UK bands THE PARASITIC TWINS and VICTIM UNIT are artists exploring rather different territories of the music universe. The former describes themselves inside the context of doom metal and grindcore, while the latter artist describes themselves inside a context of aggressive, depressive noise. Earlier this year the two decided to cooperate, and the end result is the one track EP “Geminites”, clocking in at just shy of 14 minutes and released through the label Man Demolish Records.

What we are treated to here is a solid slab of dark, aggressive and oppressive music. Monumental more than majestic, and with a slimy, gritty and dystopian quality to it. Opening with slow tribal rhythms and distanced but heavy set riffs and a cold, flowing guitar texture as the bottom and top end of a canvas with electronically twisted noise effects in between, and various amounts of noise effects coming and going. This slowly descends into a purebred dark toned and gradually more oppressive atmosphere, sludging into a more doom metal dominated arrangement from the 6 minute mark with hardcore style aggressive vocals and a slight lessening of the noise effects, and then gradually reverting back to a more noise dominated arrangement again, concluding with harsh cacophony sounds and a twisted, broken drone.

Dirty, oppressive, harsh and bleak dystopian music with strong oppressive sensibilities, with an atmosphere that at times gave me associations to dystopian noise master Gridfailure from the US. Hypnotic and engaging music too, for those who have the mind for material of this kind and a tolerance for moods many will find way too depressive. To the point that I’d be careful with this kind of music if I was suffering from depression, unless you already know for certain that dark and disturbing music doesn’t affect this condition for you.

“Geminites” is an EP that will appeal to a more finite and defined audience I suspect, niche music at it’s best. But while this isn’t music that will ever win a popularity contest, those who love and treasure music with dystopian, oppressive moods, bleak noise effects and sporting a monumental, grimy doom metal bottom end, this is an EP well worth a listen.

My rating: 80/100

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/ParasiticTwinsBand/
https://www.facebook.com/victimunitband/
https://mandemolishrecords.bandcamp.com/