Psyclon Nine is an American band formed in 2000 in San Francisco known for their unique blend of electronic, industrial metal and black metal. Originally, the music was Terror EBM with melancholic darkwave/gothic atmospheres and black metal style vocals. Psyclon Nine’s main music contributor is lead vocalist, lyricist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Nero Bellum, who is the only remaining original member. They have a new record `Less To Heaven` released this month which is four years on since their last release `Icon of the Adversary`
We are introduced to this new release with `Blood In` which is an instrumental soundscape with a continuous piano bridge and some electronic swathes and pounding drum like beats which become quite hypnotic and may possibly be the precursor of what`s to follow. We have an almost futuristic feel to the opening of `See You In Hell` as the whispered scream vocals join and lead us through this quite cinematic offering.
I read that `Money And Sex And Death` according to the singer was inspired by the excitement we feel when we see the world burning around ourselves. The abhorrent personal truths that we hold as sacred. The misery of others has never been viewed by so many angles, and strictly for our entertainment. I’m presenting your reflection to yourself. The track has a slightly unnerving feeling with the song`s title repeated constantly throughout the piece but there was a captivatingly intricate guitar riff shared occasionally throughout it`s lifespan. A fast electronic beat leads us into `The Poison Will Deaden The Pain` before it swings into a much darker angrier slow burn. As it progresses it seemed to take on a life of its own and at times sounded like it had awakened something quite unholy but moved through segments that sounded like rapid gunfire before ending abruptly.
I really enjoyed `Off With Their Heads` which had a quite mesmeric melodic electronic backbeat with vocals that nearly reach out to hold your hand and guide you along. There`s a much more dystopian sense to `X`s On Her Eyes` which seems to ignite a couple of minutes in before calming down before repeating this vacillating or uneven pattern until the number`s conclusion.
`Catastrophic` has a kind of serenity about it and appears to express the emotion of the title. We have in `Après Moi Le Déluge` which translates to `After Me, The Flood` most likely a musical interpretation of this philosophical phrase which is an expression of indifference to whatever happens after one is gone, though it may also express a more literal forecasting of ruination. The number is a deeply thoughtful, and reflective instrumental composition.
This release closes out with `Blood Out` which is a further pensive, contemplative, and meditative musing.
`Less To Heaven` is at times a quite challenging listen but to me that makes it all the more appealing and I felt it had a kind of engrossing and enthralling stark beauty about it.
Take a listen and draw your own conclusions.
Rating 8/10
