Prurient: Annihilationist

No one can ever accuse Prurient's Dominick Fernow of being a slacker. Last year, he released two "proper" albums, toured with Cold Cave, and cryptically released/rereleased a smattering of tape/digital offerings. Of these recordings, Annihilationist stands out as an unusual release in his catalog. The record lacks both the John-Carpenter-soundtrack-via-Throbbing-Gristle vibe of last year's excellent Bermuda Drain and the harsh one-man Wolf Eyes approach of albums such as Arrowhead. Instead, Annihilationist is a surprisingly dark ambient work full of unflinching drones that are comparable to what might happen if you stretched the first cut of Sunn O)))'s Black One to its most radical extremes. The record's first four tracks alone span over 40 minutes, but they show an interesting side of Fernow. He's never been more subtle or static than on the first two pieces, and "Personification of Eternity" is a delightful romp reminiscent of many industrial forbearers. The record is largely a static affair, but there are enough alterations to keep the listener's attention even if the mood is occasionally exhausting. Annihilationist is not a masterpiece, but it's an interesting example of Fernow's constantly shifting aesthetic and sound.

★★★ (out of 5 stars)