Hailing from within the seedy underbelly of Austria comes the harsh noise kommando known as ANIMAL LUST. This is their first release of martial audial terror titled THE WORLD IS A SETTING SUN AND I DON’T HAVE FAITH IN ANYONE. With a title like that, one can only assume the type of experience they’ll get from such a release. Harsh, brutalistic and oppressive, this album holds no prisoners and is not for the casual listener at that. These types of albums are hard to put into words, but they can be effective at setting a certain mood. An unsettling meditation on the harshness and brutality of the world we live. Ripping apart the concept of music and showing you its gory entrails. Some are repulsed by it, but some are strong enough to face the harshness. And in this one can become wrapped up in its image, where it becomes more than just sound but the world it takes you into.
There’s no warning. The album simply begins with a harsh alarming wall of noise, wrapping you in a suffocating distortion of sound. Each track repeatedly abuses the listener with another mix of horrifically distorted harshness. But there’s a charming and strangely meditative feel to it. As if they’re a deep expression of philosophical nihilism from the artists themselves. There are a few features on some of the tracks, artists such as Sado Rituals, The Angel of the Enemy, and Matthias from Give em Blood, have all given their harsh expressions on their tracks. The fifth track, which features The Angel of the Enemy, Infidel Rhythms, is a stand out for me. Its warped vocals and pulsing and droning bassline that captures you in a hypnotic trance. Electronic chirps chime to and fro, stepping in and out in a fourth dimensional rhythm. Its brutalist atmosphere shines the brightest on this track.
I’m not typically one to sit down and listen to a noise album. Its usually a fun exercise for me in terms of how much I can handle ‘music’ to its most extreme and experimental. Sometimes there’s a display of skill, such as unique guitar playing, drumming, or using some sort of strange instrument as they fiddle around with some knobs and wires. To me, this kind of music has typically been more of a performance art more than anything. Something to experience in person and to know the type of gear they’re using to better understand it. But, there are some albums, such as this one, that captures something a bit more. Going a bit deeper and finding that root of atmosphere and fully embracing it. Its more atmospheric harsh noise. Contemplative and uncompromising. Some could even call it ‘boring’ with how long the track lengths are and just how unrelenting the pace of the album is. Each track simply blends together into one wall of swirling harsh noise. It’s immersiveness is this album’s biggest trait and it feels like it wants to be bigger than what the artist had intended it to be.
I’d say this is a good entry to those curious about this harsh world of power electronics and harsh noise. It’s not friendly and its not looking to change its ways. But for those brave enough to face the noise, I’d suggest starting here. I enjoyed my time listening to this. A truly introspective experience.