HAVOHEJ Tungkat Blood Wand

Artist: HAVOHEJ
Title: Tungkat Blood Wand
Year of Release: 2007
Label: Hells Headbangers
Format: 10" MLP

I'm so impressed by this release that it's hard to know where to start, so I'll commence by raving about the aesthetics. As a vinyl worshipper, I don't believe there has been a time as golden as now with regard to the amazing and detailed vinyl releases that are being unleashed by boutique labels such as Hells Headbangers, The AJNA Offensive and Nuclear War Now! among others.

Matt black cover, with a spot varnish gloss logo, title and back cover image adorn the outer realms of this record, while the vinyl itself is a heavy weight 10" with a reverse groove that locks at the end of each side. What that means is that you lay your needle down in the middle of the record (the area traditionally used for the run off at the end of the side) and it plays out to the edge. When it arrives at said edge, the final groove is locked, so the needle just sits and the record continues to play for eternity... Anyone who has experienced this will understand that a great hypnotic aura is generated from this and though a single groove (maybe less than 2 seconds of music) the longer you listen, the more this will evolve and become something that it didn't appear to initially.

Having really liked the recent Profanatica album, though remembering the general disdain for Havohej as far back as '95, it was with mixed feelings I approached this 10", but as soon as it commenced, I was really impressed. A mix of Profanatica, Brighter Death Now (or other power electronics/death industrial sound) and Abruptum is perhaps the simplest way to convey what's on offer here. Really raw and caustic ambient moods, very primal drumming and unlike Abruptum, it's all quite cohesive and structured. Primitive is definitely the wrong word, though it is primal in its black essence. Like a great yawning abyss, this record pulsates waves of blackness and it's been some time since I was able to truly feel this sort of oppressiveness coming from a BM artist. I don't even think there are any guitars on this release. If there are, it's not a traditional use at any rate.

Highly recommended, I await the next album eagerly! Buy it from Hells Headbangers.