Khanate - Clean Hands Go Foul

Once Khanate’s name is mentioned, you cannot help yourself from thinking about harshness, heaviness and pure rawness. These are one of the main keys that made Khanate what it is without any argument. With the latest and last record Clean Hands Go Foul those above factors are put into question and under serious introspection. Even though rawness and heaviness are undoubtedly present, it is remarkably obvious that there is something missing.

When each instrument’s sound is to be taken separately and analyzed, one could say they are fairly recorded and produced.

Beherit - Engram

It was announced for a good time now that Beherit is back with something to say to this world. Keeping an optimistic coming back from this band was a present possibility, especially since Marko Laiho was highly active in the electronic scene for more than a decade now, which could only mean one thing for Tactile Sound: an efficient improvement in sound techniques and production.

The sound production of Beherit’s first two albums is inarguably one of the main factors that placed the band on the map. The production on Oath of The Black Blood is what really gave birth to chaotic/noise driven Black Metal bands and projects all over the years.

Gnaw - This Face

This is where the end begins and the old suffers a miserable death. Gnaw is a new born beast by well known minions that have been lurking around for a long, long time and who know well their tasks. Fans of heavy and low frequencies are in for a great surprise and a harsh lesson in sound.

This Face spits in the face of traditionalists and radical analogue freaks without any sign of remorse. Instead of walking the old road of primitive expression armed with bass and drums, Gnaw climbs peaks with a DCAF System (Digitally Controlled Annihilating Frequencies).

Xasthur - All Reflections Drained

In Black Metal, non-commercial one that is, production values are non existent so to speak. Most bands are allergic to the idea thinking it's an act of heresy to spend some money on such a "useless" thing, or they simply cannot afford this "luxury" for various reasons. But what most forget about is that Black Metal depends highly on the sound rather than anything else, for it is the main factor creating the record's atmosphere.

There is a massive misconception regarding sound production (from editing, to mixing and mastering) in Black Metal. Most artists link the term with nice sounds, polished frequencies and fancy/soft outcome.

Isis - Wavering Radiant

When I first got introduced to Isis it was through the Celestial album. The very first thing that caught my attention and sucked me in was its fat bass chest penetrating sound. Removed far away from groove, it was a full low frequency assault on the subwoofers and that what made Isis vibrates across the oceans of this planet even with its little production imperfections.

Isis crossed a long road since then, evolving as a band and in sound. With Wavering Radiant the whale is reaching out to the surface for some air
and sun rays instead of creating massive deep sea currents.