OF NATURAL HISTORY

First time I heard this album it completely blew me away, and it just gets better with every listen. No other band I've ever heard seems to be able to create such a nightmarish atmosphere. Almost every element of their music is one-of-a-kind: the instruments used, the impossible time-signatures, their combination of low-key male vocals & spine-chilling Bjork-ish vocals and their unusual folklore implemented in their lyrics and melodies.

From the first song you get the impression something's wrong. It sounds like a really perverted lullaby, but really is as accesible as they get. From the moment you hear Nils growling "I am the adversary..." this album goes on into a nightmare frenzy. The two tracks that follow (tdhaohotd and phtisis) are both hard as hell and just as disturbing. Both absolutely among the best they've ever done. "FC: the freedom club" is an unusual combination of freakfolk and avant-metal, great song once again. "Gun-day's child" continues in this style, only with Carla Khilstedt on vocals and with a weird yet grooving industrial beat. Eerie and epic, just how I like em.

The longest track (and hardest to digest) is "Babydoctor" uses an almost postrock-like buildup. The first half is ambient and eerie, only to continue in the most noisy avant-metal riffage I've ever heard. I took quite a while for me to enjoy this track, but now it's among my favorites. The band experiments with their home-made instruments on "bring back the apocalypse" and "the 17-year cicada", the former being more percussion-driven and the latter more ambient. Though this album is not for everyone, I can assure you if you have an open mind and are willing to give it multiple listens you'll find no weak or misplaced songs. It's an absolutely unique album (not counting other SGM albums) and extremely well performed and produced. I can't wait when (and if) they're gonna tour Europe, but till that time I can still listen to this work of genius. 5 stars!