Review Summary: Wormdrill's Magnum Opus!
Wormdrill is a project that has really been silently innovating noise, experimental, and electronic music for quite some time. After the absurdly minimalist account “Festivall” came out in 2015, Vlad really created an entire new approach for the project. Following a series of three ep’s (Reedy Branch, Darkness, and Remuscare) Wormdrill finally unleashed upon the world the epitome of wormdrill’s new sound. Sex Bloody sex is an LP that takes the free flow noise of the first LP, and combines it with the disturbing and intricately bizarre musical world of later releases.
Starting off with the innocently titled “Polly”, Vlad really takes this concept and juxtaposes it with this terrifying cacophony of rumbly piano chords, bringing to mind the ominous and brooding strings of Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring”. In context of Stravinsky, it is interesting to say that unlike a lot of noise projects, Wormdrill does not lend itself to much room for improvisation. Everything feels fully realized in the most nightmarish and chaotic approach. “I am afraid, God please heal me” is a great example of this, with it’s very emphasized A and B sections. The first minute and a half of this song, is a really brooding dance that is equally otherworldly as it is darkly captivating. And then the B section is really reminiscent of a 50’s sci-fi/horror movie, with prodigy-like chimey synths and stabbing chords. Another great example of the haunting presence of this record is on the song “The Result of Earth Consumed” with a barrage of spacey theremin frequencies that hit the listener right in their darkest fears.
Though, this record is an extremely ominous record, Vlad also left a lot of room for ambiguity in the process, and these moments really serve as a haunting parallel to the darker side of this record. This is definitely present on the whimsical and ethereal track “Jaundice Rabbits” which is a beautiful cascade of nostalgic and summery shoegazey guitars. (Asides from it’s utter beauty) This track is very still and slow in it’s compositional form and really serves as a great alternative side to the musical realm presented on this record, showing that Wormdrill is a project that is very efficient at creating a variety of moods. Another example of this is the 8th track “Whole” which really brings the album back in full circle, as a more serene and dreamlike version of “This Night Awaits Scabs”, with it’s very minimalistic nature (reminiscent of Erik Satie and the Minecraft OST). It is on this track, where you could really fully realize the journey the album has taken you on. It is a brilliant soundscape of night and day, dark and light, fulfilling itself as a fantastic way to transcend this reality. And that is why I listen to music. This is Wormdrill’s greatest effort, and is a great reminder of the power music has in store for all of us, to take us away… whether it be in a pinch of 30 seconds in a grindcore track.. Or a swell of ambient chords for an hour or two.
