This is a new project called Nosens and they have created their debut with ‘The Final Step’. Although ‘they’, it is a solo project by Manganese Evelyne. Evelyne is also involved in some other project which are more related to hardcore (the gabber variety, not the punk version), speedcore and black metal. The front of the release is printed in Russian letters. The album is available as a 9 track CDr on Contagious Programm, or as a digital 6 track release on the two netlabels Wildness and Lomeanor. The music of Nosens is described as neo-classical, experimental and dark-ambient. So let’s take a closer look.

The album starts of with ‘Novus Ordo Seclurum’, which might mistake you for putting on the soundtrack of ‘Requiem For A Dream’. It uses that kind of staccato string rhythms and melodies that was very successful with the Clint Mansell and Kronos Quartet collaboration for that film. Perhaps it’s logical, because Evelyne is also in a band called Requiem For A Scream, so it’s probably a big inspiration. ‘Nausea’ is a very experimental neo-classical song with some martial industrial elements. The funny thing is that some parts sound like a real orchestra, so that’s pretty convincing for a solo project. ‘XXXIII Degree’ is a very dark and experimental soundscape that has a kind of avant-gardist approach. The next song is ‘Nwo’ (New world order?) and continues with the soundscape approach. The song is far more schizophrenic. The ending is especially disquieting and could be used as the soundtrack for a movie like ‘The Shining’. ‘Blue Beam’ is a more neo-classical song, which relies heavily on piano keys. It has a striking dark and depressive mood. ‘Haarp’ is a very good bombastic martial industrial song with all kinds of weird sounds. ‘Sophia’ sounds like the beginning of a martial industrial song, but the rhythms and percussion never comes. It does turn darker and weirder nearing the end. ‘Akashique’ sounds like a soundtrack for some Japanse ghost movie, or a ‘70’s euro-gothic picture even. The album closes with ‘Cura Ut Valeas!’, a very industrial oriented song but also uses some if the staccato orchestral elements from the first song. So it kind of closes on a full circle.

‘The Final Step’ is an unexpectedly good album. The basis sound elements and instruments sound very good and professional, some of it sounds like it uses real orchestration. The sound as a whole can be described as highly orchestral and experimental avant-gardist neo-classical with some dark-ambient elements. A lot of it has a very cinematic quality and sounds like a combination of ‘Requiem For A Dream’ and ‘The Shining’. The classical composer Krzysztof Penderecki also comes to mind while listening to this album, with some of the experimental classical element structures. While the sounds are all excellent, some of the mastering could have done better in places, some parts seem to peak in places. But for a very limited debut release this is pretty amazing stuff! For the people who are familiar with the other works of Manganese Evelyne, this will be a highly different experience, no doubt! The album comes in a plastic slipcase and is only available in 100 copies, so be fast! But this is an act to follow and will no doubt be picked up by a big label like Cold Meat Industry, because the music deserves to be heard by many people. Highly recommended!

Gothtronic