Short Audio Reviews: 05-12-12

A series of short audio reviews touching down on new releases from Author & Punisher, Lord  Mantis, Here We Go Magic, and Orbital.

Author & Punisher- Ursus Americanus

Producer, multi-instrumentalist, and sound engineer Tristan Shone hasn't been releasing music under his Author & Punisher monicker for very long. To my knowledge, 2010's Drone Machines is the only full-length album to his name other than this new one which is being released on Seventh Rule this week, Ursus Americanus.

Though the world of noise music has an already well-established roster of celebrated artists, I have no doubt in my mind that Shone has the potential to become one of them. The guy creates his music on instruments of his own design. Here, check it:

Author & Punisher- 9/5/10 Studio Practice Shoot from Tristan Shone on Vimeo.

For me, this kind of thing usually spells out the word "gimmick" in big, fat, capital letters, but I wouldn't say that's the case this time around. All self-designed instrumentation aside. Shone produces some extremely heavy, disturbing, and unique-sounding music; blending elements of doom metal, noise, industrial music, and electronica into one massive sludge ball of destruction.

Stream Ursus Americanus via the widget above, and make sure you get it on some great headphones or speakers. The bass is heavy as hell.