Album Details

• Artist: Various Artists
• Album: What Pleasing The Lord Looks Like--Marriage: Extreme Noise...and Terror From Japan And Israel
• Label: HCB
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2009-11-25

Four bands each from the incongruously paired countries of Japan and Israel make up this short compilation of Noise. But there is more going on here than just noise and, as the title says, there is terror also. So much of the horrific trappings of Noise is by now shtick, but here and there "What Pleasing The Lord Looks Like-Marriage: Extreme Noise...and Terror from Japan and Israel" delivers some shockingly realistic chills.

From the first track Ryokuchi, it is clear that this will be more than noise. "Miezarumon no Kage" is more sludge than noise, with heavy doom wreaked by buzzing strings and percussion, and jittery bass. Israel's Cadaver Eyes are more "traditionally" noise-influenced on their "BaHoref Karrr," though there is a dull pulse that, mixed with drums, is increasingly powerful

The terror aspect starts to appear with Zenocide and LieterSchpichDiet, each of whom contribute stoner-based harsh noise, but with vocals that for once actually sound tormented. Truly, the low groans and bursts of angst sound so raw as to be more believable than just about any to be heard in all the genre. Chaos that packs a haunting AND ear-shredding punch. The other highlight of the set is "Zvaha" by Remesh, a track so harsh and brutal it is almost funny.

"What Pleasing The Lord Looks Like..." is a demented peek into a noisy, droning, tortured series of soundscapes that is one of the best samplers around. Heart & Crossbone is a label that is more than adept at finding the real deal, and here they have done that with a bigness.

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