Search - Blood Axis :: Gospel of Inhumanity

Wonderfull!

claus_byrial@hotmail.com | 11/01/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With all the junk out there they call music, it is so good to hear songs that deal with issues that need attention. Unlike the watered down politicly correct music we are fed, BLOOD AXIS has both body and spirit."

Interesting and experimental

Bill Lee | Florida | 12/12/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As Blood Axis's debut full-length, "the Gospel Of Inhumanity" represents a full statement of purpose and ideology for this band that spells out what it's all about. Formed by NON-alumnus and self-proclaimed "libertarian journalist" (whatever that means) Michael Moynihan, Blood Axis is a bizarre combination of ambient electronic, experimental neoclassical, and European traditional music that defies conventional categorization.



A common theme of "the Gospel Of Inhumanity" is the juxtaposition of one person's words with another person's music. For example, Charles Manson delivers a poignant phone-recorded monologue about racial disunity over an electronic rendition of Johannes Sebastian Bach's dirge "Herr, Nun Laß In Frieden" on the track of the same name. Throwing the listener a curveball, "Eternal Soul" has all the trappings of a Joy Division-influenced industrial rock song before returning to the motif of mixed signals in which Moynihan reads a passage by Friedrich Nietzsche over a sampled violin waltz. "Absinthe" compiles several pieces of poetry related to the green fairy accompanied by an uneasy grinding electronic organ patch. This one track would provide the basis for Blood Axis' mediocre collaboration with Les Joyaux de la Princesse called (appropriately enough) "Absinthe." The album ends on a high note with the powerful "Storms Of Steel."



The primary problem I have with this album is the fact that while it's definitely interesting, it drags at times, specifically on the track "Between Birds Of Prey." Also, there is a distinct lack of originality in terms of writing. Nearly everything on this album is culled from some other source, lyrically and musically. The arrangements are unique but at their hearts, they are the works of others. There is also an understandably strong NON influence, which makes sense considering Moynihan's work with that project. But his vocal stylings at times seem like a straight rip-off of Boyd Rice's and Moynihan has worked dilligently (but not always successfully) to establish an identity independent of his mentor. "The Gospel Of Inhumanity" is a strong debut from this band, but not as good as its live follow-up "BLOT - Sacrifice In Sweden" (sadly unavailable on Amazon)."

Genre-Defying Esoteric Masterpiece

ProEvil | MA | 02/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This release isn't easy to describe. It isn't Black Metal, Goth, Industrial, Ambient or Classical music, though it combines some aspects of all these genres. Blood Axis have come up with a new form of dark psychedelia that intertwines live performance, tape loops and sampling into something startling and mind-altering. The influences from Non, Death in June and Laibach are clear, but never overshadow the originality of this work. This music evokes a spirit which is at once ancient and futuristic, apocalyptic and heroic. Like having your mind stretched out over a chasm to hell."