Füneral Rain Press Cörps

Genres: Dark Ambient, Depressive Black Metal
Label: Shadowgraph Records

Another Win for Shadowgraph. Truth told though, I’ve known Welter in Thy Blood’s work longer than I’ve known of Shadowgraph, so to see them get picked up by this label made me pretty damn happy.
The music itself is very much a depressive black metal sound coupled with ambient and drone elements, and it really lends itself well to contemplation in a candlelit room. You probably wouldn’t so much drive to this stuff, unless it was late at night and you were fucked up on chemical drugs and Monster Energy Drinks.
There’s only four tracks on the CD, but never fear! For each one is long, culminating in the final song “Enemy of the Human Race” which is almost a full half hour long in itself.
If you’re into depressive black, then I definitely recommend this album highly.
8 out of 10.

Genres: Dark Ambient, Industrial, Noise
Label: Shadowgraph Records

Another disc full of odd stuff from Shadowgraph. This time it’s the band ManiFest, a Turkish ambient project whose aim is to dig deep inside the mind and soul.
And dig this lady does.
This is a very creepy disc, full of depressing music that is also thought provoking and beautiful. I don’t recommend it for everyone, unless you’re willing to sit and listen to something that could very well unnerve you, and it’s not something for all times either. It’s not a “hey, let’s play some cards and listen to some tunes” album. It’s a “hey, let’s grab a bottle of white and a cigar and just be quiet and listen to this” album.
In fact, I think I’m going to try just that when I have the opportunity to get a cigar and a bottle of white (it’s not really red wine music).
7 out of 10.

Manifest on MySpace.

Genres: Electronica, Cybergrind, Industrial, Psychedelic, Screamo
Label: Kitty on Fire Records

The duo formerly known as A Chicago Typewriter bring another drug addled album to life and call it The Self-Aware Singularity.
Pop culture references and observations and the occasional rant are brought together with some of the most creative music I’ve ever heard. It’s part electronic dance with heavily autotuned vocals and part screamo and grindcore, and meshed so perfectly.
If this were played in a club, it would get asses moving, and heads banging, and some people would probably have a seizure at the absolute dichotomies presented in this sickeningly awesome album.
One of the greatest things about ATCAC, besides the music itself, is that all the music is free. Just hit up their MySpace page and download to your heart’s content.
9 out of 10.

Among the Cells and Circuits on MySpace.