TransZendenZ- Seliaphan-Tu

Artist: Transzendenz
CD Title: Seliaphan-Tu
Label: Legatus Records
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 8/19/04

This five-song EP is one of the most promising releases I’ve heard all year, mixing medieval sounds with harsh, militaristic EBM. Starting off with a bombastic orchestral intro that would do Laibach proud, the disc then moves into the operatic martial stomp of “Marennacht” and “Unterwelt.” Utilizing organic-sounding drumbeats alongside harpsichord and string samples, TransZendenz is reminiscent of the more classically influenced work of Wumpscut’s Rudy Ratzinger. Singer Jarn-A further contributes to this timeless atmosphere with ethereal vocals that compliment the more standard industrial growls of vocalist/keyboardist Mikael. Things start to take a different turn with the swirling, upbeat techno of “Hexentanz.” This one’s a bit like Bel Canto, with blood-maddened Viking shieldmaidens standing in for the fairytale creatures. “Seliaphan-Tu” finishes things out by returning to Germanic solemnity with harpsichords and processed accordions. Since this is an early effort, the production isn’t quite what it could be, and things do occasionally get muddled – there’s a loop of electronic horns in “Hexentanz” that’s particularly jarring, for example. Nonetheless, with a twenty-two minute EP this promising, I’m already impatient for the full-length.

Strap on your chain mail and combat boots, and visit TransZendenz at www.transzendenz.org.