Review Summary: So far from easy listening, that it comes the closest to being completely unlistenable, based on how off putting and evil it truly does sound.
Khanate are a four piece that utilise unorthodox song structuring, a unique vocalist, and a determined vision of madness to achieve a twisted masterful level of evil sound that stands above most other so called "evil albums". Spoken word, it's instructive, its the nature of conversation, what would you hear if you put your ear up to the rotting back shed of the creepy guy's house late at night? "Silence, while i strip.......bones", how unsettling, it's almost like the band actually did record those lines from such a murderous event, they are delivered with such a disturbing sense of visceral intent from vocalist Alan Dubin that i could believe it.
Amongst the standout vocal performance, the other band members don't let up on crafting a terrifying atmosphere, Stephen O'Malley (Of Sunn 0)))) pumps out what one might say are his usual Sunn dronescapes (albeit in different tunings) but of course they come together perfectly with demented samples to create a "Dark Ambient" like effect. The drumming is quite and reserved, minimal because it needs to be, but again, it contributes sharply to the overall "i'm in hell now" feel of the album. The effects on the vocals (echo's/various other distortions) work to enhance the vox and don't come across as cheesy and overused like the attempts of many band's, no, these guys really know what they are doing.
I suppose one complaint that could be level'd at this album (and the band in general) is that if you don't have the patience for the 1 BPM like pace you are going to get bored, but that comes with the territory, this is greatly experimental music that requires your attention, and some time locked in before hand, so come here with that and leave only if it didn't help, since this music is designed as an "experience" and clearly not "easy listening", in fact this is so far from easy listening that it comes the closest to being completely unlistenable based on how off putting and evil it truly does sound, and for creating that kind of feeling the album deserves nothing less than the rating of a masterpiece, because putting sound together in such a way as to generate such a feeling, is clearly the product of great talent and skill, and maybe a bit of ill intent..
