Library Of The Occult Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Grotesqueries of dungeon synth, wizard synth, and gothic prog abound on the latest LP by The Cube Of Unknowing. Francis Heery - a composer, sound artist and researcher from Ireland - here presents his first LP for Library Of The Occult after a throng of cassette tapes, which have been put out largely through Fort Evil Fruit. Bog Summoner betokens to be his ghost-tropical opus of a stepped-up, transformative character, manifesting also as his first ever vinyl record: made partly of bad-trip bestiary items, whose referent monsters we hope never to encounter in the arcane field ('Bog Magus', 'Horned Beasts Of Ui Maine', 'Tumulus'. The album recalls tumescent blobs and sphagnum mosses caking over a witchy terrain; all are the objects of forbidden codices we can hardly read, only hear. Boggy and electrical sounds intermix; peaty effluvia helps conduct, and not resist, the currents of amphi-human biowires... Is there something alive under the water?

Review: Dream Division present their latest album Rose In The Garden Of Winter, a contemporary gothic disco undertaking of polished and still genre-various proportions. Echoing the stylistic ambitions of Bauhaus, but perhaps describably updating their sound for the modern ear, Dream Division offer a metamorphic record, able to shapeshift into a range of chiropteran forms: cinematic punk, dub, goth-disco, lounge, even interluding raga. Impressively, the personnel list on this record make up an intricate human nonagram, through the central vector on this ritual star is Tom McDowell, who handles synths, vocoder, production and songwriting and commands a puppeteer's control over various synthesists, sitar caressers and theremin cooers. Delightfully devilish throughout, A Rose... reminds of something between a lycanthropic, late 70s Mancunian punk blowout and a fanged Italo-disco bashment in which the sprinklers sprinkle blood on sight of a daywalker.

Review: Adam Ramirez, the mastermind behind Modified Magic, set out to create an album that would feel like a hidden gem unearthed from dusty record crates. The result is a debut that fuses elements of psychedelic rock, trip-hop grooves, and cinematic suspense, released in the preferred format of vinyl by The Library of the Occult Records. Hailing from New Jersey, Modified Magic's self-titled album conjures imagery of mystical incantations and haunting journeys into the night. Drawing inspiration from Gothic rock, heavy metal, and the eerie soundscapes of horror scores, the band creates a sonic palette reminiscent of Goblin and Fabio Frizzi, with nods to contemporary purveyors like Wolfmen of Mars and Brass Hearse. Leading the way is the single 'Curse of the Inverted Pyramid,' a standout track filled with lilting strings, jazz-inflected drums, and chugging guitars. It serves as a tantalising preview of Modified Magic's dark and atmospheric sound, promising to transport listeners to a realm of Gothic mystique. Don't miss out on this spellbinding journey into the unknown.

Review: Horror of the Hexham Heads by The Night Monitor is a haunting and immersive journey into the realms of the unexplained. Inspired by the eerie electronic experimentation of the 1970s and the enigmatic lore of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, The Night Monitor skillfully weaves layers of analog synthesis and spectral ambience to create a spine-tingling sonic landscape. Listeners are invited to explore the murky depths of the paranormal saga surrounding the Hexham Heads, a pair of stone heads that mysteriously appeared in the town in 1971, with dissonant whispers and pulsating rhythms guiding them through the unknown. The result is a genuinely chilling experience that resonates with mystery and intrigue, capturing the essence of one of the weirdest supernatural news stories of the 1970s. Bob Fischer of Fortean Times aptly describes it as a "glorious celebration" of the unexplained.

Review: The listener is met with a 70s odyssey of Moog-infused cosmic krautrock and psychedelic baroque on this debut record from The Psychic Circle. A proggy sonic journey - Labyrinth meets Wizards meets Belladonna Of Sadness - this debut record from the band comprised of Tom McDowell, Jack Harris and J.D. is centred on the concept of a lone alchemist living at the top of an everlasting mountain, whose affliction by the curse of the Psychic Circle - a glowing orb that presages whatever his mind desires - ultimately leads to his downfall by way of an unleashing of dark magick across the land. To this tune, our ears are treated to noir, slack swords-and-sorcery prog rock buildups replete with occult chants and apogees, evoking warding spells, oubliettes to cobbled cells, pretties flying off into the night, and skulls doubling up as candelabrums.

Review: Zak Olsen, the mastermind behind the guitar work of Australian doom psyche band Orb, unveils his eagerly awaited solo project, Ghost Notes, under the Traffik Island name. This collection, titled 12 Esoteric Instrumentals for Ethereal Beings, transports listeners on a surreal journey through a spectral landscape where folk melodies intertwine with jazz rhythms and psychedelic layers. Tracks like 'Pandemoniom!' featuring Kenny Ambrose-Smith of King Gizzard, deliver thrilling intensity, while 'winds' evokes an eerie folk horror atmosphere. Enthusiasts of unconventional instrumentals and eerie soundscapes will find plenty to appreciate in this album. While Traffik Island's melodies flow effortlessly, the spectral presence is unmistakable. With twisted beats, haunting organs, unsettling synths, and eerie found sounds, this is the perfect soundtrack for the season. Pressed on white vinyl, this release from Library Of The Occult records promises to be a truly unique listening experience.