detailed info: discogs.com

The latest Cyclic Law release is Hel by Allseits, the project of Nina Kernicke from Bremen, Germany. Nina also records as All Sides, the name she used for her collaboration with Troum on Shutûn. [...]]]> artist: Allseits
release: Hel
format: CD
year of release: 2009
label: Cyclic Law
duration: 44:27

detailed info: discogs.com

The latest Cyclic Law release is Hel by Allseits, the project of Nina Kernicke from Bremen, Germany. Nina also records as All Sides, the name she used for her collaboration with Troum on Shutûn. The current album is a trademark Cyclic Law release in the area of dark ambient drones with a spacey toucNina h.

The album follows the course of a journey to the underworld of Norse mythology, from the roots of the World Tree Yggdrasil to the realm of (and corresponding goddess) Hel itself. We travel across the river (and bridge) of Gjöll, where the guardian Móðguð is encountered. Up next is Garm, the Nordic counterpart to Cerberus, the guardian hound of the underworld. The penultimate encounter is Fjalar, a name which can refer to both a dwarf and one of the roosters that will crow in the day of Ragnarök. Finally is Hel itself. In a musical journey, then, we somewhat retrace Hermóð’s quest in the Prose Edda to retrieve Baldr from the hellish realm.

Interesting concept matter aside, Hel is a decent and rewarding album that will appeal particularly to lovers of very dark and obscure drones, in the vein of projects like Svartsinn and Kammarheit. In that sense, the album is perfectly at home on this label. It’s not too long and each track has theme and structure different enough to keep the album interesting for the almost 45 minutes of its duration. In particular the closing title track is quite good, with its classic slow crescendo buildup.

However, you certainly won’t find any innovation here, which is perhaps typical of the genre at this moment. Dark ambient has been established as a unique and interesting style over the past fifteen years or so, but such a crystallisation inevitably leads to stagnation in many cases. As such, this is a perfect album if you can’t yet get enough of this kind of music, but not quite what you’re looking for if you seek the cutting edge of modern ambient.

Reviewed by O.S.

Tracklist:

1. Yggdrasil (6:44)
2. Gjöll (8:01)
3. Modgudr (6:47)
4. Garm (9:02)
5. Fjalar (7:45)
6. Hel (6:08)

detailed info: discogs.com.

Fucking Whore Society is Karjalan Sissit‘s latest full-length album, no doubt eagerly awaited by a growing group of fans. I count [...]]]> artist: Karjalan Sissit
release: Fucking Whore Society
format: LP, CD
year of release: 2009
label: Eternal Soul (LP), Cyclic Law (CD)
duration: 43:31 (LP)

detailed info: discogs.com.

Fucking Whore Society is Karjalan Sissit‘s latest full-length album, no doubt eagerly awaited by a growing group of fans. I count myself among the after seeing a stellar performance by the band last year, in which they presented their authentic – and alcohol-drenched – mixture of dark ambient, modern Finnish folklore, and crushing martial industrial sounds.

This new album was release on CD by Cyclic Law and on LP by Eternal Soul, the latter version of which is reviewed here particularly. On the whole, it seems Fucking Whore Society focuses mainly on the variation between threatening ambient pieces and more intense rhythmic industrial tracks, all of which exude an atmosphere of depravity, booze, and misanthropy. Nothing out of the ordinary for Karjalan Sissit, in other words. That goes for everything about the album, really. It is subtly different from its predecessors, but not a lot; the titles are a blend of obscenities in Finnish, Swedish, and English, and the quality level is high: dark and ominous when it needs to be, but overpowering and in your face as well.

Nice perks about the LP version are the bonus track (“Rautakeppi”), the limited coloured vinyl editions and the already quite fancy packaging of the regular LP, and the poster.

It’s not a surprising record; it won’t turn any heads or convert unbelievers. But it’s definitely an excellent and powerful album of post-industrial decay music that manages to ask at least some of the right questions in a  rotten – sometimes, admittedly – society: “har du horat runt på campingen?” Have you been whoring around on the camping?

Reviewed by O.S.

Tracklist:

A1. Jävla Psykopat Kärring (Värre Än En Horunge) (4:50)
A2. Asuntovaunussa Huoraamassa (4:18)
A3. Slöddret Måste Bort (2:31)
A4. Loppuun Nussittu Avioliitto (3:44)
A5. Har Du Horat Runt På Campingen? (4:01)

B1. Nyt Tulee Kirvestä; Perkele (3:44)
B2. Rautakeppi (3:16)
B3. Hyi Helevetti (You Are A Whore And Will Always Be) (3:41)
B4. Skitfolk (3:58)
B5. Knulldate (4:27)
B6. Solmu On Solmittu (4:57)

detailed info: discogs.com

Sinke Dûs is one of the new names on the Cyclic Law roster, and it’s a one man project by Marcus Lönebrink from Sweden. Not surprisingly, Akrasia, his debut album, contains three quarters of an [...]]]> artist: Sinke Dûs
release: Akrasia
format: CD
year of release: 2007
label: Cyclic Law
duration: 45:46

detailed info: discogs.com

Sinke Dûs is one of the new names on the Cyclic Law roster, and it’s a one man project by Marcus Lönebrink from Sweden. Not surprisingly, Akrasia, his debut album, contains three quarters of an hour’s worth of dark ambient with what I consider a distinctly Swedish sound. Sonic references include Kammarheit (who also appears on the album) and Desiderii Marginis, and I would say this album lies somewhere between the signature sounds of Cyclic Law and Cold Meat, if there is such a thing as a typical label sound.

The term ‘akrasia’ means to act against one’s better judgment, to comit wrong acts even though you know they are wrong. This theme is interpreted musically on this album, which results in seven pensive dark ambient tracks. There is a strong emphasis on synthesizer chords and waves, which make up the greater part of the album, weaving minimalistic, slow-moving melodies. Added to the mix are some typical industrial elements (metal sounds, static, etc.) that are often used in this line of work. This also reminds me of Raison d’Être at times. Akrasia is a subtle album, in the sense that there aren’t many sounds that push to the foreground. The wavy use of synths give it a relaxed atmosphere, although the sound is also quite dark and moody. The tracks themselves differ a bit in style and melody, but not a whole lot. My favourite is definitely the final track, “Fortitude”, which combines the dark atmospheres of the greater part of the album with a glimmer of hope.

Altogether an enjoyable album, and a nice achievement for someone who is just debuting. It’s not the most original or groundbreaking thing out there, but it is definitely a nice addition to your collection if you are really into the Scandinavian approach to dark ambient.

Reviewed by O.S.

Tracklist:

1. The Premonition (6:44)
2. Acedia (5:47)
3. Remnants (7:31)
4. That Which Was Lost (7:08)
5. The Abyss (5:17)
6. That Which Lies Beyond (7:11)
7. Fortitude (6:08)