Robert Pain - Malleus Maleficarum

Review by Keith Harris

Malleus Maleficarum, the latest album by Robert Pain, is a haunting and atmospheric journey through the darkest corners of the human psyche. From the opening track, "The Witching Hour," to the closing notes of "Black Magic," Pain weaves a spellbinding tapestry of sound that is both mesmerizing and terrifying.

The album's title is a reference to the infamous medieval book on witchcraft, and Pain's music is appropriately ominous and foreboding. The songs are built around eerie, droning melodies and unsettling ambient textures, with occasional bursts of distorted guitar and thunderous percussion.

Pain's use of field recordings and found sounds adds to the album's sense of unease, creating an immersive sonic environment that feels like a descent into madness. The album's standout tracks include "Hexenhammer," with its pounding tribal rhythms and distorted vocal samples, and "Sabbath," a slow-burning, ritualistic piece that builds to a cacophonous crescendo.

Summary by Keith Harris

Malleus Maleficarum is a masterful work of dark ambient music that will appeal to fans of artists like Lustmord and Coil. It's a deeply unsettling and immersive experience that will leave listeners feeling both exhilarated and disturbed.