Florida's Rivithead outfit has already surpassed many small labels in terms of quantity. RhR have already put out a double CD compilation, Blackend(1), and this was followed by releases from individual bands as well. Their latest signings to their label include St. John's Eve (look for their full length review in an upcoming issue), Jimmy Decay and Groantechno. Their latest release is another compilation CD entitled Black Winter. Overall it's a good compilation with some bad tracks, some really good tracks and a whole pile of decent listening material. Here's a run down of the individual songs.
Digital Endryption -
Commandanski
Chanty opening that breaks into an interesting
fast-electro groove. The chant vs electro beat continues and while the two
don't precisely match I really enjoy the way they go against one another
providing an interesting sound mixture. Digital Encryption's use of synthesizer
and beat box machines shows a good handle on the equipment with continuous
changes. Nearly five minutes of beat manipulations and not much else besides
the chanting interludes, but their mastery keeps the track from becoming
boring.
Genetric Mishap -
Damnation
Slow, brooding, bass-centric and minimal.
Particularly interesting for it's grunge-like rhythm. Minimalism pulled off
well. Mixed in vocal samples and background screams turn Damnation into
a top Halloween or black party background track. Queue this one up between
Midnight Syndicate.
Terrurium - Painless
Mind
Leave out the unnecessary shoddy static introduction to
Painless Mind and you have a good synth-pop track. Mixing up older
synthesizer/keyboard licks with metallic chorale grinds creates a fresh sound
here. Vocals are vox-tinged and appropriate.
DoomsdayKult - I'm
Nobody
DDK shows his talents here with the mixing of an almost
trance-style background synth melody, slow and brooding, and throws it up
against a swift rhythm. The effect is similar to track 1, with two distinct
rhythms going on here to create an interesting effect. You don't know whether
to groove or sway, float or stay.
Noise Process - Dying
World
Noise Process kick in a highlight to Black Winter.
Dying World is very well crafted industrial dance with a great beat,
infectious rhythm and an excellent chorus backed with one of the better and
memorable keyboard melodies I've picked up. The track is not over-produced and
has more of a garage days sound to it that adds flavor. It's just messy enough
to sound great.
Reel - Stand and Fall
RivitHead keeps to the garage-industrial core sound format as we move into
the more metallic Stand and Fall from Reel. This one recalls the days
when industrial was something new, making me remember the great old bands from
Zoth Ommog and maybe Wax Trax. Remaining still messy, but instead to add spice
not hide lack of talent for it's surely there, Stand and Fall is another
Black Winter highlight giving us two in a row.
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern -
Escher's Pulon "vocal mix"
R&G take something that I
guess were vocals at one point, slow them down, speed them up, spit them out
and start adding rhythmic and electro-noodling effects. At first thought, you
get one of those "what the fuck is this?" reactions for the first 10 seconds or
so. But suddenly it gets better. Although the vocals do continue to remain
somewhat annoying for the duration, I really dig the guitars and electro
noodlings.
Hideous Input -
Heimlich
Hideous Input I rather like, and look forward to
two full length reviews of their stuff (E-Sides and
Life - Sex - Death). Since their appearance here on
Black Winter HI and RivitHead aren't working together from
what I have heard, and that's a shame becaue Heimlich is definitely one
of the better tracks on the compilation. Smoothe and low-brow, with shouty
stand up style chorus vocals. Beats and rhythms are somewhat minimal but
supported by well-arranged synthetic additions to the groove. One of the best
groovy tracks I've come across lately. A real mover.
Locura - Playing With
Fire
Locura was a surprise here for some reason. Their
Playing With Fire is a grinding track that gets somewhat hypnotic with
the additional keys. See the review of their 10 Song
Demolition release in a past issue of Legends(2).
Spanking Machine - Nazi Love
Slave
The inclusion of Spanking Machine, which by the way is
one of the best kick ass band names I've heard, is quite a gear switch for
Black Winter. While one can surely see the Siouxsian style
here, I can't help but notice that it doesn't fit with the
industrial/electronic make-up of the rest of the compilation. I liken this band
to chick fronted garage rock/punk bands like Bitchcat, Scissorkiss(3), etc.
"There's a war inside my pants" ... indeed, or at least was the last time I saw
Bitchcat play. Makes me wonder if the spankers would put on as good of a show.
Guess I'll check if they're local, I like this one.
TwoTonFlood -
Gunsitter
This same track appeared on RivitHead's buddy
label, GMI Independent's, Blackend White compilation(4). Here
it is again. It's a good track, but I'm sure Two Ton Flood can pull out
something new, yes?
Blown Up Doll -
Overreactor
Here's something typical. A track about being
pissed off and "overreacting" complete with loud drum beats, yelling vocal
samples and unimpressive other didjits. Minimally arranged. I do however like
the vocals for some reason. He screams "Fuck!" a whole lot, which makes him
really cool I think. Blown Up Doll probably hopes I fucking die.
The Synthetic Dream Foundation -
Gateway
The most memorable opening monologue samples goes
to The Synthetic Dream Foundation's intro to one of the better trance-industro
tracks I've had the pleasure to find. A highlight of course, with great
synthesizer widgets floating about and bell-like tones melodically moving into
a groovalicious mixture of trance and EBM/industrial. Over seven minutes of
progressive stylings, great for rave and chill-out DJs. Excellent use of
rhythmic clash.
Infrared Nine -
Sacrifice
Infrared Nine make a nice attempt at
Ministry-style guitar driven industrial here, but the track comes off sounding
kind of typical and unmemorable. The vocals are nearly drowned by the guitars
and the riffs themselves are pretty standard fare. The thing is,
Sacrifice show Infrared Nine to be a talented possibility, but this
particular track doesn't stay with you.
Leon T - So Be It
Leon T's minimal So Be It is long, drawn out and pretty boring. But
I suppose it's a decent way to bring one down and close Black
Winter. It's mostly an ambient-industrial mix of washes, synthetic
drones and held together by a beat that is pretty static throughout the clip.
Contact Information:
E-Mail: rivitheadrecords@hotmail.com
Web:
http://doomzdaykult.tripod.com/rivitheadrecords/
(1) Reviewed in
Legends #114, September
2001.
(2) Legends #116,
November 2001.
(3) Reviewed in
Legends #89, August 1999.
(4)
Reviewed in
Legends #116, November
2001.
