GNOD
Chronicles Of Gnowt Vol. 1 (Rocket)
Unintentionally celebrating 20 years as a band, Gnod entered a residential session that wielded three albums’ worth of new material, with the other volumes of the trilogy following later this year. Chronicles Of Gnowt Vol. 1 runs the spectrum from folk-tinged, acoustic instrumental pieces – Three Tree’s (Parts 1 & 2), occupying a similar space to Paddy Shine’s Moundabout project – to the more familiar, maximalist territory Gnod are known for.
Shadow Mirror builds a descending repeating guitar riff into a refrain of leaving the city behind, before moving into a more shamanistic, hypnotic sound on Neptune, with drones, looping percussion and hushed vocals. All Tunnel No Light one of the most miserable (with all due respect) guitar riffs, moving at a glacial pace with enough space between the beats to listen to a grind album, and Ekstasis is closest to their live sound, feeling looser and more improvisational with a Krautrock foundation.
words GARETH MOULE
