Halo Guattari (From The West Flows Grey Ash And Pestilence)
Relapse 2002
By Russell Garwood
Halo are a two piece noise outfit from Australia; R. Allen and S. Klein write and perform everything. The noises emanating from the duos collective subconscious can best be described as industrial-sludge-noisecore, but there are extreme doom, digital hardcore, drone and various other extreme electronic elements in the gloomy depths of their pitch black anti-music. The seven tracks making up Guittari comprise heavily distorted drone bass, slow (read <20bpm) drums, white noise and samples over screamed vox, making some of the sickest mechanized, caustic noise around.
The nearest comparisons I can find for Halos music have to be early Swans, Godflesh, Disembowelment, and, on the electronic side of things, Throbbing Gristle. Parallels can also be drawn with extreme doomsters like sun O))) and Khanate, but I find the songs on Guittari more effective, darker and generally more chilling. Standouts include tortuous opener Rise, and the dense extremity of Now Hollow, but from the almost noise/ambient of Wasps Encircle The Shroud to the aptly titled dirge 20,000 Tonnes Of Machinery To Smash Matter the music is uncompromisingly harsh.
Guitarri is by no means easy listening it is at times disturbing, twisted, and always relentless in its onslaught, but at the same time makes you want to listen over and over again like a moth attracted to a deadly flame. Murky production intensifies the pitch black atmosphere but could be off-putting for some. Halo will appeal to select extreme doom and hardcore electronica fans, but is most definitely an acquired taste.
Relapse 2002
By Russell Garwood
Halo are a two piece noise outfit from Australia; R. Allen and S. Klein write and perform everything. The noises emanating from the duos collective subconscious can best be described as industrial-sludge-noisecore, but there are extreme doom, digital hardcore, drone and various other extreme electronic elements in the gloomy depths of their pitch black anti-music. The seven tracks making up Guittari comprise heavily distorted drone bass, slow (read <20bpm) drums, white noise and samples over screamed vox, making some of the sickest mechanized, caustic noise around.
The nearest comparisons I can find for Halos music have to be early Swans, Godflesh, Disembowelment, and, on the electronic side of things, Throbbing Gristle. Parallels can also be drawn with extreme doomsters like sun O))) and Khanate, but I find the songs on Guittari more effective, darker and generally more chilling. Standouts include tortuous opener Rise, and the dense extremity of Now Hollow, but from the almost noise/ambient of Wasps Encircle The Shroud to the aptly titled dirge 20,000 Tonnes Of Machinery To Smash Matter the music is uncompromisingly harsh.
Guitarri is by no means easy listening it is at times disturbing, twisted, and always relentless in its onslaught, but at the same time makes you want to listen over and over again like a moth attracted to a deadly flame. Murky production intensifies the pitch black atmosphere but could be off-putting for some. Halo will appeal to select extreme doom and hardcore electronica fans, but is most definitely an acquired taste.
