Review Summary: Everyone's a comedian.
I don’t like scary movies. When I was a kid I pretended to, though. There was always one person in my group of friends who would see the sick humour, and chuckle at so-and-so getting decapitated, or this person getting their skin ripped off. I was never certain if this was bravado, or a genuine difference of perception. Whatever, I was just a kid. Now, I am fully prepared to admit when things scare me sh
itless. There is motivation, however, to look at things beyond the surface and see just what’s so goddamn funny.
Listening to harsh noise, it’s easy to see why people get turned off by it. I’m sure we’ve all heard our parents disgustedly say
”this just sounds like noise” at some point, in reference to some crappy punk band we liked. We’d claim
”they just don’t get it”. Harsh noise music, however, has a habit of making old fogeys out of just about everyone who happens upon it. In accordance, it’s unlikely noise music will ever gain much traction outside its little niche. Sure, there are relatively successful artists like Merzbow, but even
he incorporates other elements, and is essentially a gateway artist for noise due mostly to decades of persistence. That’s neither here nor there, though. Suffice to say, ACIN is one of a plethora of noise artists that might never be enjoyed due to the very definition of their craft. Harsh noise is, expectedly… well, harsh. It doesn’t give you a teat to suck on. There’s a reward for your toils and troubles, and it’s different for every listener.
On that note, it’s tricky to analyze ACIN’s self-titled release. No two listens are quite the same, and results may vary. It’s only fitting to tack on a personal perspective, with which you will inevitably disagree - not because I
just don’t know what I’m talking about, but because harsh noise puts the burden on the listener.
ACIN isn’t a unifying piece, where we can circle-jerk over our favourite moments. It creates an internalized… something. It’s difficult to share, like admitting you enjoyed watching someone getting hit by a car. You’d rather just keep it to yourself, for your own analysis. This attitude, applied to music, restricts the spread of information. Perhaps this is one of several things making it nigh impossible for a bona fide noise artist to stir any buzz - no one really wants to share their experiences.
I’ll be honest - as an adult, I think I can just come out and say it -
ACIN is terrifying. It’s not campy, with shrieks or low-pitch voice distortions or anything like that. “The Battle Within” displays conflict; the track writhes in what can best be described as a state of self-loathing, paired with survival instincts. Listening to it while sitting in a crowded area is surreal. I imagine my body is positioned awkwardly, and my face is contorted, making me self-conscious that people might notice me and say
”what the hell is wrong with him”. Within a few minutes, I feel as though I had witnessed a murder, and am trying to shrug it off. “Alive” is more focused… sort of. There’s still no predictability, but the chaos is dialled down. The hums and scrapes are frantic, but soothing. It’s like begin consoled with one hand rubbing your back, while another claws at your face. This is all very morbid - it’s just music - but the immersion is perhaps unlike anything you’ve experienced. Furthermore, you probably won’t experience it again. Listening to
ACIN, you might worriedly ask
”when will it be over?”. Soon enough. Each new listen brings a host of new problems though, so desensitization is unlikely. Don’t sweat it,
it’s only noise, so there’s no need to take it too personally. Learn to laugh at yourself once in a while.
