Album Review: "Split" by Problem Anderer Leute & Tortured Screams In The Walls
Alright, buckle up because we’re diving into Split, a wild ride of an electronic noise album from 2012 that’s as chaotic as its title suggests. Released under the Russian label Wall Noise Action, this thing is like sticking your head inside a blender while someone cranks up the volume on their synth collection. It’s not for everyone—but if you dig experimental sounds and raw energy, it might just blow your mind.
First off, let me give props to the crew behind this madness. Ivan Sandakov handled the artwork, which fits perfectly with the vibe—gritty, unsettling, and kinda hypnotic. On the sound side, Evgeniy Kukharik crushed track 3, while Marvin Marvinson brought his magic to tracks 1 and 2. These guys clearly weren’t messing around when they hit record.
Now, onto the music itself. There are three tracks here: “Sliwowitz,” “Shooting At The Wall,” and “Sherry.” I’ll focus on two that really stuck with me.
Let’s start with “Sliwowitz” (track 1). This one hits hard right outta the gate. Imagine distorted synths punching you in the face while glitchy beats stumble all over each other like drunk robots trying to dance. It’s messy but intentional, like controlled chaos. What makes it memorable? Well, there’s this moment about halfway through where everything drops out except for this eerie high-pitched tone—it feels like you’ve stepped into another dimension. You know those moments in movies where the protagonist realizes they’re totally screwed? Yeah, it’s that feeling. Love it or hate it, you won’t forget it.
Then there’s “Shooting At The Wall” (track 2), which takes things down a darker path. If “Sliwowitz” is the chaotic party starter, this one’s more like wandering alone at night in some abandoned industrial zone. The layers of static and warped noises feel oppressive, almost suffocating, but in a good way. Like, you can practically picture yourself ducking behind rusty barrels while invisible forces close in. Around the 2-minute mark, there’s this sudden burst of metallic clangs—it’s jarring, unexpected, and honestly kind of thrilling. It’s the kind of track that makes you question whether you should turn off the lights or keep them on.
As for “Sherry”? Let’s just say it ties things together nicely without losing the edge. But hey, I’ll leave that one for you to explore.
So yeah, Split isn’t exactly background music. It’s abrasive, intense, and unapologetically weird. And honestly? That’s what makes it so damn cool. Listening to it feels like stepping into someone else’s fever dream—a little disorienting, sure, but also strangely captivating.
Here’s the kicker though: after blasting these tracks on repeat, I found myself wondering…what would happen if they tried remixing this stuff with actual vocals? Or maybe scoring a horror movie? Either way, hats off to Problem Anderer Leute and Tortured Screams In The Walls for creating something so polarizing yet undeniably unique.
Final thought: If walls could scream, this is probably what they’d sound like.
