Bong-Ra : "Black Noise"

This is a somewhat industrial-based project from Jason Khonen, who has been in projects such as the Lovecraft Sextet among other more experimental ventures. The second song has a syncopated chug that reminds me a little of Angkor Wat, but comparisons to Ministry and Godflesh could also be made. I like the effects and the vocals, and where a band like Ministry sometimes carried a dancey groove, the emphasis here is not placed on that. The guitar layering is very effective and compensates for the vocals, which still get the expected job done. 

Aside from the lack of heavy machinery, this album is in the same dense dark realm of heaviness as early Author & Punisher. The crunch of sound comes down with more grim force on "Nothing Virus". The vocals go from more of a growl to low-spoken passages. A complaint I have about most industrial music these days is it is not grounded in guitar. This project certainly remedies that, though this song throbs with a more droning pulse. The electronic elements become more prominent with the use of samples setting the tone for the more chaotic flow of sound that forms "Useless Eaters". They double down on the heavy for the more "Filth Pig" minded "Black Rainbow".  Finding us at the intersection of sound vs song, there are some compelling sounds brought to the table, the test is whether are they taking the listener somewhere they are dyanmic.

After an ambient interlude "Ruins" gains more movement in its purposeful drive. There are cool layers of sound, but aside from breaking down at the song midway point into a spoken section, there is nothing really that hooks you in groove-wise, and with this sort of thing that is what the song is contingent on as there is not a great deal of melodies otherwise. "Parasites" has a more relentless pound that is impressive in the weight in hold, despite the song devolving into chaos. The last song is more about sounds than songs, though they are cool sounds. I will give this album a 9, as any industrial album that puts the guitars centerstage is going to hit a sweet spot for me.

 

pst83