Aderlating/Crown of Bone split CDR

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Here are the details on the three new tapes (and one 3″ cdr)!

Pentacene: s/t cassette
Minneapolis duo Pentacene, formerly known as HeatdeatH (with LPs on Conspiracy Records), is comprised of Andrew Broder (guitar) and Tim Glenn (drums). This is a document of a 33 minute performance at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis. No two pentacene performances are alike, but this oone blends their their black metal, noise, and drone influences into something truly unique. Edition of 100 copies. Packged in 3-color screenprinted brad packs with an insert.

Volition/Juhyo: split cassette or 3″ cdr
an interesting pairing that brings together two different genres from two different parts of the world. Volition, hailing from Furness, UK, bring their own unique take on doom on their part of the split. Minneapolis’ Juhyo has a tightly composed vision to their noise. The two sides acts, despite their differences come together wuite well on this split. Each provides a single 10 minute track. Two versions: cassette and 3″ cdr, each containing the same material, and each in an edition of 100 copies. (Please note, the same material is on the cassette and 3″)

click here for a Volition sample

click here for a Juhyo sample

v/a: live at the bookhouse cassette
This cassette documents a live show at the Bookhouse bookstore in Minneapolis. Three of Minneapolis’ noisers got together without amps or electronics and performed in the philosophy section of the shop. Disthroned Agony worked mostly with glass and stone. Grain Belt usedwith all sorts of percussive metal. Ice Volt gave one of his spectacular voice/percussion performances. The tape is wrapped up as the night was, with a collaborative set with Ice Volt and Disthroned Agony. Edition of 100 in norelco boxes.

Disthroned Agony sample

Grain Belt sample

Ice Volt sample

Disthroned Agony + Ice Volt sample

All of these are now available on the small doses site: click here to go directly to the shop

Thanks again for all the support!
Small Doses turns five in 2012, and there’s already a lot of great things lined up.
Look for an email and a new CD shortly after the new year!

Happy Holidays!

faux pas/grain belt: split 7″

harsh noise from both sides of the atlantic! Norway’s Faux Pas is Lasse Marhaug and Sten Ove Toft. Minneapolis’ Grain Belt is comprised of the people behind Baculum, Wince, and Willful. Edition of 300 copies in a two-color sleeve. Co-released by phage tapes and white centipede noise.

click here for samples.

izanami’s labour pains: destination toujinbou cd

Incredible and varied harsh noise from Germany’s Sascha Mandler (Namazu Dantai, Mazakon Tactics). Elements of power electronics, drone, and cut-up noise combine to form one of the most impressive noise assemblages I’ev heard in years. Packaged in 4-color screen-printed arigato packs. Co-released with Phage Tapes.

click here for samples.

the haters: multilexicon protocol switching cassette

this cassette was created to raise funds for the haters performance in minneapolis in 2010. limited to 100 copies with screenprinted covers. co-released with phage tapes.

click here for samples.

All three are available in the small doses shop.

One True Dead Angel

Sky Burial — THRENODY FOR COLLAPSING SUNS [Small Doses / Phage Tapes]

Sonic somnambulist Michael Page returns with one of the more interesting entries in the Sky Burial catalog. The first track, “Return to the Peripheries,” opens in typical fashion with glitch noises and dark, swirling drones, and as the lengthy (23:05) piece progresses, the droning layers of sound grow thicker and more harmonically dense, but around the six-minute mark, an astounding thing happens: a throbbing synth line appears, first in a deeply minimalist fashion, with the effect of subtly rising from the fog to become, over time, a major component of the track’s sound. That synth line drops out after a while as the drones stealthily rise in pitch and volume to approximate a choral sound, but returns again around the fourteen-minute mark, this time at a faster tempo and in a more insistent fashion. This techno-ish synth line is certainly a surprise, given the largely organic nature of Sky Burial’s sound up to this point, but it works within the context of the track, and adds a nice element of propulsive movement to the swirl of sound. The techno synth line dies out a few minutes short of the end, leaving the track to gradually fade out in a slow-moving cloud of drones, and the most amazing thing about this track — and a testament to Sky Burial’s ongoing brilliance — is that the sounds are so well organized, and the arrangement so good, that it never bogs down despite its length. “The Cadence of Collapse” introduces percussion — another rarity for Sky Burial — in the form of a military beat whose industrial feel is a reminder of his earlier work in the equally excellent industrial / noise band Fire in the Head. The pounding beat is accompanied by more drone action and synths that rise and fall; eventually the beat subsides and the synths become spacier and take on a more classic dark-ambient feel, one that is garnished by strange noises sliding around in the background. Another melodic synth line appears midway through the track — simple in construction, but highly effective in tonality — that also serves as a turning point in the track, the point at which the synth washes become more dominant and are joined by lurching rhythmic sounds that are not quite noise but otherwise impossible to identify. The theme of this track, apparently, is mutation: the sound keeps shifting regularly in tone and density, with unusual sounds sprinkled throughout at just the right spots for maximum effect. The final track, “Refractions From the Rift,” also mixes rhythmic electronic sounds with the band’s established drone ‘n drift sound, to excellent effect. More industrial-themed percussion shows up, too, and by this time it becomes obvious that one of the biggest motifs of the album (and one I like best) is how things fade in and fade out, as if being momentarily revealed by a shifting sandstorm — elements of the overall sound are obscured and revealed in deliberate fashion at unexpected points. One of the most interesting things about the album is how organic it sounds, despite the obvious proliferation of electronic devices used to create the sounds — no small feat. Definitely worth hearing, like everything else in the Sky Burial catalog. As a final note, I’d like to point out that this is worth owning on cd just for the amazing artwork, which can’t be fully appreciated in the postage-stamp size of your average download image. (See here for a picture of the cover.)

Boston Phoenix

This haunting ambient work by Michael Page’s Sky Burial is his most expansive, deliberately constructed record to date. Page, who once produced hot-blooded power electronics under the name Fire in the Head, here demonstrates his fluency in a dramatically different style. Threnody, Sky Burial’s ninth record, engages more than 40 years of ambient and industrial, traversing kosmische musik — an offshoot of krautrock characterized by celestial, introspective synth work — as well as the varied, experimental rhythms of early industrial. The cavernous hum of 23-minute opener “Return to the Peripheries” metamorphizes into an insistent arpeggio as it nears its conclusion, whereas “Refractions from the Rift” emphasizes the album’s rhythmic underbelly and the industrial textures that anchor Sky Burial’s sound. The production — bright, lush, and full, without excessive digitization — augments the album’s compositional complexity. Most ambient music these days comes down to quotidian, static drones, absent of melody, progression, or composition. By contrast, Page’s painstaking, unique constructions brim with diverse moods and textures — a balm for ambient malaise.

sky burial: threnody for collapsing suns

dose99 cd

Michael Page’s (Fire in the Head) Sky Burial project has been exploring the dark ambient side of industrial music since 2006, evolving into a unique and steadfast in the genre. Threnody for Collapsing Suns is a triptych clocking in at over 50 minutes – thoughtfully composed; incorporating deep drones, shimmering synth work, and lamenting melodic lines. The disparate layers come together to form a surprisingly organic, well-crafted narrative. Threnody continues Sky Burial’s journey into the nebulous dusk of “Kosmische Musik”, and forms part of a loose trilogy with the preceding Kiehtan and forthcoming Aegri Somnia.

click here for sample 1

click here for sample 2

This is available now in the small doses shop.

kinit her: gratitudes cd

ekca liena/a death cinematic: preternatural cdr
This split release brings together two of the more underrated names working in drone. UK artists, Ekca Liena create dark, slowly unfolding, ambient landscapes tthat build in intensity over the three tracks on this disc. A Death Cinematic take a different approach, the layerered guitars swirl around each other like a hypnotic, slow-motion whirlwind. The two styles complement each other quite well. Edition of 96. Printed discs lavishly packaged in die cut sleeves with two inserts.
click here for samples and images

trepaneringsritualen: martyrium cassette
The latest from this mysterious Swedish project takes it in a slightly new direction. The ritual noise/drone work heard on past releases is certainly present, but alongside a pair of pounding industrial tracks, complete with vocals. Edition of 136 copies, packaged in brad packs (hand screened at Phage Tapes HQ) with accordion fold insert.
click here for samples and images

disgust/joshua norton cabal: split cassette
Disgust (members of Koufar, Bachir Gemayel, Winters in Osaka) brings some of their most vitriolic, hate filled material yet to this split; some incredibly bitter and angry power electronics with a depressive edge. Joshua Norton Cabal (Ex Endless Blocade) brings his unique harsh noise, but adds some vocals in the tradition of European PE. His material for this release is quite varied and dynamic. Edition of 100 copies, packaged in brad packs (hand screened at Phage Tapes HQ) with two inserts.
click here for images and samples

All of these are available now in the small doses shop.
I recommend acting fast to make sure you get one of the limited edition version of the Kinit Her CD with the extra 3″cdr. They won’t likely last long. There are also a limited number of discounted packages that include all of the new releases, including the limited Kinit Her.

All cassettes in the shop are marked down. Small Doses cassette release are deeply discounted. If you’ve been waiting on the Pyramids box set, the Wilt/Goose/Marax tape, or the Nordvargr release, this is the time to grab them. There are four new additions to the shop as well, and they are also discounted. Look for tapes from velnias, grain belt, and willful at the bottom. Most of the distro tapes are in low numbers, so grab em while you can.

As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also an additional 10% off coupon. Just enter “tapesrule” in the “enter your coupon number” field on the check out page and 10% will be subtracted from your pre-shipping total, sale items and all.

Also, Small Doses is now on Facebook and Twitter. I’d love it if you found us at one or both spots. You’ll get all sorts of interesting tidbits and updates on the label.
‘like’ us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Small-Doses/172190282795408?sk=info
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/small_doses

That’s all for now. Later this month should finally see the release of the Trepaneringsritualen cassette and the Disgust/Joshua Norton Cabal cassette.

Husere Grav – Self Titled [Small Doses - 2010]

There is a realm of inchoate chaos and darkness, teetering on the void of sheer madness. Within this supreme maelstrom of disorder, there lies a tiny corporeal manifestation of a half-formed, languid essence. Nestled against the swarming darkness is a shimmering image – a ruined Gothic castle, amongst the perversely twisted, gnarled, rotting trees and fauna. You falteringly step over the threshold of this haunted, aeon’s old structure, and inside the heart of this putrid and decaying edifice, there is an oppressive, claustrophobic atmosphere. You stand there, shivering from unimagined, shadowy terrors, breathing slow and heavy.

But hark! There, in the corner – a misty, cold light enters through a crack in the wall – it alights upon the moss-strewn, crumbling walls and, for a moment – simultaneously an eternity – it glows with an unfathomable, clear, energy, and is a thing of pure poetry and beauty; virgin hope amongst eternal entropy. You will spend an inordinate amount of time in this palace of tortured spirits and weird dreams, but it is a thrilling, lithe experience full of stone-dead dread but also odd, sublime desires. You will stay, strangely contented, one day to return to the world of the living….

This is the only way I can describe this brilliant album of what otherwise would be called ‘Dark Ambient’ or ‘Experimental Black Metal’. Unfortunately words or terms as these do no justice to the ethereal, thick swathes of sound and atmospheres contained therein. A few facts, as much as we know: ‘Athanor’, otherwise known as Todd Watson, from Texas, was part of the band Homunculus, and this is his fourth full-album, amongst a few side collaborations, and that’s about it. The rest is a mystery. And that’s fine. This music doesn’t need the subtle iniquities of a worded explanation. Like all of the best sounds, you can’t fully define this art-piece using words – you just have to hear it talk to you in its own unique way.

But for your sakes, I will say this: if you listen closely, you can hear, amongst the sweltering, thuddering dronescapes and minimalistic, melancholic lyricism, the multifaceted, inspirational echoes of such seminal industrial/psychedelic rock/electronica outfits such as Throbbing Gristle, Coil, Lustmord, Faust, Non, Tangerine Dream, The Residents, Whitehouse and a host of other, newer, Dark Ambient and Power Electronic outfits.

Track 1 is the Apocalypse – the beautiful end times. Track 2 is a subdued longing for a lost love amongst the weeds and mist. Track 4 is a ghostly, other-worldly journey, with echoing vocal laments and guitars. Track 6 is a slowed down alien Viking funeral on Asgard. Track 7 comes from inside a black hole, with a just audible, cracked voice in the background, reciting bizarre incantations. Track 8 is a futuristic super-highway of faster than light travel through a dark wormhole. Track 11 is a boat ride on the river Styx, amongst the twilight fog, undead spirits and humming insects, a distant church organ serenading your path. That is all.

This is a multi-levelled masterpiece of visionary, phantasmagorical sound and poetry.