How to Destroy Angels close the loop

The latest video from How to Destroy Angels is for the track The loop closes of their An Omen EP. This is my favourite track from the EP. The video is really fitting too, featuring plenty of glitchy sequences of what I'm assuming are CRT monitors. 

According to HTDA's social media posts, their first full length LP, Welcome Oblivion is set for release on 5 March 2013. Hear's hoping it features a few more tracks in a similar style to that of The loop closes.

Here's a bonus remix of the Ice age by Deadmau5. Once again, I prefer the remix over the original track.

How to Destroy Angels 'Ice Age' video and remix

Today How to Destroy Angels premièred a remix of Ice Age by The Soft Moon. Fortunately, much like the last remix, The Soft Moon's interpretation of the song is better than the original.

This is no doubt due to the fact that the twangy, country notes have all but been replaced by 80s influenced drum machine sequences and brooding synth textures that wouldn't have sounded out of place thirty years ago. As J. Wrinkle commented on Facebook, "Trent created HTDA so that he could get away from the NIN industrial rock sound... and this mix just takes it right back." Precisely my sentiment towards the track.

 

The video for Ice Age was released a few days ago, while I was in Thailand without an internet connection. While I'd made the comparison before my trip, after watching this video, as well as seeing a particular behind-the-scene photo from the video shoot (below), I can't help but think that Mariqueen Maandig Reznor looks a lot like a kathoey. That said, the original version of Ice Age is slowly growing on me.

Stream An Omen EP from How to Destroy Angels

The third full release made available for online streaming today, following those of Crystal Castles and Deftones. This EP from How to Destroy Angels is also set for release on 13 November. 

Track listing below:

After haven taken a listen, I can safely say that The loop closes and Speaking in tongues are my favourite tracks on the EP. This is probably to do with the fact that they sound like outtakes from Nine Inch Nails' Ghosts I-IV or one of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' soundtracks. These two songs also feature Trent Reznor on vocals, more prominently than Mariqueen Maandig Reznor.

This has lead me to conclude that I simply do not like Mariqueen Maandig Reznor's vocals. They just don't seem to tie in with the scenes set by the music at all. I'm even finding myself a little disappointed by this release as a result. In hindsight, I'm kind of glad the physical copies of the EP sold out before I got round to ordering them. It means I now have the funds to order an album that I am excited about.

While Trent Reznor is easily one of my favourite musicians, I can safely saw that his wife is not. I sincerely hope that she stays as far away from the recording studio as possible when Trent Reznor gets round to laying down some new Nine Inch Nails tracks.

Keep it together remixes

How to Destroy Angels released the first remix of their single Keep it together by Dave Sitek (TV on the Radio) on 19 October. I didn't post about it initially, because although I liked it, I didn't think it warranted its own post.

Hot on the heels of the video for the single comes the second remix by Factory Floor. Clocking in at nearly twice the duration of the original, this remix is well worth posting about. In my opinion, this is one of those rare occasions when the remix is in fact better than the original track. It might have something to do with the fact that Factory Floor has added a catchy kick and snare beat, a couple of little synth accents and lowered the volume of Mariqueen Maandig Reznor's breathless vocals to a level that is almost inaudible. 

While I've really liked the music that has come out of the How to Destroy Angels camp, I'm still not entirely sold on the lyrics or vocal performances on some of the songs. To me they just seem out of place and almost disjointed from the rest of the song. That said, I own the CD edition of their first EP, and am probably going to order the vinyl edition of An Omen EP early next week.

--Update 06/11/2012--

As of this morning, the vinyl edition of An Omen EP is sold out on the band's website. Guess I'll have to settle for the digital version, as there is no CD option for this release.

How to Destroy Angels' new music video

How to Destroy Angels have released a video of the band performing the single Keep it together in what appears to be Trent Reznor's home studio. You can watch it here.

As an aside, it's great to see Rob Sheridan involved as a musician in the band. Up until recently he has been credited as the art director for the band. I'm sure he will add an interesting element to future live shows.

How to Destroy Angels - Keep it together

Announced just 30 minutes ago via Facebook, the new single from How to Destroy Angels has already received over 800 downloads. The band will be releasing their second EP on 13 November 2012 (the same day the new Deftones album drops).

If you like the new single, Keep it together, you can download the band's eponymous EP here.