Opium Warlords - We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky (2012)

Opium Warlords - We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky (2012)


Sami Albert Hynninen: All instruments, Vocals




1. Sxi-meru
2. Slippy
3. Lament for the Builders of Khara Khoto
4. This Wind Is a Gift from a Distant Friend
5. Satan Knew My Secret Heart





Bass guitars for ”The Year of 584 Days” and ”Samael Lilith” recorded around 2006/2007. These two songs will comprise the forthcoming fourth album Droner

“Satan Knew My Secret Heart” recorded in 2007, and released in 2012 on We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky LP/CD (Svart Records). Stiletti-Ana created the pre-master out of the original 2-track tape.

Live At Colonia Dignidad 2xLP/CD recorded, mixed and released in 2009 (Cobra Records). Engineered by Niko Karlsson and Danil Venho. A very limited t-shirt, the only OW merchandise so far, was released along with the album.

“Lament For The Builders of Khara Khoto” recorded, mixed, and released on 20 Vappu-Suosikkia compilation in 2010 (Levykauppa Äx). This track was engineered by Vilunki 3000!

We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky LP/CD recorded in 2007 and 2010, mixed in 2011 and 2012, released in 2012. A slightly different mix of “Lament For The Builders of Khara Khoto” appears on this album.

Taste My Sword of Understanding 2xLP/CD (Svart) recorded in 2010, mixed in 2010 and 2013, released in 2014.

No public performances.



Influences:

Alice Cooper Group, Roxy Music, Godflesh, Misfits/Samhain/Danzig, Skullflower, Public Image Limited, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Christian Death, Nekro-Torso, Suede, Deep Purple, Ramones, Burzum, Mahavishnu Orchesta, Iron Maiden, Suicide, W.A.S.P., Virgin Prunes, Cream, DAF, Sanctis Ghoram, Per Yngve Ohlin, The Smalts, Trouble, Saint Vitus, CMX, Melvins, Big Black, Venom, Sex Gang Children, Unholy, The Obsessed, Helmet, Circle, Atheist, Van Der Graaf Generator, Bauhaus, Joy Division, The Fall, Motörhead, Hurriganes, Noitalinna Huraa!, Death In June, SIG, Adam & The Ants, Marc Almond/Soft Cell, Blue Cheer, The Sisters of Mercy, Coroner, Amon Düül II, Sonic Youth, Beherit, Yes, The Cure, Deicide, Mountain, Musta Paraati, Morrissey/The Smiths, Terveet Kädet, Sielun Veljet, Morbid Angel, Current 93, Boris, Eyehategod, Theatre of Hate, The Doors, Duran Duran, Sore Throat, Witchfinder General, Clannad, Cathedral, The Stooges, Dingo, Sigh, Roky Erickson, Abruptum, Laibach, Furze, Human League, Radiopuhelimet, Black Widow, Dead Can Dance, The Police, Györg Ligeti, Michael Nyman, Scott Walker, Sex Pistols, Aulis Sallinen, Vesa-Matti Loiri, Jimi Hendrix, Bronski Beat, Gaye Advert, Kim Wilde, Opel Bastards, Trollmann av Ildtoppberg, William Shatner, Neil Young/Grazy Horse/CSNY/Buffalo Springfield, Meat Loaf, Faith No Man/More, Hector, Jorma Kääriäinen, Inger Lorre, Napalm Death, Alvin Dahn, Classix Nouveaux... All of these/none of them.



Quote:
Whimsical Avant-Doom - 69%

TheKEZ, December 23rd, 2012

Opium Warlords, the solo project of former Reverend Bizarre frontman Sami Albert Hynninen (otherwise known to doom fanatics worldwide as Albert Witchfinder), are an odd proposition indeed.

A vehicle for Sami’s more obtuse musical outpourings, Opium Warlords seemingly has more in common with dark, abstract free-folk acts like Sylvester Anfang II than it does much of the Reverend Bizarre material (although some of Sami’s trademark doom riffery still remains, naturally).

Following a few years of inactivity after Reverend Bizarre called it a day, Sami is back with the charmingly titled ‘We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky’, an endearingly oddball collection of strange, disorientating sounds.

After the tense but fairly uneventful opener ‘Sxi-Meru’, the album’s epic 12 minute centrepiece ‘Slippy’ comes on like a more subdued Reverend Bizarre before exploding into an almighty aural mindfuck complete with awkward King Crimson-esque riffs and larynx lacerating black metal rasps.

Alternating between incredibly still, stark passages and bafflingly frantic outbursts, the track conjures up a bizarre, eerie atmosphere whilst retaining an obscure sense of humour, building to a brilliantly crushing doom meltdown and subsequently collapsing into a cascade of feverish tribal drumming.

Side 2 ventures into doomier territory still, with the heady drones of ‘Lament For The Builders Of Khara Khoto’ and Quaalude laden riff extension of ‘This Wind Is A Gift From A Distant Friend’ casting a wonderfully gloomy shadow across the record. The latter eventually snaps under its own weight and gives way to a gently groovy folk tinged break, without sounding contrived at all.

‘Satan Knew My Secret Heart’ almost sounds like a rough sketch of a new Reverend Bizarre piece, stripped of any pounding drums and mournful vocals allowing the melancholy riffs to shine through, moping around for a bit until coming to an incredibly abrupt stop. It’s an interesting addition, but not the strongest contender for an album closer.

At a lean 35 minutes, ‘We Meditate…’ doesn’t quite allow for the same mammoth musical voyages that Reverend Bizarre’s finest records offer, but it also means that Opium Warlords are incapable of wearing out their welcome, with the record staying constantly engaging and surprisingly diverse throughout.

It’s a pleasure to hear Sami branching out beyond the traditional doom blueprint and letting his imagination run wild, and whilst this may not be the most essential avant-folk-doom-whatever release of the year, there’s much to enjoy here for fans of Reverend Bizarre and fans of creepy, weirdly whimsical music in general.




As requested by MyDyingHigh. Enjoy Boxers!!!







Genre: Doom
Subgenre: Avantgarde Doom / Drone Metal
Bitrate: 320 k
Size: 80.84 MB
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