Heyvard - Dark Tales III

Heyvard has been active since 2021. Described on Discogs as a dark-ambient artist. Based in Hong Kong, China. I have been hearing several of the Heyvard releases from E.C.T. I would mostly describe them as harsh industrial drone with a focus on murky Eastern folk lore. The latest one is Dark Tales III. A short EP with two tracks, 20 minutes in total. 

The cover artwork/image is a detail of the wood block print "Ghosts, Devils and the King of Hell" created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in 1850. Utagawa was one of the last artists who created Japanese Ukiyo-e artwork. Which, in general terms, is the art of wood printing. Below is the same picture in the original colours, quite nice, right?

The first track is called Wall of the Lost Souls. Which, for those who are curious about the title, it´s mostly discussed when it´s about the Aokigahara forest in Japan. Also known as the suicide forest near Mount Fuji. Lots of souls and spirits are believed to be trapped there. The track starts in a very murky way. Smouldering sound of earth moving... slowly. Hidden moans calling for some kind of release from their prison, and a deep tone in the background further enhances the experience. When I heard the track for the first time around, it really wasn´t that frightening. After doing a bit of research about the title of the track, it actually made total sense. And yeah, it became a lot more disturbing. 

The second track is simply called Hellscape. A sort of air ventilation system, and maybe it´s a contact mic on a huge steel bar getting hammered... and a distant rumbling of a distant earthquake? It has that kind of proto-apocalyptic and ritualistic feel to it, the scary calm before the storm. Elements of chaotic noise are added, giving the track an element of desperation. Does reminds me a bit of the early Genocide Organ, might be the combination of a ritualistic mood mixed up with a harsh industrial soundscape. Excellent moody sound of metal-junk being slammed together, nice touch! 

Dark Tales III is a nifty little paranormal folk-horror atmospheric thing, which in a few seconds will open up the world of Heyvard for the listeners. It´s a release that will intrigue and create a curiosity for more. I think it´s great, and it does its job very well! Very interesting to hear how folklore can influence the world of noise and ambient music. Highly Recommended. Do remember to check Heyvard´s Bandcamp site for more!     

Bandcamp (label):

https://heyvard.bandcamp.com/

Discogs (label):

https://www.discogs.com/release/32694033-Heyvard-Dark-Tales-III

 Kontakt Service - Our Hearts Are Like Open Graves...

As it is with Kalteldur, we are busy with reviews since reviewing albums is a dying breed... and that is just why we continue doing so. The latest with Swedish-bred power-electronics/noise act Kontakt Service was released last year on the Austrian label Steinklang Industries. Rumours have it that the album is a joint release between Ideal Father and Human Vault; further information about that is not written on the inner sleeve.

   

The limited 50-copy cassette comes as a shell-white pro-printed cassette, with 6 6-panel j-card (tons of awesome collage graphics!). 6 tracks, 36 minutes in total. 

The first track, The Night Should Cover All clearly shows where the sound of this album is heading. Analog perverted murkiness in some abandoned sewer, below the busy old and dirty town. Classic distorted vocals, monotonic death industrial. Interesting chopped-up sound effects and creepy flanged effects in there as well.

The second track, Higher Degree of Rupture. Not with the high-frequency sounds og the former track, but starts like a dark-ambient piece. True crime samples about nasty stuff, flanged vocals, and a churning, distorted bassline. I can also recognize the characteristic vocal sound by Human Vault here.   

The third track, Untitled 1. Raising the atmosphere where the roof is a bit higher. A slow kind of atmospheric noise track with a filmic soundscape attached to it. 

The fourth track, Copulate in Silence, follows the same noise/ambient pattern with some nasty lyrics about... u find out yourself.  

Jumping to the sixth and last track called Untitled 2. An interesting bass-heavy noise-ambient-based death-industrial soundscape. 

Latest Kontakt Service is an atmospheric, nasty bit of industrial noise. Kind of easy going ( in a way ) but also challenging with the themes chosen for the tracks. Have a feeling that the album is missing out on something. A thumping pulse of some sort to build up the mood of distorted vocal parts, or some synth-work, could also put a touch of color in the mix. I do like the high focus on the conceptual sound-aesthetic, and it´s easy to hear the output from both artists. The album also works as a good introduction to both Kontakt Service and Human Vault. Atmospheric morbid themes are nonetheless guaranteed for any death-industrial addict!

Bandcamp (label):

https://steinklangindustries.bandcamp.com/album/kontakt-service-our-hearts-are-like-open-graves-and-your-names-are-written-on-the-stones-2024

      

Daiben & Útero Bitch and Kadaver + Armenia - Psychopathia Sexualis 

Lots of acts on just one tape. We´re talking about a split between 2 acts doing a collaboration each. On the A-side, we have a Spanish harsh noise project called Daiben, which collaborates with another noise project called Utero Bitch. On the B-side, we have 2 known veteran acts, Kadaver and Armenia. Both sides offer 15 minutes of challenging brutalities, which gives us 30 minutes of torture! The cover artwork also (clearly) shows what is being expected!

The first track, called VHX, has a high-pitched tone and some screaming glass-shattering sounds... microphone and vocals maybe? There is also a constant drilling sound in there, a dentist drill again? Some hidden painful dialogues hide behind the torturous soundscape, probably from some exploitation flick from the 70s. The whole thing sounds like it has been recorded in some machine room of sorts; it has that kind of mood to it. It all ends like all dirty movie ends. 

The second track, Tits-off (ouch!), starts head-on with a thick bar of layered and flanged distortion. Flanged, cracked, or something being ripped apart, and something melts in a hot frying pan. At one time, I was quite sure that I was hearing a sample from the Jonestown recording. Although it´s quite harsh and brutal, it also has an eerie ambient quality to it.  

It delivers what it must deliver, and the expectation will not be disappointed. Nothing new under the sun here, "just" a guaranteed and concentrated dose of brutal mind-bending industrial-noise with perverted sexual undertones. 

Bandcamp (label):

https://marbrenegre.bandcamp.com/album/psychopathia-sexualis

  

     

 

 

Melómana Distorsión, Eye Floater 

& Hydra Cognitiva - Triunvirato Extendido

This time we will be travelling to the hot rainforests of Costa Rica. Three acts (Melómania Distorsión, Eye Floater, and Hydra Cognitiva) have joined forces to create a small EP/Mini-album called Triunvirato Extendido (Extended Triumvirate), and Triumvirate basically means (from Roman times) when three people are sharing power and working together towards a common goal. 

At this moment, it´s still a new release, so far you can locate and listen to it on Hydra Cognitiva´s Bandcamp site and various streaming platforms. It hasn´t been added to Discogs yet. And I can find any information regarding an official physical release. Although I have received a physical promo CD in a nice slipcase. 

The artwork shows a Christ-like figure on a cross, probably inside some ancient ruined church. The album contains 4 tracks, about 17 minutes in total.

The first track is called Herencia (Inheritance). The sound of a cold and hissing ghost-like vapor can be sensed and felt in a place where time... stands still. Later on, spiritually mourn-filled chantings and some distressed and stretched-out human voices in there. Nice opening of a track, cold ambient moods for a hot summer evening! 

The second track, Sueño (Dream), connects the former track with that icy ghostly voice/vapor-drone, almost kind of... when the wind is blowing through tubes made out of wood?. A hidden presence of paranormal activity in there, with some beautiful added echoed string work, giving the track a certain kind of ethereal and haunting element to it. Beautiful recorded sound of deep watery waves slashing on the shore, or is it inside a cathedral-like cave? 

The third track, Desde El Pozo (From The Well), stretches itself into... could be some live-recording session with real drums and string-work as well? The drums have been stretched to a degree that they sound like a doomy trip-hop rhythm. A layer of surreal sound-imagery fades in and out, and swirls around the listener like a dust devil... giving the sense of, well... losing your sense of direction. 

The fourth (and last track) is called Luz (Light). The sound of a bonfire, and those distant ethereal string work with some pitched angelic voices. Trippy rhythms ( with a bit of tempo ) are added. Interesting melancholic element here, you get the sense of hopelessness in a comforting way. 

Triunvirato Extendido is a worthy piece of melancholic moods, firmly established on only 17 minutes. When listening to it (at the beginning), my first thought was that... the sound sounded a bit too stretched. Be careful not to use it too much. But to my relief (and surprise), I was pleased with what I heard and i to do liked this EP. If it were a full-length album, then it would have been too hard to chew through. So yes, the release gets an approved sticker for me. Ethereal elements, ambient, mystical, melancholic stuff. Do check it out! 

Bandcamp (band):

https://hydracognitiva.bandcamp.com/album/triunvirato-extendido

 R_KKK - Saint Noizes

Radel Kopel, or simply R_KKK, is a Czech-based experimental noise artist who has been active as an artist and musician since the late 1980s. Starting in a heavy metal band called Krevel, and then moving on to doing free-impro grindcore-noise as Napalmed. And he has also worked as a solo artist. This album (which I received) was, to my knowledge, a new release by this artist. According to Discogs, this album was released back in 2021... problem is, according to Discogs (again)... ALL of his solo releases as R_KKK have ALL been released in 2021, so I don´t know. The CD booklet doesn´t contain much info either. Anyways, you can look it up on Bandcamp... but getting your hands on a physical copy can be a tricky thing. Back in 2021, it was only released as 15 copies! But offcourse, you can buy ALOT of his releases on Discogs, I'm no expert in harsh-noise as such... but I´m quite sure that Radel Kopel is an iconic figurehead in the world of harsh noise. Just check up on his Discogs profile, 300 albums, and having credits for 1410 releases! Anyways!

Saint Noizes is an album containing 6 tracks, about 60 minutes long. The cover artwork shows some kind of glitchy psychedelic computer graphics, and the back cover of the booklet shows his gear. So, let us strap on our crash-test helmets and dive into this! 

The first track is called Noiz For Girls. The sound of a distorted, smouldering, and glitchy digital earthquake cracks open a stomach-churning intro/beginning. Drilling sensations move from one speaker to the other, while everything melts into a digital cesspool. That´s just the first track! 

The second track Noiz For Boyz is not that different if you compare it to Noiz For Girls, move of a continuation of the same sound theme. Maybe a bit more chunky, with some added background sound to it?

The third track Noiz For Hmyz, warps and bubbles like a steam-hot piece of machinery, oil and lubricants squirt out of all the small openings. Some extra added psychedelic space here, and the track moves slower than the former two tracks. 

The fourth track Noizdra Z Pouzdra has a slight industrial feel to it. A nuclear meltdown? Could be. Feels like being buried in tons of falling bricks. Chopped-up laser sounds and surgical drills exploding into a vacuum sucking black hole. 

Saint Noizes is an album containing action-filled harsh noise from the start to the end. The mood is like a static wall, leaving the listener quite speechless. When you have reached halfway through, then you have (more or less) gotten used to the various sounds, and it gets a bit... tedious. Like when someone scratches you in the same place, or you are chewing on the same bubble gum. It succeeds 100% in delivering true action-filled harsh noise to the hardcore fans.

Bandcamp (label):

https://kanalrecords.bandcamp.com/album/r-kkk-saint-noizes

 

Ens Perfectissimum & VRNA - Necrognosis and Secret Rituals on the Edge of the Abyss

A new split is out, released on a label based in Mexico called Noctivagant. A label supporting and promoting various artists within the dark-ambient, ritual, and noise spectrum. A split between VRNA (which we have released earlier) and another act called Ens Perfectissimum (a side-project to another project called Occult Odyssey). A full-length one-hour album, where each project delivers 30 minutes. The CD comes in a thin wallet cardboard digipack, with some interesting artwork for the eyes. The artwork was created by Sang from Vhan Artworks, based in South Korea.

The concept of the album. Something about necro and something about gnosis, in other words... some kind of esoteric and ancient necromancy performed in a situation where it could be rather... rather dangerous. I like the way the cover artwork and the title go hand in hand. 

The first track is by Ens Imperfectissimum, and it´s called Ceremonies in the Cemetery under the Blood Moon. The sound of the wind through some kind of underground cave, and birds can be heard from some distant part of the cave. Eerie reversed sound effects, and the sound of someone painfully moaning in the distance. A shimmering synth is there, and some additional haunted-house and archaic chanting elements are added as well. A nice (and interesting) kind of surreal soundscape, earcandy for the imagination for sure. A bit in the same vein as Italian acts like Die Sonne Satans and Ain Soph.  

The second (and last) track by VRNA is called Incubazione Rituale al Cimitero delle Fontanelle (Ritual incubation at the Fontanelle Cemetery). Now that is quite interesting. I would recommend anyone who would listen to this track to do a Google search about this (kind of) cave-cemetery, and have a read about it. I'm providing a Wikipedia article (link below). Praying, whispering in the cavern below... voices of the spirit of the dead, or people praying for them. A voice from the other side answered the prayer, a stretched-out howl of despair entering the epic chamber of worship. The sound of a ritual gong and a beautiful sound-tapestry made out of Gregorian chants further enhances this experience. You really get to sink your teeth into the world of the dead, and how (and why) people take care of their skeletal remains, do remember to read the Wikipedia text while listening to the track!


A beautiful album, which has a certain kind of depth to it, which a themed concept album like this requires. The album artwork, the sound, the atmosphere... everything is closely chosen and highly focused to follow the common necro-themed thread. Hell, I might even take a trip to Naples and visit the cemetery myself! The album certainly gives me the motivation to do so. Highly recommended for fans of Italian ritual acts like Ain Soph and Die Sonne Satans! Excellent album!

Bandcamp (label):

https://noctivagantcollective.bandcamp.com/album/necrognosis-and-secret-rituals-on-the-edge-of-the-abyss

Bandcamp (band Ens Perfectissimum):

https://ensimperfectissimum.bandcamp.com/music

Bandcamp (band VRNA):

https://urna-rituals.bandcamp.com/

Wikipedia (Fontanelle Cemetery):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontanelle_cemetery

    

Kalteldur playlist 1 of 2025

https://soundcloud.com/kalteldur/kalteldur1?si=8f9cae51197b4ea59801bc9c924e97cf&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

First Kaltedur playlist. Representing some of the reviews I have done so far in 2025. A handful of promising industrial/drone-ambient acts!

00:00-04:18 reg gravens - road to ashes 

04:18-09:16 hexmyr - V

09:16-12:51 fog baptism - sunlight 

12:51-18:31 law - always forward, never back 

18:31-23:46 mourn path - lord of the graveyard 

23:46-28:44 yellow springs - meditation III 

28:44-34:37 TRYHM - breeding farm 

Enjoy!

 Regent Graves - Ashes

Released back in May 2024. Ashes by Regen Graves is the seventh album from this act. An Italian act which (for some reason) has slipped past my ears. The sole member of Regen Graves is also a member of the doom metal act Abysmal Greif and a former member of the goth-prog band Malombra. And with this project, he decided to get into that classic (and morbid) Italian industrial sound, and he has done that since 2017.

This album has been released by Bent Window Records. A limited 200 copies CD in a slim digipack. The artwork shows an old photo, a tram there, and some old buildings on the right... the sort of buildings that (usually) are demolished where I am... which is Denmark. And then there is the car, is it an older Lada car? Tram, old buildings, Lada? It could be from the late 60s. The album title is Ashes. Is snow representing the ash, or is it the other way around, or is it the ash that comes from the steam-fumes?  I don't know, let's get on with the recordings. 

The first track is called What Lies Ahead. It gets straight into a psychedelic death-industrial vibe with a minimal approach. Shimmering sound effects are also there to heighten the atmospheric experience. There is also a distorted pulse. Fleshscraping and moody intro-track, giving the listener a need to isolate themselves...from all the bloody snow and cold outside!

The second track, Road of Ashes. Chopped up distortion sounds and a ritualistic beating. Classic death-industrial mood. Some subtle and spaced high-frequency feedback warps in and out. Sound quality is really good, and the vibe is very low-tech and analog (so far). And again, Road of Ashes? Is it snow or is it... Maybe the corpses from when we had the plague? Various old roads in my town, beneath them... filled with people who died from the plague, bones, and dust. 

The third track is called The Hand. A high-pitched microscopic rhythm with some echoed effects to it. Almost pleasant ambient sounds in the background, with a sample from an Italian movie in the background. I get that 70s retro feel with that vibe, thinking back to Brighter Death Now´s Heart of Stone, while it had a sample from Salo... although they talked in English. Very hypnotic piece with that high-pitched sound going on, the listener will experience that feeling of getting... sucked into it. Moving without moving, sort of.

The fourth track, Winters Without Springs. Which means no food, nothing that grows... everything is just too damn cold! The track begins with a nerve-wracking jolt of sound, accompanied by a depressive ambient mourn in the background. You really get that feeling that whatever u do, doom is around the corner. 

The fifth track is called Normalization Pt.. 1. A warping and psychedelic intro sets the stage for a journey into the very eye of some... well, cosmic horror from beyond. The sort that eats worlds for breakfast!  There are (I think) some kind of spoken vocals here; they do not sound like a movie sample. Lovely kind of buzzsaw-sound in there as well. 

The sixth (and last) track is Normalization Pt.2. A warped retro synth kicks in, imagining Terminators rising from the ashes of nuclear-bombed soldiers. Yup, we definitely have movie samples on this track. And something which sounds ( a bit ) like a bomb alert. Yup, there is a John Carpenter feel here. 

And that ends the album. It´s a great introduction album for newbies to the world of Italian death-industrial, without a doubt! But for the hardcore type, you´ll probably be longing for the work of Marco Corbelli at some point. As for me (I'm the so-called hardcore type), I miss certain elements of madness and desperation. A bit more chaos into the expression/sound, a just a dose of unpredictability? It´s ok to just fxxx up the sound, just once in a while.  

Bandcamp (label):

https://bentwindowrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ashes

Bandcamp (band):

https://regengraves.bandcamp.com/