Leifendeth -Monument: Fifteen Years of Life and Death

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Leifendeth’s Monument: Fifteen Years of Life and Death is a showcase of his darkly terrifying, ferociously powerful music. It explores his music in all of its horrific, crushing depth and gives other artists a chance to interpret the music in their own unique manner.

Monument’s most undeniable feature is the sheer, monstrous shadow that emanates from every element of the music. The bass is staggeringly huge, the drums are relentless and the synths all snarl, scream and crackle. Taken as a whole, all of these sonic elements combine to form music that tears one’s throat out as it explores bleak emotional terrain.

Another aspect to Monument which I enjoy is the way in which the guest remixers on the album reinterpret Leifendeth’s music. They each take the music in different directions which suit their individual style while retaining the elements in the original music that make it effective and powerful. It is encouraging to see collaborative musical creation that is so respectful of the source material.

I also have a great deal of respect for Leifendeth’s uncompromising musical vision. He has continued to refine his dark, aggressive and massive sound while exploring different aspects of that sound to grow and reach out in new directions. He’s stayed true to his instincts and allowed them to guide him.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“The Human Error (acid rain remix)” starts off as a high, tremulous static crackle echoes out and razor-edged synth cuts. Powerful bass trembles in massive blocks as crackling sounds move. Kick drum creates an insistent beat and metallic sounds form a tapping, percussive pattern as the bass growls far below.

The rhythm rushes forward as gigantic sonic blocks climb and descend with muscled strength. Hollow synth leaps in slowly rippling lines and gritty bass rises and falls. Pipe-like, digital synth carries a dynamic, shadowy melody as creaking notes slash. Bursting drums accent slow sound as medium-low synth oscillates and hard-hitting kick drum throbs.

A wandering, swirling synth pattern asserts itself, accented by a single, delicate high note. Forceful weight and propulsive power drive on as synth slabs climb and descend. I am drawn to the way in which this music that hammers on with unstoppable force. Darkness flows and a pipe instrument drives on in an angular melodic pattern.

Now agitated bass wriggles and kick drum punches. Slow, heavy drums form a different rhythm as ethereal sounds trail above them. Giant synth blocks undulate before higher, airy synth intertwines and the kick drum batters. Bass grits and rumbles as a vocal sample speaks of greater outside intelligences watching us.

Rough-edged, distorted sound rises to a peak and a quickly tapping drumbeat pushes “Dreamlike (winds of fate mix)” forward as it begins. The percussion forms an addictive pulse below the airy notes that effectively contrast with the track’s heavy elements.

Trembling, shivering synth shakes in as a whispered, dark chant drifts through the music. Medium-high, sinister synth winds in a minor key pattern as Leifendeth’s whispered lyrics add threat while drums and bass drive. A misty, intertwining segment flickers along with ticking drums. Energetic motion defines the drums as pulsing, flanging synth spins.

The soundstage sweeps across stereo channels and thin synth undulates rapidly before Leifendeth’s dark vocals hiss. Underneath the other musical elements, the drumbeat is unending and speeds faster as a sharp, vibrating synth rises and falls in a thin line. The chanting continues while danger radiates from the jagged background’s edges.

“Lost Future (voltage mix)” opens as a cymbal clashes once and menacing, massive bass oscillates slowly. Crunchy, gruff synth pulses as clean drums press the music on along with a tight, distorted synth line. A hi hat comes adds shape to the music while evil, Stygian sounds heave and taut, medium-high synth adds a nervous element. Terrified sounding, higher synth moves in as drums collide and keep the track’s motion going.

Very high, gleaming synth notes revolve to increase nervousness, Now drums take on a slower, stuttering motion as rounded, twisting sounds flit through the track while angular bass claws at the ears. The drums drop off until just the hi hat remains. A sense of lurking terror effectively fills the bass sounds in this track.

Writhing higher synth drops through, doubling down on the music’s dangerous feeling. Raised synth repeats, cascading through the track with an agitated feeling. Digital stars twinkle and a vocal sample adds even more shadow as tremulous, sinuous synth winds and drums collide before silence falls.

Bubbling bass moves in roiling pulses before rapidly thumping kick drum pounds in to open “Blast Furnace.” Lacerating synth comes in above a flying, tumbling drumbeat and a twitching, broad sound that spins in sinuous patterns.

I enjoy the way in which this track charges forward in a blur of motion as drums flash and speed on with wild energy through the music. Crushing bass walls seethe and mournful strings wind as rounded, gleaming synth flares in a slowly shifting pattern.

Drums rocket the music onward while a melancholy synth pattern repeats lugubriously in contrast with ferociously rushing percussion. A bass wall assaults the ears with portentous energy and glittering, sharp-edged synth shimmers. Harshly pulsating bass agitates below ethereal higher sounds before the track ends.

“Beta Four” commences as solidly bass impacts the music while gritty, snarling synth slices ferociously and drums strike. Shifting, lacerating synth swirls through above the smashing drumbeat as oscillating, raised synth calls out with intensity.

Continual, insistent synth motion becomes hypnotic in way that draws me in. The track fades into a more distant drumbeat as intimidating bass flows. Speeding, looming synth dominates the track as rushes in a raging, sweeping tide.

The drum storm rushes unabated as high synth bounces. The grit fades down and rippling, cascading synth tangles. Crunchy synth is forced on by huge drums while twisting notes whirl hypnotically. The track ends on pumping synth and guttural sound.

An extremely high synth flares up with thrumming tension as it moves into vast open space to kick off “Narrow Escapism.” Tumbling, racing bass is slashed by higher notes, wonderfully expressing barely suppressed horror as the drumbeat blurs.

Raised synth quickly moves with tight fear as it joins chimes that flutter above the unstoppable drum and bass rage. Broad, angular synth undulates in time to the hurricane force drums and punching bass. Wide synth chords rise and fall before medium-low, dangerous sounding synth repeats a trance-inducing melodic pattern.

This track is characterized by speed and a sense of ever approaching doom as it ceaselessly advances. Raised synth sounds have a distinctly worried quality as towering, dark chords add dramatic tension to the track before it ends.

“The Human Error (Baying Ridges remix)” starts as distant static crackle grows in strength and gigantic, dully glowing synth blocks shift. Terrifying bass depths rumble underneath steadily crackling static. Haunted, high sounds float through the seething sonic wall that feels increasingly menacing.

Raised sounds flow, overwhelmed by the crushing bass as it reaches out with twisted tentacles. Taut sounds shiver above the darkness gliding out below them, sweeping through the music. Hollow, writhing notes make their way through the unfurling shadows around them. I enjoy the sense of impending danger that fills this track to the brim.

There is something deeply unsettling, but strangely soothing here. I sense something evil lurking in the gentleness to lure the unsuspecting. Open sounds vibrate before wind flows and fades into silence.

Flaring, open-voiced synth shakes as a vocal sample adds a darkly commanding tone to begin “Violent Awakening (instrumental version).” Rattling darbuka percussion forms a tapping beat as a lacerating synth becomes a driving pulse, tearing through the music. Kick drum and pulsating bass throw the track forward with deadly force.

Synth slabs roar in heavy chords to increase the angry power in the music. Broad, medium-high synth follows along with the pounding drumbeat.  Rumbling, hollow bass makes a muffled grunt that swells to full volume as the gigantic synth blocks shift and the drumbeat smashes on.

There’s something darkly pleasurable about the unceasing motion in this track. Chest punching synth bounces in time to the drumbeat before massive sonic blocks drop heavily again. Wide synth joins the drumbeat’s oppressive force and dangerous energy. The track continues to throb onward with great power to throb on before flowing into silence.

“Aftershock (2007 demo)” opens as wildly writhing, high synth is split by quickly pulsating, lower sounds.  Rapidly oscillating bass is joined by speeding drums to create terrifying forward motion. Very high, tense sound howls above an accelerating drum and bass onslaught. Snarling higher sounds move above the drum and bass pulse’s bruising speed.

Chanting vocals do a great job of adding a sense of doomed rage to the track. Nasal, distorted synth squelches above tripping drums and bass that race through the music. Leifendeth’s voice chants messages of despair and dissolution.

Sonic blades cut in broad swathes as the track gallops forward with unabated anger. A quick synth shivers as drums burst and bass slams. Colossal sounds surround Leifendeth’s bleak voice that promises utter destruction. The whole track undulates and rockets forward to an end.

Elevated, nervous sounds cry out and guttural bass slowly throbs to start “Spiral of Silence (2009 demo).” Shaking sounds tremble and Buddhist chanting adds a ritualistic aspect to the track.

Bass drops into cavernous depths as it moves across the stereo field in an uneven pulsation while metallic sounds hiss. I am enamoured of the way in which the track’s sounds move around between channels, creating a sense of encirclement. Jagged sonic fragments create a dizzying sensation while tense synth trembles.

Ominous notes move in a slowly slicing motion while thick bass jumps below them. The stereo field encircles me like a dark halo as the sounds wrap around. Gritty bass is joined by slowly heaving synth and a wriggling, uneasy sound.  Drums and bass spiral before the track ends on quickly pulsing sound.

Conclusion

Monument is a strong exploration of Leifendeth’s dystopian, seething musical approach. It captures all of his raging energy, lacerating power and bleak emotion while adding new and fresh spins on the music.