GEISST "UNSTABLE SPIRITS" 3CDR (AOW 478)

Geisst is a mysterious and atmospheric new HNW project from Peter Keller, the talented sound artist behind the projects Condo Horro, Unser Verhangnis, the Dirac Sea, and others.  Geisst differs from those projects in that the sounds summoned are done so without manipulation or performance from the artist; these are the pure sounds of electricity and pedal chains unfettered, untouched.  As the liner notes to the release state, "Peter Keller is merely the medium."  This methodology has resulted in an incredibly powerful suite of tangled, forceful, and raging HNW compositions; when Peter first shared this project, I took a listen to the first piece, and 30 seconds in I knew I wanted to release it through AOW.  There is a beautiful minimalist and ghostly aesthetic at work here, a sound seance of sorts, conducted to collect transmissions from elsewhere.  Past the artist, past the technology.  Sound.
The first disc of the set can be streamed here:

https://geisst.bandcamp.com/releases

Packaged in an oversized old school triple CD jewel case with a small informative insert, with another gorgeous layout courtesy of Peter himself.  Along with the DeaD!!! release, this is a truly gorgeous AOW release; I could not be more proud to be issuing this recording.  Released in a limited edition of 12 hand-numbered copies.  $22 ppd. in the United States, $38 rest of world.

ORDER HERE: www.altarofwasterecords.storenvy.com

DeaD!!! "THE GRAVEN REALM" 2CDR (AOW 475)

I am extremely honored to be releasing this new double disc collection of bleak HNW from England's DeaD!!!, the crushing and masterful project of James Patrick.  Those active in the scene will recognize James as the label head of the sorely missed Deathsex Electronics imprint, who released a wealth of amazing HNW and noise a few years back (my own Fantome De Sang album "L'Abime" was released through Deathsex Electronics, as part of the Baudelaire compilation.)  DeaD!!! is an astonishingly powerful HNW project; few are able to so accurately explore and depict the truly depressive mindset with as much honesty and existential horror.  The four lengthy pieces here are HNW par excellence: deep, tangled, and horribly dense, bleak as fuck and shot through with anxiety and sorrow.  Absolutely masterful wallmaking; totally essential.
Packaged in an oversized old-school double jewel case, with a beautifully minimal layout by me.  Contains a small informative insert.  This is a really beautiful set; i am struck by how lovely it came out.  Released in a limited edition of 12 hand-numbered copies.  $15 ppd. in the United States, $31 rest of world.

ORDER HERE: www.altarofwasterecords.storenvy.com

WE ALSO LET BLOOD "IN THIS PLACE, NOTHING PASSES" 3CDR (AOW 474)

Long in the works AOW debut for We Also Let Blood, an HNW project that has quietly amassed a very intense and enervating body of work.  This three disc collection is a reflection on certain spaces and their relationship to depression, and documents of process of transforming those spaces through thought.  The three discs here each showcase a powerful, starkly minimal HNW/ANW excursion: totally grey, totally empty, totally void.  Pure cold meditation music, a powerful trip through a torn and fragile psyche attempting to overcome.  These works are deeply engrossing; i have lost myself in them each time i've listened to this set.
Packaged as a three disc set, with each disc housed in its own oversized fold-over cover, each with their own unique, minimal black and white artwork.  Photography by the artist, layout by myself and Harrison Phillis.  The entire set is then housed in a clear plastic bag.
Released in a limited edition of 10 copies, unnumbered.  $20 ppd. in the United States, $36 rest of world.

ORDER HERE: www.altarofwasterecords.storenvy.com

CORY STRAND "IS THERE A LOVE THERE?" CDR (AOW 477)

Another new CD of frigid, dense, anxious and sad ambient drone.  Much of this release was recorded during the sessions for my upcoming double cassette release "Dreams Of Suicide" on Zero Sum Recordings; the work here can be seen as an extension of those compositions, a sort of companion piece of depression and unease.  Sometimes I want to feel hopeful, and think that there are good things out in the world; reality always intervenes and reminds me of how bad existence truly is.
Released in a limited edition of 10 copies, unnumbered.  Stark, minimalist packaging: black and white, regular clear jewel case.  60 minutes of despondency.  $7 ppd. in the United States, $23 rest of world.

ORDER HERE: www.altarofwasterecords.storenvy.com

CORY STRAND "REALLY I DON'T" CDR (AOW 473)

New ambient drone EP.  This recording began as an HNW piece, but i ran it through so much reverb and additional "murkifiers" that it no longer has an sense of harshness; it's a wall reduced to its most base elements.  Severely empty stuff.
Packaged in a regular jewel case and released in a limited edition of 6 hand-numbered copies.  $7 ppd. in the United States, $23 rest of world.

ORDER HERE: www.altarofwasterecords.storenvy.com

CORY STRAND "INTO THE COLD" CDR (AOW 472)

New full length recording of bleak drone ambient.  "Into The Cold" is comprised of two larger pieces composed alongside the material i've been working on for Zero Sum Recordings.  It's dense, it's engulfing and oceanic; it's completely sad and forlorn.
Packaged in a regular jewel case and released in a limited edition of 6 hand-numbered copies.  $7 ppd. in the United States, $23 rest of world.

ORDER HERE: www.altarofwasterecords.storenvy.com

CHIER "THE MADNESS IS THE METHOD" 5CDR BOX SET (AOW 469)

Very pleased to be releasing this massive box set of recordings from Chier, who has become one of my very favorite HNW artists currently in the scene.  This box set is inspired by, and a tribute to, the ethereal, eerie works of photographer Lauren Simonetti, who crafted truly unsettling work without the use of digital manipulations or retouchings (all of her effects were done in-camera.)  This method of working mirrors Chier's approach to HNW: no digital manipulations, no post-editing.  The artist behind Chier builds many of his own pedals and synths, giving the project's recordings a sound like no other.  For me, Chier's HNW is what HNW is supposed to sound like: it is dirty, lofi, sepulchral, distant, muffled, huge, majestic, and engulfing.  I am very honored to be releasing this work; it is simply an amazing set of varied and haunting HNW compositions.
Packaged as a 5-disc set, with each disc housed in an individual DVD case with its own unique artwork utilizing the photos of Simonetti.  The five discs are packaged in a cardboard box with a paste-on cover; each set includes a numbered insert.  Released in a limited edition of 10 hand-numbered copies.  $40 ppd. in the United States, $56 rest of world.

ORDER HERE: www.altarofwasterecords.storenvy.com

NECROTIK FISSURE "SHIFTING INSIDE THE ANCIENT SURFACE" CDR (AOW 468)

A crushing onslaught of true, gargantuan HNW from Necrotik Fissure, the prolific project of Daniel Kozma, who runs the fine experimental label The Level Of Vulnerability.  "Shifting Inside The Ancient Surface" is a dense, fiercely crackling, hyper-aggressive 66 minute wall that will appease fans of extreme audio severity as well as those looking to dive deep into textures and tonalities.  As intoxicating through the headphones as it is leveling your speakers.
Packaged in a regular CD jewel case with extremely minimal artwork and insert.  Released in a limited edition of 12 hand-numbered copies.  $10 ppd. in the United States, $26 rest of world.

ORDER HERE: www.altarofwasterecords.storenvy.com