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Review: T.O.M.B. - Uncovered Ancient Gateways

Todestrieb Records — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:29:52 +0000

Completed at the end of 2009, UAG (Uncovered Ancient Gateways) is a wholly new T.O.M.B. work, it is also a continuation (faze 2) of the experiments that began with Pennhurst (July 2009). These two experiments are leading T.O.M.B. toward the next major work: Fury Nocturnous.

As with Pennhurst, the approach here moves away from the largely Black Metal-structured MNR, back to Sacrilegium era recordings. Meaning: Industrial drone, haunted noise!

Being part of the Pennhurst experiments, location recordings are from the Pennhurst State Hospital in Pennsylvania. This one-time Sanitarium is now a decaying shell, deserted after the accounts of institutional physical and mental cruelty became public knowledge and permanently closed after lengthy prosecutions.
Using techniques originating from the first demo, T.O.M.B. slams metallic receptors into the brittle walls and rusting metal structures within the building, bringing to life the decades old history buried in this Torture Palace.
Other locations visited include: Waverly Hills, Kentucky; an abandoned church in Philadelphia; tombstones; and on Blood Vortex: human blood.
The direct and reverberated sounds gathered – and later manipulated – are very strong. Clean and expansive. Then melted into well-mastered (Satan’s Palace – also MNR) collisions, distortions, abstractions…Noise!

As a full-length recording (approaching one hour) UAG is a complete and single-minded package. Each track explores subtly different techniques, the results vary from punishing power-electronic white blasts (Blood Vortex) to claustrophobic underground drones (Mausoleum Witchcraft). Throughout, the location recordings unify the sound; never allowing your own focus to shift too far. The track titles, e.g., Serpent Moon Seance, Graveyard Requiem, may suggest a different theme, but these too seem more abstract when taken in context. And personally, T.O.M.B.’s ability to choose locations with disturbing histories and shape equally disturbing music – to physically reawaken these places – is always the visual theme behind the sound.

A marked progression as T.O.M.B. continues to master this form of Black Noise brutality. The audio overload and organic, dirty, corporeal manner these recordings are crafted are what set T.O.M.B. apart as a leader within this ugly genre!

Updated: February 15, 2010.

T.O.M.B. To Perform At Black XXXMas Festival

Todestrieb Records — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:52:00 +0000

T.O.M.B. will perform at this years Black XXXMas Festival, the seventh. Other bands taking part in the two-day event at Dingbatz in Clifton, New Jersey include Black Witchery and Krieg.

T.O.M.B. also recently completed work on UAG (Uncovered Ancient Gateways). We have a preview copy and will try to post some more details and possibly a sample in the coming days.

a band called T.O.M.B. that's really amazing - Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth

Todestrieb Records — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:08:57 +0000

Sonic Youth founder and guitarist Thurston Moore, in an interview with Decibel, discussed his interest in Black Metal and saved particular praise for T.O.M.B. and the recent album Macabre Noize Royale. Page 2 has the interview.

There’s also a band called T.O.M.B. that’s really amazing—their new one is great.

In other T.O.M.B. news:
Work is nearing the final stages on a new EP entitled Uncovered Ancient Gateways. Mastering will take place next week on 9/11/09.
Fury Nocturnous, the second album and follow-up to Macabre Noize Royale, will then be completed.

T.O.M.B. Live July 24

Todestrieb Records — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:47:58 +0000

A short time after the inaugural live ritual, T.O.M.B. will again be performing in the US. July 24th at AS220 in Providence, Rhode Island. 9pm 6 or 7 $. Other artists will include Jail, Sewergoddess, Dead Times and Work/Death.

New T.O.M.B. track to hear

Todestrieb Records — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:37:35 +0000

T.O.M.B. has posted a new recording on the official myspace page. Perverse Crematory Pleasures was compiled in late 2008. The central field recording, which is distorted, manipulated and overlapped; is a corpse being burned in a crematory. A process T.O.M.B. attended solely to gather material for this black ambient track.

T.O.M.B. manages to capture the raw fury of a body being reduced to it’s elements.

This will be T.O.M.B.’s offering on a forthcoming 3-way split. We won’t be releasing this, but will be spreading copies when it’s out.

T.O.M.B. merchandise

Todestrieb Records — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:46:42 +0000

T.O.M.B. shirts restocked and new hooded sweatshirts added, see all here.

T.O.M.B. top 10 of 08

Todestrieb Records — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:25:14 +0000

The “Pitchfork Media” website posted a big list of ‘top 10 from 2008′ votes from a variety of individuals, of varying credibility, including one with impeccable taste:

Andee, Aquarius/tUMULt

Smorzando: Smrad [Midwinter]
Woe: A Spell For The Death Of Man [Stronghold]
Have A Nice Life: Deathconciousness [Enemies List]
Frail: Brilliant Darkness [Rusty Axe]
T.O.M.B: Macabre Noize Royale (Todestrieb)
Ghaxst/Yoga: split [TDS / Choking Hazard]
Happy Days: Melancholic Memories [Midwinter]
Jumalhamara: Slaughter The Messenger [Hammer-Of-Hate]
Darkspace: III [Avantgarde]
Funereal Moon: Satan’s Beauty Obscenity/Grim… Evil… [Autopsy Kitchen]

T.O.M.B. Macabre Noize Royale out now

Todestrieb Records — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:26:42 +0000

The new album is out now! Order Macabre Noize Royale here.

T.O.M.B. Macabre Noize Royale documentary video complete

Todestrieb Records — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:33:02 +0000

As has become traditional with major T.O.M.B. releases, a video has been crafted documenting the latest Black Noise epic. T.O.M.B. visited some of Pennsylvania’s darkest landmarks to collect field recordings. Smashing through metal to reawaken the agonizing history of these places. The second half of the video plays Fog Ritual over footage. Fog Ritual only hints at the diversity that awaits in the complete album.

The latest T.O.M.B. material has also been added to the official site. “Maz ov tha Damd” was recorded at Norristown State Mental Hospital on ‘Good Friday’ March 21st 2008 at 3:33am. No drums, guitars, or synth used in this track.

Review: TOMB - Black Crypt Worship

Todestrieb Records — Sun, 05 Oct 2003 04:00:47 +0000

Tomb join a sub-genre of bands that create ritualistic, ambient noise devoid of melody or many other musical trappings in the quest to produce uniquely atmospheric illusions. Like other bands in this genre e.g., Abruptum, Emit, Nebiros; Tomb use distortion to mould sound to serve their purposes. Not loud and harsh to try and blind us to their weakness, this is artistic.
The construction of each song is relatively simple, but because of the motifs, can sound meticulous. In other words, careful layering allows each track to possess the ritualistic monotony, but retain a creative wave throughout. Tomb know how to implement an idea and when to introduce variations, this timing allows each song to drag on without losing its consistency.
The distorted backbone – which can be easily mistaken for a distorted guitar, but is more likely a digital effect – creates the thickest layer when used. The most possessive layer: percussion and samples form the rhythm and control the pace. Vocals are another ritualistic element which do not seem to bare much reliance on the music. This is an encouraged element in such environments – vocals naturally exorcised in chaotic heedlessness. The discharge of Demons is very rarely set to any timescale.

Included with the CD-R is an AVI video that features a clip of a cloaked figure hitting crypt doors for this recording. The results of which are heard through several tracks. The video also includes an interview.

A six-track six-year compilation of blackened torturous noise, which remains atmospheric and effectively complex. The type of music that must be played loud and with bass on full. Impressive early works by a mind that obviously knows how to construct valuable material, further projects will be anticipated.

Originally posted on BlackMetalWeb.