Author & Punisher : "Nocturnal Birding"

The first track of Author & Punisher's new album finds Tristan Shore's voice bare of the effects that normally color it. Midway into the song, things kick in with a more organic version of the heaviness we expect from this project. This is the first album that finds guitarist Doug Sabolick joining as a bandmate, which contributes to the more rock feel to things. Every song has a bird theme. There is a more overt industrial crunch to the amazing stomp of " Mute Swan." His vocals are more thought-out, rather than just a layer of his sonic torture machines. Megan from Couch Slut, lends her voice to the ruckus erupting, with more detailed layers of melody luring you in during this. .it might be the best industrial song I have heard this year. 

"Black Storm Petrel" carries the big Godflesh-style crunch this project has toyed with before.This song also features the vocalist from Fange.  I prefer the groove to " Titmouse," which is one of the first songs from Tristan that I recall being riff-oriented, so I think the addition of guitar offers a big step forward, even if it moves them marginally closer to the conventions of industrial rock. I thinnk the genre itself allows and fosters experimentation that creates almost an anything goes attitude. This song and the previous song have been the noisiest so far, with this texture being most effective here.  

"Titmice" finds the balance between the metallic chug and a collage of apocalyptic atmosphere. I had to go back and give another listen to find where this song ends and "Rook" begins, as the songs run together. This song has a more focused stomp, the point it bleeds together in a swathe of ambiance. that flows from a section that develops into actual singing. I had to listen to "Rook" a few times for it to click. It has a doomier pound, not unlike "Filth Pig" era Ministry. On the 3rd listen, it clicked. 

The last song, "Thrush," carries the biggest sound that finds the crunch of the guitars coupling well with Shore's machine to create the most effective cinematic punch possible when the song reaches its peak.I will give this song a 10 as he continues to evolve and perfect what he does in a very powerful way here.  This drops on October 3rd on Relapse Records. 

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