Climax Denial - Dehumanizing Environments [Malignant - 2015]Terrorizing the Power Electronics scene for just over a decade, Milwaukee's Climax Denial has seen releases across numerous labels. Finding a home on Malignant Records, his second full length CD, 2015's Dehumanizing Environments, shows more restraint than previous releases. This seems to be an interesting trend in extreme electronics, with artists reining it in a bit and making it super dense and supremely claustrophobic. Whether or not this is an actual thing or just my imagination, I'm definitely digging this fun, frightening direction. Forming his vision with four, long-form tracks, Climax Denial crafted Dehumanizing Environments in a slow, claustrophobic manner. While the sexual overtones are still very present, their delivery is hidden behind a more atmospheric soundscape. Burning, slowly oscillating synths convey a panicked, waiting room vibe while pulsating intensity grows in "The Womb As Vestibule." For many, descriptions of this pre-birth tranquility result in warm, glowing words and comfortable phrases. The stark difference on the opener makes the listener feel that what was once safe and sacred is no longer the case, and is merely the lobby into an outside world filled with grief, terror, heartache, and dismay. Sonically threatening, but not overpowering, this is a grim, but fair, assessment. Longer, ringing drones stretch languidly across the ether in the follow up, "Fingering Dad Ashes As Evidence." Much as the message from the previous track, this takes a dark turn as lower, crunching oscillations twist and pulse forward. Heavy layers pile on top like weights from above, slowly crushing the listener with their depth and intensity. Similar to "Fingering," "Environments For Paranoid Necrotic Masturbation" starts with a slowly moving, chorused drone, this time over shimmering tones. Accentuating space over claustrophobia, "Environments" plays more like an alien soundscape than an anxiety cave-in. Twisting and flying forward, this 13 minute, hypnotic raga drags the listener along on an airy journey. Bringing this airiness closer to Earth, "Morning Following Dried Blood" lowers the drones to ground level. At points burning and crunching, but still airy and contemplative, "Morning" floats forward into a noisy interrobang before letting the drones break free and causing the listener to question how they spent the last three-quarters of an hour. Dehumanizing Environments is a slow burner that spares no expense in making the listener feel uncomfortable. Not falling victim to many PE trappings, this album is all about atmosphere over intensity. That's not to say that it doesn't have it's moments, but this one is more about letting the listener develop their own feelings for the electronics on display rather than force feeding him or her an agenda. Paul Casey
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