Artist: Zkywbrezdreb
Country: USA
Label: Elf Eggs
Formats: Demo Tape
Year: 2025
‘My Dead Pulsing Vigil’ follows shortly after Zkywbrezdreb’s ‘Remnants Of Human Ash’, this project’s debut demo tape from a bit earlier this year. That demo, with such titles as ‘No Friends’, ‘No Trends’, ‘No Contact’, ‘No Life’ and ‘No Fun’, showcased a project that has nihilism deeply embedded to its core. Although this new demo has some actual song titles (though I have no clue what ‘Oduodreb Tuue A’ means), the music on offer is still as recklessly savage as its predecessor: Black/Noise in its purest static beauty.
The difference between ‘Remnants Of Human Ash’ and ‘My Dead Pulsing Vigil’ are remarkably small. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if these two demos were recorded in more or less the same breath. However, what really sets them apart is more cosmetic in nature. This newest demo is even a bit tougher to swallow, or at least it is not something that you’d play in the background while doing the dishes.
In just about thirty minutes, which is quite a challenge, you are served with the rawest of raw Black Metal, almost hallucinatory, like old Black Cilice and the first Candelabrum album. That resemblance with these Portuguese lads are mainly found in those riffs that are so distorted and (I think) reverbed that they seem to melt down in some delirious static. A perfect background for the haunting and terrifying vocals that seem to have been recorded directly from the isolation rooms of the local lunatic asylum.
Perhaps the most striking thing about the whole design of Zkywbrezdreb is the percussion. Or, the sounds that I think can be regarded as percussion. Sometimes it sounds like fireworks recorded from a distance. Regardless of what they really are, they do add much to the overall eccentric atmosphere. Although that was already present at the ‘Remnants Of Human Ash’ demo tape, it feels more present this time around.
Yet, as said, the difference between both demos is more to be found in the productional values. Or, “productional”, as I am sure hardly anybody on this rotten planet would call this a production, or even music, for that matter. But it is precisely in this rotten sound that we can find our rotten comfort. The sound on this new set of songs is even more menacing and sounds even more depraved, murmuring and oppressing. Another great piece of music for all you madhouse escapees.
