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THE BRVTALIST

Mutant Metropolitan Culture

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Disquiet - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Russian occultists Old Komm collaborate with southern Californian dons of austere electronics German Army, bringing to life the made up soundtrack to a film that never was. Disquiet tells the story of a child born to a desolate, post-apocalyptic world, war torn and fractured by greed. The Brvtalist immediately gravitated toward this great concept and the soundtrack delivers 14 tracks of obscure, retro-future dystopian magic. 

We get much of the sound we have come to love from German Army, including the standout psychedelia on "Akra" and the industrial nihilism of "No Roles." Old Komm provides even more cinematic soundscapes on the solemn "Gorky's Theme" and plunges us into the depths with "Sea Reaks". The LP is a masterwork of a 1976 lost gem and not only have we had this on repeat since its mysterious delivery, but now we wish the movie was made. From the producers: 

''A whirlwind of looting, a firestorm of fear. Men began to feed on men. No one remembers the days before the bleakness. It would be impossible to recall the old world, if it wasn’t for the reminders. Ruins... despair... echoes of madness...and in this maelstrom of decay, I was born.'' 

Disquiet is available on vinyl and digital formats and we urge our readers to experience its power. For more information please visit Discrepant. 

-JRS 

Thursday 11.10.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

New York Trax

In a crowded field of new techno, few labels can rival the raw authenticity of New York Trax. A direct product of its hometown, the emerging techno imprint has cultivated a punishing sound that immediately resonated with us. While just founded last year, label-head Nicole Gier has already gained a dedicated following and generated a lot of buzz throughout the international techno community.  New York Trax builds on the city's legendary history and continues its legacy with brvtal, rhythmic electronics that infuse equal parts of hardcore and industrial.

The label's first release came from local legend Richard Hinge. A pioneering proponent of the New York City techno scene since the 90's, Hinge returned from a hiatus to help launch the label in a major way. The 12" (like all releases pressed at Brooklyn Vinyl Works), is comprised of three massive tracks that range from the hypnotic "Changes" to the crushing "Voices In My Head". 

The next release, born out of a stolen tracks scandal, came by way of New York Tracks Imports. With no creative boundaries and an invitation to collaborate with like-minded artists, the "Imports" sub-label proves that you can channel the New York ethos regardless of your location. Swedish producer Dawid Dahl, and seasoned Irish producer Another Alias, come storming though the gates with Dahl's alarming, apocalyptic track, "Krig". Another Alias finishes the A side with the distorted, percussive onslaught of "Craic Fiend". Dahl closes things out on B with the pulverizing "Gehenna". 

Coming up next for the label is Serbian born, now New York City-based Boris Brenecki. Also a member of Ontal and Impulse Controls, Brenecki's solo work is just what we want - merciless techno with elements of industrial and rave. "The Oven" is a perfect NYC track that is oozing with the spirit of the underground. Perhaps the perfect finishing touch is the evil "Strictly Hardcore", which pounds you deep into submission to end the release. Official video for "The Oven" here: 

We asked founder and label-head Nicole Gier what inspired her to start the label and where does she it going and she provided us with this insightful response: 

I was born and raised in NYC, but when I was 10 years old my mother married a new guy and we moved to Europe. I lived in Warsaw and also in Berlin and London. I was a promoter for around 8 years and created one of the biggest hardcore techno events in Eastern Europe at that time. Then I came back to NYC, completely on my own, started going out to parties alone not knowing anyone, so I had the time to focus and observe. I discovered that promoters and producers here do not follow the generic European sound in techno, nor the European bro-based self-serving culture in the scene, and that everyone is more authentic and more distinguishable from each other. And exactly this triggered the thought to create New York Trax. A label which releases only NYC-based producers and elevates the NYC scene by showing the rest of the world how unique it is, how it resembles the city itself with its insane diversity. Then the scandal happened with the stolen tracks and it was my decision to create the sub-label.

In the future, I will just keep doing what I am doing. To me, the politics of the scene don't matter, who is famous and trendy does not matter either. I want to release quality sound because I want people to go over my catalog in 20 years from now and be like "wow this is outstanding". All the kids replicating other kids will be forgotten sooner than they think. I hate the entire social media based culture and all this bullshit that puts aside talent and glorifies everything else which should normally be deemed irrelevant in the music scene.

Over the course of just one year, New York Trax has established itself as perhaps the hardest label in New York (after Industrial Strength of course). We love the imprint's commitment to elevating the local scene and their approach to the music aligns with our tastes perfectly. For crushing, dystopian techno, there are few better places to look right now.  

-JRS 

Monday 11.07.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

New Brvtalism No. 074

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix from Lofthaus. A duo made up of Henry Gillet (Melbourne) and Thomas D. Barnes (London), both co-operators (along with Marie de Cuir) of standout label Algebra of Need, Lofthaus is emotionally charged experimental techno of the highest degree. With releases like the sexually explicit, Alive With Pleasure and 2015's CB-6000, we have been drawn to both their sound and visual imagery. 

New Brvtalism No. 074 is the perfect guide through the duo's sound. With tracks from artists such as Eshaton, ELISABETH Dixon, Non and Traversable Wormhole, be prepared for a mental trip through the outer limits. 

We would like to thank the duo for their contribution to our series and with artists such as Consulate, The Trainable and of course, Lofthaus, Alegebra of Need is a label to watch. 

-JRS 

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Track list:

HanChi - Unicorn (Coming on Algebra of Need) Eschaton - Deus Irae
Yves De Mey - Transfer #2
Kangding Ray - Sleepless Roads
Surgeon - EGS-zs8-1
Elisabeth DIXON - Intervention
Pterygium - Nadir (Coming on Algebra of Need)
Roly Porter - Don’t Think, Just Kill
Lofthaus - She Chimes Like Church Bells Part 3 (Coming on Algebra of Need) Infant Mortality Rate - Daddy
Ansome - Snake Eyes (O/V/R Remix)
Grunt - You Can't Hide
A001 - Anglo
Non - A Taste Of Blood
Scorn - Stripped Back Hinge
Traversable Wormhole - Sublight Velocities
Ancestral Voices - Invocations (Abdulla Rashim Remix)
Shifted - Anti
Rrose - Emboli
Bookworms - Exotic Auto Boutique
The Boy Next Door - Shivers

Friday 11.04.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

The Brvtalist Premieres: TWINS - "Stuck"

The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a new track from multi-talented artist, TWINS. The solo project of Matt Weiner (Featureless Ghost, also head of DKA Records), TWINS is a savvy take on art-driven post-punk, minimal synth and multiple styles of dance music. This has easily become a favorite artist to watch and the releases continue to get stronger. "Stuck" is a slow burning, emotionally arresting mix of moody drones and infectious electro that we haven't been able to turn off since we heard it. 

"Stuck" comes off the 12" mini-lp, Rather Not, due out mid-November on the always excellent Dutch imprint, Enfant Terrible. We are very much looking forward to this one. 

-JRS 

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Wednesday 11.02.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

Orphan Swords - The Rise of Liquid Alternatives

Brvtalist favorite Orphan Swords return with a new cassette release which also launches a new imprint called Nurse. The Rise of Liquid Alternatives is a two track, experimental electronics offering which builds on the Belgian duo's unique sound and pushes the boundaries of post-industrial, noise and techno into deeper realms. 

"Glasya Labolas" starts things off with a 13 minute, metallic, droning journey through futuristic soundscapes spliced with grinding, rhythmic percussion that slowly burns through your veins. "Forneas" continues with another long form composition that uses distorted, machine-driven forces that feel like a soundtrack to a dystopian factory. 

Orphan Swords continues to be one of our favorite acts operating in an 80's influenced genre-less world and we are excited about the launch of the new label. This is a conceptual release that perhaps references our coming dependence on alternative food sources and the beautiful cover art is by Olga Federova. This is limited to 100 cassettes so get yours from Nurse now. 

-JRS 

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Tuesday 11.01.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

Violet Poison - Chateau Inferno Mix

The Brvtalist is proud to present a special edition mix by Italian artist, Violet Poison. Inspired by 80's Halloween-fest horror and the mega-event of the same name, this is 105 minutes of proto-psyko-tekno. 

Chateau Inferno is a haunted house event taking place in Los Angeles on October 28th. The Brvtalist is honored to be hosting the "Library of Curiosities", one of the mansion's many incredible rooms. We will provide a curated night of music, cocktails and more all while joined by live demonstrations by Drab Majesty in the Chapel next door. The minds behind the event, Lil Death and Das Bunker,  have also curated areas of the home and along with Restless Nites are bringing in a huge lineup of DJ's for the duration of the evening. For more information visit: restlessnites.com/inferno.

A very special thank you to the artist for his contribution as well. For more Violet Poison visit Facebook and Soundcloud. 

-JRS 

Friday 10.28.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

La Torture Des Ténèbres - "Broadcasts from the Phantom District"

So much focus is placed on the coming evils of our world. Visions of a dystopian future and failed society haunt all of our dreams. Ottawa's La Torture Des Ténèbres posit the theory that the world we are so frightened of is already here. We have continued to abuse our planet and its inhabitants and that has created not a future, but a present that represents our greatest fears. 

Premiering recently on Invisible Oranges, the video for the track, "Broadcasts from the Phantom District", captures the above sentiments perfectly and accompanies the feelings with a retro futuristic world that recalls Metropolis and Dark City. This is dark, atmospheric black metal of the highest caliber. 

We instantly gravitated toward Ténèbres' bleak, ambient infused sound and visuals that recall Italian Futurism. Coming off Choirs of Emptiness, a stellar release from earlier in the year, the next album is titled Civilization is the Tomb of our Noble Gods, which is set for a cassette release via Fallen Empire Records sub-label Vomiting Choir. We urge you to discover more La Torture Des Ténèbres on Bandcamp. 

-JRS 

Thursday 10.27.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

Verräter / Sxuperion

As we approach the end of the harvest season and begin to submerge into the darker months, there is perhaps no better soundtrack than black metal. While the genre has taken on many variations, we continue to be drawn to its most primitive form. This brings us to a punishing split release by Nebraska's Verräter and Sxuperion. Rising from the desolate landscapes of the American heartland, this cassette was released on Samhain 2015 but we felt it necessary to revive the offering just in time for this year's festival. Featuring 3 tracks from Brvtalist favorite Verräter and 5 from Sxuperion, this is brvtality in its purest form. 

Verräter commences the anguish with "Malignant.Benign," a stripped down, harrowing track that infects the the deepest corners of the mind and spirit. "Vagrant" continues the assault with a violent attack from an unkown assailant and our favorite hymn would have to be "Deny Peace (Pleasure in Pain)", a melodic piece which mutates into a crushing work of nightmarish shrieks. 

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On side 2, the five tracks by Sxuperion all take on the numbered titles "Vibration". This is an apt title as after a ceremonial intro, we are put into submission by rolling percussion and possessed vocals which shake the inner core. "Vibration II" continues to pulverize with speed metal mixed with dark ambient atmospherics. The remainder of your journey drowns you deeper into the abyss while "Vibrations V" peacefully closes out a stellar release with an aggressive beating that ends with a faint heartbeat. 

This split is available now on cassette and digital formats and each tape comes with a separate patch from each band. Pick this up now for this weekend's coming festivities. 

-JRS 

Wednesday 10.26.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

Destruktionsanstalt - "Swedenborg"

From the hinterlands of Scandinavia, comes the return of one of our favorite death industrial acts. Denmark's Destruktionsantalt offers perhaps the project's most spiritually haunting release with Swedenborg. This follows last year's brvtal work, Corpus Invocationem, and adds an even deeper layer of dark ambient that echoes the old Nordic school. Born out of tragedy, Swedenborg has a cinematic feel which carries you through its ominous narrative.  From the alluring atmospheres of "Misericodia" and "Halitus" to the more violent, "In Perpetuum", this is a harrowing release that is both agonizing and peaceful. 

We are also thrilled to see a vocal appearance by one of our current favorite projects, Military Position. Harriet K. Morgan's ceremonial chants over the sounds of a sweeping afterlife close out a powerful and dreamlike release of ritual electronics. 

For us, less is always more and very few acts in the genre have the genuineness and soulfulness of Destruktionsanstalt. The artist has also released some earlier material that is also worthy of your attention. Swedenborg is out now on digital and limited CD format. For more please visit Bandcamp. 

-JRS 

Cover artwork by Gregg Stockdale

Tuesday 10.25.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

New Brvtalism No. 073

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix by Serena Butler. This obscure artist just emerged from the shadows with a new 12" on Marco Shuttle's always impressive, Eerie Records. Gynoids Dryads Swim Alone is a four track, surrealist mind trip through dark, droning techno, off beat percussion and ice cold synth lines. We were immediately infected by its warped sense of boundary and subliminal messages. From the standout "She Penetrated Me" to the drilling power of "Gynoids" this has quickly become one our most played EPs. For New Brvtalism No. 073, we have been blessed with an amalgamation of sound and texture for a dreamlike journey through electro, grime, house and techno. 

We look forward to the next offering by this elusive artist. For more information visit Facebook and Soundcloud. 

-JRS 

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TRACKLIST:

La Jeteé in English
Shackleton – Deadman (Death Dub Remix)
Algarnas Tradgard – Tva timmar over tva bla berg med en gok pa vardera sidak on timmarna..
Lok 44 – By Night
Sorrow – Qualm
House Of Black Lanterns – Cold (This City)
Nasty Habits – Shadow Boxing (Om Univ VIP)
Excerpt from Akira...Kaneda
t.hanks – B2
Tissu – Filter Dub
Theme – 2
45 ACP – Graveyard Shift
E.R.P – Snowday
Rhythm & Sound – Distance Range
Christian Fennesz & Jim O'Rourke – Just Want You To Stay

Friday 10.21.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 
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