Author & Punisher – "Krüller"

2022-02-18

Brave new world

So far, my familiarity with Author & Punisher  – a.k.a. Tristan Shone – has been limited to the one show I saw him play in Denmark in 2019. It was a near-mind-expanding display of cold, inhuman soundscapes not unlike how you'd imagine the sonic backdrop for when Skynet becomes self-aware and the machines take over.

His seventh album, however, adds some perspective to that impression. In fact, a lot.

Opener "Drone Carrying Dread" sounds like the Blade Runner soundtrack if it had been played by a doom metal band. It's scrupulously slow and heavy. This is what I've been looking for as the perfect future music. Crackling with low-resolution synth as well as a wall of distorted guitar, it's majestic, frightening, and beautiful. Equally futuristic and post-apocalyptically-sounding, it has certain similarities with Gary Numan's later ventures out into dystopian territories.

This is what I've been looking for as the perfect future music. Crackling with low-resolution synth as well as a wall of distorted guitar, it's majestic, frightening, and beautiful.

"Incinerator" is much heavier and more merciless. Like a systematic eradication of humans. And the vocals sound like Chino Moreno from Deftones. I've never heard anything like this before. And this impression lasts in "Centurion" – which, by the way, features Justin Chancellor from Tool on bass. This is some of the most eerie, apocalyptic, and industrial music I've ever heard. Shone's vocals here are even distorted, Al Jourgensen style.

"Maiden Star" also manages to combine the ultra-heavy with a Deftones-esque melody, but in a major key, and in Devin Towsend-esque surroundings. I can't believe how unique and origial this is. Author & Punisher should be so much bigger. The fact that he's released seven albums and still han't gotten the attention that he clearly deserves is making me impatient.

The fact that Author & Punisher has released seven albums and still han't gotten the attention that he clearly deserves is making me impatient.

"Misery" also features a guest appearance from a Tool member – drummer Danny Carey. However, like with Chancellor earlier, his contribution is largely lost in the dominant, machine-like wall of crushing guitar blocks and mercilessly deep, buzzing synth. Also, one might argue the choice of covering the Portishead classic "Glorybox" – "I just wanna be a woman" is probably the least possible fitting lyric in these surroundings. But hey, he does put his own mark on it.

Co-producer Vytear – a.k.a. Jason Begin – contributes some erratic drum'n'bass on "Blacksmith", setting a wonderful contrast to darkly depressive slow note drops and desperate, screaming vocals. Paradoxical as it may sound, this is chaos and madness controlled.

Ultimately, I'm more than convinced. "Krüller" has to be as well-written and creatively comprehensive as it gets within this genre. Author & Punisher embraces both cold, frighteningly irreconcilable destruction as well as tender, relatable human vulnerability. And he combines the two with mesmerizing professionalism.

It's called art.

Rating: 5 out of 6

Genre: Industrial metal
Release date: 11/2/2022
Label: Relapse
Producer: Jason Begin + Tristan Shone

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