Ahlzagailzehguh "Tools of a Dangerous Trade" 3
[self-released]
20+ minutes of vicious harsh noise with no bullshit. The bulk of the tracks run around three minutes each (rarely more, rarely less) and consist of violent distortion layered about with a few more minimal tones or some cutups to fuck with the pacing. "Bastard Maniac" is probably my favorite track herein thanks to some painful panning and a somehow more atmospheric approach that offers just enough variety to really leave a mark. "Fastest Way Out", a more consistent attack, opens with some truly acerbic assaults before plunging into some massively reverberated distortion for its duration. The sound is a little on the raw side, but in a way that tends to benefit this style with a thick, oppressive density - allowing some biting high-end to slice through to the fore on occasion, but generally resting in a warm pit of lower midrange grit. The CD-R comes in a small, slim jewel case with black and white artwork that has some blurry text and images that are a little hard to discern. I actually really like the blurring of the text because it creates a weird off-center look, almost like when the second color of a screenprint isn't lined up properly. It's not crude though, it's bleak, and I really enjoy that aesthetic. I'd rank this as being a bit more developed and forceful than Ahlzagailzehguh's last 3", which is a good sign. I still think there is room for improvement, but I can confidently state that with this release Ahlzagailzehguh has become one of the select few harsh noise acts whose future recordings I'll be anticipating. Good work. (7/10)
Running time - 20:38, Tracks: 7
[Notable tracks: Bastard Maniac, Fastest Way Out]
Ahlzagailzehguh - http://www.geocities.com/collapsedhole/

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