seven

Depth Of Beyond is a sprawling double cassette excursion through the corrosively varied, dark sonicscape/noise underground. Twenty-eight tracks in all, it features a plethora of familiar, and unfamiliar, ambassadors of charcoal hued noise. The first side of each cassette (the A and C sides, respectively), pack more consistent sonic punch, while the disjointed and more varied B and D sides (B&D-somehow that seems appropriate) still smack with appropriate sonic intensity. The proceedings commence with a bit of resonant, factory clatter ambience that gains structure and purpose amidst the machinery hum and growl murmur of Form/Alkaline's "Amanda's Room." Other highlights abound, including the splintered spokes grind and whiplash peal of distortion during Sleeping With The Earth's frothing "As It Was." Deison teases the machines by layering scraping, agitated tones upon a looped, throbbing foundation during the hypnotic "Exhibition." The psychotic, slice and dice, madly oscillating, frequency jammed, stumbling dynamics of Flutter's "Single-Hearted And Growing Up," in which quirky samples are chided by a deluge of noise that squawks, hacks and spits with merciless tenacity. The blood pumping frenzy of Zymosiz's "Stompers," marching forth with relentless, mind-numbing persistence, interjected with bursts of tortured machinery squeals. Screeching noise and dread-filled samples introduce Murderous Vision's "The Stopping Ground," a track that covets a sinister vibe that leaves the listener most uncomfortable; it's as if something terrible is about to transpire, as gurgling, beastly sounds circle, awaiting the opportunity to pounce, to kill. Frightening stuff! Slowvent's cosmic glacier chiseling electronics via serrated spin and grind tactics during a jaunt into the cold fringes of deep space on "Spectral Ice Trails." But that's just the rusty tip of the speaker meltdown that also includes prime contributions from Gruntsplatter, CazzoDio, Ah Cama-Sotz, Lefthandeddecision, a particularly rabid track from Baal, Rectal Surgery, Narbenerde, STROM.ec, Cornucopia... and many more! As we are entrenched in the digital age, and with the resurgence of vinyl as a musical medium, Depth Of Beyond is one of the best excuses for one to hold onto one's cassette player. A worthy venture indeed!