Ramleh were one of the first bands to experiment with Death Industrial, a more darkly brooding offshoot of Power Electronics focused on atmosphere rather than pure aggression. They released many solo and split cassettes before this one, but this is their most acclaimed release from this period. It was later reissued in 2009 with an hour of added music, while the original tape is only four tracks.
Spear Flower is the most brazen song here, opening and continuing with chaotic analog synths and feedback with distant yelled vocals eventually starting to fade in and out. It and this release in general feel like a deconstruction of Power Electronics' concepts. Underneath each layer of rage is a profound sadness, a lack of belonging to the normal standards of society. Even if some of that wrath is carried over into this, it feels much more cold and subdued. Much of the atmosphere is apocalyptic-sounding, almost ethereal at times with how many layers of sorrow are present here. Through only a handful of tracks it explores a wide torrent of emotions, encompassing in each track a sense of defeat after loss.The title track is a more daunting listen, filled with raw industrial noise - all led by a heavy, distorted guitar that hopelessly repeats over and over again with mild improvisation. It ends with a short cut to generic Rock, which feels like a satirical break from this album's woe.
Product of Fear stands as the most emotive part of this release, even if it may be the simplest track here - just comprised of layers of distorted synths yet it carries with it so much grief. With no words at all, it's one of the saddest songs I've ever heard. At times this album feels haunted, a recording of something or someone that's been wiped away by the passage of time.
Grazing on Fear 2 has what almost sounds like an organ covered by a thick layer of noise and distortion. Instead of the usual sadness of the previous tracks it's much more mechanical and intimidating. I'd say it's my least favorite on the tracklist but it's still very good and serves well as a final song.
One of the most beautiful listens in Industrial music, simple in its instrumentation but deep in terms of production. The rerelease is great too but I think an element of the original album lost with it is the succinct nature of just four tracks expressing so many emotions.
I feel so much sorrow, even with a hole in the heart.
9/10
See also: Genocide Organ, Atrax Morgue
All these links are the 2009 remaster
- kreyzi
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