Regosphere/Xiphoid Dementia, "Subterranean Transmigration"

As a split release with each artist submitting three pieces, the pairing is perfect.  The two projects share similar aesthetics and aptitude in their own take on modern industrial music.  Even though their individual work is clearly distinct from each other, the two fit together very well into a cohesive whole.

Annihilvs/Phage Tapes

Of the two, Regosphere (Andrew Quitter) leans a bit more towards the rawer, noise tinged sounds on his three compositions.  A pulsing synth and shrill digital noise of "Psychic Surgery (Second Procedure)" are paired with a heavily churning bass line that is not quite harsh enough to constitute power electronics, but certainly leans in that direction.  The harshly processed and destroyed vocals push this even further, even though they are completely indecipherable.

Quitter dials the harshness back a bit on "The Devil’s Icebox," keeping the bleeping electronics but adding in an overdriven kick drum passage.  The monotone thud is offset by dramatic, complex layers of electronic and what almost sounds like prog rock keyboard progressions.  "Coffin Dust" draws more from sound effect bits and an overall messier sound without ever becoming too dissonant.  Compared to the previous two Regosphere pieces, this one feels a bit less focus or structured but still works in its own way.

On his half, Egan Budd (Xiphoid Dementia) utilizes metal and junk percussion throughout, to excellent effect.  The slow build of "Despondency Aquifer" leads in with a rumbling bass drone and dramatic sweeps of noise that, at this point, are more understated than Regosphere’s work.  The piece eventually expands amongst obvious synths and tolling digital bells with overdriven percussion.  The final result lies somewhere between a modernized take on SPK’s Information Overload Unit and the best moments of early Dissecting Table.

Budd strips things down a bit on "Beneath the Foundation," pairing gentle ambience with crunchy, overdriven waves of noise.  With the junk percussion thrown in, it feels consistent with the previous piece, but in a less musical sense overall.  Musicality also takes a back seat on "Mineral Resurrection," as Budd places the percussive clanking and banging in a subterraneous cavern expanse.  Drifting through the heavy reverb, a sense of malignance looms during the more restrained minutes.  Slowly the piece builds to an explosion of distortion and harshness, resulting in an appropriately explosive climax.

Regosphere and Xiphoid Dementia share a lot of commonalities, but each stands on their own.  On this disc the former brings the harsher noise electronic sound, while the latter’s emphasis on junk percussion embraces that Einstürzende Neubauten/Test Department aesthetic, but within a more electronic framework.  It manages to be one of those split releases where two different halves mesh together brilliantly into a coherent and fully realized whole.

samples:

• Despondency Aquifer (Xiphoid Dementia)
• The Devil's Icebox (Regosphere)
• Beneath the Foundation (Xiphoid Dementia)