Lustmord – Much Unseen Is Also Here
Release Date: 15th March
Label: Pelagic Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Dark Ambient, Drone, Atmospheric.
FFO: Lustmord
Review By: John Newlands
Brian Williams, aka. Lustmord, if you haven’t heard of him, has been credited as being the creator of the post-industrial “dark ambient” genre. He is known for creating unworldly, unsettling and suspenseful pieces using synthesisers and field recordings from all manner of creepy places such as caves and slaughterhouses. He might not be playing “metal” but in 2006 the guy got asked to play at a high mass for The Church of Satan, so in my eyes, he has more than earned his credibility to be recognised within metal circles. Williams started making music under the moniker Lustmord in 1980 and over the years has worked with artists such as Tool, Isis, SWANS, and the Melvins. His most recent release, and the one which got this reviewer hooked on his work, is 2021’s Alter, composed with Årabrot member, Karin Park.
Lustmord has also lent his talents as composer and sound designer to the music for film and media such as ‘The Crow’, ‘Strange Days’, ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’, ‘Underworld’ and ‘Fear The Walking Dead’. He has also dabbled in creating soundscapes for video games such as Assassin’s Creed, League Of Legends.
So….all in all, this guy is a bit of a legend, and I was super happy to get to review his latest offering Much Unseen Is Also Here.
I won’t lie, Much Unseen Is Also Here is a bit of an undertaking. It comprises of 8 songs and has a runtime of 1hr 21 minutes, so it’s one that you need to set aside time for. If this album were to be compared to a meal, it wouldn’t be some shitty fast-food burger thrown together in a few minutes, it would be a finely crafted 8 course Michelin star meal that stretched out over a day and every mouthful should be savoured.
It’s not an album where you can dip in and out listening to a song here and there, Lustmord has designed this to be listened to in one sitting and if you don’t have the time, then I beg of you, please wait until you do. Then, when you have the time, I would recommend a dark room with a great sound system or a pair of headphones. Take a bottle of wine, some weed, mushrooms or whatever your jam is and prepare to be transported to a dark moody soundscape expertly created by the legend that is Lustmord.
Perhaps the cover artwork has had an influence on my imagination when listening to Much Unseen Is Also Here, but it really is transportive. When listening, I am taken to another place, somewhere not of this world, somewhere dark, foreboding and desolate. I feel an omnipotent and heavy presence looming over me which is creepy, unnerving and somewhat disturbing, but in the best way possible!
In a way Much Unseen Is Also Here is difficult to review as picking out tracks individually to dissect, doesn’t quite work while listening and would somewhat ruin the whole experience. I can however say that the tracks are long, dark and slow paced, creating an air of tension and dark ambience that is both captivating and enthralling. It goes without saying that the use of synthesisers and creating of electronic soundscapes here is impeccable, and the production is spot on. Some of the bass tones and rumbles are enough to shake the fillings out your teeth and strings or woodwind instruments morph and bend into sounds that I never knew existed.
So, as you can guess, this is not one to throw on the stereo to headbang, dance or let loose to. You need to be prepared for an undertaking, and I can fully appreciate that some readers won’t be interested or inclined to do so. But for those of you that do, the rewards are worth the effort. I highly recommend that you take the time and make the effort to check this one out.
(4.5 / 5)
