Review: Various Artists – 'Baptized In Witchblood'

VARIOUS ARTISTS
'Baptized In Witchblood'
NIGH† †ERRORS

the Nigh† †errors label has been producing some great free compilations for a few years now. Always dropping in time for Halloween 'Suicide Serenade', 'Babylon Rising', 'A Dying Breed', and 'Scary Music To Play In The Dark' have been great soundtracks for the spooky season. And this year is now different with the release of 'Baptized In Witchblood' which features seventeen underground electronic artists, plus a bonus 30-minute mix.

Featuring the likes of Sidewalks & Skeletons, D3ath H3x, M∞nflower, ßęđŧīmĕ Šŧōŗĩėş, and Badass Wolf Shirt, the compilation straddles multiple genres including witch house, industrial, metal, and dark electronic music for a truly dark and demonic sounds for the darkening nights.

Tracks such as 'I Save My Hope' by Violet7rip, 'Burn' by Sidewalks & Skeletons, 'Demon' by Drogma, and 'Eclipse ' by BENEA†h MY SH▲DE have more dance appeal with their prominent beats and infectious leads, while tracks such as 'La Dama Marchita ' by Inmacoitada Concepción, 'SUICIDEWITCH' by M∞nflower, and 'Şōũł Ęxŧęřmĭŋăŧĭőŋ ' by ßęđŧīmĕ Šŧōŗĩėş, are more atmospheric, ambient and occasionally noisy in nature to provide a spooky counterpoint to the more grooving tracks. Though it is the heavily metal influenced likes of Sadwrists' 'Whorefecation', D3ath H3x's 'Peine forte et dure', and Here †hey Come's 'Corpse Defiler' that give this compilation a bit more depth by bringing in the guitars and metal drums to great effect.

The compilation definitely has a heavier atmosphere all together this time round with the metal influences dominating the middle of the tracks while being bookended by more recognisably witch-flavoured electronics. The production is fairly uniform for a compilation with very little noticeable differences in the recording qualities of the songs which helps the flow of the album as much as the smart arrangement of the songs despite the extreme variations in genres.

It's nice to hear the witch influences that have made electronic music a bit more dark and interesting start to permeate into metal – which has always had an interesting relationship with electronic music. The Nigh† †errors compilations have been a nice indicator over the past years of how the witch house genre and its siblings have been evolving and 'Baptized In Witchblood' is no different. It has enough great witchy electronics to keep purists happy but is also a useful starting point for metal heads to explore these strange dark hallways.  

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Review: Various Artists - 'N¡gh†m∆res ∆nd 8Ø8s X Untitled Burial: Babalon Rising'

VARIOUS ARTISTS
'N¡gh†m∆res ∆nd 8Ø8s X Untitled Burial: Babalon Rising'
NIGH† †ERRORS

Nigh† †errors – the label side of Youtube radio station has been spreading the message of underground occult electronic music to the masses. The previous compilations and guest mixes released have always been meticulously put together and presented, but this latest effort 'Babalon Rising' released in cooperation with Untitled Burial is the biggest and best compilation of Witch House and related acts the genre has seen so far.

Boasting a colossal 65 tracks from an impressive cross-section of artists, the compilation is perhaps the definitive portrait of what is known as Witch House. There are far too many acts featured to review every track, but some highlights include the contributions from (((O))), †ЯСΣS ΘF GНО5†5, AL†RS, Apexys x Ca†hedra, BL▼И† †R▲▼M▲, C∆T, Ghostling, MONOMOR✞E, OKKVLT KΛTT, S▲MH▲IN, Sidewalks and Skeletons, SUICIDEWΛVE, and VVITCH. But that is just a small selection of a huge and varied tracklist that takes in a myriad of styles and genres with elements of industrial, dark ambient, synthpop, hip hop, and dark electro cropping up in various forms.

The collection is wonderfully curated and although it is arranged in alphabetical order for ease, it still has a nice flow throughout. And as with the previous compilations from the label, despite the disparity of styles and recording techniques, everything sounds high quality and equal in its presentation to the audience.

'Babalon Rising' is a monstrous collection that will act as a perfect primer for those new to the genre, as well as anyone needing a heavy fix of bands, established and new. Weighing in at four-and-a-half hours of music – or four CD's worth – of music, this collection alone could more than provide a dark soundtrack for any party or club night during the Halloween season, and the fact it is available as a pay what you want download makes this a must have for any new or long-time fan of Witch House.  

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Review: Various Artists – 'Scary Music To Play In The Dark Vol. II'

VARIOUS ARTISTS
'Scary Music To Play In The Dark Vol. II'
NIGH† †ERRORS

Just in time for Halloween Nigh† †errors, the record label arm of the YouTube radio station Nightmares and 808s, returns with another free compilation of dark underground electronics certain to add some spooky atmosphere to your Samhain celebrations.

It isn't the longest compilation with just seven tracks in total, however it is more of a case of quality over quantity. Witch house, dark, and occult electronics collide for a subtle, spooky and occasionally psychedelic playlist.

First up is Ukraine's SVGAWA with 'Annelise' with it's opening Exorcist sample giving way to a down-beat stuttering rhythm and simple spooky bass that is suddenly pierced by the lead melody in a way that evokes the shower scene in Psycho. Damn Whore follow on with 'Frank Young' with a more subtle stuttering beat this time with a more discernible hip hop flavour to it mixed with some wonderfully dark and deep bass.

Flesh's eight-minute long 'Delirium' is a stunning centrepiece which opens with a nice choral sample that fades into a slow ambient leaning track, building in a way that recalls a much darker Enigma before the more overt witchy elements creep in. △Sco△'s 'Crystal Witches' in comparison is a shorter, sharper and more straightforward glitchy witchy track that has a nice melody and steady dance-friendly beat that will get bodies moving.

'Lilac' by Foxwedding and remixed by Resonata is a nice light, but creepy track that utilises vocal samples as rhythmic devices to create a disturbing psychedelic feeling that would be right at home on the American Horror Story soundtrack. The Compilation is then rounded-off by the stunning 'Death By Stereo' from Sunset Architects which starts by leaning towards dark ambience with its hanging chords, subtle beats and atmospheric samples but soon switches gear into a stripped-down witch house style that is very effective.

This is another solid compilation from Nigh† †errors that shows off some very talented underground acts. Once again with it being free it should just as attractive to those looking to satisfy their curiosity about this particular branch of electronics as fans looking for new stuff to fill up their play lists. Despite its short length it is well curated and the end result is a pleasure to listen to.  

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Review: Various Artists – 'A Dying Breed...'

VARIOUS ARTISTS
'A Dying Breed...'
NIGH† †ERRORS

Love it or hate it, Witch House and related genres such as vapourwave, chillwave, dark trap, and other underground occult electronic styles are here to stay. Injecting their music with a mixture of house, ambient, psychedelic and trip hop elements the artists of these genres have been creating some genuinely interesting music for a number of years now. Throughout that time the Nightmare And 808s you tube station, and the associated record label Nigh† †errors, have been championing the genres and spreading the word and generating some much deserved interest, particularly with their free compilations.

The latest compilation 'A Dying Breed...' rather than an entrance point for the genres as the previous ones ('Suicide Serenade' and 'Scary Music To Play In The Dark') have been, attempts to show more of an evolutionary step. Recent works by bands such as †Я▲СΣS ΘF GΗО5†5, †RIɅLS, V▲LH▲LL, OKKVLT KɅTT, and gℓo come together to show a more progressive path that leads on from the now familiar trappings of the scene.

Tracks by the likes of ATMSSPHERO, Gnothi Seauton, †Я▲СΣS ΘF GΗО5†5, †RIɅLS, РΣ▲ϾΣ ⱧΣȊL, V▲LH▲LL, and OKKVLT KɅTT provide the album with its undoubted highlights drawing on industrial, witch house, ambient, metal, folk, trip hop, hip hop and experimental elements all adding to their appeal. While the compilation's closer by gℓo, with it's twelve minutes of delicate ambience and emotional vocal sample shows off the most progressive path of the album.

In terms of production and mixing, with it being a compilation there are always going to be variances in recording quality. But the album has been constructed and laid out in such a way, that those variances don't seem very overt.

This is another great compilation from Nigh† †errors that shows off some of the best that the occult electronic underground's has to offer. When listened to in order with the previous albums it shows a clear evolutionary path of the past present and future. It is a solid album with some great tracks that will have fans digging for more.  

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Review: Various Artists - 'N¡gh†m∆res ∆nd 8Ø8s Presents: Suicide Serenade'

VARIOUS ARTISTS
'N¡gh†m∆res ∆nd 8Ø8s Presents: Suicide Serenade'
NIGH† †ERRORS

The cult of witch-house / drag / dark trap / vapourwave etc. continues to grow with more and more interesting and avant garde bands creeping out of the shadows with their take on the electronic genre. Helping to popularise this growing cult is the YouTube station N¡gh†m∆res ∆nd 8Ø8s with their visualisations added to the music they plug they have carved a niche for the styles they promote with their channel fast approaching 3,000 subscribers.

The first free compilation from the channel 'Suicide Serenade', released via label Nigh† †errors sees thirteen artists come together spanning multiple genre to create a great introduction to the new wave of dark electronics.

Featuring the likes of King Plague, Okkvlt Kʌtt, Fraunhoffer Diffraction, Bleak Amethyst, Stigma, and Strange Powers the compilation encompasses a good cross-section of artists and style from hip hop and trip hop influences, to dark ambient atmospheres and post-industrial grit. The varied styles of the artists should mean that there is something for everyone here, no matter what preference for electronic music they are approaching this from. However the compilation's stand-out track has to be the darkly minimal cover of Nivana's 'Something In The Way' by Strange Powers which rounds-off the album very nicely.

The production is fairly uniform for a compilation with very little noticeable differences in the recording qualities of the songs which helps the flow of the album as much as the smart arrangement of the songs.

If you're new to witch-house and its related sub-genres, '… Suicide Serenade' is a pretty good starting point. It is a compilation that has been curated with care and attention that should provide new and established fans with a few gems to get stuck in to. Hopefully this will be the first of many such compilation albums from N¡gh†m∆res ∆nd 8Ø8s in the future.

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