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Released
November
1997

Reviewed by
Michael C. Lund

Label
Zoth Ommog

Contact

Santa Rosario1/11c
Bilbao 48004
Spain

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Last Edit/Update
March 01, 1998

Allied Vision

UNBURIED

Track Listing

1. All The Dead
2. Black Wizard
3. Madness Survival
4. Demon Sect
5. Spreader
6. Lance Of Destiny
7. Cup Of Sorrow
8. Gravedigger
9. Unforgiven
10. Insane Gargoyle

          Released on the German Zoth Ommog label, Allied Vision's debut-CD Unburied is a breath of fresh air for anyone leaning towards the darker and more morbid end of the electronic music spectrum. Allied Vision is in all respects a one-man endeavor. The gorgeous fold-out digi-pak sleeve of Unburied carries the following credit statement: "Written, produced, recorded, sound manipulated & voice lurking by Oscar Storm at Allied Studios." Oscar Storm is of Spanish origin, a fact that may be accountable for the strong religious and medieval imagery that flows through his lyrics and music alike.
          Unburied features ten impressive tracks. All of these songs have a rich, saturated sound, driving electronic beats, underlying symphonic synth themes and Oscar Storm's heavily treated vocals. The resultant atmosphere is one of apocalypse and nocturnal gloom; the receipe has been tried many times before by other bands, but never has it been taken to the extremes that Allied Vision delivers here.
         
          The CD opens with two great tracks -- "All the Dead" and "Black Wizard." Over the menacing introduction of "All the Dead" are heard film samples and a voice screaming: "Dead. . .dead." A dense, driving beat kicks in against a dramatic synth score, and Storm growls his hymn against mortality. The darkly melodic piece is underscored by samples of screaming people and voices yelling "kill. . .kill." Never so soon is "All the Dead" over, before the equally dynamic song "Black Wizard" begins. The synth theme carrying this piece is of classical design, and the aggressive beat is marchlike. The vocals are excessively treated, and sounds as if they originated from scorched vocal chords.
          "Demon Sect" begins with a sound collage that gives the impression as of a radio transmission from hell itself. Thereafter the song develops into a particularly frantic apocalyptic chaos engine, with Oscar Storm's chantings manipulated to sound like the head of the demon sect itself. The strongly saturated sound-picture again features the background voices and screams as of a choir of lost souls.
          Also amongst the highlights of Unburied are two songs that are steeped in religious rhetoric and imagery -- "Cup of Sorrow" and "Unforgiven." "Cup of Sorrow" is again informed by a strong synth-symphonic theme, against which aggressive rhythms, and Storm's brutal vocals are played out. On "Unforgiven," a brief arrangement of synth strings lead up to a ghastly voice proclaiming: "I came for you. . ." The song shifts into another tour-de-force electro-attack; a threatening synth theme lies like a heavy black cloud over the pumping electronic beat, the grinding vocals and the other miscellaneous background samples and effects.

          In all respects Allied Vision's first outing is a powerful and successful effort. Unburied is due to be released domestically in the US by Metropolis this spring. Watch for another release from Allied Vision to appear in mid-1998.  

©Last Sigh

Allied Vision
is our
Featured Artist for March, 1998.
To read more about
Oscar Storm
in his
introduction, interview,
and discography,
click

here.