Cordis Cincti Serpente & Sara Ballini - Luziferischs tantra 

Cordis Cincti Serpente is an old Italian ritual-industrial act with its focus on esoteric occultism, and Sara Ballini had joined up on the latest album. Sara Ballini is an author of the occult and a leading figurehead in Luciferianism and Left-Hand-Path magic, as well as doing some recordings together with Michael W. Ford. 

This over 55-minute album contains 11 tracks. The album has been released on cassette and on CD as well. I have the CD, and the jewel case comes in an almost-clear plastic bag covering the one tit with a blood-transparent sticker (smart).  

The first track is called Der Tanz. Murky underground sound of earth... or distant underground explosions. A tone-ish drone, lots of weird shivering sound effects, voices talking backwards. Really quiet, eerie, and subtle stuff. Perfect for late-night listening.  

We continue with the second track called Die Brücke. Which closely follows the former track. There´s this feeling of listening to something that is hidden. A very enigmatic feel for sure. 

The third track, Algol, offers something else. Low-fi space drones give the listener the sensation of falling, accompanied by subtle, ritualistic tam-tam drums. There´s also the looped recording of a female voice being engaged in some sexual activity (of some sort). Creepy, deep, and serpentine voices slither around the recording, giving the track that specific Luciferian and erotic feel to it. 

The fourth track is called Schatten. Which is a track that kind of functions as a means to end the third track (I think). Some of the same sounds continue here, still following the aesthetic of sound. 

The fifth track, Alraune. Common belief is that the sperm from a hanged man would create this strange plant/root. Which is a plant to be used for magical means? A very high tone, Shivering glitch sounds... and more of the strange Warped voices, both reversed and very slow in speed. Some cool-sounding synth keys in there as well.

 

The sixth track is called Canis Tindalos. I think (or could be ) a homage to a story by Frank Belknap Long called Hounds of Tindalos. A story of a time-travelling, space-cowboy who encounters these strange and horrific creatures that inhabit the angles of time... while we humans (and all other common life) descend from curves. Some reversed talking, and non-reversed, in Italian... Is it from the story? Could be. A very spacious ambient-soundscape track, reaching the very gulf of space. 

Track number seven, Litanei der Vergessenen. Getting back to Coil´s How To Destroy Angels here. Spoken Italian words, various rhythmic gong instruments... another strange sound in there, the sound of someone breathing through a mask? Could be. Very high regarding the aesthetic of ritual music here, and very sincere as well.

The rest of the album keeps on churning that highly mysterious and seductive esoteric sound, always with an eye on the red line/aesthetic. It´s a very sound and thought-provoking album, since it´s a VERY quiet and subtle one. It´s pure ritual minimalism. Very focused and very to the point. Not cartoon satan with sex, something else... which is hard to understand or comprehend, but keeps the listener curious and intrigued through the listening process. 

Official website (label):

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

Discogs:

https://www.discogs.com/master/3659343-Cordis-Cincti-Serpente-Sara-Ballini-Luziferisches-Tantra

      

 Layers of Skin - Your Internal World...

Layers of Skin is a new, interesting, experimental, and enigmatic duo from Greece.  Combining avant-garde-driven ritual soundscapes with influences from diverse ancient cultures. This is their second album; their debut was a self-released CD-R and cassette called In The Eyes Of The Beholder pt.1. The new album has been released on E.C.T, as a limited CD-R. A fold-out inner sleeve with the CD on thick cardboard, also graphically printed. 9 tracks, over an hour of surreal thickness. 

The first track is called Chinchurro Mummy. Eerie tone, ritual beatings, Tibetan deep-chantings, and some really disturbing inhuman screams from some open grave. For some reason, I´m thinking about the Aghori from India ( do a read on them!). Something truly ancient and dark is going on here.   

It doesn´t get any brighter when we continue with the second track called Eating Ape Brains. We´re still in Tibet, or some place near that country. The sound of a Shamanistic cleansing of some sort, and something which sounds like a thighbone trumpet. Also, the sound of a human voice trying to sound like a jaguar, or is it a leopard? Maybe this stuff/track is related to the secret Leopard Society from West and Central Africa? They were baddies in Tarzan, by the way. Clicking sound from small apes here and there. Strangely seducing track. 

We continue with brains to Taxidermy Human, which is the third track. A contact mic on a radiator of some kind, and something metallic hitting it. Some kind of wind-instrument is being used here, not sure if it´s actually made out of wood... or grass. Strange sound of feet... tapping... and weird sound of frogs... croaking. Almost getting into that Innsmouth feel, combined with the surrealism of Nurse With Wound. 

With the fourth track, Mind Is The Lake, Eyes Is The Universe we travel further into surreal territory. I guess that the drugs that the shamans introduced us to at the beginning of the album... are starting to make an effect. Something is scratching a violin with a metal wire, while someone is banging on a huge single drum. On the left side of the stereo, someone is banging something hard on the ground. Might just be the sound of a toy piano and a childish female voice singing. 

The fifth track is a Journey Through A Body. Metallic balls and triangles are being hit... and the sound of the wind outside is blowing like a storm. A short but highly stimulating piece. 

We continue with Stardust And Rain Heal Your Heart, which is the sixth track. More of a soothing track, it works perfectly after the former track. A microscopic sound of something... slithering close to a microphone. Distant and warped drums are almost recognizable, or is it the sound of feet stamping on the ground? All of a sudden, a distorted crash of noise of metal clangs together, and then it disappears... with the eerie kind of flute in the background. That flute sound gives me that... Temple-in-the-Jungle vibe. At this point, I am totally fascinated with this release! The track is long; it has a lot more to offer. Lovely kind of live-feel to it!

The seventh track is called The Spirit Takes Shelter Through The Night. Feels like the final hour of the cleansing ritual. A looped didgeridoo, metal balls circling in a hand, violin scratching, deep chanting, and more string instruments here and there. Female spoken words as well. Highly efficient psychedelic wonders here! 

The eight-track is called Enlightenment, a certain shift in style in the sound. Getting that nostalgic feeling of a brighter future, thinking of Boards of Canada here. While the melody is going on, something is going on in the background... being recorded off course. Maybe getting ready to do the last track on the album?

The ninth track (and the last track) is called Inactive Soul. Think there might be a cello in there, or just the same violin on some deeper strings. You remember those plastic tube-wind-things we would hold on our hands and spin above our heads? I think they might be in here. 

Your Internal World Can Be In Peace When There Is No Darkness might just be the answer. Yes, it has its dark moments, but also the lighter ones. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but Layers of Skin doesn´t actually deliver the simple guidance to get through the tunnel. The album functions as a kind of spiritual gateway to... something which differs from listener to listener. It´s a very good album, with a lot of different ideas and moods to it. Everything sticks together here, just right as rain. 

Bandcamp (label):

https://layersofskin.bandcamp.com/album/your-internal-world-can-be-in-peace-when-there-is-no-darkness

Discogs (label):

https://www.discogs.com/release/36064969-Layers-Of-Skin-Your-Internal-World-Can-Be-In-Peace-When-There-Is-No-Darkness