Genre Power Electronics / Industrial

01 - Spiral
02 - Dungeon
03 - Fuga
04 - Needle
05 - Passage
06 - Whip
07 - Agonia

Stressed to fuck I am. My blood pressure is going through the roof. I’ve started to swear repeatedly at my computer. Not a good sign. I’m chain smoking and guzzling coffee like there’s no tomorrow and my health is going to suffer. I know it. Another five years docked off my life expectancy. Well thanks a fucking bunch. And all for the sake of one bloody fucking CDR cover image which I can’t fucking find anywhere on the fucking Internet. Do I ask for much? Do I fuck. But try as I can I can’t find that fucking image. I’ve visited the website of the record label. Nothing. I’ve been on the artists My Space web page. Zilch. I’ve searched through Google until I’m blue in the face. Fuck all. In fact…here’s something to keep you amused for hours…type in ‘Bleed - Bondage & Discipline’ into Google and see what crops up. Weird fucking shit from weird fucking people. And that’s the tame stuff. If there’s no picture of the record cover when this review is uploaded onto Heathen Harvest then don’t blame me. I’ve gone to hell and back, suffering all the while, in my futile search for that elusive fucking cover. Someone, somewhere, just doesn’t like me.

Assuming that no cover is present to accompany this review, unless my Administrator colleague gets one over on me and finds one, I feel it would be best to describe it. It sets the tone and overall concept for everything you’ll hear on the record after all. Bathed in sepia colours the front cover features a woman, partially naked, standing facing a window in some non descript room. Her arms are outstretched as though held by some unseen restraining device. The picture is faintly blurred after all. She appears to be readied for some serious kinky shit about to go down. The rear cover picture features another woman, possibly the same one, sitting naked from the waist up with a wide belt thing across her tits. I take it I’m allowed to use the word ‘tits’ in a review without offending anyone? Fucking Politically Correct brigade do my napper in. So you now see, or maybe not unless a picture has appeared, how this all ties in with the title of the record. A bit long winded an explanation but it has allowed me time to calm down somewhat.

Bleed is a one man act from Bremen in Germany. He is called Gwen. He lists his influences as Sex, Life and Noise. In that order. He says he sounds like 100% sex noise domination. Who am I to argue with that statement? This CDR EP release is his first recording. He has a full length release just out on the Nil By Mouth Record Label. I like Gwen. I like what I’ve heard so far of his music. Not so sure I like his sexual preferences mind you. I very staid and old fashioned in that respect. If he’s into this whole ‘bondage and discipline’ scene then who am I to criticize…as long as no-one gets hurt in the process.

Released through the Gazoline Record label, a subdivision of the truly excellent Hermetique Record label, this seven track and 20 minutes + of music is as nice a piece of power electronics as you’ll ever want to hear. All wrapped up with a certain Master Slave flavour. Our Gwen has obviously studied this genre of music intently. He knows what makes this form of music tick. Happy to indulge in some wonderfully over the top flaying screaming electronics that come at you like a naked maniac with a sharp knife and a hard on. An appropriate picture to place in the mind I feel. You’ll feel the pain…but at least you’ll have a smile on your face as he sets to work. The music a cacophony of swirling dervish noise that drags you ragged all over. The usual techniques of throwing in some heavy duty rhythmic passages, a few samples here and there, some submerged vocals of sorts along with the studio trickery that manipulates the sounds with a variety of effects are all present and correct…and I for one won’t complain about that. He even does the old ‘finish with a mellow piece’ trick to end the recording. Smart lad. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve played this release but can state categorically that I still find much twisted pleasure to be found within its limited timeframe. Leave them gagging for more as they say. And he has. By fuck he has.

Any release put out on the Hermetique Record label, subdivision and all, deserves your undivided attention. I’ll say just one word. Propergol. Actually I use three instead. The mighty Propergol. I rest my case. The label hasn’t put a foot wrong so far with its roster of releases so it’s kind of natural that Bleed has found a temporary home on there. Something that Gwen surely realises. After all the label has done his music an exceptional service from the presentation onwards. Although limiting it to only 299 copies is a bummer, no gay context intended, and the only negative I can come up with. Loved it. Loved it more than words can say. With this calling card to the masses under his belt Bleed is a name you’ll be hearing of a lot more of in the future. I can’t wait to hear his ‘Black Leather Uniform’ release. Hopefully it will manage to match ‘Bondage & Discipline’ for sheer power and exhilaration. Sexual orientations and all.

Taxi for Mr de Sade. Taxi for The Marquis de Sade