Sensory Deprivation
White Noise


4.0
excellent

Review

by ExplosiveOranges USER (72 Reviews)
January 31st, 2015 | 233 replies


Release Date: 2015 | Tracklist

Review Summary: "We get to choose which forms of life we feel are sacred, and we get to kill the rest. Pretty neat deal, huh? You know how we got it? We made the whole fucking thing up!"

Brendan Nixon is a dedicated musician. It’s been less than a month since the release of Apparitionist’s last EP, False Euphoria, which marked a transitional period in the band’s sound, and already Nixon has begun to work on new material. This could have been a risky move, as writing so much new music all in such a short amount of time had the potential to lead to a nasty case of creative burnout. But surprisingly, Nixon has managed to avoid such risks in the process. And with Apparitionist’s debut full-length, entitled White Noise, he’s successfully expanded upon the darker, rawer style from False Euphoria.

Going into White Noise, there’s a couple things you’re going to pick up on immediately. First of all, the production is still muddled and feels rather, for lack of a better word, unclean. There’s still a lot of influence from classic hardcore and noise rock bands such as Fugazi, but there’s also some resemblance towards bands such as Lightning Bolt and White Suns, particularly on the first two tracks, both of which also sample soundbites from George Carlin and Bill Hicks performances. In addition to that, there’s also some Orchid influence on the untitled song, with pulse-pounding drumming and fuzzy, uneven guitar structures. Nixon’s vocals have improved dramatically from his previous work, as here he embraces the distortion effects and garbled static noise, choosing to focus on the menacing, unsettling sound of the vocals as opposed to their clarity and understandability. “Overseen”, the longest track on the album, is also quite memorable, going for a slower, more brooding style as opposed to the fast-paced aggression on tracks such as “Deceit”.

But what really makes White Noise such an immersive experience is all the ambient noise and sound collages that Nixon has sprinkled around in the music. Whether it’s the grating intro of “Zealot”, the ominous silence of the interlude “Sinneslochen”, or the nerve-wracking ambience and guitar in the background of “Industrial”, Nixon always creates a very atmospheric, intriguing vibe through the music. And that’s ultimately the strongest asset of the album. The more subtle, unnerving moments are some of the most memorable ones, and serve as a great contrast to the noisier, more over-the-top sections. So, next time you’re in the mood for some old-school hardcore with just a bit of a psychotic flair to it, don’t pass up on White Noise. Remember, though: Whatever you do, don’t listen to the voices in your head.



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user ratings (24)
3.4
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
ExplosiveOranges
January 31st 2015


4408 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

https://bluemistbands.bandcamp.com/album/white-noise



Shoutouts to Johnny for (yet again) helping me patch up a couple of areas. This is probably the best thing Brendan's done so far. As always, comments and criticism are welcomed.

Supercoolguy64
January 31st 2015


11850 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

this has some epic sampling

Tunaboy45
January 31st 2015


18562 Comments


Great review, I'm sure Brendan will be over the moon. Pos.

ScuroFantasma
Emeritus
January 31st 2015


12203 Comments


Noice, been meaning to check beyond Godspeed but haven't got around to it. Good review as always EO.

Digging: Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere

BMDrummer
January 31st 2015


15164 Comments


thanks so much man. tunaboy, the album has a few fight club samples btw

Tunaboy45
January 31st 2015


18562 Comments


even better then!

ExplosiveOranges
January 31st 2015


4408 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

@Supercoolguy The samples here are awesome, aye.



@Tunaboy He'll be like an invisible man, living in the sky, who watches everything you do, every minute of every day.



@Scuro Thanks, and I think you'll definitely get into it pretty quickly.



@BM http://i.imgur.com/pGfxQRo.gif

Frippertronics
Emeritus
January 31st 2015


19569 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

but was it a good thing?

Digging: Geordie Greep - The New Sound

Sowing
Moderator
January 31st 2015


44509 Comments


"First of all, the production still muddled and feels rather, for lack of a better word, unclean."

Methinks you meant "is still muddled." Otherwise, another solid review.

Digging: Halsey - The Great Impersonator

ExplosiveOranges
January 31st 2015


4408 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

ECH, good catch there, Sowing. Will fix immediately.

BMDrummer
January 31st 2015


15164 Comments


itchy i'm glad it's that good

YakNips
January 31st 2015


20104 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

overseen is the best

ExplosiveOranges
January 31st 2015


4408 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Pretty much.

BMDrummer
January 31st 2015


15164 Comments


agreed fav track of mine

ExplosiveOranges
January 31st 2015


4408 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

In case you haven't already realized, I REALLY dig "Sanctity".

BMDrummer
January 31st 2015


15164 Comments


damn thought people would say it's too long tbh

StallionMang
January 31st 2015


9003 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Oh shit this exists

ExplosiveOranges
January 31st 2015


4408 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

It's mainly because of my love of George Carlin, but even without the sample, it's a solid track.

SharkTooth
January 31st 2015


14937 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

sorry I couldn't help you out earlier, I got a nasty virus yesterday and was out to see a doctor.



Btw review was pretty much fine, pos

BMDrummer
January 31st 2015


15164 Comments


always loved his view on pro-lifers



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