SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – ARTOFFACT RECORDS 2022 SAMPLER

Various Artists
Artoffact Records 2022 Sampler
Artoffact Records

Toronto’s Artoffact Records is a Canadian independent record label, founded in 2001, that specializes in industrial, postpunk, heavy metal, and electronic music.

Their Artoffact Records 2022 Sampler, as with most records of this type, is like those single-serve cereal box assortment packs your parents bought when you went on a camping trip. Of the 19 tracks, there are a lot to like but a few that are less interesting but still worth a listen.

A highlight is the Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber-led Noise Unit whose track “Alone Again” sounds like Front Line Assembly, with a little less bite but all the gloom. “Tomorrow’s paranoia is in my mind/Life will not always be so unkind” neatly sums up today’s angst and hints at better days to come.

Pholo is a Russian band known for its unique blend of electronic and indie rock music. Their sound is characterized by haunting vocals, melodic guitar riffs, and driving beats.Their lush as a green meadow production on the compelling “Магнитофон” is punctuated by Victor Uzhakov’s Peter Murphyesque vocals.

GGGOLDDD is a Dutch band known for their unique blend of electronic and alternative music. “Notes on How to Trust”, an industrial-tinged track, portends to our damage and the difficulties this creates: “Glued myself together so that you can see/That I don’t know any boundaries, impossible to read”. You can take a look but it may be fleeting.

Artoffact Records 2022 Sampler is a journey to consider. While it lacks the cohesiveness of an album, it nonetheless takes you to some interesting places.

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