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Artist: Silent Horror Title: Patterns II EP Label: DVSM Records Date: June, 2013 1. Variables 2. Pan'd Labyrinth 3. Atomic Structures "The ghosts in the darkness have come." Darkpsy ain't for everyone. Hammering bass lines, noisy and abrasive synth washes, and usually the total absence of a melody...It's a f*cking headache waiting to happen. And I'll be honest I don't know how you dance to this type of music unless it's a mosh pit free for all. The genre has sort of become a parody of itself and the race is on to see which darkpsy producer can make the most noise. The good ones (like Kiriyama) combine other styles with darkpsy for a very complex and detailed journey. But please don't think I'm singling out darkspy because we all know the sorry state of full-on. And don't get me started on "popular" music. Having spoken with Alex (who runs DVSM Records) on numerous occasions I've come to learn he is a really nice fellow. Silent Horror (Jigar Shah) has a new EP and Alex asked me if I wouldn't mind giving it a listen. Last I heard from Mr. Shah was when I reviewed his album Seance back in 2011. Pure darkness that would really appeal to fans of that genre. Well he's back for more and he brings his scary penchant for horror movies with him. And man this is heavy. Remember that hammering bass line I was talking about? Yep, it's here. But he also has a little break in Variables that gives the ear a break from the punishment. That's important because you can only whip someone so many times before the whipping is rendered meaningless. He's really good with the effects and he layers them so the track sounds really full. Pan'd Labyrinth is more scary noises and discovering monsters down dark corridors. But he also does a nice trick with some scary percussion to add some variability. It's a hallucinogenic nightmare for atmosphere and you've gotta be wondering if it can get any worse. Atomic Structures is the heaviest of them all. The beginning is chopped up synths and there you go back into that corridor. Cue the scratchy "darkpsy" synth and another spooky break. It eventually gets so many sounds near the end that it's like punching someone in the face when he's already dead. Look, it is what it is. The sound quality is awesome and when I was playing this I was rumbling a few windows. The kick and bass line are relentless. That said you're not necessarily going to win any new converts to the darkside with this because it's still darkpsy. Those that love that type of music will love this. But those that get tired of the same leads and the madness won't. Sure there's more atmosphere with breaks that help, but it still falls into the same cliche's that the genre is known for. Bandcamp Mdk

SILENT HORROR - PATTERNS II EP DVSM RECORDS, SWEDEN/INDIA Cat#: DVSMDIG002 Mastered by: Dark Elf Artwork by: Rusty Psyflyart In 2009, we put out Silent Horror’s first EP, Patterns, a three-track collection which despite its age we still feel passionated about. Four years down, it still feels fresh, we still get that rush listening to it. We are therefore particularly pleased to present you with our latest release, which, as always, feels very special to us: Patterns II EP by Silent Horror. Hand on heart, we believe that you know what you are in for. Enjoy the ride. 01 - Variables 02 - Pan'd Labyrinth 03 - Atomic Structures Status: OUT NOW! Grab it from our Band Camp page: http://dvsm.bandcamp.com/album/patterns-ii-ep Hope you'll like it as much as we do! All the best, Alex, Jigar and the DVSM family www.dvsmrecords.org info (at) dvsmrecords (dot) org

Artist: Silent Horror Title: Seance Label: Devil's Mind Records Date: September, 2011 1. Inner Soul 2. Twinkled 3. Drum Ritual 4. Of None But It 5. Black Orb 6. Higher Access 7. Journey 8. Deja Vu 9. The Calling Do you like scary movies? Sh*t. Hold up...give me a sec... That's better. That's the scream I was going for. This is Jigar Shah, a marine engineer by profession, and he loves them. He apparently wrote all these tracks while he was on the open ocean. This is his 2nd full length album and if you cannot tell what type of music this is then I'm sorry your parents dropped you on your head. Repeatedly. Yep this is an album of dark atmospheres and rumbling grumbling bass lines as scary effects assault you at every turn. Sunshine and light have long since been decapitated and eaten and if you didn't leave a trail of breadcrumbs before you started this journey, well...you're f*cked. Maybe this will help Uh...nope. That made it significantly worse.Inner Soul is wet with fear as if a deranged lunatic with a chainsaw in a pig mask is stalking you in a deserted home. After a frenzied chase you seem to have outlasted him. For now. This was a great way to start. Twinkling is more of the same rampaging bass line and abject darkness, but I found it less interesting as there wasn't any building of dread. It just unloaded on you with typical darkpsy noise, but where he scores points is again with his very descriptive break. Scary, but too short. The break that is. Drum Ritual - Dark like the rest of the tracks with a deep, menacing bass line to be sure. But let's be honest...that's all it was. The only thing it made me want to do was see what the next track is like. Of None But It- Stop me if you've heard this one. Bass line + effects. Repeat. I liked his break once again, I just wish there was more of it. Black Orb- This one has a deep feeling of isolation, which makes sense if he created this stuff in the middle of the ocean. Wailing pads like forgotten ghosts moan but that is dominated by the scratchy and very loud darkpsy lead. "Oh yes...you have been hurt. Who hurt you Jigar? Who hurt you? *whispers* Who hurt you?" Higher Access- More very scary vibes from the start. But you knew that. I'm starting to think that making this at sea is almost like making it in a studio on land. We saw this before. It's called the last 4 tracks. I did like the last bit which had a bubbling quality to it. He's got talent, no question. Journey- "She took the midnight train going anywhere..." This is a much darker journey than candy corn 80's pop as you would imagine. He wields dark atmosphere like a scythe cutting through any and all feelings of hope and escape. This is more like it...every door you open you run into the lost souls that were violently murdered in this house. Oh thank God you're here, can you help me find the way out? What the f*ck! Deja Vu- Love...absolutely love the way this one starts. It's a nightmare of hallucinogenic proportions before the bass line begins to hammer away. Also with all the leads it seems to be more on the darker side of twilight so easier to digest. It's just a continuous downward spiral into terror. For me, the scariest track yet. The Calling- "The power of darkness." Undoubtedly the greatest surprise on the album with an ambient ending. After your body is murdered this must be what it's like to be confined to the limbo between the living and the dead. It's got it all...bass sweeps, zombie chants, eerie almost ethereal atmosphere...It's not until 6 minutes that a beat drops in, as if they didn't want to forget to torture your soul before sending you to the hereafter. I think you have to be a fan of this genre to really like it. It's angry and singular in purpose. A bass line and scary effects that don't quit. He does a good job on a lot of tracks creating a tense atmosphere, but it's heavily outweighed by what makes darkpsy....well, darkpsy. One trick pony bass line is nice but when it's deluged with almost ear bleeding leads it becomes tough to listen to. I guess it's like listening to your music with your parents. "Why you no study...be like brother. Be doctor!" So take this review with a grain of salt. I'm not that big a fan of darkpsy for the reasons mentioned above. If you are then you will probably love this. Perusing the big blue forum I found a review for this which was overwhelmingly positive. Mind you it was composed by someone with a screen name CinderVOMIT so he obviously has a taste for the finer things. I'm just Mike. http://www.psyshop.c.../dvs1cd007.html http://www.beatspace...ce+/detail.aspx http://www.goastore....roducts_id=4603 Mdk