Tag: Azriel J. Knight

  • Tapping the Vein – Undone

    Nuclear Blast Records

    Pre-Print Online Review

    Buy on Amazon

    Bandcamp

    Release Date: 2000
    Genre: Goth Rock
    Similar Artist(s): Garbage, Stabbing Westward
    Members: Heather Thompson, Eric Fisher, Joe Rolland, Mark Burkett
    Instruments Used: Female Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Synthesizer

    Horror Online Magazine stated Vocalist Heather Thompson combines the intensity of The Sugarcubes, Bjork with the discipline of The Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Frazier. Thompson’s voice also has a quality which neither Bjork nor Frazier can claim: the capacity to fly from one emotional and auricular extreme to another in one second flat – believably and without strain.

    I couldn’t have put it better myself. Tapping the Vein’s “Undone” combines a near perfect mixture of the classic euphony, basic instruments (guitar, bass, drums) with just the right dosage of programming and sampling from Drummer Eric Fisher who was also the man who decided to come up with the band name “Tapping the Vein” because of his appreciation for Clive Barker.

    This 6 song EP is more than enough to attract to attention. A hard rock feel that has also attracted some attention to the goth scene for it’s tragic theme. Each song has it’s own creative life to it, with a song like crushing, it begins with an acoustic guitar and her voice, it seems to come from a distant radio, and suddenly the static and distance clears and the other instruments kick in with a pinch of Spanish flavor which may have been done on purpose, no idea, but great none the less. The album starts off with some synth guitar sounding deal that is difficult to describe and almost immediately after the drums come into play but this “sound” always remains and it sticks in your head. Song after song, a steady beat with a catchy chorus.

    This is Tapping the vein’s second EP release and a full length album under the Nuclear Blast record label on the way, this alone is indication enough of the talent of the band. Being under the same label as bands like Theatre of Tragedy, Dimmu Borgir, and Children of Bodom should give them the recognition they need and deserve – Azriel J. Knight

    Review Originally Published in 2001

  • Goliath – Land of Nod

    Pre- Print Online Review

    Discogs

    Release Date: 2000
    Genere: Dark Metal
    Similar Artist(s): Danzig
    Members: Mick aka “Goliath”
    Instruments Used: Synthesizer, Male Vocals, Keyboard, Guitar

    If you’re looking for a CD where every song sounds exactly like the last this is the one for you. I really hate giving bad reviews but I was not impressed with this album. When I interviewed Mick a few months ago I had only heard 2 tracks off of Land of Nod and I was really impressed with his work, what I was unaware of was that after track 2 it all goes downhill, like someone set up the CD in such a way so the music got progressively worse as you listened.

    The sound is flat, reminds me of listening to someone play it for me over the phone and nearly no time was spent in the lyrics. Mick himself stated, “I just write and not really think too much about the concept…it does have to be dark…. I am more into the music giving someone a vibe…lyrics are just filler for me…I write about God, Satan, demons, death, vampires etc…. But usually only spend about an hour working on them” This defiantly shows up in his work, and it’s unfortunate for those of us who listen to the words to help in meaning for the music.
    Recently Mick has gone back to the name Midnight Orchestra, which is what he previously called his group when he was a christian band, hopping back and forth from one name to another doesn’t say much either.
    If you’re into buying CD’s just for one or two tracks this may be perfect for you, otherwise I wouldn’t bother.

    I do however see potential, but that’s all I see. – Azriel J. Knight

    Review originally published in 2001

  • Silent Watcher of Dark Matter: Installation

    MP3.com (Independent)

    Pre-Print Online Review

    Discogs

    Archive.org

    Release Date: 2000
    Genre: Dark Ambient/Ambient/Dark Post-Industrial
    Similar Artist(s): Raison D’etre, Lustmord, Rapoon.
    Band Members: myt
    Instruments Used: synthesizers, bass, flute, bells, gongs.

    Absolutely Haunting. Myt, the creator of this music has managed to find a way to take thoughts, emotions and transfer them into sound. The music will force you to conjure up images, smells, thoughts, nightmares, and whatever else you brain will find conceivable. Never have I heard Synths used in such a manner. The first track, Bipolar Outflow(1) plays out like the beginning of a story, the chimes sound as a warning to the listener it seems.
    There is a definite sign of experimental highlights in the form and sound produced by myt. Not the kind of music to play at a dance club party, but defiantly the perfect choice for meditation, relaxing alone, or for a candle lit night with a loved one. track three, Sandstorm begins with a slow rhythmic heartbeat and what sounds like a moaning of spirits but turns out to be the distant blowing of a sandstorm. bells slowly come into play and the moaning of the storm continues.
    The CD ends with a track called Surface, 21 minutes, which begins with a low hum of synth and what sounds like droplets of water echoing off the walls of a large chasm
    This is a 6 track D.A.M. CD which is available threw mp3.com and defiantly well worth it if your looking for something to relax you, memorize your mind and set you into a comatose meditative state. – Azriel J. Knight

    Review Originally Published in 2001

  • Mourning After Pill – Ask and Ye Shall Deceive (later renamed to Parasite Priestess)

    Issue 03 [Page 08]

    MP3.com (Independent)

    Bandcamp

    I didn’t think a decent song could be produced using
    Frooty Loops, but The Mourning After Pill proved me
    wrong.
    I have been aware of this project for about a year now,
    and used to frequent the site to check for updates. I
    would occasionally plug The Parasitic Need into my
    Winamp, which is the first track off this single.
    Ask and Ye Shall Deceive has some funky twists and
    turns you’ll enjoy, and some you might be mildly
    annoyed with – there’s a bit of boring repetition here.
    Again, it’s all a matter of opinion of the individual, some
    like repetition, some don’t.
    AAYSD consists of four original tracks and two remixes.
    Most of the songs on here have the certain appeal of a
    pleasant dark ambience – the lyrics are a bit cheesy but
    Mourning After Pill seems to be a hobby project. My
    biggest beef is that it’s an mp3.com release, and most
    know about the whole Universal problem that started in
    October. I must admit, mp3.com produces better CD’s
    now: shrink wrapped and less propaganda.
    MAP has some creative elements worth checking out. – Azriel J. Knight

  • Dark Muse – Sounds From Beyond The Silver Wheel

    Issue 03 [Page 07]

    The Fossil Dungeon

    Buy on Amazon

    Bandcamp

    This seven track digipak brings back the days when I was
    really into Silent Watcher of Dark Matter and Not Applicable, two fantastic but under appreciated bands.
    Dark Muse, a solo project by Phyll Smith, has subtle and
    macabre vocals. The synth work is lovely. Long, drawn
    out, progressive dark ambient, utilizing panning and echo
    effects that blend wonderfully with her soft cries. The
    haunting ambience is gradual and minimalistic, but
    extremely creative. Smith uses a guitar, a line 6-modeler, a Russian string piano, bells, nails, coils, screws, water and bowed cymbals, among other things to produce her sound. Before SFBTSW, Smith released a series of mp3.com CD’s.
    SFBTSW isn’t purely a dark-ambient project, other genre
    appearances in this seven track experience are ethereal,
    experimental and darkwave, sometimes as a singular, but
    mostly in combination.
    Track one, Queen of the World of Spirits is haunting, dark
    and therapeutic in some respects. Certain Angst, our next track has a tribal feel, but not up and close, more like, just beyond your sight in the distance at sunset, again, very subtle. Calm is where I hear the reminiscence of mp3.com artist Not Applicable. Calm has a tunnel effect so to speak. You’ll have to listen to understand what I am trying to get at. LunaFlow (The Deep) is track four. If Silent Watcher of Dark Matter wasn’t such an unknown artist I would swear this was a blatant rip off, but instead it’s more like re-created originality I swooned at Phyll Smith’s ethereal vocals, a lot of hums and hoos, and they don’t overpower the synth work – it mixes very well. Smith takes advantage of the concept of her voice being an instrument and not a centerpiece to take away from the surrounding objects. This is a must-buy for people who seek out candle and incense music. – Azriel J. Knight

  • Behind The Scenes – Homeless

    Issue 03 [Page 06]

    Dancing Ferret Discs

    Buy on Amazon

    MySpace

    German based Behind the Scenes has brought us a
    fantastic release that is best described as Goth-Pop, or
    Goth-Electronic. If you don’t like either of those titles, pick
    the other one. It’s been a while since I have been able to review a CD with so many memorable tracks, so bear with me while I attempt to express my passion for Behind The Scenes’ “Homeless” I first encountered BTS through their label, Dancing Ferret Discs. DFD has some great gems, Neuroticfish, Paralyzed Age, The Cruxshadows, and of course, Behind the Scenes.
    Behind the Scenes has a fantastic blend of guitars,
    electronics, and vocals. The guitars play a great part in
    contribution to the overall character of each track, the
    electronics compliment the character of these tracks and
    the vocals give you that warm fuzzy feeling inside. I really
    enjoyed the vocals of BTS – it always seems like there is
    more than one man singing, this is most likely done with a
    slight echo effect, but regardless of the technical work, it
    does have an emotional response for me.
    Each track has it’s own distinct flavor, but the great part is
    that once you are a seasoned fan of BTS, you will recognize them right off the bat when hearing them in a club.
    Every track has great appeal, but to narrow it down, the
    tracks that stand out the most would be Human, Protection, Plastic Love (a great track for clubs) and Dark Agression.
    – Azriel J. Knight