ant-zen

grand mal x. retrospektiv 2010 - 2016. digital album. ant-zen dig047

available at bandcamp: https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/retrospektiv-2010-2016

tracklist: 01. laced pork chops 02. vortex as inverted pyramid 03. stealth minds 04. units 05. tricks of a trade 06. late night call 07. the crossing 08. four chambers 09. a sudden portal 10. il capitano 11. empire of spheres 12. shamanik frequency 13. observing from a quiet mind

release date: 28september2k18

constructed by karl rydby 'units' & 'four chamber': lyrics and voice by kara wulf 'il capitano': lyrics and voice by scott corken

01: very first gmx track, previously unreleased 02 & 03: originally released on stealth minds. tape. black horizons, 2013 04 - 09: originally released on life ep. tape. beläten, 2014 10 & 11: originally released on before life. tape. beläten, 2015 12 & 13: originally released on shamanik frequency. tape. cloister recordings, 2016

only a short period after the release of his well received 'darkness' album, karl rydby and mattias ivarsson a.k.a. grand mal x from sweden open up their archives and present 'retrospektiv 2010 - 2016', a truly fine selection of works which were only available on tape format including the unreleased first track ever produced by this project.

each one of the thirteen tracks on this compilation show grand mal x' ability to transform the electronic spirit of the eighties into the present. vintage-style minimal-electro tunes created with pulsing rhythm box patterns, cracking sequencer lines and disturbing industrial sound treatments head in an old school direction while the clear, transparent production makes this release sound very contemporary. the predominant beats interfere with dark atmospheres carried by extensive male and female vocals, often digitally processed to intensify the disturbing, threatening mood. in the end, this retrospective is completed with two long-lasting pieces of unsettling ambiance with a deep cinematic feel.

at once danceable and gripping, grand mal x' sonic output is suitable for those who enjoy the past while being aware of the present. highly recommended.

discography 09.2k18: retrospektiv 2010 - 2016. digital album. ant-zen dig047. 2018 darkness. cd. ant-zen act365. 2018 kess05. 12". kess kill kess05. 2017 shamanik frequency. tape. cloister recordings crus09. 2016 before life. tape. beläten [35 br]. 2015 back alley road. tape. black horizons bh-102. 2015 life ep. tape. beläten. 2014 stealth minds. tape. black horizons bh-68. 2013

trepaneringsritualen • distel. a knife in sound. die cut 12“ vinyl. ant-zen act373 / raubbau raub-060

- SOLD OUT -

tracklist: a: trepaneringsritualen: a cold cell b: distel: solar lodge original songs written by coil

mastered by linus andersson at elementstudion. design by salt. released in collaboration with raubbau. www.raubbau.org release date: 18september2k18

formed in 1983, the legendary british project coil were at the forefront of european experimentalism and electronic music for over twenty years. after the tragic accidental death of john balance the remaining member peter christopherson decided that coil would not continue. as christopherson passed away in 2010, only memories and the recorded works of this great artistic collective remain.

this release presented by ant-zen and raubbau is a most remarkable act of reverence to coil's haunting and magick sonic force. two of their rhythm-oriented tracks, 'a cold cell' from the 'live three' album and 'solar lodge' which were issued on the 'scatology' release are re-interpreted by trepaneringsritualen (sweden) and distel (the netherlands) in a furious, powerful manner.

both projects transform the original coil tunes into upfront electronic rituals based on pounding, heavy beats and impulsing minimal sequences. electronic noises interweave with acherontic vocals, death industrial soundscapes coexist with whirred saxophone samples - the results are two shattering, occult wall of tension and intensity.

this extraordinary, unique release will be showcased as a beautiful die-cut shaped limited vinyl edition. see the black sun rise! do not miss!

'the price for existence is eternal warfare.' (coil / j. balance)

sound preview: www.soundcloud.com/raubbau/sets/trepaneringsritualen-distel-a-knife-in-sound-act373-raub060/s-xy2rR

trepaneringsritualen discography (excerpt)  09.2k18: a knife in sound (w/ distel). die cut 12“ vinyl. ant-zen act373 / raubbau raub-060. 2018 oberhausen ritual - live at maschinenfest 2016. tape. raubbau / pflichtkauf. 2017 kainskult. cd / lp. tesco organisation. 2017 x post industriale / rituals 2015 e.v. (w/ mz.412). 2xlp. old europa cafe / annapurna. 2017 split (w/ body cargo). lp. autarkeia. 2016 berliner ritual oktober xi 2013 e.v.. tape. aufnahme + wiedergabe. 2014 one hundred year storm (w/ sutekh hexen). lp. cloister recordings us / pesanta. 2014 perfection & permanence. lp/cd. cold spring. 2014 konung dómaldr vid upsala hängd. tape. merzbild. 2013 split (w/ deathstench). lp. malignant records. 2013 the totality of death. ‎cd / cd. silken tofu & malignant records. 2013 deathward, to the womb. 10inch. release the bats records. 2012 edifice of nine sauvastikas (w/ æther). tape. beläten. 2012 martyrium. tape. small doses. 2011 veil the world. tape. kości tapes /new nihilism / triangle. 2011 roi perdu. tape. ideal recordings. 2010 septentrional. tape. hanson records. 2010 ritualer, blot och botgöring. tape. harsh head rituals. 2008 full discography: www.discogs.com/artist/1099122-Trepaneringsritualen

distel discography 09.2k18: a knife in sound (w/ trepaneringsritualen). die cut 12“ vinyl. ant-zen act373 / raubbau raub-060. 2018 nordagn. tape single. beläten α. 2018 zand. cd. ant-zen act338. 2015 nord. 7". beläten 55 cs. 2015 puur. cd / tape. ant-zen act318 / black horizons bh-88. 2015 ultra2012. cassette. beläten. 2014 puur. lp / lp+7'. enfant terrible enfant22 / enfant22.2. 2013 mrok / regn. 7'. enfant terrible petit enfant 006. 2010

trepaneringsritualen official websites: www.de-za-kh-a-da-sh-ba-a-ha-v.se www.facebook.com/trepaneringsritualen

vromb. noize mélodia. cd / digital album. ant-zen act383

cd: https://mailorder.ant-zen.com/product/id/3274 digital: https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/noize-m-lodia

tracklist: 01. réglages et radiations 02. vélectrobass (origine) 03. vélectrobass (déclinaison - a) 04. dialogues sur trame noize mélodia 05. le contrôle des vagues 06. vélectrobass (déclinaison - b) 07. vélectrobass (déclinaison - c) 08. navire non réel 09. x-y zone, marécage artificiel 10. dépeçage par le son 11. tempête solaire suivie de: écho d’une terre sans hommes 12. noize mélodia (thématique)

upc: 821272403425 release date: 14september2k18

gatefold cd-sleeve. matte black cardboard w/ silver print

musiques = hugo girard (radiodrome 2015-2018). design = bio-z grafix & salt. mastering = bauke van der wal.

after three years of silence 'noize mélodia' is the eagerly awaited fresh sign of life from hugo girard a.k.a. vromb. compared with albums like 'sous hypnose' or 'le pêcheur de noyés' there is no general concept on this release, only a few sketches of natural and human catastrophes and life crises were in girard's thoughts while operating his instruments. the most important aspect of vromb’s unique sonic territory is the process of composing itself - a prisoner of his musical habits, giving input to machines and utilizing their reactions for the final result. even the track titles for 'noize mélodia' like 'vélectrobass' (where v stands for vromb with electro + bass) were given by the music itself, telling him: this is what you are, this is how things shall be.

for the realization of this album, basic compositions which would last for hours were recorded and used as the foundation for re-structured and re-recorded versions after being thoroughly analyzed. as most of the sound was made with modular equipment and no adjustments or presets were saved, the final tracks are non-repeatable unique copies.

the stylistic spectrum on 'noize melódia' is breathtakingly wide, ranging from abstract soundscapes and pulsing sequences to beat-driven tunes. although the musical direction turns to conceptional experimental electronica, the listening experience always stays accessible - the melodies hide within, an aspect which was always vromb's unique trademark. during this long journey into an artist's mind amplified and passed back by electronic equipment one will discover a multitude of sonic dynamics between highest peaks and (pretended) silence. and then there are the voices - which are actually entirely generated by the machines conversing with themselves. be invited to join the trip...

control. blood will rain. cd / digital album. ant-zen act380

cd: https://mailorder.ant-zen.com/product/id/3280 digital: https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/blood-will-rain

tracklist: 01. awakening 02. der weg 03. blood will rain 04. invoking chaos 05. descending into shadows 06. the chosen call 07. black mass 08. drowned by hate 09. the blood that powers all 10. this is the law

upc 821272402725 release date: 10september2k18

mastered by isaac holly at induktion studios.

'the pious pretense that evil does not exist only makes it vague, enormous and menacing.'

with his new album 'blood will rain' thomas garrison a.k.a. control presents a release which is a status report of a journey into an artist's saturnine inner self. the sound shows a slight shift in direction from control's power electronics basics towards death industrial whereat deep, dark soundscapes play a decisive foundational role. enduring pulses of apparent and sometimes concealed rhythms overlaid with resonant metallic drones and tortured voice treatments evoke a dramatic atmosphere of maleficant trance. an electronically generated ritual music caused by the combination of hypnotic, cavernous and perpetual aggressive elements.

this most sable release in control's history is a soundtrack for incantations of many kinds: chaos, suffering, enlightenment. able to establish fraternal bonds between artist and listener, 'blood will rain' might be used to open up as yet closed, or even hidden doors. be prepared.

control • geneviéve pasquier • kommando • thorofon forces aligned - europe takeover. 02-22.october.2018

oct02  berlin. germany @ urban spree (control, spit mask & thorofon) oct03  lodz. poland @ dom (control (complete line-up t.b.a.)) oct05  leipzig. germany @ line-up t.b.a. oct06  nürnberg. germany @ z-bau (control, da-sein & thorofon) oct08  frankfurt/main. germany @ inm (control & geneviéve pasquier) oct11  basel. switzerland @ hirscheneck (control, kommando & thorofon) oct12  paris. france @ les voûtes (control, thorofon & te/dis) oct13  aachen. germany @ az (control, geneviéve pasquier & kommando) oct16  t.b.a.. the netherlands (line-up t.b.a.) oct18  amsterdam. the netherlands @ ocii (control, kommando & thorofon) oct19-22  maschinenfest. oberhausen. germany @ turbinenhalle (control)

discography (excerpt) 09.2k18: blood will rain. cd. ant-zen act380. 2018 over maschinenfest part II - 2015. tape. raubbau raub-049 / pflichtkauf pflicht070. 2016 in harm's way. cd. ant-zen act330. 2015 out for blood. lp. parasitic records pr71. 2014 over maschinenfest, paris and berlin. tape. raubbau raub-024 / pflichtkauf pflicht056. 2014 transgression. cd. ant-zen act299. 2013 the resistance. cd. ant-zen act270. 2012 deadly sins. cd. malignant records tumorcd48. 2010 world of lies. cd / lp. freak animal records freak-cd-036 / frek-lp-022. 2006 this means to an end. cd. eibon records con055. 2005 the cleansing. cd. pacrec / troniks pacrec103 / tro-113. 2004 natural selection. cd. eibon records con044. 2003 algolagnia. cd. freak animal records freak-cd-010. 2002 praying to bleed. 7". l.s.d. organisation lsdo-s024. 2000 control. cd. black plagve infest03. 1999

control full discography: www.discogs.com/artist/control+%283%29

blakk harbor. madares. cd / digital album. ant-zen act366 blakk harbor. madares. 2lp. ant-zen act366.3 / blakk harbor bh001

cd: https://mailorder.ant-zen.com/product/id/3269 2lp: https://mailorder.ant-zen.com/product/id/3270 digital: https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/madares

tracklist cd / vinyl: 01 / a1. sunken 02 / a2. moondrone 03 / a3. eastern trails 04 / b1. sacred grounds 05 / b2. archaic 06 / b3. ancient landmarks 07 / c1. gods and goats 08 / c2. the ghost of paiute 09 / c3. living temple 10 / d1. sacrificium 11 / d2. beastial summoning 12 / d3. bonds

cd upc 821272402022 vinyl upc 821272402121 release date: 05september2k18

2 x vinyl lp at 45rpm limited edition of 250 copies. black poly-inner bags, inside-out print covers. including bandcamp download code.

all tracks written and produced by blakk harbor. charango theme on 'bonds' 12 by subheim. mastering by angelos liaros - angelosliaros.com artwork and photography on cretan beach tides by blakk harbor. logo by gore flett at throne illustrations. layout by salt.

‘madares‘ is the first album by blakk harbor a.k.a. angelos liaros (mobthrow), a greek artist based in berlin. The album is named after and inspired by the dune mountains of crete, whose moonlike landscape was a sacred land of ancient ceremonies. inspiring the music as well as the cover and artwork, most of the percussive samples and drones on the album were created by recording traditional custom cretan instruments (lute, skin drums, lyra, tsabouna) and world instruments (tibetan bowls, gongs, dungchen horns) granulized through modular synths, hardware samplers and spacetime black holes.

blakk harbor guides the listener into an audible intersection between the traditional and the modern, between relief and tension, between secularness and spirituality. sampled acoustic folk instruments, shamanic percussion and experimental electronics enriched with ritual drones create a dark, moody twist of tribalistic ambiance and subliminal driving force. omnipresent dark moods permanently interact with cinematic bright spheres to achieve a perfectly balanced equation.

brilliantly produced and elegantly arranged, blakk harbor presents an excellent debut of varied musical and spiritual realms. highly recommended to those who are willing to take a look beyond the obvious surface.

discography 09.2k18: madares. cd / 2lp. ant-zen act366 / ant-zen act366.3 / blakk harbor bh001

ant-zen mailorder - news update!

matter. primitive forms. cd / digital album. ant-zen act370

cd: https://mailorder.ant-zen.com/product/id/3232 digital: https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/primitive-forms

tracklist: 01. fossil 02. range 03. biozone 04. taxonomy 05. hierarchy 06. environment 07. extinction 08. trace 09. order 10. facies

upc 821272402527 release date: 12.06.2k18

written and produced by fabrizio matrone. mastering by philipp münch. layout by salt.

matter is fabrizio matrone from bologna / italy who has releases on international labels like kvitnu, subsidence, black chrysalis archive, le petit machiniste, and soviet media kontrol. fabrizio started recording and performing live in 2001 and has an ever-increasing fanbase, playing at several festivals all over europe. in contrast to his drone-oriented heidseck project, matter is focused on industrial electronics, rhythmic walls and deep, dirty analogue soundscapes.

the concept of matter’s ninth full length release ‘primitive forms’ is inspired by reading an illustrated atlas of fossil distribution in southern tethys ocean. it describes the classification and evolution of fossil during the past geological ages when earth was an entirely different place to live compared with modern age and different weather conditions, morphology and atmosphere were absolutely hostile to the human race. these primitive lifeforms existed until the environmental conditions changed, and now their remains, impressions, or traces are preserved in all their essential but complex functional primitive forms.

the classification, distribution and evolution of fossil are used by matter as an eponym for the ten tracks on this album which shows the full range of this project's musical skills. matter provides an unrelenting technoid hypnosis, always containing subtle changes and dots of ambiance to keep maximum tension and variety at the highest level. 'primitive forms' is a diversified, powerful mix of body music, techno and noise in which clear pulsing synth lines build the icy background for a driving rhythmic force enriched with well-structured soundscapes intended to blow your mind.

a deep, epic opus, congenial to move and to think. while you dance, imagine a distant future where a lot of highly developed objects, buildings or organisms will be considered as 'primitive forms' - we never know if it even might be ourselves.

discography 06.2k18: primitive forms. cd. ant-zen act370. 2018 loss. tape. subsidence sub_01. 2017 dangerous vision. 12". black chrysalis archives bcai01. 2017 paroxysmal. cd. kvitnu 42. 2015 biorhexistasy. lp. kvitnu 29. 2013 solid state. cd-r. kvitnu 24. 2012 scanning memory. cd-r. le petit machiniste lpm 031. 2012 land of discordia. cd-r. soviet media kontrol smk-16. 2009 technology and planetary power. cd-r. le petit machiniste lpm 013. 2008 decrease of contamination. digital album. sine3pm s3p043. 2007

ant-zen mailorder - news update!

michael idehall. prophecies of the storm. cd / digital album. ant-zen act369

tracklist: 01. built apart 02. one who sees all 03. bear nemisis 04. gordian knot 05. awakening 06. in the dark vapour 07. another prophet of the storm 08. an ill wind blows 09. venus death

cd: https://mailorder.ant-zen.com/product/id/3210 digital: https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/prophecies-of-the-storm

written & produced by michael idehall. mastering by philipp münch. original graphics by michael idehall. layout by salt. gatefold cd-sleeve. matte red cardboard w/ silver print. upc 821272401827. release date: 18april2k18

to an unbiased listener some recordings can suggest they weren't created in the regular way - their sound implies they could not possibly be made in a regular studio environment. a myriad of different places come to mind while experiencing those recordings - a cave, a crypt, a sacred place... an unsolved mystery left to the listener's imagination. michael idehall's recent full length opus 'prophecies of the storm' represents one of these uncommon mysteries which seems to originate from a different world - and which has the power to lead you right there.

'prophecies of the storm' features nine deep scorings of idehall's sinister poetical output - a crude, rough force carrying intense tempers of menace, aggression and sadness. heavy electronics pushed with striking tautologic sequences build a solid foundation for apocalyptic tunes with a subliminal song structure, resulting in the one-of-a-kind combination of death industrial and dark, structured ambiance entitled 'seancetronica'. truly a masterpiece, this album is a conveyance to starkly different, maybe even unique states of mind - hypnotic, forceful and savage. highly recommended.

discography (excerpt) 04.2k18: prophecies of the storm. cd. ant-zen act369. 2018 four prophecies. tape. belzebez blzbz0018. 2017 machine spirit transmission. tape / digital album. raubbau raub-053. 2017 retrospective 1999-2003. digital album. ant-zen dig039. 2017 svartkonster. tape. cloister recordings crus-13. 2017 solar symmetries. digital album. ant-zen dig038. 2016 no man's land. cd. ant-zen act349 / beläten ϫ. 2016 retort redux. lp / lp+cd. :retortae: venenum 2 / venenum 3. 2015 words of power. digital album. belzebez blzbz0007. 2015 chavajoth. digital album. belzebez blzbz0006. 2015 deep code sol. cd. ant-zen act329. 2015 the house of flames. lp. the ajna offensive / ajna bound flame86. 2015 egon. digital album. belzebez. 2015 deep code. tape. beläten. 2014 svartkonster. digital album. beläten. 2014 three bull kings for three golden kings. 3cd. belzebez. 2013 sol. tape. beläten. 2012 split w/ thomas martin ekelund. tape. geiger-gramofon gg003. 2011

natura est. natura est. cd / digital album. ant-zen act367

cd: https://mailorder.ant-zen.com/product/id/3209 digital: https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/natura-est

tracklist: 01. the root 02. the soil 03. grey skies 04. black town 05. causatum

upc 821272402220 release date: 13april2k18

written & produced by natura est. natura est is: tony young & andreas davids. mastered by anatoly tokee grinberg. artwork by salt.

natura est is a new remarkable collaborative project created for a love of all that is dark ambient by british electronic producer tony young (autoclav1.1) and german ebm-industrial powerhouse andreas davids (xotox) who, with decades of experience between them, have achieved great success with their respective projects. this meeting of minds have come together to explore the nature of the earth, human and animal alike with a debut album that explores the conflict that arises when these factors collide.

apparitions of sound float over heavy-set foundations of deep, resonating and cavernous bass-driven drones. arcane lore clashes and ultimately melds with the modern day religion of factory and machine. purity battles with pollutant in a dramatic display of engrossing and enveloping display of pure, calmative dark ambient that should appeal to avid followers of the genre and newcomers alike.

nature is all, all is nature; but who really is the beast?

discography 04.2k18: natura est. cd. ant-zen act367. 2018

philipp münch. greyscale. cd / digital album. ant-zen act375

cd: https://mailorder.ant-zen.com/product/id/3211 digital: https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/greyscale

tracklist: 01. alive! 02. mantra 03. nichts dringt mehr durch 04. evolution 05. behind the mirror 06. tier 07. krümel 08. fangs 09. moebiusband 10. greyscale 11. alter ego 12. keine tränen

philipp münch: voice, synthesizers, programming, metal percussion, bass guitar, zither, violin. babsi teichner: egg harp + chains on 03, additional synthesizers on 08 and 10. written and recorded 2016 - 2017. artwar by salt.

upc821272401728 release date: 10april2k18

due to the 'many-worlds hypothesis' which is an interpretation of quantum mechanics all possible alternate histories and futures are real, each representing an actual 'world'. it’s stated that there is a very large - perhaps infinite - number of universes, and everything that could possibly have happened in our past, has occurred in some other universe or universes. while taking an overview on philipp münch's previous works, distinctive treatments of past influences are clear to hear - a sonic chain spanning his releases between 'into the absurd' and 'post elysium' over a period of six years. with this album, 'greyscale', philipp has closed this chapter and widely opens the door to a different cosmos where different influences and incidents took place, shaping the sounds that were made.

while listening to 'greyscale' a dramatic change concerning the lyrics is instantly obvious: they are now primarily in german, pointing at philipp münch's personal musical roots in the legendary project ars moriendi including famous co-members such as andrea börner (morgenstern), andreas schramm (asche) and tim kniep (synapscape). ars moriendi's unique mixture of power noise rhythms, dark ambient spheres and often aggressively performed german vocals lay the foundation for the updated conceptual turn on 'greyscale' as well as the fortified use of acoustic instrumentation besides omnipresent electronics. a project that also leaves one's mark here is philipp's alter ego rasputeen which combines minimal electro with headstrong and often time-critical lyrics. assimilating these influences and giving them a contemporary update, 'greyscale' displays the topical manifestation of philipp münch as an artist and as a musician - both as he is now and as he was, simultaneously.

discography 04.2k18: greyscale. cd. ant-zen act375. 2018 post elysium. digital album. ant-zen dig040. 2017 elysium. cd. ant-zen act345. 2016 transcontinental desperation (w/ loss). cd. ant-zen act295. 2014 mracle world. cd-r. self-released. 2012 mondo obscura. cd. ant-zen act275. 2012 mondo obscura (the mutant twin). digital album. ant-zen dig026. 2012 into the absurd. cd. ant-zen act255. 2011 subversiv. 3" cd-r. sub.ver.siv 01. 2001

ant-zen mailorder - news update!

the gnome. stillness. digital album. ant-zen dig046

tracklist: 01. open 02. all just a story 03. gnomedrone 04. flowing 05. miditation 06. under a tree 07. chinchillin 08. new years day

available at bandcamp: https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/stillness

release date: 22march2k18

the gnome is the alias of tony d'oporto, also known for his projects gnomes of kush, gnome & spybey and crisis actor (featuring david thrussell). a native of southern california, tony has been at the forefront of electronic music culture since the early 1990's where he has worked in a variety of styles that include trance, ambient and downtempo backed by countless performances throughout north america.

'stillness' is the 4th installment in the gnome's full length ambient album collection - a fine, elegant and sophisticated release that is marvellously carrying soothing atmospheres of delightful rest and easiness. a very own cosmos of serenity and tranquility created with warm, hypnotic soundscapes, well-placed loops and processed field recordings.

8 songs of droned out chillout bliss, introducing an expansive melodic range and harmonious elegance, mastered to perfection by nick brennan a.k.a. tripswitch. check it out!

the gnome discography (excerpt) 03.2k18: stillness. digital album. ant-zen dig046. 2018 cure. digital ep. self-released. 2017 drift. digital album. section records. 2017 thinking. digital album. crime league crime042. 2016 in quiet spaces. digital album. self-released. 2014

full discography: www.discogs.com/artist/585813-Tony-DOporto

grand mal x. darkness. cd / digital. ant-zen act365

cd: https://mailorder.ant-zen.com/product/id/3191 digital: https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/darkness

tracklist: 01. nights 02. flamma 03. stjärndamm 04. ur källan och ritualer därav 05. the reaper 06. essence 07. black book 08. a star for everyone

release date: 13february2k18 upc: 821272401421

written by karl rydby. black book by mattias ivarsson and karl rydby artwork: kristina junzell. layout by stefan alt mastered by frank riggio at doznexist

'before light there was darkness. without darkness no bright stars.' (grand mal x)

those who are familiar with michael idehall's 'solar symmetries' release on ant-zen might have noticed the great remix done by a lesser known project: grand mal x. starting in 2010 this act from solna / sweden soon was well-established in the underground cassette scene (f.e. on trepaneringsritualen’s beläten label) before releasing its first vinyl twelve inch on kess kill. with 'darkness', created after a long period of deeper research, grand mal x's first full length album sees the light of day, an album whose concept is based on the seemingly negative meaning of the term 'darkness' itself. death and life can not be separated - present in constant transformation, or as carl gustav jung wrote: 'one does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.'

drawing from a long and wide palette of influences ranging from dynamic meditation and painters like arnold böcklin to sonic artists like suicide, coil, rune lindblad, and even skogen, bathory and afrika bambaata, grand mal x is an act that refuses to be pigeon-holed soundwise. its music touches the crossroads of minimal electro-punk, dark synth pop and classic industrial. it‘s moody and gloomy, yet also spiritual and empowering. a sound that is at once danceable and disturbing, abstract and catchy, presenting a sonic film noir with an unusual amount of depth and maturity below the disarming and vicious surface. deep pulse drum machine patterns and cracking bass sequences build a solid foundation for carefully inserted electronic treatments and expressive vocals adding a sinister human element to the synthetic audio makeup.

a positively dark, unmistakably swedish release with a deep flow, suitable for home and club environments, and to those who recognize darkness as the dark matter in the genetic code, the blanks, the irregularities...

discography 02.2k18: darkness. cd. ant-zen act365. 2018 kess05. 12". kess kill kess05. 2017 shamanik frequency. tape. cloister recordings crus09. 2016 before life. tape. beläten [35 br]. 2015 back alley road. tape. black horizons bh-102. 2015 life ep. tape. beläten. 2014 stealth minds. tape. black horizons bh-68. 2013

ant-zen & hymen records. new releases. jan/feb.2018 https://mailorder.ant-zen.com/products/new

ant-zen digital: https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/ hymen records digital: https://hymen-records.bandcamp.com/

grand mal x. darkness. cd. ant-zen act365 brien hindman. cognitive buffer hypothesis. digital album. ant-zen dig045 ant-zen. the keyant. keyring. ant-zen ikon60 somatic responses. pattern finding. digital album. hymen records ¥853 mnemonic. aversionen. cd. hymen records ¥854 eff dst. out of body. cd. hymen records ¥856

brien hindman. cognitive buffer hypothesis. digital album. digital. ant-zen dig045

available on bandcamp: https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/cognitive-buffer-hypothesis

tracklist: 01. holocene 02. trophic cascade 03. shinrin yoku 04. the veil 05. heterodoxies (parts 1-7) 06. anthrocene 07. heterodoxies (philipp münch mix)

release date: 22january2k18

'cognitive buffer hypothesis' is the debut album of video artist and musician brien hindman. as a video artist he has made clips for artists such as asche / morgenstern, synapscape, monokrom and mandelbrot. in the field of music, he formed a number of projects, for example: colony collapse disorder with philipp münch, and also worked with the rorschach garden and displacer.

influenced by coil and morgenstern brien was navigating the musical landscape while learning and exploring the creation process of sound, that each failure and each success was a learning opportunity. the title of the album, derived from the hypothesized mechanisms that have allowed for large brains to develop in organisms, describes that process. the intention for the release was to let it be the mirror of self, and in that, his love of nature and the natural sciences became a part of it.

the six tracks on this album, completed by a philipp münch remix, present masterly constructed ambient soundscapes where organic and gentle sounds give way to partially rhythmic and harsh timbres. complex layers of modular synth textures invite the listener to a cinematic journey where mental balance, desperation and sadness coalesce to a sonic image as well as an honest manifestesion of an artist's mind.