Sigillum S :: Aborted Towns, The Deadly Silence Before Utopia (Subsound)

A gripping, ominous, and irresistibly punchy power electronics album, laced with post-techno industrial flair. Highly recommended for fans of bold electronic experimentation, gritty industrial soundscapes, and chaotic breakbeats.

Explosive rhythmic passages

For avid listeners of industrial music and proto-dark ambient with a ritualistic vibe, the album Bardo Thos-Grol by the Italian collective Sigillum S resonates as an ultimate masterpiece and is largely recognized as a visionary album. The band was formed in Milan on December 23, 1985 by Paolo Bandera, Eraldo Bernocchi, and Luca Di Giorgio. They released a handful of materials for well-noted (post) industrial music labels of that revolutionary time, participating to the first death industrial-atonal dark ambient wave from the 80s with Organum, Contraste, Lustmord, and Metgumbnerbone. Also a contemporary of other radical and harsh experimental projects from the Italian underground (Atrax Morgue, Die Sonne Satan, and Giancarlo Toniutti.

Honestly, I was positively surprised to see this now cult project still active today. However, and just a side comment, after listening to Aborted Towns, The Deadly Silence Before Utopia, for the first time, I was wondering if we are talking about the same band because the musical signature and sound exploration admit completely different options, more electronic-infused and less raw-spooky atmospherics in favor of brutal modern Indus Grooves reminiscent to Coil, Zos Kia, Aural Rage, but also materials from Raubbau or Ant-Zen records. I possibly missed a whole chapter about the latest musical development of the project to have a clearly defined opinion.

After several listening experiences, I must say that the result is really convincing despite its slight departure from the more eerily lugubrious and taciturn ambient ceremony of the first albums (those published by Broken Flag, Old Europa Cafe). In this collection of pieces, the project skillfully weaves electronic textures with captivating and at times explosive rhythmic passages. Rippling and tranced-out electronic music with a post-apocalyptical dimension. Overall, Aborted Towns, The Deadly Silence Before Utopia is a gripping, ominous, and irresistibly punchy power electronics album, laced with post-techno industrial flair. Highly recommended for fans of bold electronic experimentation, gritty industrial soundscapes, and chaotic breakbeats.

Aborted Towns, The Deadly Silence Before Utopia is available on Subsound. [Bandcamp]