Füneral Rain Press Cörps

Genres: Avant-Garde, Black Metal, Dark Ambient, Drone
Label: Shadowgraph Records

Another new offering from Aderlating, Devotional Hymns is an instant classic. Some of the creepiest soundscapes Mories has ever put onto disc with some extremely violent sounding vocals, and I’m happy. It’s no wonder why Aderlating has quickly become one of my favourite bands.
The ambience is far from boring, but rather atmospheric and unnerving, like Burzum crossed with Mark Snow. It’s fucking awesome. The whole thing is a trip to listen to, an experience I recommend completely.
If only this was available on vinyl.
9 out of 10.

Aderlating on MySpace.

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: Dark Ambient, Noise
Label: Shadowgraph Records

Oh Shadowgraph, how you hear my cries. “I want some dark ambient that’s not boring!” “Oh, is that so, Blaspheme? Well, here’s some Aderlating up your ass!”
The Nectar of Perversity Springs from the Well of Repression is a tortured look into a tortured man’s view of a tortured society. I think. But if I’m wrong, at least the album is amazing.
“A Circle Drawn with Chalk on Wood” and the title track are my favorites. “Cut Off My Penis in Praise of Black Satan” wins the Coolest Song Title on the Album Award.
8 out of 10.

Aderlating on MySpace.

Genres: Industrial, Noise
Label: Shadowgraph Records

You know those albums that once to start listening to it, you can’t stop? The ones that make you skip school or work just to hear? This is one of those albums.
Aphelion is one man from Seattle making noise mixed with industrial that reminds me a lot of Skinny Puppy, who apparently are an inspiration for these sounds. Then again, so is bitterness, hatred for what seems to be 99.9% or more of the human race, and apathy towards modern music.
So basically, I could have known all of this about Mr. C. McBain and still given him a very high rating for this album without even hearing it. But instead, I’ve listened to it twice and after blowing my mind twice, my favorite track is what I think is “Be Still” (there’s 11 tracks on the CD, 10 track titles on the back). “Car, Bus, Plane or Coffin” (or at least track nine) is second place favorite.
10 out of 10.