With the upcoming release of Locrian’s new album (A March 1st 2010 release on ‘At War With False Noise’) I thought it would be a good idea to re-visit their previous cd ‘Drenched Lands’ for those who are not familiar with this great band.
Locrian are an ambient metal/electronics/noise band from Chicago and they have a created a work of art with ‘Drenched Lands’
A lovely looking package encases the music, giving you an aesthetically pleasing start before you have even played the cd.
Once it’s in you are taken on a journey, a very dark journey. Ambient music and in many ways drone and noise often impart a feeling of otherworldliness. They let the listener drift away into a dreamlike state that merges with the music that can often be a unique and cherished experience.
The artwork and atmosphere of the music lend a post-apocalyptic feel to this album. I feel that each listener will have his own personal experience when listening to this piece of music but for me I was taken on a trip through a deserted and lonely American landscape. Images of backwoods towns and cities devoid of life passed before me.
The music is at times beautiful and haunting yet can often turn eerie and then terrifying.
My favourite moments of the album were the 2nd track, where surreal haunting guitar plays in the distance whilst undulating low end frequencies churn away in the foreground, bringing to mind the soundtrack to the Henk Hervey’s 1962 horror classic ‘Carnival of Souls’... and for more horror soundtrack moments, the last track of the cd is reminiscent of 80’s synth masters John Carpenter and Fabio Frizzi.
Locrian are masters of their art and know when to play it cool and when to go for the jugular and ramp up the tension. This really is a brilliant album and one that will be enjoyed by those wanting an intelligent and atmospheric experience.
