16 August 2022: Guilt Machine; Nyarlathotep - A Tribute To Howard Phillips Lovecraft; Cousin Silas

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Guilt Machine is a musical project by Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen, owner of other musical projects such as Star One, Ayreon and Ambeon. The project's debut release, On This Perfect Day, was released in August 2009.  The cover of the album was made by Christophe Dessaigne, an artist discovered by Arjen Lucassen on Flickr.^[1]  The album features several audio messages sent by fans throughout the songs. The music deals with "the destructive psychology of guilt, regret and the darkest form of secret -- the secrets we hide from ourselves.",^[2] and the music ranges "from dark and heavy to atmospheric and melancholic.",^[2] as can be noticed via the preview track published at the band's MySpace page.

Since its release, On This Perfect Day has received strongly favorable reviews. Elements that were praised included Steverlinck's voice and the dark atmosphere developed by Lucassen; Metal Storm considers it "the darkest and most melancholic [album] the Dutchman has ever released".^[5]

Metal Storm gave the album a rating of 9/10 while stating that the album enjoyed "a promising line-up" and "emotional vocal work that builds up intensity as it goes".^[5] Metal Underground remarked that it is "a bold combination of grit, beauty, and strong themes riding the line between progressive metal and rock".^[6] RevelationZ considers this album as "overall a great album and another worthy addition to the Lucassen catalogue."^[8]

Reviews differ about its similarity with Lucassen's previous works. Metal Storm stated, "from all of his side-projects, this is probably the one closest to Ayreon"^[5] and Dangerdog.com calls it "different, but the same".^[4] However, Sea of Tranquillity stated, "I'm sure there are going to be plenty of Ayreon fans who might balk at the overabundance of atmospheric and mellow moments here and miss the more upbeat and bombastic elements of Lucassen's other releases".^[9]

 

Eighth Tower is proud to reprint the rare and long time out of stock compilation “Nyarlathotep - A Tribute To Howard Phillips Lovecraft”, originally released in 1997 by the label KADATH. With this remastered release Eighth Tower brings to light a jewel of the Portuguese post-industrial tape culture, featuring some of the most interesting projects from the late 90’s Portuguese, Italian and French underground.

Special thanks to Nuno Loureiro (KADATH label mastermind) and all the artists who provided the original master tracks for the reprint project.

FreeForm Radio thanks Raffaele Pezzella (Sonologyst) for a promo copy of this release.

credits

released August 5, 2022

REVIEWS

Avant Music News
avantmusicnews.com/2022/08/10/amn-reviews-various-artists-nyarlathotep-a-tribute-to-howard-phillips-lovecraft-2022-eighth-tower-records/

Edited by Eighth Tower Records
Mastered by Raffaele Pezzella (Sonologyst)
Artwork by John Chadwick
© 2022. All rights reserved

ambient dark ambient dark chamber drone industrial noise Italy

 

	1.	Kirlian Camera - Die Hochöfen Des Schmerzes (Organ Version) 01:37
	2.	Tombstone - Ritual Affliction 05:44
	3.	In Articulo Mortis - The Perfect Solitude Of The Wolf (Song For Bernd Thies) 03:33
	4.	Gerstein - Dagon 07:10
	5.	Nigredo - De Tenebroso Lacu 03:37
	6.	Tombstone - Illusions? 02:00
	7.	T.A.C. - Deadly Nightshade 08:00
	8.	M.Nomized - Tantra Music 19:31