has just released a new LP from The Skull Defekts featuring two collaborations, one for each side. Up first is a live recording from Fylkingen, Stockholm where the group was joined by CM von Hausswolff for a drone session and on the flip is a studio session with long-running Swedish noise duo The Sons of God, aka Kent Tankred and Leif Elggren. Full details and ordering info: http://www.importantrecords.com/releases/imprec290_release_page.htm
This limited tour/mailorder-only 7" from the DFX first real US jaunt this past month offers us a first taste of what to expect from the band's forthcoming long-player "The temple" (due out in February 2009) and is a direct continuation of the direction they were heading on their 2007 album "Blood spirits & drums are singing": raw, repetitious and cult to the core. A-side "Waving" sees the band revisiting member Henrik Rylander's garage roots for the very first time, except that the end result is far more sinister than anything Union Carbide Productions ever did. The distorted guitar figure gives it swing, but it's nearly drowned out by the clatter of heavy percussion and deadpan vocals. As with "Blood spirits..." highlight "The secret", the band is less concerned riffs than they are with allowing the insistent monotony to drill deep into your skull for a totally compelling but uneasy listening experience. Expectations are met and exceeded. On the flipside, exclusive instrumental "Building temples for new gods" piles on more skronk, but loses momentum due to lack of bass, though that does give echoes to Joachim Nordwall's former act Kid Commando. Not quite regression though; bad vibes persist and I'm further enthralled on subsequent listens.
This isn't a record I can easily recommend due to the high price, but as a sign of things to come, it is extremely promising. As an investment, hopefully the world will catch on, but so far it remains to be seen. - Avi Roig
The Skull Defekts