Band: Razing Darkness

Album: Terraform

Album Year: 2006

Label: Self Released

Genre(s): Experimental/Noise

Band Website: http://www.myspace.com/razingdarkness

Rating: 8/10

Track List:
 

1.     Gravity Damage

2.     Terraform

3.     Answered with Static

4.     Dogstar

Razing Darkness presents a wonderful mini cd release with “Terraform.” Wrapped in cloth and chain, it seems to represent an offering of found objects, not unlike the sounds contained therein. Here we have an experimental noise album filled synthetic machine-screams glued together with ghostlike pads.

We are greeted with a harsh wall of sound. This CD ep gets straight to the point and takes no prisoners in the process. Synthetic modulations are masked with distorted and dying radio frequencies. “Terraform” brings me back to Coil’s “Constant Shallowness Leads to Evil” in that it is not merely an album of synthetic savagery (an affliction that plagues the noise scene these days) but it is rather a well thought out journey into the depths of abrasive sound. The tracks are adventurous and varied, providing for material that leaves the listener satisfied and assured that the master behind the controls is anything but lazy. Rhythmic pulsations and decay. Barren post fallout landscapes. Chaotic filtration and manipulation. If anything were to be the soundtrack to Sean Kennedy’s “Tales from the Afternow,” this would be it.

Obviously, this isn’t for everyone. Most noise releases aren’t. But there is definitely something that can be appreciated in this release by even the most hardened anti-noise snob. That “something” is, I believe, an act of honest and egoless sound experimentation.

- Jason

March 2007