Freedom Bondage

Much of the discography of veteran sonic extremist KK Null steers entirely clear of the realm of rock, zeroing in on convulsive noise and mutant electronica. But when the veteran Japanese artist turns his attention to the guitar-bass-drums format, as he has done on and off since the late ‘80s with the band known as Zeni Geva, the results are singularly punishing. Mostly uncelebrated in the metal realm, the band’s 1995 effort Freedom Bondage is nevertheless one of the heaviest records of its era, fusing the sociopathic nastiness of Amphetamine Reptile–style noise-rock with the sprawling intrigue of prog eccentrics like Magma and Van Der Graaf Generator, and topping it all with Null’s menacing raw-throated growl. It’s hard to think of another record that wields sheer ugliness in such an artful way.