Sutras
Awakening of the Spirit
(self-released)
8/30/24
When the pep talk is devoid of patronizing and clichéd Hallmark’isms, you might be more willing to listen to it. Tied into the distortion-glazed churn-&-burn of this two-track release by Sutras called Awakening of the Spirit, you’ll find via its scream-laden contents some push for personal renewal. “I hope / You'll get another chance,” expresses guitarist / vocalist Tristan Welch in the song “Deathless”. “All these lessons learned In another body / In another mind…”
Brandishing the sort of metallic-glow that immediately brings Jesu to mind, which combines well with post-hardcore’s structural intensity (especially for its second track, “A Daily Reprieve”), Sutras (who also features bassist / drummer Frederick Ashworth) draw from Dharma to formulate their philosophy, identifying themselves as a “Dharma Punk Collective.” Mastered by James Plotkin (Khanate, Phantomsmasher), the 7 minutes of Awakening of the Spirit offer something loud to ponder without the push to proselytize.
Anatomy Of The Heads / GOLD
Summer Sunset Retreat Split
(Self-released)
8/19/24
Bound by the concept of incidental sounds associated with a traveler’s getaway, enigmatic jazz group Anatomy Of The Heads and eardrum ravager GOLD share sides on a new release, Summer Sunset Retreat. Filed under the ear-skewering category of “Harsh Noise Wall,” Summer Sunset Retreat might be a one-&-done for some, as the compositions or sound collages of both acts compete with either the heavy hum of a jet engine or the aural equivalent of stone-jagged concrete scraping against crumbling granite.
For Side-A, Anatomy Of The Heads offer smooth jazz and, while well-arranged, it competes with what’s reported to be the persistent drone of an inflight Boeing 727. “Weekend Fly Fantasy” begins before the full volume of air travel overtakes it, a reverb-drenched and clean saxophone belting some solid phrases. As its 6 tracks elapse, tonal stabs of melody are allowed to peek through the maelstrom (“High Heel Drums”) and light percussion is given clarity (“Nighttime Paradise”). You do eventually become numb to the stretch of sound that covers every second of AOTH’s portion of the album, as one would during an actual flight. Somehow a voice becomes clearer, the squeaking wheels of the snack cart are suddenly audible, and of course the underlying music takes shape.
The GOLD side, however, is one 20-minute track called “Fucking Summer Holidays” and it’s unrelenting and intentionally ugly. At points I think my ears may have distilled the sound of a train whistle from the mire. There may also have been a car horn. The stream of constant noise arrives in mostly discernible waves, given maybe two seconds of audible decrease in volume before dialing things back up. Categorically and safely slotted within the “Harsh Noise Wall” sub-genre, GOLD’s contribution to the Summer Sunset Retreat fits on this split a crunchy and deafening cap.
Links:
Anatomy Of The Heads — Bandcamp
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
