On “Ancestral Feedings” Antler Piss spews forth a stinking festering mass of sound. This weight arrives not through the typical means of physical overload and abrasive sound assault but through subtle layering and juxtaposition of textures that result in a dank swampy atmosphere. The scraping, grinding and churning that occurs throughout brings about a dampness that seeps into your lungs and chills your bones. The invocation of place is incredibly tangible through the listening process; visions of torture, ritual and dark places immediately swarm to the forefront of ones imagination. The manner in which the sound can be heard reverberating off the walls in short, almost stunted gasps leads one to assume that the they must have been recorded on a subterranean level; either an ancient basement or perhaps even a cave. Wherever it may have been the space itself becomes the biggest defining instrument within the Antler Piss arsenal.

The cassette is compromised of four pieces; the first 3 taking up the first side while the final work, and title track, is allowed to sprawl across the entire length of the second side. Out of the four, its actually the final composition that is probably the weakest as the sounds are given a bit too much room to grow into a louder more physically overpowering and typically aggressive work. It is the level of economy used within the shorter works featured on the first side that allow the textures and mood to take precedence making for much more engaging and intense overall listening experience.

“Ancient Infest” moves along like some ancient machine on its last leg, clicking and clanking, sputtering and spewing its final breathes before it simply just gives out, not in the expected tumble and explosion but almost at ease with one last pop which reverberates into silence. “Stone Birth” is a more guttural and droning affair that moves back and forth in proximity to the listener, new sounds are carefully and gently introduced from afar. Again, Antler Piss refrains from becoming an aggressor, opting instead for the much more psychologically damaging tactics of fear. “Nature of Tombs” closes out the first side with the spatial reverberations and silence featured on “Ancient Infest” but with the more threatening demeanor of “Stone Birth in hand. Some of the sounds here are more identifiable, such as the very discomforting clanking of chain across concrete.

The only real downside to this release is that it was released in such a small number as part of Peasant Magik’s short run cassette series, but with a little perseverance I’m sure the brave and willing can easily track this one down 8/10 -- Cory Card (1 July, 2009)