Sunday, August 17, 2014

RU-486 - Romanian Abattoirs

Named after the morning-after pill, Thomas Mortigan's RU-486 is a power electronics/industrial act stationed out of Houston, TX.

I played my first show as Funeral Parlor with this act and received a copy of this album through a friendly swap the morning after (get it?) the show.

At first look, this is a professionally made cd through Fusty Cunt Tapes and Destructive Industries. The cover has an old-concerned woman, which may have more of a backstory than the name of the act.

There are a slew of other artists who help make this album the way it came to be such as Houston legend Richard Ramirez, Dallas-bound Awen, Lussuria, and Slogun.

I remember driving back home listening to this and my ears were bombarded by refreshing new sounds.

The album starts off with "The Humble Hempen Cord" and starts off with electronic noises and other sounds such as clanging. Near the end of the track, Erin Powell comes in with his signature voice setting the stage for the rest of the album.

"Hook And Barb Pt. II" is the track that stood out to me the most with children singing together, but was short lived with an mantra style drumming zooming in shortly after. Thomas' vocals finally come in with a sort of vocal effect to boot.

"Live To Make War" is an industrial beautiful mess. This track was made for war. The album's shortest track, but not a weak one by far.

Slogun joins Mortigan in "A Perennial End" and gives a vocal-dominant assault with clever written lyrics (credit to John Balistreri).

A sound clip starts off "The Moldavian Csango's" which is followed by synthesizers and light static. Easily the most somber and thought-provoking track on the album.

Another industrial track comes with "The Antioch Recon". Aside from the electronic drums and buzzes, there is an apparent mantra throughout the longest track on the album. Around the four minute mark, Mortigan comes back to your ears with lyrics regarding religion.

The album closes with "A Symphony Of Sinews" who is joined by Richard Ramirez. Synth come in and then vocals. The later half of the track goes on into a continuous drone until the album is no more.

I love this album and would recommend it to anyone into genres such as industrial, noise, and even neo-folk.

A cd that will stay in my car for long Texas drives to come.

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