MAGNUM CARNAGE (USA)
DIGITAL WOLVES Self Released
Written by Ellen Simpson on Friday 08 June, 2007. Last updated on Friday 08 June, 2007
Just occasionally, in all types of art, something so
remarkably off-the-wall comes along that it upsets all critical notions of
right and wrong, good or bad. Such a beast is “Digital Wolves” by Hawaiian ‘post-black metallers’ Magnum Carnage. Somewhere at a
fundamental level, black metal is the inspirational force behind this release.
However, on top of this foundation lies a sprawling, many-storied asylum of
horror-inspired thrash grooves, psychedelic freak-outs, electro moments, 80s
throwbacks and other random schizophrenia. I can’t define it, but hell, it’s a
whole lot of fun.
The production values on this release are low, and
intentionally so. Where the black metal sections kick in, in the first half of “Panspermia”, in “Sports Disaster” and in the awesome “Fundamental Underlying Cause Killing Our Neutral Themes of Power”,
the fucked-up sound adds genuine, growling intensity. MC’s black metal is often
surprisingly symphonic, with very good, understated atmospheric keyboards, and
guitarist and founder member Kai Laigo has a genius touch for writing riffs and
leads which a number of far better-known BM bands would kill for, not to mention
his highly creative solos.
That’s not enough for these guys though; “Moloch” edges towards grind with its
slow, ultra-distorted riff, “Sports
Disaster” features ridiculous shouted vocals and a killer thrashy groove
towards the end, “Super-Zombie” is
all about funky electro beats until it explodes into a murky blast-fest, and “Live from the Skinwalker Ranch” begins
as an acoustic ballad and descends gradually into the deepest circles of
insanity. I think it has a xylophone solo
but I had stopped trusting my ears by this point. All of this is done on a
level of weirdness and conviction not normally seen even within the ‘experimental’
scene. The sampled crowd cheering on “Panspermia”,
as well as its MIDI section (“Dude... MIDI owns you” says Kai- I’m not going to argue) reveal a
wickedly sharp sense of humour that only adds to the enjoyableness of this
album.
Magnum Carnage are a band that not many people ‘get’, as witnessed
by the chaos and confusion they have gleefully caused amongst music hacks
everywhere. Kai and Dan could be writing stunning but sane symphonic black
metal, but they choose to go down this experimental, lunatic path instead, and
all power to them. The spirit of this album is not too far removed from the
madness of Mike Patton, or Jaz Coleman, but I’m sure the band are tired of
those comparisons. In truth, “Digital
Wolves” is a unique artefact from the twisted minds of some very talented,
but stubbornly bizarre, musicians. Can you play with madness? Yes, buy “Digital Wolves”.
Want more info on Magnum Carnage?
Visit Magnum Carnage's band information page!
Other articles for Magnum Carnage:
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| Tracklisting:
1. A Dying Universe
2. Panspermia
3. Moloch
4. Sports Disaster
5. Super-Zombie
6. Fundamental Underlying Cause Killing Our Neutral Themes of Power
7. Live from the Skinwalker Ranch
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