Merdarahta
As The Dark Clouds Swept Away We Could See The Sunset

May 2015
Released: 2015, Noise Salvation
Rating: 3.0/5
Reviewer: Aaron Yurkiewicz

Quebec’s Fuck The Facts have been nothing less than prolific across the span of their 15 year career, so it shouldn’t be at all surprising that they’ve decided to launch their own label imprint, Noise Salvation, the debut of which is Merdrahta’s AS THE DARK CLOUDS SWEPT AWAY WE COULD SEE SUNSET. An album that’s both equal parts grind, doom and experimental, Merdarahta challenges the boundaries of extremity and abstractism in delightfully aggressive fashion.



The brainchild of FtF’s Topon Das, Merdarahta has plenty of sonic similarities to the man’s day job, so fans of the outfit should readily be on board with what he’s peddling here. But while half of the album comes across as a doomed out dalliance with Godflesh, the other half of the album delves into Merzbow inspired forays into mood altering noisescapes. Collectively, AS THE DARK CLOUDS…is more of an aural art project than it is a traditional listening experience, but man - as the static fades from “Dirt Bodies” and bleeds into “The Dark Clouds” it’s hard not to feel unsettled and uncomfortable. I love that. “Poverty Will Spread” is my favorite takeaway from the album, feeling the dread build from isolationist nihilism into full blown, feedback drenched depression.



Though not quite an album that you can dance to, AS THE DARK CLOUDS SWEPT AWAY WE COULD SEE SUNSET will speak to your inner demons and make the voices in your head sound reasonable and reassuring. Given its origins and caustic sensibilities, Merdarahta inherently distances itself from more mainstream audiences, but grind-minded fans should easily gravitate towards it. A black eye and a broken nose on the face of extreme music; Merdarahta will push your limits.