Falcony - III(2013)

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Oscillations are a very fascinating underside to the physical realm. Seemingly everything vibrates, and when you sway these vibrations back and forth together, depending on the frequencies utilized to do so...different effects are achieved. FALCONY is one of many that provides a great referential framework for your brain to grow a deeper understanding of these principles by adding in the neuroplasticity factor and wrapping it in subconscious, controlled and mysteriously arranged bursts of frequency most of us like to call: DRONE.

Sole member, Andrew Rider, achieves his crestfallen galaxy collapsing black holes through what is listed only as "Synth/Pedal" on his bandcamp. Imagine synths into a mission control like pedal board, then into a bank of Solid State and Tube amps, now imagine that all these amps are bonafide vintage...it takes a lot of passion and dedication to amass a drone center such as this. After finding a picture of him performing live, I find that a bass is probably driving a lot of those pedals as well...and what's more? A TRAVIS FUCKING BEAN(based Kramer)

I am immediately drawn in by the song titles that all seem coherent with one another, especially when one of the titles is one of the 4 states that drones have the power to set your mind in. The Theta state is where Intuition, Focus and Memory come into play. As this song opens up, I feel as if I am at the gates of life...about to reach forth and make the mistake of opening the door yet again...the sputtery, voltage sag sounding bass undertones keep building coercing me to just stop thinking about it and jump through the portal. At this point my ascension/descension(I can't even tell whether this is up or down) is given aid as the basscillations start creeeping higher and dirtier into the mix. Some serious SWANS sounds going on here, there is a specific sound on the latest Swans album that I had never heard before nor since, this is the closest yet.

Iota has me passing through the doorway that was revealed in Theta, wrapping me in chaos as I am shot through the space between worlds at a speed the frequency of oscillation depicts for me until this oscillation builds to an apex and I am being pulled by large hands into a strangely familiar world at which point I start screaming in horror that instead of completing the circle, I have returned to its cusp of inception. Only when the frequencies are brought back down to the bass spectrum am I allowed to reflect on this irony and laugh madly at the sentiment.

Kappa is where I am left on this side of the veil once again, and the other side laughs cruelly, yet empathetically at my plight. Just when I thought the torture was enough, it rears its ugly head for one last deep bellied laugh that I had failed to get the proverbial "it" yet again...

Falcony's III is available as a pay what you can on their bandcamp, release it from its digital confines and blast it through something worthy, smoke up, chill down and drone out.

Toneparisons: Swans, Neurosis(drones), Godflesh(drones), Sunn O))), ASVA

-Stonerhound

Death Crawl - Accelerated Rate of Decay(2012)

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Every ounce of available energy is utilized in DEATHCRAWL with all members handling more than one duty. All three members add vocals to the table, then the drummer and bassist triple their duty by manning synthesizers in places.

This album starts off sounding very akin blackened sludge, especially on Kill or be Killed where I am hearing parts that resemble a hot-rodded, overbuilt Darkthrone that weaves in and out of hot-rodded, overbuilt Burzum sounding parts.

The beginning of Dead is Dead is a bit on the more traditional sludge vein, after just these 3 tracks, it is clearly apparent that DeathCrawl can add their own blackened droning touches to just about anything and they will come out with quite an impressive result.

Dead is Dead to Blight is a wonderful transition which is one of a multitude of reasons that I would really enjoy watching these guys live one day.

When the synths come in around the 4 mark on Blight is about the point that all inhibitions melt away and I have fully submitted myself to the geniuses that DeathCrawl are...very Ufommamut. The guitar and bass part masking the synths continue to slow down further and further revealing ever more the character of the synth lurking behind them.

Another perfect transition between songs and I have landed on Disturbing the Earth. On this song the guys show us their interpretation of clean vocals, which albeit shortlived, are utilized to very poignant, composition serving effect. Thus far, this is my favorite track on the album. If you couldn't tell by now...I REALLY LOVE Thou...I also really like Jesu...and the main theme in this song makes me envision the two collaborating...and even then im not sure it would be much better than how DeathCrawl projects this experience. These guys are the real fucking deal...right after channeling similarities from two bands I absolutely love, the song shifts tone and resembles two more bands that I love...Yob and Dark Castle. Even as I am able to draw these comparisons there is much ingenuity and originality in the overall delivery.

With yet another transition glueing together two songs seemlessly, I am starting to wonder...did I dream this band into existence? If not...how the fuck did they manage to incorporate all my favorite aspects of heavy music into a single coherent flow of songs without pause? I mean usually this is pulled off pretty easy for the more atmospheric leaning bands, but these guys are killing every transition no matter which direction they decide to take it next. If someone needed a good introduction into the heavier side of the underground, I would definitely show them this exact album while daring them to listen to the whole thing and not find one part that opens their eyes.

Maginot, starts off very Noisy, with some FM synth grain filling the gaps behind a deep, massive bass groove until you get a slide in the style of Crowbar into giant Windsteiny riffdom.

The guys utilize many different, very fitting vocal tones throughout this album...all choices of tonality perfectly serving their parts. The whole album the back of my mind was itching as to what the main vocal tone is so reminiscient of, by Despite our Best Efforts, it finally hits: Matt Pike on Whippets.

DeathCrawl is an extremely versatile band that knows exactly what the fuck they are doing and are going to do it whether you like it or not, and by the dark lord himself, they are going to do it DAMN WELL.

Download Accelerated Rate of Decay for $10 at their bandcamp, or buy the physical for the same cost over at their bigcartel where they also have a couple other albums and some shirts for sale.

Toneparisons: Crowbar, Pelican, Yob, Thou, Jesu, Rwake, Ufommamut

-Stonerhound