Sunday 11 May 2014

The Body/Thou - Released from Love Split 12" (Review)


Album Type : 12" Split
Date Released : 1/4/2014
Label : Vinyl Rites

Released from Love, track listing :

SIDE A

1. The Wheel Weaves as the Wheel Wills
2. Manifest Alchemy

SIDE B

3. In Meetings Hearts Beat Closer
4. Coward (Vic Chesnutt)

Bio :

With three original tracks as well as a harrowing cover of Vic Chesnutt’s “Coward,” recorded last year with James Whitten and mastered by Machines with Magnets, the entire lineup of Baton Rouge’s noise-soaked doom/sludge quintet, THOU, and now-Portland, Oregon-based apocalyptic/experimental doom cult, THE BODY, orchestrate their wretched, noise-drenched tones and horrifying lyrical deliveries into twenty minutes of material through this four-movement mini-LP. On this collaboration, everything comes to its peak. Everyone's voice is heard, through instrument or otherwise, clearly defining their role in the project. All the things that make both groups special are apparent and fleshed out.

Released From Love is a vinyl-only release, pressed on 180-gram black vinyl with heavyweight covers and letter-pressed inserts by Beck Levy. There will be no CD pressing nor any form of digital distribution of the material

Indeed there are all types of music in the world, some lighthearted, some heavy and some that will flat out make you want to jump out the window. I'm not quite where to put the latest that has came across my desk. This feast or famine juggernaut is The Body/Thou's collaborative effort entitled “Released From Love”.

Review :

After several listens, I can honestly say that you need to go outside and practice falling down for an hour or so, before you drop the needle on this vinyl only release – it will straight up mind fuck you. I've not had any previous experience with either band, so I can't speak on their previous work but what I can tell you, is this – they're both extreme and they ain't holding back nothing. Those of you familiar with Kvlt Black Metal, Sludge, Doom and Avant Garde music will be right at home in the grips of “Released From Love”. It's nihilistic, dank, hateful and miraculously organic if you can imagine that. Sure it's not for everyone but there is a common thread of thought and true emotion to be heard on this piece.

Crushing down tuned riffs, rattling bass lines and booming drum beats lay waste to the world, while growling/snarling vocals cradle like a newborn. If I'm not mistaken there are two vocalist used on this effort – one growls and one screams like a fucking lunatic, I don't know whether to run, stand and fight or just enjoy. It's total chaos, but that's what makes it cool I suppose – you just don't know what to do. There are four songs on this 12” but I really don't pay attention to the songs; I just let it play and obliterate my senses until I'm reduced to piss and waste. EXCELLENT!

As previously mentioned this is a 12” vinyl only release, it will not be offered on any other format. I'm sure it's quite limited as well, because it's not every day two bands unite in a collaborative effort, much less with the same goal – to rape your mind, eat your soul and defecate on the remains. Don't walk or jog to get this, if you like your Sludge/Kvlt heavy handed and nasty - RUN, run now and buy it up! Heed my warning though, do practice falling down a little bit before you drop the needle, you'll feel better in the long run.

Words by : Andy Burke

You can get it here