HAIKU FUNERAL

The international project HAIKU FUNERAL was formed back in 2008, and US musician William Kopecky and his Bulgarian partner Dimitar Dimitrov have so far created one EP and three full length albums. "Nightmare Painting" is the most recent of these, and was released through the UK label Aesthetic Death Records.

A prerequisite needed to enjoy any of Haiku Funeral's albums is to have a taste for and interest in dark electronic music. Music bleak and somewhat oppressive, without much hope nor uplifting tendencies to speak of. To be in touch with your inner demon and don't feel threatened by its presence is also an advantage. Those who recognize themselves in this description should find "Nightmare Painting" as well as Haiku Funeral's previous albums to be productions that merit an inspection.

The multinational ensemble HAIKU FUNERAL was formed back in 2008, the initial recording session made by a duo consisting of William Kopecky and Dimitar Dimitrov appearing in 2009 as their debut album "Assassination in the Hashish Cathedral". This collaboration seems to have been a satisfying one, as a follow-up production has appeared just one year later in the shape of "If God Is a Drug". Like its predecessor it's released as a limited edition disc, printed in 50 copies only, through the Danish label Hikikomori Records.

If you have sought out your inner demons and conquered them or merely are fascinated by soundscapes dark, disturbing and frightening, the ambient creations of this duo are ones you'd better seek out. Subtle touches of black metal, industrial music and psychedelic rock are details spicing up the proceedings in a nifty, nightmare-inspired manner, and there are even a few touches of symphonic-inspired electronic textures to appreciate. The landscapes are all menacing, frightening and utterly dark however, to an extent that anyone not totally stable of mind and spirit should avoid this one. But if your psyche is rock-solid, you have learnt to deal with your inner darkness and music of this kind sounds intriguing, you'll be among a select group of people that will appreciate and enjoy this latest hellish constellation crafted by Haiku Funeral. A very well-made effort it is too, recommended to the chosen few.

— First review of this album —

If descriptions like dark, sick and twisted are tantalizing as far as music goes, then this début effort of Haiku Funeral is something you might want to become more familiar with.

There are no real songs as such to be found on this album though, as a general description I'd think that sound collages assembled from pieces from your worst nightmares may be a pretty good description.

Dampened guttural moans and cries beneath layers of industrial, psychedelic and space-tinged synths dominate the proceedings, with spoken words and aggressive bass and rhythms fleshing out the constructions on select occasions. Sometimes extremely effective, at other times with less of an impact. But the dark, brooding and fundamentally evil atmospheres are constants throughout.

All of these tracks makes me think of Celtic Frosts' experimental creation Totengott actually, but fleshed out and more elaborately made. And I suspect that those who found that particular track intriguing should be fascinated by this album as well.