CD Review: Thirteenth Exile - Into Nothing

Written by Petra Whiteley Wednesday, 14 December 2011 16:21

Artist: Thirteenth Exile
Title: Into Nothing
Genre: Industrial
Release Date: 23rd November 2011
Label: Memento Materia

Album Review

THIRTEENTH EXILE is a project of H. Svegsjö from Stockholm. ‘Into Nothing’ follows on the debut ‘Assorted Chaos and Broken Machinery’ which was out six years ago. Svegsjö has a background in Extreme Metal and is a guitarist of THYRFING as well as the mastermind of this solo project. The album is like a map of agony, which is not only captured as intense but, weirdly, also very beautiful - and most of this is contained within Svegsjö’s vocal and lyrics. The music itself is not only hammering and pummelling beats and blasts some might expect from Industrial, but there’s a lot of atmosphere that make it feel a full-bloodied work that has been created to convey something rather than to just reap some dosh. What is also welcomed is that it doesn’t feel like a clone of this or that Industrial band, though few influences here and there are felt, but they’re not consequential so can be just left there simmering. ‘Worm’ is a great opener, faster with its beat, memorable and most suited to get your body moving.

‘Pain Receiver’ is in a similar vein, but it’s superbly dark and a tad sinister in its sound, which is at first more minimal, but effective nevertheless and soon is given a more “flesh” as it grows, especially the piano is going to be a stand-out element, more so in terms of adding the emotive charge and intensity. ‘God On Your Side’ is one of my favourites, it’s full of yearning, red anger, the lyrics dig themselves deep too and give one something to think about, slow yet passionate, even catchy song. ‘A Perfect World’ is balladic, beautiful in its atmosphere that engulfs you as if it were a smoke or a fog. ‘Pitch Black Days’ and ‘Hate’ take you to some ugly corners of this experience, you don’t exactly want to stay with it there, but at the same time it feels essential. You will find here a cover of PORTISHEAD’s ‘Wandering Star’, superb cover, what’s more it’s great how it fits with the rest and how its approach is unexpected as it re-constructs the original nearly beyond its recognition. Impressive album which contains music that is intense, fresh, complex and beautifully crafted to depict the depths of existence, its pathos and pain in a very engaging way.


Tracklist

01. The Worm – 4.10
02. Life Eraser – 3.32
03. My Legacy – 3.25
04. Pain Receiver – 4.50
05. God on your Side – 5.56
06. A Perfect World – 5.00
07. In Between – 5.22
08. Pitch Black Days – 4.11
09. Hate – 2.41
10. Wandering Star – 4.14
11. Into Nothing – 6.14


Line-up

H. Svegsjö


Websites

http://www.thirteenthexile.com / http://www.facebook.com/thirteenthexile


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 9
Sound: 9
Total: 9 / 10