Sokushinbutsu Project - Libera ens Domine

Been some time since the last time we reviewed the highly acclaimed esoteric unit known as Sokushinbutso Project. This album was released back in January 2025. Both on limited cassette and on CD-R via the Italian cult label Industrial Ölocaust Recordings. It´s called Libera nos Domine, which means Deliver Us, Lord. And that means, god gives us covenants that bind us humans to him/She/It... which in return gives us strength and help through god´s spirit. The artwork shows a heart that is connected to some sort of spine, and the heart is surrounded by knives and swords (not the spine). Maybe the spine is representing a blessing from god?... Maybe, who knows? I´ve received the cassette version, and the cassette is a lovely and shiny dark purple/red colour. The very informative cassette sleeve is made out of thick, textured paper. Beautiful cassette release! 

The concept of the album revolves around The Requiem (or Missa Pro Defunctis). A particular celebration to accompany the faithful into the afterlife. And then Sokushinbutso Projects creates an industrial-inspired soundscape around this. Which, in my book, sounds pretty interesting!  

The first track is called Ludex Est Venturus. The track is a cut-and-sound collage of various recordings of the same ancient Gregorian-sounding chant/requiem. The chanting is being kept in company with excellent throbbing noises and superb, surreal industrial sounds. Italian esoterica in sound, just the way I like it! Interesting howling voice in the end! 

The second track, Calamitatis Et Miseriæ, continues the ethereal chanting. Kind sounds like the same recording as found on Death In June´s Nade album?  Razor-sharp industrial drills get into the mix, with the sound of steel wool brushing the surface of a huge metal pipe. Kind of interesting combination, u get the feeling of heavenly chantings pulling you up to heaven... while the sound of industrial elements pulls you back to Earth. 

The third track is called In Lucem Sanctam. It starts pretty easily with some calming chants, and then the noises drill and chop like cold machinery. An additional instrumental bass plays a monotone, moody tune, further enhancing the dark atmosphere.

The fourth track, Descendam In Infernum,  is where it gets a bit darker... and warmer... hence the word Infernum. Heavenly glittering insectoid noise moves around like liquid metal, a ceremonial gong there, and some reversed chanting... eerie experience of something soothing and disturbing at the same time. Kind of thinking bout the Nocturnal Emissions Cathedral album here. 

The fifth track, Sacrificium Iustiæ. Soothing angelic voices start the track, with some cold synth sounds and layers of menacing dark-ambient moods in the background. A mess of electronic mayhem is entering a void, adding a touch of chaos and focused unpredictability. 

Libera ens Domine is a angelic journey into heaven, with the menacing influence of old-school atmospheric industrial aesthetics. Both pleasent and painfull, but that is how... it is to be a true believer...right?! Sokushinbutso Project is a crazy project with some really cool curious concepts, I really like that every release with them has a adventorous element to it... the project investigate diffrent ideas and themes etc. Gets me excited everytime I hear them. Another bullseye from this Italian act! 

Website (band):

https://cardinium.com/product/ior-tk-xxxvii/

     

PGR | I\U – Split CD

A limited 250-copy split has been released by a label called Mercium. Not much information to be found about the label; I have checked both Discogs and Bandcamp. Existed since 2019 and has had five releases so far, including four cassettes and this CD. A split between two acts, PGR is from Italy (Now based in Taiwan) and I\U from Copenhagen, Denmark. This is a live recording from 2022 from the live venue Mayhem (Also in Copenhagen). Both acts deliver 2 tracks each, about 50 minutes of recorded sound. 

The sound of a sandblaster, a dentist drill, high-pitched tones, and the feeling of getting buried in hot cement. Just the first two minutes of the first track called Inter Faeces Et Urinam Nascimur Pars Prima (We are born between feces and urine). Additional squelching noises and several underground explosions push the listener further into the harsh noise soubndscape. Stressed-out finger dexterity on the equipment can be felt through the exciting performance (I think). 

The second track, Inter Faeces et Urinam Nascimur Pars Secunda, turns toward more of an HNW sound (In the beginning) and slowly fades into erratic harsh noise. A constant searing hot sound like ice exploding on hot lava. A sharp needlepin scratches the surface while electrified cords hum endlessly into oblivion. 

The third track, Directum by I\U.  A flapping sound of wet-glitchy electronics with shrapnels from a high-pitched piece of machinery. Not as heavy as the former act, but relying more on psychedelic and spacey high frequencies. A lot more in the Japanoise sort of sound. The mood changes halfway through to a chopping sound of old aeroplane motors, with a nerve-wrecking tone pulling the listener through a lake filled with barbed wire. More spaced-out, erratic behavior of sound is being constantly delivered to the listener.

The fourth (and last) track is called Variabilis. The microscopic sound of hot metal being boiled and melted, with a mess of metallic sounds that fade in and out of focus. Kind of being in a fast-driving car on a rural road, it goes fast... and up and down while turning. Although this rusty car spits out bits of pieces while doing so. In the end, I think that the car ends up in some big metal-chewing machine, finally wrecking and melting it into tiny screws.

This live harsh-noise split offers a blend of traditional and non-traditional elements to the world of harsh noise. Both acts deliver something, which gives the listener the impression of seeing both sides of the same coin. Which is a good thing in my book. Let´s just be honest, the CD is a monster of a harsh noise release! I'm sure that the live event will be remembered. 

Bandcamp (label):

https://merciumrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/pgr-i-u