Thee MaldoroR Kollective New Era Viral Order
code666 2002 CODE012
By Russell Garwood
Italys Thee MaldoroR Kollective recently released their second opus New Era Viral Order under the code666 moniker, in a wonderfully designed 8 panel digipack. Formerly known as Inquisitor and subsequently Funeral Fog, this project used to play traditional Celtic Frost-influenced, raw black metal. New Era Viral Order however shows a marked change in direction; the music is cutting-edge, truly original post (black) metal. To name only a few influences would be impossible, maybe because they have so many, or perhaps because they have none; these nine songs consist of combined industrial and dark ambient elements, with almost dance-like segments and extreme vocals. These are coupled with industrial/black metal crossover drumming, EBM bass and cold, calculated riffage courtesy of the guitars. Consisting of Kundahli (vox , machinery), E.V.Anghelya (synths, sounds) Drakon (battery), Sein (bass) and guitarists L.V.X.ifer and X-Trinity, the Kollective marks a collaboration between MaldoroR and Swedish cult industrial group MZ412.
New Era Viral Order is, supposedly, A concept work on the fundamentalist Liber Al vel Legis seen through the metaphor of CONTAGION: the disease, the viral effect and the impeding of a new possible epidemic as the epidemic reaction of our race in new aeon post-industrial deflagration. In other words the MaldoroR Kollective indulge in pretension in their occult/Satanist/Sethianist-based material, but when the music is as accomplished as their verbosity perhaps they have the right to indulge.
The album is split into three sections: Analysis, Synthesis and Thesis, each consisting of three songs. Analysis opens to Xaos DNA Released beginning with industrial noise which becomes a full-on assault with harsh drums, mechanical guitars and effects-laden robotic and growled vocals. The more dance-orientated end section with numerous samples leads into the synths intro of Haemorrhage Transmission which soon transforms into a more intense industrial/black metal effort containing some impressive (triggered) drumming. Samples are further utilized to good effect, not intruding or being overused, and track 3 Drain-Wound-Cosmosis (Lera Porneusis) kicks off in full EBM mode. This stays more upbeat and less guitar-based than much of the album, the vocals very far back behind the instrumentation.
Synthesis starts off with Rhythmagick Disturbance (Embodiment Cell) offering more violent and harsh vocals to juxtapose the previous effort. La Flamme Vivant includes some more hardcore electronic elements which could easily fit on a minimalistic gabber collection (but without the annoying drums these tend to have). The white noise and samples create a distinctly illbient feel and the next track, Rigid Pulse Starfire (93), bridges the gap between this and the more violent songs, having both prominent electronic and metal segments.
Thesis begins with the stripped down drums and beeps of The Toxium Discipline (Null Industries) before it becomes a maelstrom of intense guitars and battery. Penultimate song Slaughter Mass 2002 has the most traditional black metal vox, but futuristic elements and programming remain integral to the sound. Final track, a MZ412 remix of Epidemic Noise Age ends the album with tremendous atmosphere, consisting of little more than some dark drones and haunting noises.
The production on New Era Viral Order is impressive, as you would expect from Alan Peret whose credits include NIN, Rammstein and Void Of Silence. The MaldoroR Kollective have perfected the use of modern technologies and samples without falling into the pitfalls of many other bands, such as compromising other elements; they complement the music and make the nightmare even more real Truly original, this album is a must for anyone who wants to hear something different, cutting edge, intelligent and dark.
code666 2002 CODE012
By Russell Garwood
Italys Thee MaldoroR Kollective recently released their second opus New Era Viral Order under the code666 moniker, in a wonderfully designed 8 panel digipack. Formerly known as Inquisitor and subsequently Funeral Fog, this project used to play traditional Celtic Frost-influenced, raw black metal. New Era Viral Order however shows a marked change in direction; the music is cutting-edge, truly original post (black) metal. To name only a few influences would be impossible, maybe because they have so many, or perhaps because they have none; these nine songs consist of combined industrial and dark ambient elements, with almost dance-like segments and extreme vocals. These are coupled with industrial/black metal crossover drumming, EBM bass and cold, calculated riffage courtesy of the guitars. Consisting of Kundahli (vox , machinery), E.V.Anghelya (synths, sounds) Drakon (battery), Sein (bass) and guitarists L.V.X.ifer and X-Trinity, the Kollective marks a collaboration between MaldoroR and Swedish cult industrial group MZ412.
New Era Viral Order is, supposedly, A concept work on the fundamentalist Liber Al vel Legis seen through the metaphor of CONTAGION: the disease, the viral effect and the impeding of a new possible epidemic as the epidemic reaction of our race in new aeon post-industrial deflagration. In other words the MaldoroR Kollective indulge in pretension in their occult/Satanist/Sethianist-based material, but when the music is as accomplished as their verbosity perhaps they have the right to indulge.
The album is split into three sections: Analysis, Synthesis and Thesis, each consisting of three songs. Analysis opens to Xaos DNA Released beginning with industrial noise which becomes a full-on assault with harsh drums, mechanical guitars and effects-laden robotic and growled vocals. The more dance-orientated end section with numerous samples leads into the synths intro of Haemorrhage Transmission which soon transforms into a more intense industrial/black metal effort containing some impressive (triggered) drumming. Samples are further utilized to good effect, not intruding or being overused, and track 3 Drain-Wound-Cosmosis (Lera Porneusis) kicks off in full EBM mode. This stays more upbeat and less guitar-based than much of the album, the vocals very far back behind the instrumentation.
Synthesis starts off with Rhythmagick Disturbance (Embodiment Cell) offering more violent and harsh vocals to juxtapose the previous effort. La Flamme Vivant includes some more hardcore electronic elements which could easily fit on a minimalistic gabber collection (but without the annoying drums these tend to have). The white noise and samples create a distinctly illbient feel and the next track, Rigid Pulse Starfire (93), bridges the gap between this and the more violent songs, having both prominent electronic and metal segments.
Thesis begins with the stripped down drums and beeps of The Toxium Discipline (Null Industries) before it becomes a maelstrom of intense guitars and battery. Penultimate song Slaughter Mass 2002 has the most traditional black metal vox, but futuristic elements and programming remain integral to the sound. Final track, a MZ412 remix of Epidemic Noise Age ends the album with tremendous atmosphere, consisting of little more than some dark drones and haunting noises.
The production on New Era Viral Order is impressive, as you would expect from Alan Peret whose credits include NIN, Rammstein and Void Of Silence. The MaldoroR Kollective have perfected the use of modern technologies and samples without falling into the pitfalls of many other bands, such as compromising other elements; they complement the music and make the nightmare even more real Truly original, this album is a must for anyone who wants to hear something different, cutting edge, intelligent and dark.
.. good stuff!
