Monday, November 28, 2011

Wold - "Freermasonry" (2011) [Profound Lore]

Looking back, I feel rather stupid that I left Wold out of my little introduction to "Black Noise," which I published a little over a year ago. From their inception almost twelve years ago, this mysterious Canadian duo has acted as one of the most glorious, memorable additions to the "black metal meets harsh noise" phenomenon that has oddly taken the underground by storm. However, I sort of see Wold has gone downhill from their 2008 effort, the extraordinarily harsh, but subtly melodic Stratification, gradually losing their edge with each new album, but such is the way of every band, it would seem. Ever progressing into more noise-oriented territory, seemingly abandoning more and more of their black metal sound with every new release, Wold is, sadly, losing their edge. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind listening to the predominantly noise-oriented Working Together For Our Privacy every once in a while, but Wold's new album, Freermasonry, is almost an unforgivable sin.

Okay, maybe it isn't "unforgivable," but Freermasonry has proven itself to be Wold's least interesting, most poorly performed offering yet. After reading that this specific album would be "entrancing" and filled with "vocal incantations," I was sort of hoping that Freermasonry marked a step back in the syrupy, keyboard-drenched direction heralded by the Badb demo and debut full-length L.O.T.M.P., but I my expectations couldn't have been more incorrect. Gone are the screeching, blown out walls of guitar and harsh, grating vocals, giving way  to uninteresting, muddy, quiet rustling noise, not unlike the popping sounds of a bag of Orville Redenbacher in the microwave, and groaning, un-intimidating "screaming." The liner notes divulge that some songs even have extra guitar tracks, and yet I cannot distinguish any extra changes in texture. In fact, the entire album just sounds like it was recorded with a microphone buried under a pile of pillows and blankets. It almost seems that Wold isn't really even trying anymore. I mean, at least with previous albums there was a semblance of melodic motion, even if the guitar tracks were lost in a sea of post-recording distortion and extra heavy electronics, but Freermasonry lacks any of the subdued "musical" elements seen before. There is nothing on which I can grasp. At all. When I listen to Wold, I expect some shadow of black metal in the slightest, but this new album shows Wold turning into a noise band, and one without any intriguing textures at that. For shame, Wold... For shame.

Wold's Freermasonry has proven itself to be one of the biggest disappointments of 2011 (mind you, I wasn't expecting much from Ilud Divinum Satanas), not because of how unlistenable it is, but because it doesn't sound like Wold anymore. If I were you, I'd spend money on a copy of...any other album they've released. You might be interested in buying it if you enjoy punishing your ears, or if you're in need of making other music sound better. If you need me, I'll be wearing best frown while listening to L.O.T.M.P. on repeat.

-Jon



25 comments:

  1. Most least interesting and poorly executed review I've ever read; shame on you Jon.

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  2. It's funny how upset people seem to get when I write a negative review.

    Also, "most least interesting" is horrendously grammatically incorrect, which leads me to question your own "interest rating" qualifications.

    -Jon

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  3. This review will having the greatest amount of badness is ever existed. I am ashamed at reading this.

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  4. Can't help but feel Profound Lore have lost it a bit this year. Sure, they released one or two killer albums - but they've also released some piss poor efforts like this and the new Leviathan.

    Not to mention them jumping on pre-hyped talent like Antediluvian, Ash Borer, etc. instead of hunting out their own unique artists (which is what initially attracted me to the label).

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  5. oh silly Jon - "most least interesting" is in mockery of your: "Wold's least interesting"... you're not worthy to write about Wold.

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  6. Apparently I am, considering I got a promo of Freermasonry a few weeks ago. Just because I don't like your favorite band doesn't mean I am not "kvlt" or "tr00" enough to hold my own thought-out opinion. Reviews like this always bring the crazies out of the basement.

    I hate to break it to you, but I foresee many more negative "Freermasonry" reviews on the horizon. You'll have to prepare yourself.

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  7. Fuck WOLD. They were always boring as shit.

    Failtress Crookedcock can go suck a bag of dicks.

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  8. Thanks for your thoughtful insight and warning. I'll get prepared, but I still think your review is pathetic, and that is my own thought-out opinion.

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  9. You should be more careful when trolling reviews of your own music.

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  10. Wold troll support front xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

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  11. Wold is awesome; I even love and own Social Pressure. From the music I've heard from Freermasonry, it's just not as good as the majority of previous work.

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  12. Social Pressure was definitely interesting. I was sort of waiting for some electronic music from them, given their background in electronica and whatnot.

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  13. The new Wold album is brilliant, certainly better than Stratification, and probably tied for second best alongside Screech Owl (maybe I like Screech Owl just a bit better, not by much) but not better than L.O.T.M.P. Hard to top that.

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  14. I disrespectfully agree with your disagreeing.

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  15. I disrespectfully, disagreeingly disagree with your disrespectful, disagreeing disagreement.

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  16. At least Wold is better (well, superior is more like it) than the garbage that's Boatanist. What a fucking joke that act is. And please don't try to convince me otherwise.

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  17. I can see where someone would be put off by the "gimmicky" nature of Botanist, but I found myself enjoying it. Just wait until you hear his newer material...he's ditched black metal and does something much more introspective and doom metal-oriented. I have a feeling it will be received better by the public.

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  18. Wold sucks. Black noise sucks. Listen to metal.

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  19. I believe The Dude put it perfectly when he said, "Well, that's just, like, your OPINION, man."

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  20. Good for you Jon, fuck those other sites that pander to companies and labels for free shit.

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  21. internet “critic” = flies in the marketplace

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  22. Hey there latest Anonymous,

    Though you are a total asshole, I commend you for using Nietzsche against me. Also Sprach Zarathustra is an amazing literary work.

    -Jon

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