postcards from new zealand Release Astonishing Trilogy Capstone, ‘liminal space’
Without doubt, postcards from new zealand numbers among the more eclectic bands we’ve featured in the pages of Doomed & Stoned. Some albums you listen to get pumped up, others commiserate with your bad days; ‘liminal space’ (2022) baptizes you in a sonic experience that’s at once savagely carnal and blissfully spiritual.
The third part of the band’s betwixt and between trilogy, liminal space begins with the deep, emphatic thud of drums in “taupō.” This is joined by searing, rainy guitar tone and ethereal voices permeating the misty black night. Am I in some kind of dream? Or is this a nightmare? Grizzly vox tear into feelings of frustration and rage, but wistful somatic vocals return to relieve the beast within. According to the band, the song is “about potential, sleeping forces, volcano calderas, and Antonio Banderas.” And thus we are oriented to the strange, wonderful tenor of this 10-song collection.
I am the flesh
and the spirit
joined by ancient ties
Scratchy percussion meets glitchy rhythm and deep synth for “tiresias,” a reference to the blind Theban prophet of Apollo. “kitsune” is similarly grounded to an electro-industrial heartbeat, blanketed by snow-blind fuzz and surreal, windswept emptiness, brought down to earth by those gnarly black metal pipes. “da'at” entices us into a smoke-filled den with unfamiliar yet inviting faces, rapturous poetry, and Near Eastern instrumental flavor.
A strange electric force field puts us in a cathodic mindlock to begin “hiranyakashipu,” where for the space of five minutes a hypnotic portal to the past opens and we witness the song’s namesake performing occultic rites in pursuit of bewitching powers, only to be struck down by the avatar of Vishnu. If you haven’t noticed by now, every song title is search worthy and these rabbit trails enrich the listening adventure considerably.
The tempo picks up for fierce, visceral grunts and roars in “niizh manidoowag,” then “temenos” takes us on a wobbly carpet ride through a labyrinth of post-metal illusions. “kunkunka,” so far as I can tell, translates into “hawk.” It is accompanied by an entrancing warlike beat and stern chanting, as the bird of prey circles about the heavens.
Intensity ratchets up even more for the album’s penultimate track, “coshi wa ng'oma.” It reminds me a bit of how I felt listening to Kuromua’s Born of Obsidian. Both albums reach a fever pitch, drawing inspiration from primal rhythms and ancient sacrificial rites.
“incaba kancofula” closes this unforgettable ayahuasca trip, which will really saturate your senses if you’re listening with headphones on. I felt spaced-out, high, and ultimately transcendent during the album’s closing minutes.
The clashing of mountains
the rise of the sea
the threshold that spawned me
is the end of my being
postcards from new zealand is, so far as I could tell, an anonymous project that involves interchanging parts. What we know for sure: they are actually from New Zealand and have been creating mystifying sounds such as these since 2008. In their words: “We celebrate the end of things: the end of life, the end of times, the end of fear, the end of love and, by celebrating immortals, we even celebrate the end of death.”
Look for pfnz’s liminal space to receive a digital release on October 7th (get it here). Stick this on a playlist with Dirge, Omega Mastiff, Year of No Light, Enslaved, NIN’s Ghosts, with a little Skinny Puppy tossed in for good measure. This is the Doomed & Stoned world premiere.
Give ear…
SOME BUZZ
Venturing into uncharted realms of genre experimentation, postcards from new zealand’s trilogy concluding offering, 'liminal space’ (2022), brings a dramatic and extreme exploration of music. An augmented use of electronics and extreme metal, amalgamated with progressive composition and vast soundscapes, combines into this epic and unchained album.
“liminal space is a pretty unique album,” comments the band. “That’s not to say it’s good or bad, just that it’s different. The songs are born from rhythms from all around the world. It’s got tons of electronics and synths but also a lot of guitars and metal vocals. It’s weird and we love it for that, it’s something we’ve never done and represents another step forward for our project.”
Beginning with the violent “burn, witch, burn,” followed by the droning and atmospheric instrumental “nik-an-ak,” the third installment delves deeper into the obscure. Opening with “taupō,” a smorgasbord of harsh vocals and heavy guitars is entwined with soaring vocal harmonies and textural electronics. Establishing the intense nature of the album and dynamic interplay of parts, the musical style presented aptly conveys the vast ideas of the places in-between: liminal space.
“da'at” is infused with oriental scales, white noise-esque electronics, and driving rhythms. The soaring choir melody further reveals the array of vocal styles included across the tracks. From utterly demonic harsh and vocoder effects to ethereal soaring melodies, and even throat singing featuring in “hiranyakashipu.” Thundering into the extreme, “coshi wa ng'oma” unleashes a metal assault; it’s high intensity for an album penultimate track. A thrilling contrast emerges in the finale “incaba kancofula.” Falling into ethereal realms, a haunting and enthralling composition that is beautifully produced, presents both shades of darkness and light.
postcards from new zealand has showcased an incredible array of music across the betwixt and between collection. Unveiling the eerily dark side of humanity that continues to prevail, the project aptly conveys these fascinating and disturbing elements. liminal space is a deeply compelling collection pushing a multitude of boundaries in different directions. It’s at times chaotic and unhinged, but also enthralling and intriguing. An explosive end to this progressive trilogy.