Ancient Autopsy - Violent Fleshwounds
CD-R release by E.C.T. Recordings of an act called Ancient Autopsy. This one is their second album, called Violent Fleshwounds. Released on limited cassette on Willigut Prophecy, and then on CD-R on E.C.T. Recordings. 8 tracks, about 20 minutes in total.
As with many underground acts (nowadays), information about Ancient Autopsy (and Willigut Prophecy) is shrouded in total darkness. I was lucky to receive a letter from the label, giving me a quick intro. Ancient Autopsy is a U.S.-based project that is closely related to the label Willigut Prophecy. Their sound is described as being death-industrial with moments of dark ambient.
As for this physical release, u get the nice-looking CD-R edition with a fold-out sleeve with cool graphics (in the traditional old-school power-electronics aesthetics). You also get a small poster and the CD-R on a piece of thick graphical cardboard. Really nice design, as always. Let me pop in the CD-R and listen to what this is all about.
The first track on the album is called A Brutal Punishment For Treachery. Starts with something that sounds like a mix between looped grindcore drums and a machine gun. From that, it goes into a thumping heartbeat rhythm... with a very brutal and atmospheric soundscape, all drenched in absolute violence.
The second track, Cement Nails and Gun Powder offers a more death-industrial sound. Bone-crushing sound of exploding drums, and a very sinister kind of keyboard on top of it. An eerie kind of clattering pieces of sound (and noise) swirl around the listener like grenade fragments.
Violent Fleshwounds is the third track on the album. Looped sound of quick drumming on a real drum set, sounding as if a human-robot was banging relentlessly on a drum set. The drums stop, and a disturbing, almost naive horror soundscape drops in. Improvised, sort of filtered organ, I think. Almost giving me a sort of Halloween kind of mood.
The fourth track is called Implements of Hell. Something massive moving in the darkness, and a special kind of tension is there as well... just not being visible to the human eye. Moving closer and closer in a subtle way. Underwater sort of sound here; hard to pinpoint where the sounds are coming from. Very scary piece!
Protracted Cries Of Extreme Agony is track number 5. Starting with the drums, and then it gets replaced by an epic sound from a broken radio. Shards of razor-sharp noise penetrate the mind, while an angelic choir cleanses your dirty soul.
The sixth track, Bloody Black Fluid Flowed From The Mouth. Sounds exactly like the track name. Dark ambient and minimal power electronics merge (and float) together to form a blackend piece of ritualistic funeral noise. Blubbering, rusty noise in the dark of night for sure.
I will leave the reader for now, but I can assure you that the rest of the album does not disappoint. Violent Fleshwounds is a very good (and alternative) new take on death-industrial. With elements of brutal grindcore, combined with eerie Halloween moods and surreal soundscapes, you are sure to get a very unique experience. The eerie keyboard parts made me think about this highly obscure act called Pumpkin Witch. Power electronics for Halloween!!!
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