TERMINAL TRANSMISSION #52: TIME MARCHES ON

 TERMINAL TRANSMISSION #52: 

TIME MARCHES ON

by Chris La Vigna (@Chris_LaVigna)/ Featuring a review from Ray Berly (@autopsyturvy)

This is a tough image for me to look at...

Greetings and salutations, my loyal Satanic minions! Today's broadcast of TERMINAL TRANSMISSION was yet another frighteningly fun bout of sonic revelry. I opened with a brief tribute to Rock Opera Maestro and all-around songwriting legend Jim Steinman (R.I.P. King). I then played a cool mix of electronica, heavy metal, and of course a little J-funk/J-rock to spice it up nice. In other words, it was all the usual goodness regular listeners should come to expect from T.T.

I started off the episode with a recording of a poem I wrote titled "Wounds Over Muzak," backed by a Clown Core instrumental track. It was really fun to do, and at the risk of wading too deep into the waters of artistic pretension, I'm thinking about incorporating more of my own poetry/spoken word into the show. As if I don't ramble enough! Who knows, we'll see where that goes...

My "Bandcamp Pick Of The Week" for episode 52 was the new single from A Place To Bury Strangers, "End Of The Night." I've been a fan of A Place To Bury Strangers ever since I saw them live at the Brooklyn Music Hall back in 2015, a show I was primarily going to in order to see Ed Schrader's Music Beat live for the first time. Both bands were amazing, and ever since I've been especially sure to keep an eye on any new releases from A Place To Bury Strangers. This single is notable for acting as the debut of their new lineup, as well as their new upcoming EP, "Hologram."

Their mix of chaotic noise rock and tight, driving electronic beats makes for the kind of harsh and buzzy yet catchy and exciting electronic rock music that I've come to love more and more as the years have rolled on and these two spheres of music have continued to merge and mutate into all sorts of cool and strange new variations.

This week also sees a return of my friend/extreme metal expert Ray Berly's track recommendations and reviews! This week, Ray is offering up a sinister song from the Swiss atmospheric Black Metal band Aara, "Naufragus." Check out his review below:

AARA - NAUFRAGUS - TRIADE I: EOS (MARCH 26, 2021)

   " I learned of the Swiss outfit, Aara, last year from their second release, En Ergô Einai. Needless to say, like many, I was awestruck. That sense of wonderment is not lost on their most recent release, Triade I: Eos. Aara melds melodic magnificence, grand atmospheres, and furious aggression. The product is a domineering six song album that forces you to bend the knee in submission. None captures its essence more so than the third track, “Naufragus.” 

    This song delivers their signature soaring guitar melodies, pulverizing drums, and penetrating screams. However, the element that hypnotically draws you in the most is the choir of haunting, ethereal voices reminiscent of their previous album’s sixth track, “Telos.” There’s always something to add and pull you right back in if you somehow find yourself drifting as the song then erupts into a rapturous blaze ending the majestic track. Like the entirety of the album, there’s both a sense of melancholy & bliss, faith & faithlessness, and even damnation & salvation. This successfully compliments the band's literary inspiration for this work, the 1820 Gothic novel "Melmoth the Wanderer'' by Charles Robert Maturin, as mentioned on their bandcamp. Admittedly, this album took me a couple of listens to fully appreciate it; it’s full of rich textures and palpable, raw emotion. It’s quite a bit to take in, however, it’s worth the repeated listens, which almost feels like its intent.

    2021 has already spawned a multitude of amazing releases with more to come. While everyone sings endless praises for Spectral Lore and Mare Cognitum, who have released stunning albums, unfortunately, I probably won’t be able to fit any of their songs into an episode of Terminal Transmission. With that being said, I’m actually content with that as there are other bands that deserve the spotlight. Aara is definitely one of those bands."

-- Ray Berly

Be sure to check out future posts/episodes for more of rays reviews and recommendations! If you missed today's live broadcast, you can stream the recording here via the Kpiss website (there's also a mobile app). You can also catch up on past shows here. Say adios to April 2021, everyone! Let the madness of May commence!

TT #52 TRACKLIST:

Clown Core - Infinite Realm Of Incomprehensible Suffering (ft. "Wounds Over Muzak")

Seatbelts - Tank! (Cowboy Bebop Opening Theme)

Meat Loaf - Nocturnal Pleasure

Meat Loaf - Dead Ringer

A Place To Bury Strangers - End Of The Night

Filmmaker - Angel DNA

Clown Core - Flat Earth

Aara - Naufragus

Nuclear Power Trio - Grab 'Em By The Pyongyang

The Birthday Party - Junkyard

The Mystery Kindaichi Band - 金田一耕助のテーマ - Theme Of Kindaichi Kosuke

Tsubokura Yuiko/Makaino Kouji - Rock Me (Bubblegum Crisis OST)