Finally... Ant-Zen has returned to form. Or, I should say Cold MeatIndustry by proxy of Ant-Zen, since Azure Skies is a new projectcombining both males (or just one? I'm not too sure) of Sanctum andboth Durling brothers of Mental Destruction, two CMI mainstays. This disc is almost like a renaissance for .. er .. "rhythmic noise" (Iloathe that term, but I'm at a lack for better words). It was ratherunexpected on my part, but it pulls no punches and places Ant-Zen backon the roadmap it was beginning to explore with the early rhythmicnoise releases... it reminds me of one album in particular, ImminentStarvation's "Nord," a classic album. But it goes beyond that.
Sprinkled throughout the album are achingly beautiful structure andmelodies (no doubt written by the Sanctum member[s]), which add untoldamounts of character and replay value to a genre like this. The harsh,drilling beats in "Crater" are offset by a warm, calming melody ...which is literally a breath of fresh air. "Bring Nothing Back" isobviously influenced by Jan Carkelev's (Sanctum) sideproject ParcaPace, which was a 18-minute masterpiece of beats, chants, and violins -they're all here, but the beats are made even better by the Durlingbrothers. Brilliant.
Though, the album does get a tad bit repetitious at points... but doesit ever go so far as to be boring? Nah. You also should stay away fromthis release if you're expecting dance music - it has beats, but thisis mood music. The album is beautifully packaged in a jewel case withwarm, cool tones throughout and a picture of - what else? - beautifulazure skies gracing the cover. For anyone who felt betrayed withAnt-Zen's recent releases (PAL's "Release".. *cough*), this album is areturn to form and a must-have.
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