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I’m not
that familiar with the works of Thomas Martin Ekelund death industrial project “Trepaneringsritualen”,
but I have been listening to some of his releases the last couple of weeks now.
And I was amazed of the strong visual content that this projects creates, in sound and artwork as well. It
really sucks you into another world. The release I will be reviewing is called “Martyrium”,
one of his earlier records.
The
first track on Martyrium called “Death Reveler”, starts with a heavy industrial rhythm, frantic vocals
of insanity and bell-like percussion. It’s a five minute long death march of
insanity and suffering. The second track, “The Blood Of The New Covenant”, and
a much longer one in length than the previous, has dark and deranging ambient that is
joined by muffled, fast, background beats. Also on the background you can hear
a dark and low drone, which seems to be setting the foundations for this track.
Bird-like sounds and talking vocals come in, rough noises as well. After a
while the deranging ambient seems to be transforming in wind, joined by sharp,
high ranged tones. One can imagine that these are the sounds he or she will be hearing in
purgatory. An awaiting evil, soaking itself in doubt and regret.
On the
other side of the cassette we have “Plague Of Persecution”, which begins with
trembling and shifting noises and vocals, effected by fast following delay
times. In the distance one can hear whaling sounds of wind, giving this track a
very desolate feeling. Reverbed percussion (gongs or cymbals) comes in, intensifying
the track and giving it a atmosphere of unease. Less abstract vocals with longer
delay times join also. It feels a bit like a preach, before a punishment commences.
The last track, “Eucharist Of Piss & Shit”, is similar to the first one,
similar in intensity and aggressiveness. A
hardcore beat line is joined by the ravishing and right out scary vocals of Ekelund,
with on the background strange and exotic noises. The release closes off right as where it all began.
Martyrium
is a true descent into the underbelly of a netherworld, where the listener gets sucked
in deeper and deeper. A journey for the brave and insane.
Sold out
on label