Zmajevdah/Emotion Of Loss Split on Bandcamp

Just a quick note to let you know that the Zmajevdah / Emotion Of Loss split is finally available through Bandcamp, in streaming and free download form. Feel free to listen, download, review, rant, and share !

I am pretty busy at the moment with personal stuff, but the tapes should be available in september. Thanks to those who already preordered one !

Summer update - Planned releases soon to come

Sup guys. Long time no see. No update for the past two months, as I was actually busy sending delicious Huata tapes all accross the globe. Get yours now, because those are going fast !

I can also say that the two current soon-to-come releases will, well, come soon. Those were the Zmajevdah / Emotion Of Loss split and Haute-Cimes - Khmaer Krahom, both on tape.

It's really hard to label Zmajevdah's blackened shoegazy grind mixture, but If you're into heartwarming blastbeatitude somewhat similar to Liturgy or Panopticon, you will absolutely love the two everlasting tracks encased in this split.

With his new track Emotion Of Loss dwelves into more ethereal and experimental sounds, lurking toward ambiant and darker atmospheres. This is constricting rings in audio form, slowly suffocating you before the final blow !

Here's a preview of the artwork, with the tracklist. Free download link should hopefully available with the tape release. Preorders are open : 4€ + shipping.

ZZP-007 /// Zmajevdah/Emotion Of Loss - Split tape

1. Zmajevdah - Once, Alienation - 5:51
2. Zmajevdah - Disintegration, Now ! - 7:33
3. Emotion Of Loss - Degradant - 14:44


As usual, the final artwork and packaging will be revealed for the official release.


The second planned release is the first offering by french noise purveyor Haute-Cimes, titled Khmaer Krahom.

With Khmaer Krahom, Haute-Cimes delivers three tracks of cinematographic harsh noise, with disturbing films samples entwining layers of radiating drones and pulsating noise shrills. This is like staring at the everlasting collapse of the Sun, laying on your back on a building rooftop, above the smog and stench of the world consuming itself in a last mass orgy of blood, oil and wine.

A short glimpse at the artwork/packaging, which will also be completely unveiled for the release. You can already stream and download the album with the player just below. Preorders are open : 4€ + shipping.

ZZP-008 /// Haute-Cimes - Khmaer Krahom

1. Pertt - 7:29
2. Pure - 8:08
3. Astre - 7:17

Update on the Emotion Of Loss & Zmajevdah split tape

Howdy people ! Just a short note to let you know that the Emotion of Loss / Zmajevdah split will no longer be released on CDr but rather on... (drum roll) tape !

Just like the Haute-Cimes - Khmaer Krahom tape, most of the artwork for the split will be a collage made using only old found pictures and a photocopier.

We also hope to offer a streaming and/or downloadable version of this release soon, so stay tuned !

Happy birthday me + SOON ! /// Reissue of Huata's two tapes.

Zugzwang Productions is now officially one year old ! Thanks to all the artists and people with whom I worked with/sold or traded stuff. Plenty of releases are planned for the months to come, with more retarded packagings. Stay tuned !

Working on the Open The Gates... packaging. My bedroom is a sweatshop. 

I can also announce that the two most famous ZZP releases are being reissued : Huata's Open The Gates Of Shambhala and Atavist Of Mann, both on tape with their original packaging. Listen here (EP and LP) and see pics of the tapes here (EP and LP). Those are still pretty limited so preorder yours now at the shop !

SOON ! /// Zmajevdah & Emotion Of Loss - Split Tape

After producing a bunch of tapes for the impoverished hipsters, ZZP is back in the digital era with a CDr release. Nope, back to tape ! This will also be our first split album, between two solo acts : Emotion Of Loss from Russia (doom/indus/noise) and Zmajevdah from Croatia (blackened shoegazy grind).

Two Internet friends, and more importantly two great artists that push the boundaries of their sound and their respective genre, their tunes sweating with heart, lo-fi and DIY ethics.

If you followed ZZP from the beginning, you are no stranger to Emotion Of Loss bleak, desperate and crushing sound. His "Demo 2007" was ZZP first release. Jump in the time machine to learn about this incredible first effort by clicking here, or listen to the demo here. However, on this split EoL explore new territories in his sound, lurking toward ambiant and even darker atmospheres, so expect some surprises !

Zmajevdah take on grindcore has always been special. Never over-saturated blastbeatitude lo-finess has been so alive and heartwarming, as you can take into account here. But with the two unreleased tracks Zmajevdah offers on this record, his post-proto-prog-grind evolves into some more exciting. More surprises to come, yay !

Previews for these tracks should be available soon, such as hints of the handcrafted packaging that will embody them.

Stay tuned for preorders and more !

Cheap chouchenn all around !

ZZP is (slowly) gaining momentum ! 968 views on the blogspot this month, thanks mainly to the release of Huata's Atavist Of Mann ! From what I could gather, their january tour went smoothly (mainly thanks to some unholy honey-based beverage), and you have probably heard about their recent addition to the line up of Roadburn 2012 ! Hurray for them !

For all those who preordered some Atavist Of Mann tapes, please be patient. I know this release suffered some delay, but hopefully the wait won't be much longer now.

Same goes for Proud Father full length tape. The process of making these tapes has been pretty long and convoluted in both cases.

February should hopefully see the official release of those two albums, and maybe even some additional surprises... Stay tuned !

Proud Father : streaming, free download, and preorders !

Today is a great day for Zugzwang Productions, as the collaboration with noise/ambiant/soundscape artist Proud Father is finally taking shape, with the tape release of Hearu Shi No Proud Father : a 90mn journey through lo-fi ambiant, cascading analog drones and electric shoegaze riddled with kaiju samples.

The design of the packaging has been a long process, conducted by Proud Father & myself, and we hope you will love the result as much as we do. The tapes are handpainted, and come in stencil painted resealable plastic bags. Each copy comes with a full size screenprinted poster, with an artwork by Zugzwang Productions.

You don't see much yet but it's on purpooooose.

From now on, the album is available through streaming and free download via the bandcamp page of Proud Father (where you can also download much more gorgeous PF noise/ambiant extravaganza), and through Flaccid Plastic Records, where there's even MORE experimental audio delights. You can even already listen to it through the handy embedded player below.





And last but not least, preorders for the tape version are now open ! 30 copies, 6€ each including a screenprinted poster.

Finally, pictures of the show where Proud Father performed are available here.

First news of 2012

It's always like this. You work for months. You plan ahead. But at the end, the planets align and mysteriously but inevitably, every deadlines fall at the same time and you have to finish several projects in a four days span.

This is why in a single post, I can announce that the two impending releases of ZZP will be available before the end of january.


ZZP-005 - PROUD FATHER - Hearu Shi no Proud Father
(The Glorious Death of Proud Father)

Proud Father's longest effort to date : 90mn tape of glimmering soundscapes, noise bursts and shoegazy wall of sound, from the ruins of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Due to the circumstances, the artwork, packaging, and digital version of the album will be probably be unveiled at the release date. Same goes for the pricing.

Proud Father will perform THIS GODDAMN SATURDAY 14th, at the Red House and The White House in New Orleans, LA.

This show will also feature Caddywhompus, B L A C K I E All Caps With Spaces, /fucks/, Habitat and Choi Wolf. More info here.

But more importantly, the first tapes will be available at this show ! Get in a plane ! Go there ! Get 'em !

Also, a first glimpse at the album artwork, made by myself. Hopefully more will be revealed soon.

ZZP-006 - HUATA - Atavist Of Mann

FINALLY, the long awaited first full length of Brittany, France gloomiest doom cult is available ! First, as a digital version via their Bandcamp. Then, the tape version will be carried by the band during their Mannus Millenium Tour in january (Nancy, FR. Tournat, BE. Lille, FR. Mudfest, ND), and soon after through your favorite sonic dope dealer Zugzwang Productions.

The 2xLP edition is still on preorders through De Arte Magica, a label conglomerate (Throatruiner Rcd, Boue Rcd, Odio Sonoro, Mordgrimm and Psychedoomelic Rcd).

As you may have seen during the small series of posts "Playing Peeping Tom", the making of the packaging for the tape edition has been very long, but is now nearing completion. We hope you'll like the result as much as we do ! Here's a last picture before the complete unveiling of this hell of a tape.

And for those wondering, ZZP is already working on other releases. I can't tell you much now, but stay tuned ! 2012 will kick ass !

Episode 2 of Playing Peeping Tom : Huata - Atavist Of Mann.

Episode 2 of our thrilling series "Playing Peeping Tom", where you can enter the creation process of Zugzwang Productions' trademark : customized packaging warfare.

Still working on the tape edition for Huata - Atavist Of Mann, which is probably the most complex design and creation process we made this far. Everything is going smoothly. Boxcutter and double-sided adhesive tape in hands. It should be available before the end of the year, and probably before the release of CD and vinyl version. Hope you'll like the result ! 

We also received the tapes, that we were lucky enough to find in a color that is pretty close the paper we're using. Those will enter homedubbing soon.

Episode 3 will be about the complete unveiling of the packaging. Stay tuned !

Click on the pictures to enlarge. Preorders still open : 5€ (Europe) / $8 (World), including shipping.

Preorders are over ! 6,66€ shipping out ! Visit the SHOP for more ZZP goodness !

The saucepan of Doom.

I had to paste over a thousand of these, so don't give me that look, okay ?

Thining the herd.

The Trimmer.

Hours of fun ahead.

Yay.

Episode 1 Playing Peeping Tom : Huata - Atavist Of Mann.

Hi people, today I have decided to try a little something. From now on, in a series called "Playing Peeping Tom", I'll try my best to document all the process needed in the creation of an album packaging. From the first draft made with cornflakes boxes to the luxurious final product, with all the mind-numbing paper cutting, folding, pasting that goes in-beetween.

Considering that I only have two arms and little to no impulse control, I probably won't be able to take pictures at every step of the production. So expect some gaps in the timeline.

So, to begin with our new series, here's as promised a first glimpse of the packaging for Huata - Atavist Of Mann on tape. This is just a part of the packaging, so expect some more surprises about it. And to make things clear, this is NOT silkscreened, but classic black/white prints. For those who own a Open The Gates..., we went to the same shop, so you know it's good. For those who don't, it's good, believe us.

Step 1 was about cutting and tracing the folding lines in these covers. Step 2 will be about abusing a roll of double-sided tape. Oh, the fun we're having.

Click on the pictures to enlarge. Pre-orders are still open : 5€ (Europe) / $8 (World), including shipping !

Preorders are over ! 6,66€ shipping out ! Visit the SHOP for more ZZP goodness !

SOON ! /// Proud Father - Hearu Shi no Proud Father (C80 Cassette)

Most of you guys probably don't know about Proud Father, from New Orleans, LA. And that's a shame, trust me.

But at ZZP, we're sensible people, and we know what's good for you. Plus it's almost Christmas and stuff, so it's the perfect time.

Yup, the perfect time for releasing Proud Father longest effort to date : "Hearu Shi no Proud Father" aka "The Death of Proud Father". 80mn of tape collages & manipulations, soundscapes, samples, ambient, harsh noise & much more weird sounds.

Honestly, i'm not usually fond of this genre, but Proud Father stuff is absolutely FASCINATING. Carefully orchestrated chaos drips from your speakers. It floods your room softly, like a tide. Glimmering clouds and fuzzy swarms of drone angler fishes lure you in the depths.

Listen to preview extracts here and here.

Preorder should be open soon, as we're still working on the packaging for this release.

SOON! /// Huata - Atavist Of Mann (C70 Cassette)

Second release with the fuzz-zealots of Huata, and this one is a mean baby ! Their first full-length, "Atavist Of Mann", will be available on tape on Zugzwang Productions !

This long awaited magnum opus will be released with an alternate artwork, embodied in a cool, handmade packagings. Limited to 50 copies ! More infos about this packaging soon.

Sonically speaking, Huata crawled their way up from the sewers, leaving behind cohorts of toothless, hysterically laughing tramps and giant cave rats, bathing and hunting in their waste. Their ascencion led them to emerge through the ruins of a collapsed church. Gazing at the sky, all they saw were waves of gleaming steel, vomiting fire on the terrified masses. Slowly, they gathered their instruments, even digging and old organ under the calcinated fragments of a broken cross. And then, began the mass.

And if my prose sucks, you can just listen to "Atavist Of Mann" in its entirety here on how it's about to kick your ass.

Preorders are open ! 5€ (Europe)/$8 (World) including shipping !
Preorders are over ! 6,66€ shipping out ! Visit the SHOP for more ZZP goodness !
Contact me at contact.zugzwang@gmail.com

By the way, the 2xLP vinyl version can also be preordered here.

RxOxS coming soon & distro update !

Hello people ! Things are moving here. Resonance Of Spiral's first EP will be out soon on 3" CDs ! Japanese Psycho Crusher industrial hardcore ! For fans of early Isis, Godflesh, Tetsuo & Atari Teenage Riot ! Limited to 100 copies !

This also means that the preorder offer for it (4€ post paid instead of 6€) will be soon over ! Don't miss it ! Here's a preview :



Also, there's a big update on the shop section (Habsyll, Atolah, Ramesses, Negative Reaction, Rumpeltiltskin Grinder...), as I received a trade package from PsycheDOOMelic Records. A big thanks to Mark for being such a nice guy ! Buy stuff from him too !

Stay tuned !

SOON! /// Resonance Of Spiral - Devblu EP (Pro mCDr)

TACTICAL DARK WAVE

FROM HELL FAR EAST NOISE FRONT

2MANCELL TILL DEATH

--

THREE MOVEMENTS

1424 SECONDS

CONTRABAND MANUFACTURING

--

RESONANCE OF FUCKING SPIRAL
COMING SOON

ENLIST

Some news ! Huata & Resonance Of Spiral.

Hi there, just to let you know that I'm not dead. Now here are some news :

The release of the "Huata - Open The Gates Of Shambhala" K7 has suffered of some delay. Now I can't give you a precise release date, but I can assure you that we're working on it and we're making our best to make it available as soon as possible. I apologize for this inconvenience to those who preordered the tape, and remind you all that this preorder offer (4€, shipping including all over the world) is still available here.

On another subject, I am really proud to announce our next release :

Resonance Of Spiral - DEVBLU ep

Resonance of Spiral is a japanese two piece band delivering a devastating mix of hardcore and industrial. With only a MPC, a bass, and a vocalist, these guys are the MK ULTRA project in sound.
RxOxS drive their way into your cortex with their insane beats and samples and recondition it with thunderous bass assaults as the screams burn a litany of kill words in your subconscious.

Now you're ready.

This 23mn EP will be released on 100 miniCDs with a special handmade packaging. 30 copies will be available via the band and 70 copies via myself. The release is planned for August, and the preorder will be open a little while before.

SOON! /// Huata - Open The Gates Of Shambhala (K7 Re-ed.)

GUESS WHAT CAME IN THE MAIL LAST FRIDAY ?
That's right, 66 tapes for the next release "Huata - Open The Gates Of Shambhala" on Zugzwang Productions and Quagmire Records. Kudos to Tapeline for their customer support and professionalism.

Brace yourself for half an hour of a super-heavy doom/fuzz/satan combo coming straight from Brittany, France ! Fuzzy, muddy, sticky, fuzzy, stinky, heavy, fuzzy, oh and did I say it's fuzzy ?




First released on CD via Throatruiner Records and now out of stock, this critically acclaimed first effort gets reissued on tape with a very special silkscreened packaging by Headshot Laboratory. More info very soon.

SPECIAL OFFER : preorder for 4€. Shipping included, anywhere in the world !

Huata's next release "Atavist of Mann", on CD and LP, will be available via Throatruiner Records, Duplicate Records, Boue Records, Odio Sonoro and Psychedoomelic Records.