THE WIRE
Reviewed by Edwin Pouncey
Tjälen / Den stora sjukdomen - Lp
Ättestupa
This grim and blackened collaboration from various members of Gothenburg industrial folk groups Leafes and Sewer Election forewarns that their debut LP marks "the rise of new, bleak Sweden" - Attestupa being a reference to mythical place in old Sweden where the elderly population were hurled from a mountaintop once they could no longer work. Heard from afar, nothing too remarkable seems to be emerging from the gloom, but increase the volume and shuffle a little closer and the two long tracks here, "Tjalen" and "Den stora sjukdomen", begin to reveal other musical shades. Buried under an oppressive, churning organ motif, the group´s sound leans towards the darker side of Popol Vuh, with elements of pagan folk music, Industrial electronica and Black Metal flourishes added for extra effect.
The shrouded screams and doleful clanging of cowbells, together with the depressing portfolio of vintage photographs depicting the downtrodden population of fabled Attestupa, adds to the miasmic, melancholic atmosphere that this bleak, yet curiously captivating record exudes. (8/10)

 

FOXY DIGITALIS - REVIEWS
Reviewed by Charles Franklin
Tjälen / Den stora sjukdomen - Lp
Ättestupa
The first thing that struck me about the Ättestupa LP was the unique packaging. A strong minimal aesthetic is setup by the black unlabeled sleeve and record which serves as a backdrop for a selection of bleak, antique photos of farm dwellers which exude a sense of unknowable suffering. I even had to search a bit to find the release information which was hidden on the back of one of the photographs. So, I went into the listening experience with high expectations seeing as how the packaging had been constructed with such strong intent. Thankfully, I was not disappointed.
This is an album filled with the kind of lo-fi buzz that one would expect to find on an early black metal demo, but Ättestupa have stretched that aesthetic into a different sort of sonic experience- one more akin to the recent wave of blackened drone from bands like Robedoor and Ajilvsga. The A side (the record is actually unlabeled, but I'm pretty sure this is first) is made up of nice long stretches of static exploration with minimal tonal melodies buried in the mix. The highlight for me is when the drums and vocals are engaged towards the end of the piece. I love hearing how these elements are used in a manner that is not overbearing, but rather complements the waves of feedback and dreary static. The B side starts off by wrapping these same elements around a semi kraut-rock groove complete with slow tribal drumming and a plodding bass line that slips in and out of rhythm in just the right way. Then things slip into a sad melancholic guitar progression which is built upon slowly with drums, vocals, and a wall of low end distortion- a nice end to the album
This is a great example of a well thought out release. The presentation here becomes just as important as the sounds within, and gives the listener a strong open-ended prompt to dwell on. The sounds are not completely mind-blowing, but are executed well and with a deliberate intent. It's a very satisfying piece of art and I hope to see and hear more like it in the future. (9/10)

 

GÖTEBORGS-POSTEN
Recenserad av PM Jönsson
Tjälen / Den stora sjukdomen - Lp
Ättestupa
Namnet åsyftar på en otäck myt från forntiden. Jag tänker snarare på underjordiska gångar och övergivna fabriker när GBG-bandet Ättestupa (folk från Sewer Election och Leafes) på två långa låtar frammanar mörker med ödsliga melodier och mässande sång som växer ihop med industri, noise och tjocka dronelinjer. Det primitiva soundet är enbart positivt, förstärker känslan. Klaustrofobin lockar, det låter som de är instängda, men lyssna på stark volym och det är musik som säkert kan väcka döda. Finns enbart på vinyl. (4/5)