Posts Tagged ‘Pharaoh Overlord’

Album of the day: Pharaoh Overlord – Lunar Jetman

Posted on Sunday, February 5th, 2012

Lovingly pinched from The Inarguable: The Repetition is a difficult beast to wrangle. From the premier of Steve Reich’s Music for Eighteen Instruments, the new wave of post-modernity screamed “excessive minimalism” in praise of its stylistic progenitor. Of course, not many people could perfectly emulate Reich’s pulsing, shifting, harmonically dense style, opting for a more pure, hypnotic, unfortunately monotonous route of execution.

That isn’t to say the monotony is inherently bad, however, twenty-minute krautrock epics which never stray from one single bassline sort of peeves me, which is the exact problem I’ve had with the rest of Pharaoh Overlord‘s discography. These Finns, who share members with the critically acclaimed Circle, recorded some great ideas, but ‘Devastators” 9 minutes and 33 seconds of one singular classic heavy metal riff seemed a little off. I was a little apprehensive when approaching Pharaoh Overlord’s new record, named after the classic video game Lunar Jetman, though the inclusion of a seasoned member of Faust definitely piqued my interest.

I really am glad I gave this album a fair chance, as Lunar Jetman shows immense growth in the Pharaoh Overlord camp. Moving away from their “consistent, hypnotic repetition” route of execution, Lunar Jetman follows the example set forth by the Reich-ian school of thought. As layers of sound are stacked on top of the repetitive base, it begins to shift under the weight, and upper echelons follow suit as they begin to buckle under the sheer weight of sound above them.

Eventually, you arrive at an entirely different conclusion. This sort of transformation is always a treat, especially given the trance-inducing nature of the music (and perfectly embodied in the two-part ‘Cave of Hair’); you snap out of it and find yourself in different surroundings. Looking down, you’ll notice I imbued this album with the all-encompassing “krautrock” tag, but don’t expect your standard Neu! or Amon Duul (one or II, take your pick) thoroughfare

Continue reading: The Inarguable: Pharaoh Overlord – “Lunar Jetman” (2012) [SIGE/Ektro Records].

Tags: aaron turner, Album of the day, Ektro Records, Faith Coloccia, Krautrock, Lunar Jetman, Pharaoh Overlord, SIGE Records, The Inarguable
Posted in 2012, Album of the Day, Roadburn Recommended | No Comments »

Album of the day: Roadburn HQ Favorite Albums of 2011

Posted on Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

Many excellent records came out in 2011. We don’t pretend to be arbiters of taste, we just think it’s fun to share which albums rocked our worlds, soothed our souls, lifted our spirits or otherwise burrowed into our systems this year. Of course, in addition to occupying our turntables, many ...read more

Album of the day: Pharaoh Overlord – Out Of Darkness (LP)

Posted on Friday, December 2nd, 2011

Praise for Pharaoh Overlord‘s Out Of Darkness from San Francisco’s aQuarius Records: Now on LP, this great PO album. Here’s what we said about the CD version when it came out a few months back, concurrently with Steel Mammoth’s Radiation Funeral. It’s “NWOFHM” in overdrive overload this week, with not ...read more

Circle: Video Interview With Jussi Lehtisalo

Posted on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Sami Sänpäkkilä conducted an interview with Jussi Lehtisalo of Finand’s Circle. You can now watch the chat below. Jussi Lehtisalo is the founder of Circle and he runs Ektro Records. In addition he plays in groups such as Pharaoh Overlord, Ektroverde, Steel Mammoth and Rättö ja Lehtisalo just to name ...read more

Supersonic Festival 2011, 21 – 23 October, Birmingham UK: Envy and Barn Owl Confirmed; Supersonic Podcast Available

Posted on Friday, August 5th, 2011

Envy and Barn Owl have been confirmed for this years Supersonic Festival, set for 21 -23 October, Birmingham UK. Envy are now confirmed for this years festival line up. They have become a dominant band in the independent hardcore scene in Japan, their music, through their own evolution, encompasses a ...read more

On line Now! Roadburn Festival 2011 Audio Streams of The Atomic Bitchwax, Pharaoh Overlord, Ramesses and Zoroaster Among Others

Posted on Thursday, May 19th, 2011

The latest batch of audio streams from this year’s stellar 16th edition of Roadburn Festival are now only a few quick clicks away. Ready for another round of bands captured in all of their Roadburn glory? Of course you are! And stay tuned for more! Click on the band names ...read more

On Line Now! Roadburn Festival 2011 Audio Streams of Weedeater, C.O.C., Count Raven, Today Is The Day and Circle & Pharaoh Overlörd Among Others

Posted on Thursday, May 12th, 2011

The latest batch of audio streams from this year’s stellar 16th edition of Roadburn Festival are now only a few quick clicks away. Ready for another round of bands captured in all of their Roadburn glory? Of course you are! And stay tuned for more! Click on the band names ...read more

Circle & Pharaoh Overlörd Live at Roadburn 2011 Audio Stream

Posted on Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

Please relive Circle & Pharaoh Overlörd live at Roadburn 2011, courtesy of VPRO 3voor12. The audio stream has been mixed by Marcel van der Vondervoort at Torture Garden Studio. Feel free to post your thoughts or share your memories about the show in the comment box below.

Pharaoh Overlord Live at Roadburn 2011 Audio Stream

Posted on Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

Please relive Pharaoh Overlord live at Roadburn 2011, courtesy of VPRO 3voor12. The audio stream has been mixed by Marcel van der Vondervoort at Torture Garden Studio. Feel free to post your thoughts or share your memories about the show in the comment box below.