Desolation. Dissonance. Delirium. (2011)

2011 marked the three year anniversary of Canadian label, Hypnotic Dirge Records, and as a special thank you to followers and as well as a preview of some upcoming artists to have releases on the label, HDR has once again released an absolutely free compilation for download.

Alberta, Canada solo project, Ov Hollowness, kicks off the compilation with the bands depressive black metal style, which is not nearly as doom driven as many in this genre, in fact OH has various moments throughout this song where the music completely blasts away, but the bulk of the song is more mid-paced with many dark melancholy riffs as well as both screamed and cleanly sung parts. Our Last Day On Earth is next and this anonymous band plays a very strange sort of hypnotic trance-like post black metal music, which is quite unlike anything I've heard before, but between the menacing riffs, odd tribal percussion, clean singing and epic character of the song you can definitely see these guys are on to something with this. Neige et Noirceur follows and if you have some experience with this band then you'll know what to expect as its fairly similar, but if not this solo project delivers fast paced spellbinding black metal music with some drone and ambient characteristics too.

Epitimia, a Russian band of Alexander Machtakov and Kirill ‘Nemez’ offer an interesting sort of depressive black metal that has some acoustics, but it also has something of a post vibe to it that's all very different sounding. I can't really put it into words, but parts of this song are warm and inviting sounding while others are depressing. Quite unique. The Foetal Mind is up next and their contribution is absolutely stunning. Following in the steps of their last album, this new song is similar sounding instrumental post rock/post metal sounding stuff and while it starts out fairly calmly with a mysterious sort of vibe it becomes an absolute jam session by the mid point of the song with a rockin' feel good solo, which eventually leads back to the calmer earlier moments. Subsequently Stroszek the acoustic/heavy rock band of Claudio Alcara of Frostmoon Eclipse is next with a superb song that sounds just like his previous material, but so much more mature and just breathtaking in its overall delivery. The French band, Netra, which I've come to enjoy quite a bit since their debut album follows, although this song forgoes most of the black metal tendencies in favor of a more full on dark trip-hop experience.

The Iranian band, Ekove Efrits, create a somewhat typical depressive black metal song that's of course melancholy, haunting and Burzum-ish in its structure, but even as it sounds familiar I definitely enjoy what I'm hearing. Old Forgotten Lands song is an ambient/acoustic piece, that is a bit of a departure from everything else on this comp., but I do like the calm nature based feeling the song provides. Funeral Fornication's contribution is more fast paced black metal with speedy programmed drums, symphonic keyboards and reptilian vocals, while Silent Path another solo vehicle of, Count De Efrit (Ekove Efrits mastermind), closes out the compilation with another depressive black metal song, but I definitely do enjoy it.

Besides the audio side of this compilation there is an additional video, visual and text side to it, which for whatever reason would simply not download for me, but then maybe RapidShare is just being odd and its something I should have considered trying to download before writing this.

In any case, this comp. serves the purpose of most comps. and that is to showcase a variety of styles and introduce listeners to interesting new bands. Some of the artists present have albums coming out in 2012 through HDR while some have previously appeared already and a few tracks are even exclusive.

If curiosity should strike you then definitely head on over to, Hypnotic Dirge Records and give it a go.