Here's some self-proclaimed "True Black Metal Art" from two relatively unknown Ukrainian bands, Moloch and Dictator. This tape is extremely rare (only 100 copies.) Like many black metal splits, both bands here sound fairly similar, but as is the tradition with The Hearse and split releases, a winner must be declared. This time it will be hard. Moloch has a richer sound and texture to their primitive black metal, but that isn't necessarily an advantage over their opponent. Too close to call really. Maybe you, the reader, should decide.
Is this a split with Dictator or Deviator?
ReplyDelete-karlyle
Wasn't Moloch the name of the metal dude on CHiPs? Ponch and Jon had to save him from a deranged fan or something after playing his record backwards and hearing "Moloch must DIE!". Or am I making that up?
ReplyDeleteI'm backing Dictator.
ReplyDeleteThe progressions are catchy. The leads are frequently melodic. I like the dry recording sound. It sounds like you're directly in front of the drum kit. The level of production is actually surprising. Most BM tapes seem to be walkmen-set-on-the-basement-floor quality. This is a four-track, at least, with a VU meter. Nothing intentionally in the red. The solo guitar pieces were actually listenable instead of TOO-BORING-MUST-SKIP-TRACK. Vocals were adequate.
Moloch was also good, but the unrelenting pummel wore me down. And it seemed like he only had that one riff. Good instrumental tracks here, too. If anything, that's what makes these two projects similar: they have instrumental tracks that don't feel like filler.
I liked the vocals more on Moloch's half. It wasn't merely in-the-red. You can hear the singer's voice crack a few times- he's legitimately screaming. That's always something that I appreciate in BM (the first thing I loved about Burzum- argueably the first legit BM record I bought- was that he was actually screaming as hard as he could. He was straining. To me, it seemed like proof of sincerity. If he couldn't have screamed harder, then he was giving you all that he could.).
So there.
For some reason, I can't find words for my own posts yet can always overfill a comment box.
Thanks, Roger. I always look forward to your take on these things.
ReplyDeleteOh, and K, yes Moloch was a charismatic cult leader on CHiPs played by Donny Most.
ReplyDeleteI think he prefers just Don Most now - another fact I learnt from Family Guy.
ReplyDeleteIs this the same Moloch that released this 7"?
ReplyDelete"http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh7/electric-earth/moloch.jpg
I don't know. This band has over 20 releases.
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@aesop: thanks for this! this is an very old release of moloch. i didnt knew this before...
ReplyDelete@jason: no, this is not the same moloch. i know this moloch guy from ukraine very well cause i released a split CDr with him last year.
he released much more than 20 releases (from ambient to black metal) till now and almost every release was rereleased on various labels. but i love all of his stuff.
protectorrr, thanks for the info. I received this tape in a trade with Heidens Hart label. Ripped it myself because it is so great. Heard some other Moloch stuff that wasn't so interesting, but I imagine with that many releases not all will be to my liking.
ReplyDeletei found out that this tape is his "blacker than darkness" demo. there are so many different versions of this release you can not count... sometimes as split with dictator, sometimes only the moloch part. it was released as tape and CD with a lot of different cover artworks. i got a tape version with b/w coverartwork showing one of those crop circles in the fields. i'm not sure but i think it was the first version.
ReplyDeletethe tape you got is from 2004.
sergiy listed all his releases on his blog: http://blogs.mail.ru/mail/moloch666/
As russian, I can say that moloch one of those bands that believe in bedroom black metal and really take it serious. I enjoy some sick joke projects like ZARAGH BAAL THAROGH, but this one...
ReplyDeleteDont know, maybe in europe in usa this release is kinda exotic, IMHO but here is more like trendy lame garbage.
Is that a Diamanda Galas sample on the first track?
ReplyDeleteHoly shit...That weird garbled screaming sample (between the Moloch tracks? first band) sounds like the audio recording played on Art Bell Coast2Coast of "The sounds of hell".
ReplyDeleteMy points go to the band with the INTENSE screaming vocals, tags are screwed up on my copy..The first band on this split. The vocals are awesome as all get out.