Greyshadow Ruins "Mountain Realm" (2023)
Xisuma's Musical Journey
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5d ago
Imbued by the powers of thematic suggestion, Mountain Realm's sleeve artwork and track titling aptly fits the dusky, seldom mood that awaits within. An array of Casio and Korg akin keyboard synths greets us, whispering cautious tales of what once lurked in this now abandoned place. Dressed in glum, dusty aesthetics, each of these brief stints ventures upon forgotten tales and mythic settings to fulfill its titles promise. Greyshadow Ruins' takes an even handed approach, an acute balance of mystic synth tones, edging towards a minimalist design at times. I most adored this eerie, curious magic ..read more
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Wargasm "Venom" (2023)
Xisuma's Musical Journey
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2w ago
  With refined stylistic focus, Wargasm return, honing in on their own antagonizing identity. With additional ferocity, the spirit of a Nu Metal revival is in the air. With Venom, a consistent streak of Gold Cobra era Wes Borland guitar riffs guides their Electro-Punk mania to gratifying bursts of aggression. The duo strip out the genres tired downtrodden spirit, infusing it with obnoxious club drums, dizzying studio manipulations and generalized chaos. Underpinned by an enthused energy fit for the stage, most these cuts play with visions of them tearing it up in front of a lively crowd ..read more
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Black Rob "Life Story" (2000)
Xisuma's Musical Journey
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2w ago
  Sad to say, but this debut has been a major disappointment. Bad Boy records seems to save its best for Puff 's records. I Love You Baby was a fantastic introduction, a tense, dramatic song, built up by mafioso string sections and Rob's gritty story telling. This song sharing also happened with Mase, here it features three years later! Life Story has weak production. Sounding like left over cuts from prior records, similar Bad Boy tones emerge, subdued by there mediocrity. Soulful croons, trendy repetitive groove beats, mafioso theatrics and rubbing shoulders with R&B singers, it al ..read more
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Applefish "Luminous" (2023)
Xisuma's Musical Journey
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2w ago
  This third of three leaves me with less to remark but Applefish has caught my attention and made it onto my coveted Temporal Focus playlist. Luminous is a lighter companion, less suggestive of its theme despite the track titling signaling intent. Lofty ruminations suspend animation and linger within a sparkling display of apt synths and familiar ambiguities. Each song is a flavor of calm, occasionally drifting into serenity.  A couple of tracks offer some curiosity and mystique but nothing dramatic. The opening Star Trails is my favorite, taking the slow elongated swell of these sy ..read more
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Mnemic "Mnemesis" (2012)
Xisuma's Musical Journey
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3w ago
  Disbanded not long after, Mnemesis is the Danish outfits final chapter. Initially Bideau's expanded vocal range caught my attention, feeling like a departure from their distinct "Future Fusion Metal" sound. With familiarity the rough cleans, burly shouts and tuneful inflections nestled in, however an underlying shift remains. Subtly toned down aggression leaves space for melodic flavors to capture ones attention. These songs run into frequent stretches of dulled world building stints. Mediocre in intensity, they fail to arrive at gratifying destination. The result is a set of songs that ..read more
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Ministry "Hopiumforthemasses" (2024)
Xisuma's Musical Journey
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3w ago
  This sixteenth chapter, proclaimed as their second to last record, Al Jourgensen's Ministry strive onward with their current temperament. Similar in tone and aesthetic to AmeriKKant and Moral Hygiene, the band issue another set of disgruntled social political observations. With vocal snippets and dystopian instrumentals, the hot topics and events of the last few years in American life get a familiar treatment. Thudding, punchy, repetitive drum beats guide groovy mid-tempo metallic riffs through the barrage of Al's shouted snarls and keen sampling. A subtle collusion of deranged synths a ..read more
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Kyros "Mannequin" (2024)
Xisuma's Musical Journey
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3w ago
  Is this our first heavy hitter? An obvious contender for my album of the year, Kyros deliver on an enticing Esoterica teaser. All three tracks our found nestled snugly among this lively set of exuberant songs bursting with colorful energy. After a quaint, folksy introduction - reminiscent of classic Prog Rock acoustics, the album roars to life with Showtime. Steel drums rapid a melody suggestive of time passing by, in chimes a big aggrandizing tune fondly reminding me of Genesis in the late 80s and one by one the instruments pile in. Grooving baselines, bustling drums patterns and dazzl ..read more
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Applefish "Pale Blue Dot" (2023)
Xisuma's Musical Journey
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1M ago
Another champion of Spotify's algorithm, Applefish's astronautical perspective immediately captivated my attention. One for my Temporal Focus playlist, these reflective droning ambiences contrast shimmering Ethereal tones with earthly sounds. From footsteps dragged across a beach, to trickling water or the chirping of birds, most these songs pair natural scenic impressions within suspended swells of lofty ambiguous synths that cast a memorizing calmness from even its tense outings.   The aura is impeccable, soft bass rumbles and airy voices drift through its drifting formless presence. M ..read more
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Darkspace "-II" (2024)
Xisuma's Musical Journey
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1M ago
  Surprise evaporates into disappointment. After a decade long hiatus, Darkspace mysteriously re-emerge from the void armed with negative two, a singular forty seven minute epic that adds little to their repitour. With a particular breed of cosmic Black Metal, this trio forge dense, unforgiving walls of bleak sound. A droning masquerade of astral oddities channeled through unsettling grimace. Condensed guitars thrum and whir in discontent, bleed with subtle stellar synths to brood an aesthetic mesmerizing an eerie embrace of the vast measureless void. From endless shadows, beastly groans ..read more
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Little Simz "Drop 7" (2024)
Xisuma's Musical Journey
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1M ago
  Simz' output is already steeped in creativity. This EP series serve as a niche place to drop any variety of flavor and this seventh installment arrives in shapely form. Working with producer Jakwob, the pair unleash a hypnotic current of cultural instrumentation, conjuring suggestions of Spanish, Mexican and Latino music with selective percussion sounds. Arrangements flow with sharp rhythm and lean bass thudding, fitting for club vibes. Atmospherically sparse, the music feels open and minimal yet the drums shuffle and snap on dense arrangement of complimenting chromatic textures. Its si ..read more
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