KHANATE - THINGS VIRAL (LOAD 055)

KHANATE RETURN TO LOAD (THOUGH AGAIN ONLY FOR THE VINYL VERSION OF THIS) WITH THEIR SIGNATURE (WELL, SORT OF) BRAND OF INCREDIBLY SLOW AND SPACE-FILLED AVANT-METAL.

 

WHILST ON THE SURFACE KHANATE ARE A GOOD MATCH FOR LOAD RECORDS IN THEIR HEAVY/WEIRD VIBE, LISTENING THROUGH THE ENTIRE CATALOGUE LIKES THIS MARKS OUT HOW DIFFERENT THEY ARE. THIS IS LESS INSTINCTIVE AND MUCH MORE 'CONSIDERED' MUSIC. EVERY NOTE SOUNDS AGONISED OVER. THESE ARE PIECES WITH MOVEMENTS AND EBBS AND FLOWS RATHER THAN AN IDEA SMUSHED INTO OBLIVION AND FURY. 

IN FACT THIS FEELS LIKE METAL OR JUST MUSIC THAT IS MAKING A POINT OF WHAT IT REMOVES SO YOU PAY ATTENTION IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THERE ISN'T THE "CHUG" THAT DEFINES MUCH OF METAL. BETWEEN EVERY STRUM AND DRUM HIT THERE'S AN IMPLIED HAUNTED VISTA. A FOREST CLEARING EMPTY. A CITY ABANDONED. THE VOCALS SEEM TO SCREAM UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF A WELL ASKING FOR HELP RATHER THAN RIDING THE FROSTY FOG INTO THE ENCHANTED NIGHT.

FANS OF THE GENERAL LOAD AESTHETIC OF DAYGLO MANIA MIGHT BE DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS CONCRETE GREY SLAB OF EXPANDED METAL. AND GENERALLY SPEAKING I HAVEN'T REALLY GOTTEN INTO ANY OF JAMES PLOTKIN OR STEPHEN O'MALLEY'S PROJECTS BEFORE OR SINCE. BUT THIS RECORD DOES IT TO QUITE A CONSIDERABLE MEASURE. THE HOUR WE SPEND WITH THE RECORD IS ESSENTIALLY A VARIATION ON A THEME. BUT WHAT VARIATIONS. AND WHAT A THEME.

CERTIFIED: GOOD.