4 out of 5

Label: Fonolith

Produced by: Neil Scrivin

The relative brevity of Doomlode’s 1 EP is the key to its success: Neil Scrivin’s “technological paranoia” alter ego revels in repetition, scribbled upon our ears by a swirl of samples and buzzes clicks and old-school synth beats.

Though nearer to Neil’s atmospheric Night Monitor work than his glitchy / throwback beats as Phono Ghosts or Meatbingo, Doomlode’s sound offers something of a middleground between approaches, fully establishing an atmosphere that vibes with its conspiracy theory-esque liner notes and generally oppressive tone, while also offering head bobbing beats that work as a bridge to more general electronica.

The very limited samples of A Giant Brain Ten Miles Away in the Heart of London and Dirtier and Dirtier and minute-long runtime of the latter make those almost seem like one song; setting that aside, Doomlode accomplishes quite a bit across these four tunes, crafting a set that tells a story of barrenness and nerviness, while also creating something that feels fleshed out and accessible.