Now that some time has passed since 'Achromatic horridness' was released - several months already - I think it's time to write some self analysis and perhaps reveal some insider info bits as well about the album. There are things that I won't reveal though, things that fall under "easter egg" category, things which could be hidden for ages - or then not. Both sonically as well as lyrically, and in general simply hidden little things that make at least the artist himself smile. EDIT: I decided to write about these insider info bits in separate post, in coming days.
Let's start with a brief "how does the release make me feel now?" self analysis. I felt really good as the album started taking its' shape, it felt great from the very beginning - and the more it progressed, the better I felt about the stuff. Has that changed with passing of time? Nope! More like the opposite actually. I feel that the album is one of the best metal releases I've ever done - and the fact that it's all done from beginning to end 100% by me alone, it kind of makes me feel extra proud about it.
It took quite a lot of my free time (like hobbies tend to do), it's hard to say exactly how much time - but I could estimate that from beginning to compose into finishing the package it could well be 200+ hours all in all? Considering that not only I compose, record it all, create all the artwork, write all the lyrics etc etc etc ... Lots of 1-2 hour long sessions, longest sessions perhaps 3 hours long or so. Considering that I have my dayjob which is 100% my income and a family including small child to be and spend time with - it meant lots of short (and fun) sessions. If anything, the material came out of me like supernova, ... with a blast. More about reasons behind this later in the next blog post.
Thinking about how I'd describe the album overall, how it sounds and feels, how it stands musically speaking, how it flows - I'd say it's closest to my original vision back in 2000 about how Scumfusion should sound and feel (back then home studio was more like a joke and of course it limited visions in a brutal way ... we all know how things have changed in 25 years when it comes to recording your own music projects with home equipment). And for me this is a true achievement in itself: This album is a manic ride musically, it also has some crazy vocals (not just music), it reflects the early grindcore and death metal albums from late 1980s and early 1990s which truly inspired me and forever got into me. Yet it sounds all different kind of thing, and I recognize how it sounds like ... well, me. I know it's not a real studio production, but for me also the production in this case - still total DIY - turned out really sweet. What makes it feel even better is the fact that I was heavily disappointed with 2017's "latemogelian infiltration" production which I messed up. What reflects all this the most, is one fitting comparison which comes to mind ...
.. take a band like Bolt Thrower ("realm of chaos" was massively influential to me back in the day) and the way their career went, after "those once loyal" album was completed, ... you know, years later (even way before the band ended) they stated that there is no need to record new album because they feel "those once loyal" is Bolt Thrower captured in a perfect mode and sound, perfect album, all things inluded. And here's the catch; while I kind of understood that back in the day, big part of me was like "booohooo! please make a new album! I need new BT album, I'm hungry for more! Always!!" ...
Well, with completion of Scumfusion's 'Achromatic horridness' I realised I suddenly can understand that Bolt Thrower's statement so much better. It makes sense now (but hey, I would always welcome comeback of Bolt Thrower!). I feel like this Scumfusion album is very close to perfection in how it sounds and feels all in all, considering my original vision some 24 years ago. I'm not saying I'd never return to Scumfusion, but I'm saying not returning to it could be possible as well, in a way - because ending a long lasting DIY music project with a style would feel awesome. So, yeah, I'd go as far as saying that I've never before been as satisfied with any Scumfusion release. This one tops even the production peak points, albums I did with Timo (with peak points I mean "lost constellations" and "lossidian threnody"). Quite a statement I know, but that's how I strongly feel. This is most certainly closest to my own vision about how this "band" / music project should sound. And it makes me really happy and proud about it all.
Thinking about this more deeply: Reaching a point like this feels surprising and awesome, after all these years. It's been a very long road of DIY hobbying, I never thought I'd be creating Scumfusion music tens of years later as inspired as I was when I begun it. Well, I think I'll never grow tired of extreme metal, grindcore and death metal (and especially the early releases of the scene, but I follow the modern scene as well as time permits) ... a passion is a passion.
I'll write about some trivia bits & things dealing with creation of 'Achromatic horridness' in coming days as I have time for writing. Some emotional background things, ranging from extreme happines into extreme sadness.
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