In this post, I collect my instagram reviews for the week for albums released in 2022. All my non-2022 reviews are gathered in a post as soon as a decent number has accumulated. I listen to mostly metal, but I do not limit myself to any genre.
Nekrogoblikon - The Fundamental Slimes and Humors
Genre: Nu Metal / Melodic Death/Folk Metal
Label: Mystery Box
Curiosity killed the cat. I am still alive (somehow) but it is undeniable that my curiosity has not been the best for my mental wellbeing at least. I could always tell that Nekrogoblikon would be annoying and gimmicky and that their attempts at comedy would not only leave me cold, but be actively annoying. All of those things were true, just that in addition to all of these things, there is a clear groove influence and Nu Metal elements that I didn´t excpect. 'The Fundamental Slimes and Humors' is a grueling 45 minutes of horrible clean singing, ineffective high shrieks and annoyingly cheesy keyboards. I don´t wanna use the P-Word here, but it is pretty clear that Nekrogoblikon try to cater to a crowd that is infinetely more casual and disinterested in actual musicianship than I am.
Nekrogoblikon, as I said, have very little going for them musically, but what is the appeal? I am certain that, on some level, the rare moments of aggression would be detrimental to a casual listeners enjoyment, even if they´re dropped rather quickly to go back into horribly synths so cheap and cheesy that even a 90s Alexi Laiho would be offended. What is so shocking about this is how, even though it is clearly catering to the lowest common denominator, it doesn´t manage to be catchy or memorable in the slightest. Usually, a guilty pleasure involves something so dumb but simultaneously fun that you can´t help but get into it. There is no guilt here, no pleasure. Just self-loathing and shame from my end that I wasted 45 minutes.
Rating: 3/10.
GGGOLDDD - This Shame Should Not be Mine
Genre: Industrial / Trip Hop / Dark Ambient
Label: ARTOFFACT RECORDS
I am always wary of "Issues" albums. Rarely do I find them musically satisfying in a way that not only does the concept or the issue it is about justice. Also, it is even rarer that they are musically pleasing beyond the concept, making it only worthwhile if the issue at hand is something you care about. 'This Shame Should Not be Mine' is an album dealing very specifically with a topic, a heavy one at that, as the lyrics center about rape and its psychological aftermath, drawing from personal experience. I knew this going in and it has admittedly made it more powerful, but luckily, 'This Shame Should Not be Mine' would also be a pleasing album if it would be disconnected from the lyrical concept.
While GGGOLDDD draw from certain Metal aesthetics, especially from Doom/Sludge and Black Metal, I wouldn´t go so far to call them a Metal band and going in with that expectation will likely make you feel disappointed. The textures on the album are relatively sparse, albeit poignantly dynamic, and almost fully electronic. Slotting it into a specific movement of electronic music is harder however, and GGGOLDDD manage to have their own style and identity. The genre descriptor given by the band, alternative Pop, doesn´t quite feel adequate either, as none of this material feels poppy in the slightest and is not really chorus driven on a structural level. The vocals feel like sermons, like diary entrys, like snippets of inner monologue by Singer Milena Eva. She is supported by bass heavy industrial textures, but her vocal delivery and the general pace of the album recalls Portishead or Massive Attack more than anything else. The only track refusing to grab me rn is the second to last track, 'On You', which is lacking those industrilial textures and instead fully focuses on her voice - but she probably even earned that.
Rating: 7/10
Concilivm - A Monument in Darkness
Genre: Death Metal
Label: Independent
I fully understand that bands want to stick out from the masses. I generally prefer it when bands actually have a distinct and inque style vs. just giving the style a unique name. Concilivm want to call their music 'Deathened Black', but what it ends up as is strictly death metal. Of the cavernous kind, admittedly and, sure, its rather heavy on the tremolos. But I still do struggle to place any clear cut black metal elements in the sound. Luckily, Concilivm play a solid Caverncore that is just a little more unique than your average incantation-clone - even thought that is probably a less exciting sales pitch.
Concilivium draw from the same book of tricks as most caverncore acts. Dialing up the reverb on the guitar tone and going heavy on the mud, a lot of it boils down to a barrage of trem riffs that just produce space. As most of these acts, Concilivm shine the most in what they do inbetween the reverb drenched trem. Subtle melodic passages, with dirty leads help to establishc contrast and the occasional stompy chug riff reminds us that, yes, even in a dimension of tremolo rhythm can exist. These excursions into different material are always well placed, so the material avoids being boring. The only place where the black metal influence might come in is in the vocals, where a desperate howl is sometimes used to give some contrast to the cavernous growls. Overall, it works.
Rating: high 6/10
First Days of Humanity - Nothing
Genre: Silence
Label: independent
First Days of Humanity seem to have a good sense of humor. Their name is a play on classic Goregrind act Last Days of Humanity and they focus on cavemen in their lyrics. Well, if they have any - after all Goregrind gets away with ludicrous, down-pitched burps that can impossibly be deciphered as lyrics. 'Nothing' is little more than a conceptual joke, as not a single sound can be found in the files of the album. In a way, 'Nothing' is the Goregrind equivalent of John Cage´s '4:33'. 'Nothing' is smart, man. Its more about what it does to you sitting there in silence while it plays. You can even listen to it while listening to other music.
Sure, there´s a conceptual joke and it´s a nice talking point for a few minutes, but how do you score a joke like this? In the case of John Cage, the case can at least be made that the designated silence will have an effect on the viewer in a live setting and that it gives the listener a chance to experience the room they´re in as a musical object. 'Nothing', however, doesn´t invite such thoughts. Barely ten seconds long (thank god - can you believe sitting there in silence for 20 minutes?), it doesn´t really have any effect on me. I am not confronted with the silence, neither does having it on have any effect on me. As soon as it starts, it is already over and it doesn´t qualify as a pra
nk on the listener at that point. 'Nothing' only makes sense as an odd bandcamp discovery.
Rating: None.
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