SWORD HEAVEN - ENTRANCE (LOAD 107)

I FEEL IN THESE LAST FEW RECORDS THAT LOAD IS SAYING GOODBYE TO SOME OF THE COLOURFUL PLAYFURY THAT SEEMED TO SCORE EARLIER RELEASES, GIVING WAY TO A PALETTE OF COLOURS IN DIFFERENT SHADES OF GREY AND BROWN. SWORD HEAVEN THREATENS TO BE THE MOST DISMAL-FEELING OF THESE SO FAR. I DO NOT SAY THAT AS CRITIQUE: THIS IS MUSIC THAT SHARES THE KIND OF FASCINATION WITH THE DARKER SIDE THAT BRAINBOMBS, SWANS, XIU XIU, WHITEHOUSE, ETC. ARE OPERATING IN.

I FELT IMMEDIATELY A KIND OF CONNECTION BETWEEN COIL AND FAUST IN SWORD HEAVEN'S MUSIC: A PERVERSITY OF VISION, A PUMMELLING REPETITIVE GULAG FEROCITY, WITH THE SOUND OF TAPE AND ITS MANIPULATIONS BEING PUSHED TO THE FOREFRONT. IT'S THE MANGLED SOUND OF A GOYA PAINTING PUT TO PHYSICAL AUDIO MEDIA. IT IS SERIOUS STUFF AND DEMANDS YOU TAKE IT AS SUCH, WHICH NATURALLY CAN BE MET WITH RESISTANCE. I GUESS LATTER-DAY CONTEMPORARIES WOULD PROBABLY BE STUFF LIKE THE BODY, FULL OF HELL, BAD BREEDING, ETC.

I GUESS IF YOU WANTED TO BE A HARSH YOU COULD ACCUSE THEM OF BEING A ONE-TRICK PONY. BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BANDS ON LOAD WHO HAVE ONE BASIC THING AND THEY DO IT WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SUCCESS. SWORD HEAVEN ARE GOOD AND THEY PRESENT A PRETTY CONCISE 30 MINUTES OF FURY HERE THAT PUTS BEST FOOT FORWARD AND LEAVES YOU WANTING A BIT MORE. GREAT FIND.

CERTIFIED: GOOD