“Maelstrom” sets a raw post-metal vibe for Ortega‘s impending second album, Sacred States, and as the first audio made public from the Netherlands-based outfit for the follow-up to their 2013 debut, The Serpent Stirs (review here) — they also released the 18-minute single “Crows” (review here) in 2014 — it shows progression in its rougher edges and less cerebral take overall — as though the Groningen four-piece decided to cut ties with their preconceptions and just go for being as expressive as possible. That’s a hard vibe not to dig, and guest appearances from Gnaw Their Tongues and Primitive Man‘s Ethan Lee McCarthy only add intrigue for the rest of the album.

Release date is Oct. 5, but preorders for the vinyl are available now from Narshardaa Records, and Sacred States will also be out on CD through Consouling Sounds and tape through Tartarus Records.

Details go like this:

Ortega – Sacred States

New track ‘Maelstrom’ + vinyl pre-orders

It has been quiet for a long time.

We are thrilled we can finally announce the release of our second full length ‘Sacred States’.

Since 2007, Ortega have been exploring the murky depths of humanity’s longing for the horizon. Perilous courses which drag carcasses ashore, sojourns that tell of the bells that chime on the sands below, collisions of doom, sludge and noise that tell tales of abyssal mankind.

Now, Sacred States is the first glance upwards. But whereas the depths below are finite, the chasms above ridicule every human attempt to realise itself. Whether he looks above or inside, the void remains. The tentative grasps into the great unknown will never hold anything but pain, and Ortega recount every step into the understanding of this fate that we turn away from more often than not. The hollow is here:

Recorded by John Bart van der Wal and mastered by James Plotkin.

Featuring contributions by Gnaw Their Tongues and Ethan Lee McCarthy of Primitive Man fame.

Sacred States is a collaborative effort between Consouling Sounds (CD), Narshardaa Records (Vinyl) and Tartarus Records (Cassette).

Vinyl pressing info:
100 multicolored splatter vinyl
100 clear vinyl
300 black vinyl

Pre-orders for Sacred States vinyl have started at Narshardaa Records: http://narshardaa.bigcartel.com/product/ortega-sacred-states-2xlp-pre-order

Release date: October 5th

https://www.facebook.com/ortegadoom
https://ortegaband.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ortegadoom/
http://consouling.be/
http://narshardaa.bigcartel.com/
http://tartarusrecords.com/

Hope you like parentheses, because Belgian noisewashers 30,000 Monkies — also stylized as 3((0)),((0))((0))((0)) M((O))NKIES — have plenty on offer. The four-piece first issued their Watch the Drone — aka Watch the Dr((o))ne, naturally — back in 2011, but the multispectrum effects onslaught has been newly pressed to tape courtesy of Tartarus Records. After this and a couple other EP-type releases, 30,000 Monkies put out their first full-length album, I Ate Myself to Grow Twice as Big this past Spring via Consouling Sounds. If you’re up for getting freaked out, it’s all streaming on Bandcamp.

Tapes are hot pink and limited to 100 copies. From the PR wire:

TAR057 3((0)),((0))((0))((0)) M((O))NKIES – WATCH THE DR((O))NE

“Welcome, welcome, welcome children!” His smile hid his bile. These sentences had been repeated so many times, that to feel actual joy was impossible. It was numbness that drove him on, a constant, hovering grey which never ceased.

Surrounded by the garishly coloured fetters, the clasping happiness of the young, a tiny spark lifted his spirits. A fire was lit, if you will. His eyes shone brightly, as the plan hatched. A sign of what life is would inspire many present, right? Their lives would be illuminated by his death!Yes!
Boffo smiled his first sincere smile in years. Tomorrow, the arena would be coloured brighter still.”

But this is not the same thing.

3((0)),((0))((0))((0)) M((O))NKIES is the new dronemetal/ambient project by 30,000 Monkies. It’s XL on almost every level: longer, louder, heavier, more cheerful, more uplifting and… bigger.

Live they’ll be accompanied by some friends to form a fierce, 7-headed, rainbow coloured puppy that will riff you silly and leave you behind with a warm, loving smile, buried in tons of confetti.

Now, for those who missed the mystery tape: This tape will see an actual release again!

Edition of 100 hot pink tapes
Housed in a diecut cardstock case

https://www.facebook.com/30000monkies/
http://30000monkies.bandcamp.com/album/watch-the-dr-o-ne
http://vi.be/30000monkies
http://tartarusrecords.com/album/watch-the-dr-o-ne
https://www.facebook.com/TartarusRecords

30,000 Monkies, Watch the Drone (2016)

Slow and low UK skullbashers Bismuth will release their debut album, Unavailing, on Nov. 25. Among the noteworthy factoids concerning the release is the following: There are no fewer than five labels involved. Frickin’ five. Meanwhile, there are only two people actually in the band, which with a bit of quick arithmetic tells us that there are quite literally more than twice as many imprints standing behind Bismuth‘s first album as there are people in the band. It’s not every group who can make such a claim.

A four-track 2LP — presumably that’s one per side — recorded and mixed by Chris Fielding (Conan) at Skyhammer Studio, Unavailing will be out on Dry Cough, De Graanrepubliek, Box Records, Tartarus Records and Viral Age. The band is comprised of bassist/vocalist Tanya Byrne and drummer Joe Rawlings. The numbers do not lie.

Into the void with you:

Bismuth – Unavailing: Double LP and cassette released Nov 25th

Unavailing is the debut album by aptly named Nottingham duo, BISMUTH.

“Bismuth has long been considered as the element with the highest atomic mass that is stable. However, in 2003 it was discovered to be weakly radioactive: its only primordial isotope, bismuth-209, decays via alpha decay with a half life more than a billion times the estimated age of the universe. Bismuth often appears as beautiful iridescent, spiral-stepped crystals.” This sums up the sound of the band well.

Like their namesake, the music that Bismuth create is incredibly dense, slow and heavy, but with moments of subtle, ethereal beauty. Bismuth balance stripped down ‘less is more’ approach to songwriting with a ‘more is more’ approach to amplification, volume and fuzz to create a crushing and monolithic sound.

Unavailing consists of four epic tracks recorded and mixed at Skyhammer Studios by Chris Fielding, and mastered by James Plotkin. It will be presented as a double LP in an edition of 300 copies as a cooperative release between the band, De graanrepubliek, dry cough, box records and viral age, with tartarus records handling the cassette version.

https://www.facebook.com/bismuthslow
www.bismuthslow.bandcamp.com
www.degraanrepubliek.com
www.drycoughrecords.com
www.box-records.com
www.tartarusrecords.com
viralagerecords.blogspot.com

Bismuth, Live at SOAN 25/07/2014

Seems odd to say it, but Crows isn’t the first 18-minute single that Netherlands-based post-metal four-piece Ortega have released in their time together. The last one was late-2012’s The Serpent Stirs (review here), and as the follow-up to that and reportedly the precursor to a new full-length album, Crows winds up making a lot of sense with its limited tape release through Tartarus Records, a black-ink-on-grey-box unfolding with a handmade feel to match the Groningen group’s intricate heavy/ambient tradeoffs throughout the song’s 18 minutes. The program repeats on both sides of the tape, which has crows and branches printed on it, and for what’s purported to be a demo track, the sound is awfully full and the band is awfully tight, leaving me to wonder what they might look to change going into the album — that is, how much more there is to build on from what they have here. It’s almost unfair to use the word “cassingle” for a song that’s en EP unto itself, but technically I suppose that’s what Crows is.

And taken on the level of a single, it’s a strikingly cohesive one, with guitarists Alex Loots and Richard Postma trading between thick waves of riffing and sparse atmospherics, ambient squigglies floating into the sonic space of a mix that, again, is done little justice by being designated as a demo. Bassist Frank de Boer distinguishes himself in the song’s midsection with a surprisingly warm tone, while drummer Sven Jurgens manages to keep the proceedings fluid for the most part without falling into the trap of the Isis drumbeat (you know the one!), which is one of the core challenges at this point of post-metal percussion styles — how to make it not sound like Panopticon. Postma handles vocals as well when they arise, his assured growl topping the later payoff of a fervent instrumental build playing out in a rising tide of start-stop chugging; a measured, restrained groove finally letting loose just in time for the growls to reemerge. For those familiar with the style, Ortega‘s take won’t be wholly strange, but Crows remains a solid execution of the progressive aspects of post-metal and even over its extended course doesn’t dull the attention more than it intends to do with hypnotic repetition of parts.

It’s easy to imagine “Crows” paired with another piece of similar length as opposing vinyl sides as Ortega‘s next long-player, but I guess we have some time yet before we get there. Fair enough. Maybe by then I’ll have it figured out what exactly makes Crows a demo.

Ortega, “Crows” from Crows (2014)

Ortega on Thee Facebooks

Ortega on Bandcamp

After completely selling through their run of vinyl and tapes for their 2013 single-song EP outing, The Serpent Stirs (review here), Netherlands-based post-doom crushers Ortega have announced work in progress on a sophomore full-length that will serve as the follow-up to 2010’s 1634 — though with The Serpent Stirs and 2012’s A Flame Never Rises on its Own between, you could hardly call the four-piece inactive — set to release later this year. The new 18-minute demo track, “Crows,” is the first audio to surface related to the album.

Tartarus Records will handle the cassette release of the new record, while Black Bow Records takes on the vinyl. “Crows” will also be issued as a limited cassingle in time for the band’s appearance at Roadburn next weekend.

In the meantime, “Crows” can be streamed below. The PR wire has it like this:

ORTEGA – “Crows” demo streaming now.

A murder of crows, a blackened swarm of liberation, if not from death. This immortality you speak of, three-horned one, gauges out the spirit’s eye. I have been wandering the astral plains and found nothing but stalemates of shapes and impressions. The evolution which I have been taught from the stumbling age onward brought me nothing but fear. It is time to start looking inward. Stare down and rise.

The murky depths of Ortega’s sound drag a darker yet more poignant carcass ashore with Crows, their latest recording. A collision of doom, sludge and noise tells a story of man looking inward and onward.

Crows will be released as a very limited cassette by Tartarus Records on April 10th, coinciding with our show at Roadburn in Tilburg, The Netherlands.

Crows is a part of our yet unnamed album, to be released later this year by Black Bow Records on vinyl and Tartarus Records on cassette.

Thank you.

https://www.facebook.com/ortegadoom/
http://ortegaband.bandcamp.com/merch
https://twitter.com/ortega_band
http://tartarusrecords.com/
http://www.blackbowrecords.com/

Ortega, “Crows” Demo

On the heels of a colored vinyl split between Undersmile and Bismuth, Netherlands-based imprint Tartarus Records has begun to take preorders for its next two releases, Suma‘s You’re Such a Disappointment: A Split Compilation 2005-2012 and Ethereal Riffian‘s new album, Aeonian. Both are also up for streaming through Tartarus‘ Bandcamp, which as fate would have it is where the preorder links go. Funny how these things work out.

Look and listen:

SUMA and Ethereal Riffian cassettes now available for preorder

The Bismuth / Undersmile split LP has landed a few weeks ago and is now available at our shop. Colored vinyl is sold out, but black vinyl is still available. Highly recommended!

On this month’s menu I have Suma’s ep/split comp You’re Such A Disappointment and the brand new album Aeonian by Ethereal Riffian. A dish best served cold and preferably in space.

TAR026 SUMA – You’re Such A Disappointment: A Split Compilation 2005 – 2012

Hailing from Malmö, Sweden and formed in 2001 : SUMA has been spreading the plague of their sonic weight, noise-ridden hallucinatory doom metal on the world for the past decade. Through these years they’ve lured hordes of humans into the lair with their devastatingly heavy, one way trip into the vortex live performances and crushing delivery on their recorded matters.

This cassette is a compilation of the EP’s and splits they did with bands like Pyramido, Ultraphallus and Unearthly Trance.

Edition of 100 silver cassettes
Comes in a screenprinted cardstock case

Listen/Preorder

TAR027 – Ethereal Riffian – Aeonian

“The second full-length album called Aeonian is the band’s most mature work, which unites all the best talents of its members. The eponimous book merged as a result of our intention to fully disclose the ideas and concepts of this album. While working on the narrative, we realized that from now on books would become an integral part of the band’s creative work, for they let reinforce the images created by the music and inculcate them in the consciousness of our listeners.

The band’s activity has two main objectives: to compose unconventional music, which is able to expand the frames of the listener’s musical perception, and to shed light on the existence of a subtler plane, whose laws if understood properly may help to perceive the reality on a deeper level. In order to achieve the abovementioned goals, we diligently work on each new release. That is exactly why the ones who get acquainted with the creative work of our band need to be very attentive.

We sincerely hope that the message care-fully integrated in our music is able to induce our listeners, and now our readers as well, to open up the new facets of existence and kindle the light of their true self, which will not dim even in the darkest nooks of Sheol.” -Ethereal Riffian

Edition of 100 black cassettes
Comes in a screenprinted cardstock case
Features exclusive artwork by Berbel Zijlstra

Listen/Preorder

https://www.facebook.com/TartarusRecords
http://tartarusrecords.com

Suma, You’re Such a Disappointment (2014)

Ethereal Riffian, Aeonian (2014)

As far as I’m concerned, this one gets a twofold fucking a: It exists and you can hear it now. Disgruntled sludgers Bismuth and drone-minded nightmare-conjurers Undersmile have partnered, each with a vinyl side of their own brand of sonic madness. Put some Tony Roberts art on it, press it to tape and LP, and you’re good to go. Tartarus Records has the beast available for preorder and that’s great, but what’s even better is being able to listen to its low end drag before you make your purchase.

This is the first I’m hearing of Bismuth and it’s pretty clear from “Collapse” that I need to go back and check out their 2012 Eternal Marshes demo. For Undersmile, they follow-up the split with their acoustic alter ego, Coma Wall, with a 23-minute behemoth of a track as tonally huge as it is melodically disturbed. It’s not easy listening, but I dig the challenge.

Preorder link, Tony Roberts artwork and the standard Bandcamp player follow, hot off of the PR wire:

TAR023 Bismuth / Undersmile split

Amp worship meets agonizing doom. Finally a split release between two of UK’s heavyweights in female fronted doom and sludge. Bismuth from Nottingham offer Collapse, a worthy follow-up to the Eternal Marshes demo tape, released last year. More bleak drone landscapes and torturous vocals by Tanya. Undersmile from Witney chose for an atmospheric approach on their side of the split and came up with Titanaboa; a dark, nightmarish beast of a track. Truly their best offering so far. The artwork was made by the amazing Tony Roberts, which fits perfectly with both bands.

FFO: Khanate, Corrupted, Bell Witch, Ensorcelor.

The LP is a co-release between Graanrepubliek Records, Tartarus Records and At War With False Noise

Pressing info:

100 gold cassettes
100 red/black vinyl (mailorder only)
200 black vinyl

Preorder the cassette, vinyl & special bundles here: http://tartarusrecords.com/album/split-2

Bismuth/Undersmile, Split LP (2013)

Tartarus Records, now in its second year with its 20th and 21st cassette releases coming, sends word of a forthcoming tape from Brighton, UK, punk grinders War Wolf. Crushing the Ways of the Old is available now for pre-order in a limited edition of 100 that I can’t imagine will last very long.

War Wolf boasts drummer Ant Cole and bassist Paul Hale, formerly of Dopefight, alongside guitarist/vocalist Oliver Heart of doomers Sea Bastard, and Crushing the Ways of the Old follows their split with Sob Story and their Riding with Demons demo, for which they toured earlier this year.

They’ve got a handle on some thickened hardcore punk, and they’re plenty pissed off as you can hear on “The Upper Hand” below. Dig it:

War Wolf cassette now available for preorder

TAR020 War Wolf – Crushing The Ways Of The Old

Finally the debut full-length album of War Wolf is upon us! This is the third release after their first EP ‘Riding With Demons’ and the split tape with Sob Story. Twelve tracks of pummelling Hardcore/Doom from Brighton, UK. Taking influence from the likes of Dystopia, Nihilist and Brainoil. Lyrically they express their hatred for Religion, Homophobia, Racism and Sexism.

This Cassette is a co-release of Tartarus Records and Dry Cough Records. (Vinyl version is being released by Tadpole Records, Atomsmasher Records and Headless Guru Records.)

Edition of 100 grey tapes
Comes with a War Wolf guitar pick!

http://tartarusrecords.com/album/crushing-the-ways-of-the-old

War Wolf, “The Upper Hand” from Crushing the Ways of the Old (2013)