (CZ) and Noise Attack (GR). A mini tour is scheduled for late August 2012 to support the release, which will contain 2 open-air festivals (Fekal Party 14 and Arschcholio 10), as well as 6 more shows in Central Europe”

A New Plague upon us

A siren wails furiously to some sonic buzzing as this full length album gets underway – Let the purgatory commence, and it does so in no uncertain terms – immediately impacting on the ears, it unleashes its distinct grindcore noise and tears off in the direction of menace - but in true grind style lasts only a brief time before finishing.

Avaritia

A lot of grinding, growling and menace as this little onslaught carries the weight of melodic scathing riffs and devilish beats.  Its taunting and torturous notes fly in abundance and will no doubt trigger total chaos when played live to an audience of hungry grinders!

Diluted’s Canticle

Sampled voice begins and then a climbing of tremendous riffs take over, combining more gnarly growls and fierce drumming. Fast paced and virulent this will numb the senses for sure!

Failed Sepuku

Dark and menacing, as it reaches its peak well in the allotted time for a grindcore track. Riveting and compelling in its strengthening stance and impacted with infectious groove - although too damn short to really get into!

Plebeians

Catchy although still gruesome, scathing and indeed more than just potent, the screeching alone sends shivers down the spine, finishing with a sampled voice.

Flagellants

Superb heavy chiseled guitar riffs that are invading and forcibly removes the inside of the ear drum with musical precision. A caustic brewing of overwhelming intensity and sheer intrigue and again finishes with a sampled voice its last words: “Deviant thoughts will not be tolerated” Although listening to the track I do have a few :D

Grecian Death Grinders - Slavebreed

Dethrone the Architect

The title track to the album – comes blistering into sonic existence with striking vocal prowess and a dizzy array of kick beats full of spite with added gnarly threat that has a compelling rhythm and just eats you alive.

Inside the Jaws of Famine

Smouldering with intent this track ignites, and then explodes into a maelstrom of deadly riffs proving to be a good encounter of the thoroughly brutal kind that will leave scars as the thickening rhythms twist into total fury.

Maleficium

Starts with another sampled voice and then bursts into some guttural growls that sound more than menacing and in purgatory! Its coarse riffs are solid and unyielding whilst the drumming is fast and chaotic – a good invasive track!

Penal Colony

Rhythmic and stands proud on a fierce gruff vocal this is one track that really is worth playing over again for its rich textures of unbridled scorn as it unleashes a malevolent force straight to the aural cortex and if you try and windmill to this will do yourself a permanent mischief! Enthralling, and to the very extreme but has plenty of rhythmic swagger and lasts just long enough to get your teeth into. I shall have to repeat this one several times to savour its goodness... or should that be badness?

Preaching to the Fallen

A shrill guitar riff fires up and then the track levels out even if it is gruesomely gnarly.  Very expressive and descriptive musically although lyrically you can never tell what the bands are singing but that’s what makes grindcore special - it is crazy and barbaric but it sure does scratch the itch! – Well if you like music played in this manner – which I do! Oh yes!

Dog eat Dog (Disrupt Cover)

Just like the real thing – aggressive, devious and downright evil, being the muscle bound predator this scales the heights with a ferocity all its own through displaying immense power. A very good cover done by the band.

Chironex Fleckeri

A sampled whispered voice starts up and then the track gets more inflamed as it unfolds.  Nice and brutal as you would expect, merciless but again short!

Sailing the Styx

Drums are more prevalent here.  It houses an eagerness to be potent and sculpted in the fine art of brutality and ravenously devours as its torrid rhythms disrupt the aural with brute force of a vibrant chaotic nature, and leave a tang of confrontation on the tongue. The ending is a distorted buzz that turns into a sampled voice talking about a caged lion and how important freedom really is – here, here, to that!

To Sum up:

A relentless and unbridled passionate album that bares its teeth like a rabid dog to water. Although there is some predictability in its work as you would expect grind core is meant to be fast with a potent landscape of sound and this is what you get here. Emotive, and strong, showing a solid provocative journey into a punishing and gruelling nightmare that grinders everywhere will not want to wake from, and will definitely unleash a few demons from the system on playing. The sparks will fly and the aggression will be felt, so I think the band have proved their worth on all fourteen tracks but “Penal Colony” is my out and out favourite and will no doubt get a few more plays yet! This is a feast of impressive ear splitting sound that will give no respite - if that is what you want? – But I doubt that! Bring on the brutal I say!

4½/5

Track List:

A New Plague upon us

Avaritia

Diluted’s Canticle

Failed Sepuku

Plebeians

Flagellants

Dethrone the Architect

Inside the Jaws of Famine

Maleficium

Penal Colony

Preaching to the Fallen

Dog eat Dog (Disrupt Cover)

Chironex Fleckeri

Sailing the Styx

Members:

Kostas - Drums

Tolis - Guitars

Pavlos - Guitars/Backing Vocals

Thanasis - Bass

Smirnoff - Vocals

A Tribute to Barry Jenkins - The Vulcan - Rehearsal Rooms/Studio, 69 Waterloo Road, Liverpool L3 7BE

The Vulcan

Rehearsal Rooms/Studio

68 Waterloo Rd, Liverpool L3 7BE

0151 236 2724

www.vulcanstudios.co.uk/

Barry@vulcanstudios.co.uk

The Vulcan is said to be one of the earliest surviving examples of a fireproof warehouse, built in 1843 and designed by Liverpool Architect A.H.Holme.  It was built in order to store cotton and by the middle of the 1840’s was used as a holding area for refugees fleeing the Great Hunger in Ireland. Who would have thought back then that this building would become home to thousands of varying artists? – It is an incredible thought, and I often wonder what the ghosts of past would think of it all, as I am sure The Vulcan has a few if not many, that wander through its meandering corridors.

The Vulcan

In 1985, I joined the Sons & Daughters of Liverpool shortened to SADOL, a music, art & drama group – that still currently runs today, although focusing more on the drama side and now and called Yellowhouse - carried out not anywhere near the old warehouse in Porter Street and stands directly behind The Vulcan in Vulcan Street off Waterloo Road.

The Vulcan is a converted warehouse and another of Liverpool’s listed iconic buildings (and should be mentioned when talking of the three graces, as The Vulcan is much older than them and has plenty of vibrant history attached to it) and yet one building that is only usually, talked about within various music circles and famous in its own right, for playing host to Liverpool’s Independent music scene since 1979.

The Vulcan is still situated in Vulcan Street off Waterloo Road and many times I sat staring out of an open, sometimes cracked window pane of the old warehouse in Porter Street listening to the bands rehearsing opposite. Their sounds drifting above the odd rumble of a train or passing car.

Of course music being my passion I used to go into The Vulcan when one of the SADOL bands were rehearsing.  The maze of dark corridors and ambient atmosphere was vibrant with sound as it still is today and even more so!

A lot of the “now” famous band’s including Joy Division, Echo & the Bunnymen, Icicle Works, The Jam, Microdisney, The Smiths, Scott Walker and of course, Dead or Alive to name but a few, rehearsed at Vulcan Studios (early Sunday mornings) at the same time when Half Man Half Biscuit were recording their 1st album (1985-1986) and reported that Dave Treble (of Crikey, it’s The Cromptons) most famously recorded the debut Half Man Half Biscuit LP for a cost of 40 quid!!! (And apparently not received a penny more even though the LP sold zillions!) Could be heard muffled behind the closed doors, which housed the sounds of the 80’s.

Post Punk band Half Man Half Biscuit from Birkenhead - Trumpton Riots

Rehearsing Details

Room charges: £3 per hour.

Monday - Thursday after 6pm - Minimum of 4 hours rehearsal space.

Other times - Negotiable

I was still very “green” to the music scene back then, but loved to listen to the various bands that attended The Vulcan in order to perfect their acts.

The Vulcan started in 1979, but I never set foot inside its rooms until around 1985, but the presence of The Vulcan has always stayed with me, and now it has grown into not only a shrine for the bands that used to rehearse there but also become a musical temple for new bands within the Independent scene, welcoming bands in and around the Liverpool area and beyond.

A lot of the SADOL bands rehearsed at The Warehouse in Porter Street, where I became George McKane’s right hand woman so to speak, collecting the subs from the many people attending and making up leads for the bands once I had finished my electronics course at M.E.T.E.L believe it or not!

It is indeed fantastic to see that The Vulcan has all that music history behind it and even more strange, to think that the ghosts of previous bands once graced (or disgraced) the building in the hope of making it big.  For some the dream happened and this was, I am sure, and still is, partly down to the way in which The Vulcan was (and still is run) by Barry - A softly spoken man, who has been in the background of the music scene for many years! In fact the silent voice in many ways!

The Atlantis Code practising Toy Story at Vulcan Studios
https://www.facebook.com/theatlantiscode

Nowadays with the Internet bringing everything into your front room, you can see what The Vulcan looks like. You can also advertise your gigs there, sell equipment and more besides.  The Vulcan is no longer just a formidable building along the Dock Road, but home to many a band, who seeks a safe and affordable sanctuary to perfect their music, and this, is all down to one man “Barry Jenkins” who has throughout the years remained strong and built the studios up to such an immense level.

Now The Vulcan offers 16 nicely decorated and carpeted rooms, (very different from the 80’s when everything seemed so sparse) and now accommodates any bands’ needs, styles and indeed sizes.  Open from 11am to 11pm including Bank Holidays. No parking restrictions and an on-site shop that caters for all musicians needs including guitar strings, plecs, drum sticks and cables. Not to mention lockers and equipment hire, that everyone in the music biz needs occasionally! Barry has indeed thought of everything, and grown this business from scratch.

**Breeding Violence with Phil Berrington at Vulcan Studios recording Admordeo their E.P
https://www.facebook.com/BreedingViolenceOfficial

The Vulcan is neatly tucked away and you can play as loud as you like and nobody will complain. A bit like space “Nobody can hear you scream!” The once eerie corridors that housed the feet of many an old band from the past, has now been replaced with the new  feet of up and coming bands around Liverpool and further afield.

There are not many people in Liverpool that don’t know about The Vulcan and its reputable reputation that has indeed been carved into the history of Liverpool, and is still growing today, offering a safe haven for bands everywhere to pave the way for their particular brand of music.

How I have missed the long walk from the Pier Head and the numerous glances from the Warehouse in Porter Street, through into a world where music poured out of the heavily dust laden windows of The Vulcan opposite, watching the bands loading and unloading their various equipment from their old clapped out vans that were parked outside and in a road that very few cars frequented. Today is certainly very different, - well perhaps not where the vans are concerned!

Some years have passed for me but The Vulcan continues to stand proud along the Dock Road and behind its walls the bands of the future rehearse tirelessly in order to perfect their art!  All this would not be possible if it were not for the endurance and determination of one man – Barry, and now his daughter Trish.

Barry, we salute you and what you have done for the Liverpool music scene in the past 34 ground-breaking years and what you have continued to do, despite the usual chaos of the music scene.  Lots of bands have come and gone but you have perfected an art and stood the test of time just like the building itself and this should in my opinion be recognised.

It is amazing to hear the varying styles of music from 80’s punk to present day Metal Core and even better knowing it is all still going down at Vulcan Studios today!

I so wished, I had owned a camera back then and taken some pictures of the building as it once was.  Definitely a lot different to the rooms the band’s now frequent.  I remember it being quite dark and it had a musty smell that often hung in the air as you went inside, and quite smoky too, with there being no ban on cigarettes back then, not to mention the graffiti that was scrawled across some of the walls and would be etched into the fabric of the building forever, if not for a can of paint! But it all adds to the character of what was and still is, an immense musical playground for bands near and far, proving that the past is not quite the ‘forgotten past’ and lives within the future of the bands that frequent this iconic building, guided by the watchful eye of Barry Jenkins and his crew.

Long live The Vulcan!

*Photographs courtesy of The Vulcan Studios*

** I do not own the three video's attached to this review - Two are featured to simply show the inside surroundings of The Vulcan Studios, the third portrays  a band who once recorded there back in the middle 80s.

Disfigured Divinity - Zapotectron - 11 Track Album - Released 6th June 2013

Disfigured Divinity

Zapotectron

11 Track Album

Released 6th June 2013

Amazing listen: Zapotectron out now

Disfigured Divinity – Austria, Germany

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/DisfiguredDivinity

You can now pre-listen and purchase all tracks on ITunes, Amazon and all other download-platforms worldwide.

Physical CDs will be out 27^th June 2013

Buy Here:

http://www.amazon.de/Zapotectron/dp/B00D930CVC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370866771&sr=8-1&keywords=zapotectron

Genre: Melodic Death Metal

In the bands own words:

“Austria's death metallers Disfigured Divinity released their debut album "ZAPOTECTRON" on 6th June 2013. ZAPOTECTRON" marks also the third and final part of vocalist George Misanthrope's (Raising the Veil, ex-Miasma) triptych inspired by Mayan mythology.  First and second part were accomplished with Destination Void ("Xibala"-album) and Raising the Veil ("Yucatanimvs"-E.P) - X, Y, Z.  "ZAPOTECTRON" was recorded and mixed at AudioRiot studio in Austria and mastered by Christoph Brandes at Iguana Studios (Necrophagist, Deadborn) in March-Buchheim, Germany. The artwork was created by Remy of Headsplit Design (Arch Enemy, Psycroptic, Whitechapel, and Cryptopsy)”

Wasting no time whatsoever to review this album kindly sent over today (20.6.13) by George Misanthrope – the man behind the gnarly gigantic monster vocal capacity of Disfigured Divinity – This album simply cannot wait, and once you listen you will realise why!

Aeons of Reincarnation

Straight away this makes a resounding impact as the guttural growls and sinewy screams make their presence felt within a quality musical production. The melodies flow freely in abundance capturing that addictive essence we have all come to know and love when listening to melodic death metal. There is something deeply satisfying here and for me it’s the vocals that scour the depths amid a clean urgent vocal and that catchy rhythm – fuck! Melodic death metal is such a superb genre to listen to and this track delivers and doesn’t short change you either!

Eradication

This track is a bit more ominous with fast paced beats and heavier rhythms and a striking diversity from the previous track. Openly refreshing and immense in stature as it gains a ferocious momentum. For some the clean vocals don’t work but here they really work well together.  The sonic growls are low and resonating, you would swear you just heard the voice of Satan! Persistently hitting all the levels, ticking all the boxes this track doesn’t disappoint.

Ocelot’s Wake

This track comes to the forefront brandishing a sharp vocal scathing scream and heavy dark toned guttural swathes amid melodically engaging rhythms and ferocious solid beats that show no mercy! It seductively teases and taunts, then slows into some soft stringed arrangement that is short lived before it returns to its deep scathing moments of ravenous rampage.

Systematic Phobocratic

A delicious beginning of scream and growl amid towering blast beats that chop their way through the aural – this track means business as it oozes passion and fire from its expanding rhythms that swell into even larger crescendos of infernal blasting swagger.

Mandatory Heirs

Immediately springing to life like the eternal beast as it wakes from its slumbers, even more gnarly than the previous track and boasting more of a chanted growling vocal with an equally clean urgent vocal, however, the melodic content although still present, is never predicable in any way shape or form.

Insignificance in Space and Time

This is one superb track with highly charged synthesiser that bubbles to life with supreme urgency as a guttural scathing confronts you and then taken over by a terrifying scream. Disfigured Divinity certainly has captured the essences of Space and Time with cleverly thought-out musical passages that in turn provoke imagery from its dramatic presence. This is just purely insatiable listening!!

Redefining the Universe

Bursting with explosive rhythm and hatefully spawned vocals combined with a tight guitar and impressive blast beats, it compels you to listen drawing you into its large swathes of deep grooves and complexities, infact it is so immense that you forget to take a breath! Twisting its ferocious sonic array of mesmeric dexterity you can’t help but be impressed as it leaves its mark.

Cosmic Radiation Flares

Another track that bursts into the limelight and waves its gnarly hands in the blackened air to gain more attention – as if that is possible? It bristles with malice and evil intent to possess and capture the soul with its deepening rhythms and malicious vocal onslaught that simply gnaws at the aural, not stopping until it has your full undivided attention.

Expanding Cosmic Consciousness

More synth sounds are an instant winner for me and such a welcome auditory factor. The vocals literally wrap themselves around you, whilst the screams filter through, as you are carried along on a frenzy of rhythmic swagger, naturally I have just turned the volume up another notch to capture its rising vibrant qualities - and check out those beats at the end! Fuckin’ ell!!

The End is Incomplete

The cascading fingers over a well-tuned Spanish guitar begins and are then forced away by a sweeping tidal wave of powerful electric guitar and strengthening drum beats. It vocally never loses its impact as the scathing breath rips you limb from limb and the clean vocal puts you back together again. It briefly slows to reveal soft strings once again with a whispered vocal until it decides to rip your head off yet again, amid cataclysmic rhythms that just devour with hunger!

Inconsistent Axiomes

I can’t believe I am listening to the last track on this album... it seems to have been just a second ago since I started listening L I am not sure about the clean vocal on this track though, it seems awkward and unbending somehow and not in keeping with the tracks momentum, however the guttural secretions are always welcome and the notes amid the death defying screams are its redeeming quality. Of course the melodic swathe is another factor that gives the track expressive depth.

To Sum up:

This is one highly charged album that without careful handling, as well as listening of course, is likely to explode, - well it does anyway, as soon as you play it.  

Not heard anything quite like this in its genre since experiencing The Dethisodes – Inside the Universe of Horror – (Due out for release tomorrow from UKEM Records 21.6.13)

The full on, in your face melodic death metal is ripe for picking, rabid with rhythms, ravenous with devious riffs and highly compelling. Extreme metal at its very best and with the added synth has been made even more stunning! Fuckin’ check this out if you love your metal raw with the beauty of rhythmic swathe – it has more bite than a venomous snake! Listen to the tracks “Insignificance in Space and Time” and “Expanding Cosmic Consciousness” and see if you don’t agree!!

This is one storm you will want to be caught up in, as the whirlwind ferocity contained within its dynamic structures will rip through anything in its path like a tornado and much more powerful than a live volcano spewing out molten lava – turn it up loud and melt your ears it is well worth it!

9½/10

Track List:

Aeons of Reincarnation

Eradication

Ocelot’s Wake

Systematic Phobocratic

Mandatory Heirs

Insignificance in Space and Time

Redefining the Universe

Cosmic Radiation Flares

Expanding Cosmic Consciousness

The End is Incomplete

Inconsistent Axiomes

Members:

George Misanthrope - Vocals

Ben Nowakowsky - Guitar

Albert - Bass

Sebastian Stadtegger - Drums

Christoph - Guitar

Valium Era - Mutation reloaded - 19 Track Album - Future Fame Records - Released 18th January 2013

Valium Era

Mutation Reloaded

19 Track Album

Future Fame Records

Released 18^th January 2013

Written for www.Graveconcernsezine.com

Valium Era – Germany

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/ValiumEra

http://www.reverbnation.com/valiumera

Genre: Electro Industrial

VALIUM ERA was founded in 2006 by phiL in North-Germany, after experimenting with various music software, with the first results self-distributed on home burned CD’s and on My Space at the end of 2006. phiL received a good response to his endeavours and continued with his project. He did however, take a hiatus and within that time changed instruments and took a creative break which lasted until the beginning of 2008.

Four free downloadable EP’s have since been released with each being dedicated to a separate genre from technoid to rhythmic noise.

The first album was released at the end of 2008 as a limited edition and taken from the album, the track “Tanz im Kopf” – (Dance in your Head) was released, which included different versions and a remix of the song.

In October 2009 the second album “Mutation” was released – with the sound of Valium Era changing and developing to some extent, and still danceable although what makes Valium Era stand out from many others in the genre are the typical humorous voice samples.  In the same year Orkus Magazine started to pay some interest and decided to review Valium Era and the Magazine brought out a compilation of which Valium Era was part of.

In spring 2012 Valium Era released the E.P Fcuk You and in November of the same year Valium Era signed to the awesome label Future Fame and released Mutation Reloaded in January 2013 that included many new tracks that were popular from the first two album previously released but in an invigorating fresh style that included superb remixes from the amazing Vault 113, Incubite, Sleetgrout and Chaotic Rave System – Indeed for Valium Era all systems are go!

There will be no Valium taken whilst listening to this album for sure! The tracks pump and pulsate wildly, with sonic addiction and direction, they follow rigid patterns of unbridled, fuelled passion and superb samples that will leave a dancer sweat ridden and exhausted.

Leaving no senses of the mind and indeed the body untouched this album ticks all the boxes for ambiance, intimidating rhythms and intrigue which in turn brings a greater depth to phiL’s skills and manipulative art on the synth and creates some serious ideas.

Serious Bitch boasts some echo on the voice sample and houses some amazing technoid rhythms that are attention grabbing and flow seamlessly into a myriad of beats with unusual sounds and will no doubt get fans of this genre to move with vehemence.

Not only boasting simple rhythmic swagger it holds some darker thickening rhythms that ignite and explode with regular ferocity, but the humorous samples always give a firm foothold for a bit of light relief.

The album not only prowls in a predatory stance stalking all who listens but holds a light hearted bounce of addiction. The concepts are acidic in places and downright harsh too but equally consistent in melodic ambiance so a nice variance is produced.

There are also intriguing moments as on Adaptive Radiation where the beats are just harsh and the synth takes on a haunting tone amid a clanking noise thus creating a very eerie landscape.

However the lashings of rumbustious rhythms are never far away which is always good to know!  Plenty of twisted groove and inflamed beats all interlock into one tidal wave of distinct invention making this one a colossal feast of pulsating urgency that you need to sample and experience to relive its sensational appeal.

Tanz im Kopf plays hosts to an extremely funny sample of a humorous German voice amid some haunting melodies and strenuous rhythms and if you are not up dancing to this you do not have any soul.

To Sum up:

The album is seriously greedy producing some of the most powerful sounds to embellish the aural with unrelenting beats and rabid apocalyptic rhythms soaked in caustic flavours that simply engages with adrenalin infused bite from its very core.

All in all this is one fiery colossal array of tech-noise and electro power infused with hearty samples and well worth getting your ears around. It shows no mercy and will incite the senses just as easily as the sounds manipulating them with irresistible hooks, groove, melodies and rhythms that when mixed together in this way, gives the listener something good to get their teeth into and the cyber freaks something to move to.  It is short of absolutely nothing whatsoever and you can not go wrong when you listen to its rampaging vibrancy - now all you have to do is press play – Enjoy!

10/10

Track List:

Mutation – Intro

Human Evolution

Serious Bitch

It will End

DNA Codec

Fcuk You

Adaptive Radiation

Lautes Rauschen

Machinestyle DTF

Fcuk me

Tanz im Kopf

Sexplosion

Machtnarr

Wavelength 666

Sexual Death

Human Evolution – Remix by Vault 113

DNA Codec – Remix by Incubite

Tanz im Kopf – Remix by Chaotic Rave System

Machtnarr – Remix by Sleetgrout

Members:

phiL 

Vault 113 - Leichenfeier - 18 Track Album - Enhanced Edition - Future Fame Records - Released 31st August 2012

Vault 113

Leichenfeier

18 Track Album

Enhanced Edition

Future Fame Records

Released 31^st August 2012

One word - Awesome!

Written for www.Graveconcernsezine.com

Vault 113 – Germany

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/Vault113

Buy here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Leichenfeier-Enhanced-Edition/dp/B008LFHYW8

Genre: Techno/Electro-Industrial

Vault 113 a one man project was founded by Johannes Scherer in 2010. His style of music touches on technoid rhythms and electro-industrial paying special attention to the progressive, machine-like and technical song arrangement and hinges on certain influences from other electro genres.  The name Vault 113 was chosen in relation to the Fallout Game Series, whilst the number 113 has no relevance at all.

The translation of the album name Leichenfeier means Funeral Reception which conjures up a bleak outlook on the proceedings and indeed the first track stands out as somewhat gruesome, to say the very least, and that is just the intro...

The samples are an important part of this music (Johannes uses them from controversial B-Movies) adding depth to the ever growing primitive beats and highly charged rhythms that sit on a plateau of towering atmosphere and catchy infectious energy.

The German samples are indeed harsh and abrasive as are the tempestuous rhythms that accompany them and pulls the pin from the grenade as an explosion of beats follow in mesmeric array.

Festering with dark intrigue and pulsating grandeur these tracks sizzle and burn ferociously and get the blood to boiling point as they pierce the audial with regular continuity as they unfold. Ebbing and flowing with bristling intense energy they bump and grind with plenty of groove, releasing a superb reward for the listener/dancer.

Drenched in a swathe of melody, the rhythmic pumping continues with a hypnotic swell of genius. Each track crafted with finely tuned notes that hit hard as they reach the aural and instigated by light and shadow of pulsating ambient array and impressive bubbling synth that plays the whole spectrum with ease.

Mainly the tracks are drenched in techno beats and rhythms that reveal a progressive stance.  It is however, imposing, and dark and house mutated robotic rhythms that are captivating in their own right and none the less catchy.

This kind of music definitely plays with the mind and alters the way of thinking without a drug in sight. Its harsh reality plays out to a hypnotic weave of intimidating energy that you can not see but what your ears tell you is that it warrants your attention and indeed gets it.

The swaggering display of thumps, smacks and dangerous rhythms are in abundance, despite there only being sampled voices and no vocals to speak of giving each of the tracks a profound flavour of urgency, as your mind focuses on the music alone with no distraction and serves its purpose well.

To Sum up:

Eighteen cleverly crafted tracks surge into existence to only one conclusion – its emotive moments are fierce and unyielding and gives the listener a chance to gather all the information for processing and then savour the contents.   Pulsating aggressive and harsh edged moments are encouraging and as well as highly engaging for the listener as a hypnotic blend of intimidation that rampages through the speakers – this is one colossal album that releases its force in no uncertain terms!

The mixes are highly compelling and encompassing as they wrap you in an undulating frenzy of sampled voice and deep resonating rhythms that go a long way to keeping your attentions focused on the track in hand.

The robot like tendencies of the genre are what makes it special and give the tracks that extra gravitational pull into their deep pulsating rhythms that fluctuate wildly, it matters very little that the beats are repetitive, as they take full control of the mind and the body follows in quick succession.

If you like thinking outside the box then this is a great album to practise your dance moves, as these tracks will more than melt the dance floor!! But strange to think that Johannes does not like dancing – now there is a thing!

Highly recommended listening!

10/10

Track List:

In the Aftermath

Earuptor

Leichenfeier

Mechanism

Voice of Havoc

Kranke Puppen

Doomsday Device

Entrückung

Neutron Fun

Nachtrhythmus

Wastelands

Leichenfeier (Executed By Incubite)

Doomsday Device (Air Raided By Phosgore)

Kranke Puppen (Blinded By Chainreactor)

Entrückung (Wynardtage Remix)

Voice of Havoc (Acylum Remix)

Entrückung (Valium Era Remix)

Kranke Puppen (Pis’ka Mix by Sleetgrout)

Members:

Johannes Scherer