#ChelseaWolfe

2025-12-28

On 28 December 2010, Chelsea Wolfe debuted with The Grime and the Glow.

Recorded by herself on an 8-track recorder, it “made it sound exactly the strange and special, fucked up way I wanted it to sound.”

“But for these songs, I wanted to capture my voice, or the instruments, inside a certain soundbox, so when you have your headphones on listening to it, you feel like you’re in a tiny, claustrophobic echo room or a parking garage cathedral.”

01. Advice & Vices

#ChelseaWolfe #IndieFolk #Goth

2025-12-27

I am now listening to ‘She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She’ by Chelsea Wolfe.

An excellent Industrial-tinged album from last year.

#ChelseaWolfe

2025-12-27

Crikey, how did I miss the Chelsea Wolfe x HEALTH collaboration this year?

youtu.be/dLjKpTo1dgE

#ChelseaWolfe #HEALTHBand

𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓬 𝓐𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓵bax3l33t
2025-10-10
𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓬 𝓐𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓵bax3l33t
2025-10-08
Metal InsiderMetalInsider
2025-10-06
2025-10-01

-ii- – Apostles of the Flesh Review

By Spicie Forrest

Before you ask, it’s pronounced “two eyes.” -ii- formed in Nancy, France in 2018. Since then, they’ve released a handful of EPs and singles, as well as a debut LP, Extinction, in 2021. Historically a duo—composer/multi-instrumentalist Benjamin Racine and singer Hélène Ruzic—the band brought on multi-instrumentalist Maxime Keller and drummer/percussionist David l’Huillier for their sophomore effort, Apostles of the Flesh.1 As a sucker for anything vaguely sacrilegious, that album title is what caught my interest, and I’m glad it did. Apostles of the Flesh is an intimate and visceral experience, and it’s one you shouldn’t miss.

-ii- is not a metal band. They play what they seem to call “ghost wave,” which sits somewhere between post-rock, goth, darkwave, trip-hop, and industrial, at times recalling HEALTH or Nine Inch Nails. If this sounds fairly electronics-heavy, it is. But on Apostles of the Flesh, -ii- eschews the drum machines and some other electronics of their debut in favor of live instrumentation, and it’s a resounding success. With l’Huillier’s lively drumming and Racine’s unique instruments,2 Apostles of the Flesh feels alive. This organic improvement over Extinction would be nothing to write home about, however, without the impressive songcraft Racine showcases here. Whether it’s a distorted, electronic bridge amidst tribal yet airy instrumentals (“Lotis”), impactful usage of audio effects (“Pearls Beneath the Embers,” “Virginia’s Mirror”), or shimmering synths draped over wistful strings (“The Fountain of Helicon”), everything fits together and flows effortlessly. Of particular note is “When Beauty is a Crime,” where -ii- mirrors its lyrical violence with a tense and uncomfortable atmosphere that refuses to let the listener move on. Apostles of the Flesh is intentional. It’s meticulously crafted. And metal or not, -ii- undoubtedly possesses the Metal Spirit™.

Two elements in particular drive this album’s high caliber: Ruzic’s vocals and l’Huillier’s drums. By turns conflicted (“The Birth of Venus”), seductive (“Sisyphus in Red”), defiant (“Where the Diamonds are Hurled”), and spiteful (“Under the Skin”), Ruzic guides the listener through an examination of the body and its inextricable link to the spirit. Lyrically, she’s transgressive like Ethel Cain or GGGOLDDD, but less direct. Her delivery hies closer to Chelsea Wolfe or Darkher, although -ii- fosters a greater sense of rhythmic urgency. This is largely accomplished by l’Huillier’s standout performance, both carnal and tribal. Hammering at his kit with artful brutality, l’Huillier drives ritualistic numbers (“Sisters of the Coven,” “Digging for Blood”), stricken passages (“Under the Skin,” “When Beauty is a Crime”), and enraptured crescendos (“The Birth of Venus”) with the same skilled hand. The spiraling climax of “The Fountain of Helicon” is a high point, as l’Huillier recklessly hurtles the listener toward the fabled spring. L’Huillier brings an intensity to Apostles of the Flesh that, combined with Ruzic’s provocative and emotive singing, cements this album not just as a collection of good songs, but as an intense, ritualistic experience.

Not only is Racine responsible for the musical arrangements, but he also handles much of the production. The mix is big and spacious, and each instrument gets plenty of room to flourish. Even in the most chaotic moments of Apostles of the Flesh, when drums, vocals, strings, or synths rise to a fever pitch, each element is clear and vibrant (“The Birth of Venus,” “Lotis,” “The Fountain of Helicon”). His use of the soundstage is equally impressive, and because of this, Apostles of the Flesh excels in a pair of headphones over a speaker system. Quivering strings and ethereal synths dynamically float through the space, creating a lost, forlorn sensation on “When Beauty is a Crime” and “Virginia’s Mirror.” Ruzic sounds so close and so private amid the waves and rainfall of spoken word piece “L’Onde et l’Abysse,” it’s as if she speaks to the listener alone.

Apostles of the Flesh is not an album to play in the background, and it’s not for everyone. It demands both your attention and an emotional investment to shine, but shine it does. Some might balk at a 65-minute runtime or note that several songs go on long after Ruzic is done singing. I consider it a testament to Racine’s compositional prowess that these longer outros feel valuable and that the album holds my attention front to back. Apostles of the Flesh is passionate, vulnerable, and cathartic. For those willing to commit, -ii- offers an intense, surreal journey you won’t soon forget.

Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: PCM
Label: Self-Released
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube
Releases Worldwide: October 3rd, 2025

#2025 #40 #ApostlesOfTheFlesh #ChelseaWolfe #Darkher #Darkwave #Electronica #EthelCain #FrenchMusic #GGGOLDDD #Goth #HEALTH #II #Industrial #NineInchNails #Noise #Oct25 #PostRock #Review #Reviews #SelfReleased #Shoegaze #Synthwave #TripHop

2025-09-29
Chelsea Wolfe 2025-09-28 Warner Theatre, Washington DC
#chelseawolfe #livemusic
2025-08-08

Faun et Chelsea Wolfe ont fait une chanson ensemble, c'est vraiment la collab que j'aurais pas imaginé oO
my heart
c'est si doux...

youtube.com/watch?v=ChqYXv10sBg

#Faun #ChelseaWolfe #RadioPouet

Chelsea Wolfe – Changes [Black Sabbath acoustic cover]

youtube.com/watch?v=lahbLYeY2L

#FediRadio #ChelseaWolfe #BlackSabbath

2025-07-06

Blood Vulture – Die Close Review

By Saunders

Corpse-painted host and comedian of metal show Two Minutes to Late Night, Jordan Olds (aka Gwarsenio Hall), spearheaded some nifty entertainment during the height of the pandemic. Snapping up the limited release digital covers EPs during Bandcamp Fridays allowed me to net some cool stuff. Olds and a host of musicians, including Chelsea Wolfe and members of Dillinger Escape Plan, Mastodon, Mutoid Man, Royal Thunder, and Baroness amongst others, put their wacky spin on a variety of metal anthems and other classic tunes. Olds demonstrated his own impressive musical talents with axe and mic. Keen to substitute his comedic background for a darker, decidedly more serious musical quest, Olds unleashes his Blood Vulture project, crafting a curious debut album entitled Die Close. Boasting a doomy, gloomy, though deceptively versatile and hard-hitting opus, can Blood Vulture muster up the chops and songwriting substance to match the style and impressive musicianship? Die Close features an intriguing melting pot of styles and influences. Doom forms the beating heart of the beast, complimented by elements of sludge, ’90s grunge/alt rock, moody, scarlet dappled Goth, and a touch of camp. Influences are worn proudly on sleeves. Channeling the raw heft of Crowbar, somber hues of contemporary doom heavyweights Khemmis and Pallbearer, along with the addictive harmonies of Alice In Chains, there is nary a dull moment. Blood Vulture boast the songwriting sparks to rise above derivation. Temptation to load up his debut with a convoluted cast of musical guests and friends would have been high. On this front, star power features, but is not overdone, including contributions from Jade Puget (AFI), Shadows Fall frontman Brian Fall, and Kristin Hayter (Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter, Lingua Ignota). Meanwhile, Stephen Brodsky (Cave In, Mutoid Man) and friends lend vocal harmonies on the excellent “Die Close: Finale,” a brooding, grungy, and uplifting closer. Outside of these carefully curated guest spots, by all accounts Olds handles tasks single-handedly, including vocals, guitars, bass, and synths, aided by drummer Moe Watson. Following a shortish, mood-setting opener, Die Close kicks in proper via the leaden sludge-doom riffage and infectious Jerry Cantrell-esque vocal hooks on “An Embrace in the Flood.” The song’s straightforward building blocks deftly shift through surprising turns, including a brief barrage of blast beats and cascading solo, coupled with gorgeous vocal harmonies. A powerful melodic current flows through the album, exemplified through Old’s versatile clean vox, array of elegant solos, and mood-driven, shadowy synths. However, the melodic elements are powerfully counterpunched by a foundation of meaty doom and sludge riffs, lending the album its heavier, weighty edge. Substantial heft dominates the riff palette, heavily featured on cuts such as the gritty crunch of “Grey Mourning,” and the storming throes of “Abomination.” Blood Vulture’s versatility and knack for infectious songcraft shine. Swathed in dreamy atmospheres and built upon a sturdy foundation of grinding riffs, “Entwined” features a wonderful dual vocal performance from Olds and Hayter, the latter’s dramatic, ghostly presence a highlight.

For all its notable strengths, gripping guitar work, and towering hooks, Die Close has a few hiccups expected from a debut album. The two shorter introductory and interlude pieces are decent enough, yet ultimately disposable, while the stronger moments and soaring melodies on the Gothy melodrama of “A Dream About Starving to Death” are tripped up by some overly goofy lyrical and vocal turns. Nevertheless, outside of these minor sore spots, Die Close is consistently entertaining and occasionally gripping at its potent best. Olds still displays some tongue-in-cheek humor and horror shtick, also reflected in the accompanying music videos, though overall, Die Close is a dark and brooding album. Expectedly, Olds is the star of the show, defined by his excellent guitar work and standout vocals. Vocally, Olds shifts between several modes, showcasing solid range, character, and emotional depth.

Blood Vulture came from nowhere, unleashing a fresh, emotive and punchy blast of doomy heft, blockbuster hooks and haunting harmonies. Bolstered by stellar performances and addictive songwriting, where the album’s earwormy hooks and stronger material showcase Olds as a serious artist on the rise, Die Close signals an assured and confident debut. A few kinks aside, Die Close is a hugely enjoyable album that’s well worth a listen and should cement Blood Vulture as an exciting new voice in the doomsphere.

Rating: 3,5/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Pure Noise Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: June 27th, 2025

#2025 #35 #AFI #AmericanMetal #BloodVulture #CaveIn #ChelseaWolfe #Crowbar #DieClose #DillingerEscapePlan #DoomMetal #Grunge #LinguaIgnota #Mastodon #MutoidMan #PureNoiseRecords #ReverendKristinMichaelHayter #Review #Reviews #RoyalThunder #ShadowsFall #Sludge

2025-06-01

Listening to Chelsea Wolfe currently.

Just letting the universe tell me what sort of vibes I need to hear… and this gloomy electro is the right vibes for the moment.

#ChelseaWolfe

KEXP 🎶 #NowPlaying BotKEXPMusicBot@mastodonapp.uk
2025-05-23

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