BISMARCK – Vourukasha

RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://bismarck.bandcamp.com/music The opening few bars of the title track leaves no doubt as to who and what this is; a frightening audio onslaught by the Norwegian doom metal freaks known as Bismarck. Vourukasha takes me back to their debut offering (Oneiromancer from 2020) in terms of its thunderously heavy tone and…

PICTURE ANN IS CAUGHT BETWEEN BLIND OPTIMISM AND A BLEAK PROPHECY

The brand-new output by the musically devious post-rockers Picture Ann has just arrived digitally and sees the Danish/Norwegian act conjuring up thick waves of dark ambient and drone music that explore the disruptive power of loss. Thematically speaking, the three compositions that constitute Blind Optimism – Bleak Prophecy all revolve around the postmodernist claim that…

GLACIAL MASS – The Passion

RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://xtxax.bandcamp.com/album/the-passion The musically compelling force of darkness known as Glacial Mass, which consists of members Themis and Manos, is a frighteningly heavy and claustrophobic proposition that promises a deep, introspective journey through the worst alleyways and oddest corners of the mind – a proper examination of one’s true self and an…

PICTURE ANN releases “The Gray”

The latest slice of lo-fi post-rock and dark ambient drone experimentation from the odd corners of Picture Ann’s strange musical realm is out now and entitled The Gray. With the EP undoubtedly taking a rather dim view of human nature and delving into existential anguish and intense dread, the spirit of Gothic literature and how…