V/A - Swarm
Occasionally, I will post about music that’s not metal, but that metalheads might like. That includes things like noise, dark ambient, industrial, techstep, and so on. Basically, if it’s dark and nasty enough, it stands a chance. This compilation from Cold Spring definitely fits the bill.
Cold Spring is a UK label that’s been around since the late ’80s. Its output is incredibly diverse; in its own words, it specializes “in all forms of extreme media, but particularly: black/dark Ambient, Neo-classical/Neo-folk, Orchestral, Power Electronics/Noise, Japanese Noise, Minimal, Death Industrial, Dark Soundtracks, Experimental, obscure electronics from Russia, China, Japan, Poland etc.” Recently, Cold Spring spawned a black metal sublabel, Satanas Rex, whose first release was Jotunspor’s Gleipnirs Smeder.
The two discs of Swarm feature 22 exclusive tracks recorded for it by Cold Spring artists. For a track list, see here. You might recognize names like Merzbow, Von Thronstahl, or Deadwood, who’s working with Maniac from Mayhem on an album due out later this year. The range of sounds is amazingly wide, touching on many of the genres listed above. I never thought I’d enjoy industrial symphonic marches next to gothic folk songs and Scanner-esque field recordings, but the quality is high throughout. It would be too much to talk about every track, much as I’d like to, so I’ll post some highlights.
Clear Stream Temple – Division (City of Mosques)
Hands down my favorite track is the chilling “Division (City of Mosques)” by Clear Stream Temple, a one-woman project. It consists of manipulated soundbites of the Iraq war over ambience that’s alternately harsh and haunting. An endeavor like this could get preachy real fast, but the music speaks as much as the words, with red-lined hammering noises suggesting the sounds of bombs. It’s amazing what a little looping and effects can do to the human voice.
Shinjuku Thief – Sacred Fury (live)
Shinjuku Thief explores industrial symphonic territory here, as do Kreuzweg Ost and Kriesgfall-U. I haven’t heard this vibe since Laibach back in the day, and for some reason it intrigues me much more now that I’m older. Perhaps that’s because these artists have politically charged aesthetics and manifestos. Normally, I hate the sound of marches. What’s pomp and circumstance on one shore usually means death and destruction on another. But these aren’t the usual Sousa fanfares. There’s menace here, and I wonder whether these artists satirize or glorify martial sounds. Must investigate further.
John Watermann – Whispering Walls (Si_COMM Remix)
John Watermann was an experimental artist in the true sense of the word. He worked with sound, film, and photography, compiling a large discography on various media using various methods. He passed away in 2002 in Brisbane, Australia. Si_COMM has remixed his “Whispering Walls” into something that could have been on the first Clicks & Cuts compilation, if not for its extremely creepy vibe. Turn up the volume, turn out the lights, and see how long you last.
I can’t recommend this compilation highly enough. If you’re into the dark ambient bits of the latest albums by Blut Aus Nord or Spektr, you’ll love this. The compilation comes in a beautiful gatefold digipak, with artwork by “O. Lomer,” on whom I could find no information. It’s available for a low price from the label, and it’s free if you order three other Cold Spring releases. Dig in.
