Audio Assaults 420666 Vol. 4

Deiphago
*The Devil Is My Name 2018 demo cassette
* Deus Alienus digital single

Into the Eye of Satan, reviewed here back some while ago, is where DEIPHAGO started to fuse avant garde experimental prog flourishes into their brutal black metal framework. We are now at their new material, a heady clusterfuck of experimental styled otherwordly black metal chaos with this totally sold out demo and the first “single” for an initial foray into this monstrous upcoming album.

But first things first, though. In order to prepare for the upcoming war in the abyss, is their 2018 demo where we get to hear 3 songs in demo stage. Already, these three tunes deliver a lethal dose and jolt to the brain, indicative of the unholy sonic assault to arrive on next year’s HELLS HEADBANGERS exclusive.

Deiphago is always ever forward from album to album. They change different elements they use in their controlled chaos approach, sound design, execution, and songwriting. They also handpick the studio, engineer (Godcity, and the acclaimed Kurt Ballou of the mighty Converge), and this time again, their drummer, which they use as a key component of their albums and songwriting.

I, the Devil is the leap forward further into the abyss of Thaumiel, where the band leaves everyone behind to still ferment in their non forward death black sonic stew.

For this new album and its preceding initial demo assault, Deiphago enlisted an equal adept in Erick Mejia Arguedas, already notorious in Costa Rica psychedeathprog monsters Corpse Garden and satanik speed metal merchants Culto Negro. His previous experience in Corpse Garden, in particular, matches Deiphago’s new album’s sonic design and songwriting prowess.

V666’s vocals are total satanik hate and murder, with bulldozer basslines that run you over, melding perfectly with new drummer E. Mejia’s polyrhythmic chaos expertly navigating the beyond cosmos approach of Sidapa’s almost blackpsyche sinewy evil riffing.

The most noticeable difference from the previous album is the balance of the experimental songwriting and their choice of notes and riffs but without sacrificing their trademark kill murder assault and battery. Deus Alienus is just a mere sample of this and it just leaves everyone wanting the full dose of satanik experimental audio drugs that only the Costa Rica/Philippine power trio will deliver.

Be prepared for the release coming to you in Feb 2019. Take many initial DMT trips, and then dose up on LSD while spinning the die-hard version of the vinyl LP. Deiphago will take you with them further BEYOND the abyss – the question is not where, are you going to survive the hellish journey? We’ll see. {VVV}

Merzbow
Pulse Demon 2LP reissue
Bludhoney Records

I almost didn’t get this 2LP deluxe reissue due to the sheer high demand, and the set time it was made available on the label’s website. All variants (500 total copies, with the die hard bundle including a kvlt cassette) were gone in less than a minute. Thankfully, I secured the spiral blast variant, and when it arrived here, I proceeded to destroy my ears 3 times in a row (alternating with the Deiphago demo, also played 3 x).

There’s no need to elaborate more, one of the king of Japanese noise Masami Akita’s most extreme and recognizable albums, previously out on Relapse Records back in 1996, gets the most deluxe reissue on vinyl.

The sound and mastering is massive, producing all the damaging frequencies faithful to the original, and now in full analogue. The art direction is top notch, featuring the iconic soundwave layer lines in black with a silver backdrop, two LPs, in a deluxe gatefold jacket with obi strip.

Tracks like Tokyo Times Ten, Ultra Marine Blues, and Yellow Hyper Balls disintegrate brain matter and melt neurons till brains become sonic damaged mush. Tokyo Times Ten x 666 Hails for those lucky enough to own this on kvlt CD, kvlt digipak CD, and now vinyl, and the ultra limited cassette die hard bundle, and also lucky enough to survive a full listen on maximum high volume, as it should be. [R Ibanez]