”All of the material on this recording is dedicated to and inspired by the dynamic subconscious force which gave impulse to visions relating to auto-cannibalism and metempsychosis.”
Halo Manash is the creative force of Anti Ittna H. and Iwo Hoccuc from Finland who released their first album in 2003. Here on their third album ‘SYoMa’ the music of Halo Manash could probably best be described as ambient/experimental music. I’ve been a fan of this sort of music for numerous years now and within this time I’ve heard some great releases and I’ve heard some bad releases. If SYoMA is any indication I’d say this is one of the greatest releases I have ever heard. Unlike most artists in this field Halo Manash is a nice mixture of both electronic and acoustic instruments resulting in a very original sound. Anticipate spooky voices, tribal-ish percussion, slow doomy omnipresent guitar drones, samples, haunting dark keyboard textures, and a variety of instruments like windbones, bells, sinebotar, pipes, sigil, and E-bowed guitar. Almost all of the songs are rather long and have a very hypnotic ritualistic sentiment to them. Sometimes there are some traditional industrial influences present, but for the most part Halo Manash takes the listener on a smooth atmospheric ride to a dreadfully eerie terrifying world.
When listening to SYoMA I’m sometimes reminded of artists like Sephiroth, Nothing, (early) Current 93, Nurse With Wound, Law, and even some of the songs Akira Yamaoka did for the Silent Hill soundtracks. However Halo Manash is just so much better and so more engaging than anything else in this genre. The music is some of the most utterly darkened soundscapes these ears have ever heard, and the outlying sinister voices in the background really start to get to you after awhile. Especially if you’re sitting in the dark while listening to this recording as I am doing at this moment. Plus with the inclusion of the other instruments this release simply doesn’t bore for a second.
I should also mention that the album comes in a six panel digipak with some impressive cryptic drawings too. Also it is limited to just a 1000 copies and they are likely to have sold out by now. Believe me when I say this, SYoMa is easily one of the darkest releases you’ll ever hear. Astonishing!
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