New Spins: 17th May 2021

This is New Spins, my fortnightly review of three of the best new releases I've been listening to recently from across all genres and styles.

Violet Cold - Empire Of Love // Independent

It's certainly a bold move to put the star and crescent symbol over the pride flag (though I'm sure this isn't the first time it's been done), but Violet Cold has always been a bold and ambitious project unafraid to stick two blackgaze fingers up at the metal establishment, let alone the cultural and political one of their home country of Azerbaijan. Empire Of Love is a simply stunning record both musically and thematically. It is unquestionably Violet Cold's best work so far, and one of the most original albums to come out of the blackgaze genre. It's experimental and boundary pushing where it needs to be, with its use of kawaii vocals, banjo leads and dream-pop melodies. However, it works these perfectly into the established structures of blackgaze, developing the genre from within rather than trying to push from the outside, and in doing so Violet Cold has created a simply stunning record. The subtle Blade Runner references that are sitting within Violet Cold's current aesthetic point to a near future, one where hopefully this cover image is not so controversial, but it's only by making artistic statements like these that we'll get there.

Listen and purchase on Bandcamp

Mothman & The Thunderbirds - Into The Hollow // Independent

I was a little afraid when I first got the description for this record as being themed around conspiracy theories, not just because of the wider issues we've seen globally recently, but also particularly with the whole SMOD situation and the issues that brought up for the scene. Thankfully though, the progressive sludge project Mothman & The Thunderbirds has absolutely nothing to do with that stuff and is more focussed on interesting myths and cryptids, both historical and modern, rather than any dangerous conspiracy theories that we might think of. It's a good thing too, because the music on this record is brilliant, really intriguing and quite forward thinking for the genre. This is definitely more Mastodon than Eyehategod, and there is a wealth of other genres that are spliced into the sound quite superbly. Take the progressive thrash stylings of The Simpsons = Real Footage, the classic doom of Agarthan Riders, or the folk rock sounds of Cloud Giant as just a few examples. It's a wonderfully creative record, and although I found it takes a few listens to fully grasp, it is definitely worth sticking with.

Listen and purchase on Bandcamp

Society For The Investigation - Ectoplasmic Field Recordings Parts 1-6 // Rum Fixion Records

A friend of mine who plays in a harsh noise collective made an interesting point the other day that there's really only two places where noise music gigs take place: either at punk squats or art museums. I can't think of a genre of music with such a stark difference in its audiences. Society For The Investigation definitely sits more in the art museum camp than the punk squat one, though there is enough brutal, twisted noise here to get most crust punk noise fans excited. The project of LA based producer and performer Alan Tollefson, Society For The Investigation has a fascinating thematic basis, and this record is certainly an intense and thoughtful listen. It may indeed be made up of field recordings, but they have been stretched, distorted, pulled apart and manipulated beyond all recognition. Unlike many noise records albums though, there is a huge dynamic breadth that seduces you into its sonic depths rather than simply forcing you in, and together this culminates in a record that is truly mesmeric to absorb. 

Listen and purchase on Bandcamp

If you'd like to be considered for future editions of New Spins then please email your music and some info to wolvesinthedronedoom@gmail.com