I had previously reviewed the Wilt and Gruntsplatter disc “The Trough of Armageddon,” and really enjoyed it, so I was interested to see that there was another collaboration. For those who are unfamiliar with these artists, they have both been active in the noise scene for well over 20 years now, and both are purveyors of what Wilt calls “Dark Noise,” and both are masters of their craft.

I will admit that I don't often listen to tapes at this point, partly because I prefer the convenience of CDs and I no longer have a tape deck in my car, which is where I listen to most of my music. As such, I considered just going with the CD option and passing on the tape. I'm glad that I didn't because while the CD collaboration was excellent, this tape manages to surpass it. As with “The Trough of Armageddon,” this tape sees Wilt working with Gruntsplatter material and vice versa, so let's get into the music itself and see what these two have to offer.

Poisoned Sleep is a hauntingly beautiful piece that is dark and somber. There is a lot going on in this track, which keeps it engaging. The track is infused with heavy, pulsing drone and distant noises. This is the calm after the storm; you have survived, but you can still hear the buildings collapsing in the neighboring town as the storm continues on. In the end, only the wind remains. Absolutely gorgeous.

Broken is a much noisier number that manages to work well with Poisoned Sleep. This is not harsh, but more industrial (in the sense of machine-like). This is the sound that you hear while standing in a factory with earplugs in. There is a sense of restraint here that is admirable in experimental music. This brings to mind some of the best material on Cold Meat Industry and Malignant Records.

Overall, this exceeded my expectations, and they were already pretty high. Well worth picking up.