The first thing you inescapably notice about this record is the beautiful artwork (by an unidentified Viennese painter). Gorgeous gatefold packaging with really nice vinyl and black inner sleeves, this is the debut full-length release by Vienna-based La Ligne Maginot. This is an immensely complex album, lyrically and musically. Peeling this back like an onion reveals a mixture of down-tuned hardcore punk with seriously dark metallic overtones and atmospheric textures piercing through waves of thick reverb. It’s reminiscent of some of the early 90’s metallic screamo stuff coming out of Germany, but has a very unique signature to it and stands certainly on its own. It invokes GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR-style crescendos and buildups then unleashes raspy experimental hardcore within seconds. Lyrical overtones paint a bleak existential foray into the decay of society, poetic without sounding contrived, and are well translated from the native Austrian-inflected German. I was blown away by this, and can’t wait to hear more from this mysterious band! (Rob Hanna)
(review from Profane Existence)
I saw this amazing band live in a squatted church in south london during their summer tour - on august 2013. They blew everybody away - 8 musicians on stage with 3 guitars, 2 drums, keyboard, bass and alternating vocals - they were just powerful, beautiful, progressive - dreamlike, metallic and doomish at the same time - a great live act and a pure anarchist way of performing and travelling.
At their distribution point a clear message saying "pay as you want" was close their cds and they didn`t mind swapping cds or t-shirts with other distros. This cd is artefully crafted with an original package - a screenprinted fabric make a folder for the cd - it comes with a patch and beautiful little booklet with lyrics in german and english translations.
Their attitude reminded me of the punk bands from the 90s, very little sense of business but a great communication and antagonism of the idea that comes into practice.
This is just a little gem from the unknown underground european punk scene. A must for the lovers of great and original music with no musical borders.
(digital transfer by Faraway - review by Profane Existence and Faraway)
La Ligne Maginot - Im Morgen Grauen
(review from Profane Existence)
I saw this amazing band live in a squatted church in south london during their summer tour - on august 2013. They blew everybody away - 8 musicians on stage with 3 guitars, 2 drums, keyboard, bass and alternating vocals - they were just powerful, beautiful, progressive - dreamlike, metallic and doomish at the same time - a great live act and a pure anarchist way of performing and travelling.
At their distribution point a clear message saying "pay as you want" was close their cds and they didn`t mind swapping cds or t-shirts with other distros. This cd is artefully crafted with an original package - a screenprinted fabric make a folder for the cd - it comes with a patch and beautiful little booklet with lyrics in german and english translations.
Their attitude reminded me of the punk bands from the 90s, very little sense of business but a great communication and antagonism of the idea that comes into practice.
This is just a little gem from the unknown underground european punk scene. A must for the lovers of great and original music with no musical borders.
(digital transfer by Faraway - review by Profane Existence and Faraway)
La Ligne Maginot - Im Morgen Grauen
Tracklist:
01. Im Café Kastanie
02. Im Morgen Grauen
03. Der Zug
04. Detonationen
05. Wachsen
06. Zerfallen
07. Die Letzten Meter
Self-released
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*****
