Monday, July 23, 2007

Colossus - Worshipper

Artist: Colossus
Release: Worshipper
Label: none
Year: 2007
Format: CDr
Tracks: 8
TRT: 40:42

My second taste of this new ambient/metal/drone band Colossus. I loved the first disc, Tar Heaven Wonders Of The Ancient World, and gave it one of my best reviews. This new disc is no different. Eight tracks packaged with a clear insert that I've yet to see so far. Nice, clean and simple.

The first track, Earth Pulse, opens the disc great with a doom metal sounding style. There's a guitar riff being plucked with some great delay effects and soft tones. The next track, Thunder Pulse, is the longest at 8 minutes. It features more of a drone sound then anything. Some great loops and carried sounds, which soon break apart near the end into some sci-fi collapse. Track three, Psychic Secession, is very melodic and has some great effects. I know Ryan is using guitar but I can't figure out how he's doing it. It's very peaceful and dreamy and one of the better tracks on the disc. It gets really good near the end as well with notes being plucked here and there. Track four, Me Of The City, is one of the more experimental ones. Fairly creepy with some whispers mixed into a high drone and light loops. Half way through some random drums come to beat in and they fit perfect. It makes this the industrial track of the album. Fairly loud at times, but yet, soothing in it's evil intent. It all crashes into the next short track, Landed, featuring a light drone and again, sci-fi sounding. Half way through it begins to sound more like a crash instead of a landing. Very effective. Track Six, Gases From Heaven, gets very doom-metal sounding. Heavy guitar drone with a phaser type effect plays over top of plucked notes. A fairly well done musical drone track. Track Seven, Psychic Redemption, cools the ears down with some light metal guitar delay play. There's some vocal moaning and the track soon gets into an actual song when drums and a tambourine come in half way through. An awesome track but I wish the vocals were more discerable. The last track, Universal Peace, ends the disc in a light ambient drone piece. Again, more guitar drone with subtle happenings and going ons that creep in and out. Good way to end the disc for sure.

I will now say something I don't say often, and I told Ryan this too. Colossus needs to be on CD or Vinyl some day. This guy does such great experimental music that it rivals the likes of Sunn 0))), Boris, and The Goslings. I could play these bands all day simply cause it's not just noise or ambient. It has a lot of reply value and can appeal to more than just the average noise junkie. Like his first disc this is one of my favorite CDr's in my collection and if he ever puts out a CD someday I'll be first in line to get it.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Skrol - Insomnia Dei

Artist: Skrol
Release: Insomnia Dei
Label: RRRecords, Chromosome
Year: 2001
Format: CD
Tracks: 7
TRT: 41:19

I'm not new to Skrol as a band but this is the first listen of them I had. This version of the CD is the remastered version co-released on RRRecords in 2001. It features seven fairly heavy hitting industrial tunes. I unfortunately didn't get a cover for this album, just the CD itself, so I can not comment much on the artwork, but it maybe like the normal style RRR does with a cardboard sleeve and printed paper insert.

The CD starts off with a ten and half minute track titled, Soaking / Movie Martyr. It features some great guitar loops and a slow pounding bass drum. Soon vocals come in and it's more yelling than anything. You can understand them if you listen closely and they sound pretty clear. The next track, Gasteropod, is in the same vain but features a well played piano loop as well. Track three, U.C.M., has a great "impending doom" feel to it. The high tonal loops and the fast drum kicks are great. Insomnia, track four, starts off fairly light with some harmonic vocals creeping. It's still got some kick to it with a slow drum beat smacking in. These vocals are very operatic as well, which surprised me in a good way. Probably my favorite on this disc. All the tracks on this CD have the same quality to them and it makes it great as a album in it's whole. I don't find myself wanting to skip tracks, much like the Sunn O)))/Boris: Altar disc. All great tracks.

Overall this is a very powerful CD and one that should be played at full volume. It's got me wanting to check out more of this bands material for sure.