RZR | RZRecords - An Extremely Independent Music Collective

  Honey, wake up, the new SMEGMASMOG just dropped, on time for International Women's Day! It's super loud, really abrasive, and distinctively sad due to the keyboard lines added to the noise, feedback, shrieks, and tortured screaming. If there was ever a depressive blackened HWN genre, this is it. Obviously, it thematically revolves around the title, which gives you a whiff of the upcoming rot, BETRAYAL. It's a two-track album, over 40 minutes of pleasurable aural abuse. I could go on about it but you should really just listen to what these do. It's available on their Bandcamp , and will also pop up on streaming platforms within the next month or so. While you're clicking links, make sure to follow their Instagram page for more updates. They really deserve your attention. BETRAYAL by SMEGMASMOG

  We are extremely happy to announce this super interesting release, one of the first gems to hit RZR in 2025. A split between Heavy Insect, an alternative noise rock, sludge, post-grunge, insanecore, weirdo indie one-man band from Chicago, doing some really inspiring work from his basement, and our very own Haggari Nakashe & gaop, with a painfully loud, raw, slow, and dirty take on noise rock. This split will be released on streaming platforms around April, but as of last night, you can stream and purchase it via Heavy Insect's Bandcamp  (see the embed below for easy access). We encourage you to do so. Make sure to check out his latest album "Out of Light", which was released last month. Officially known as RZR release RZR25SS01,  we really hope that the Anomalous Trackologies Split will help to put us back on track with our split series. This pet project is something we try to promote hard every year but often underperform, given how sometimes life is just a se...

We have some very exciting news to share! Today, this killer release is dropping via our good friend, Fruit Exports . This gloomy and doomy 25-minute-long session is a an amalgamation of various musical styles, blending elements of free jazz, noise, drone, and doom, along with a bunch of other genres that cleverly overlap within this eclectic Venn diagram.  It was a fun live session that some of the RZRecords team had the pleasure of participating in, each contributing their unique vibe, flair, and creative energy to the groovy noise-soundscape we crafted together. The lineup was: Sabixatzil - Guitar Haggari Nakashe - Synths gaop - Clarinet NishMa - Drums, percussion Following the live session, the original source files underwent a light process of re-editing, during which we infused the recording with some studio magic, and sprinkled some more dirt on it, enhancing the auditory experience and further elevating the raw sounds we had initially produced.  This refinement tr...

Haggari Nakashe’s "One Eighty Seven" immerses listeners in a haunting soundscape that poignantly encapsulates the deep, often overwhelming emotions tied to seasonal affective disorder. As the seasons shift, so does the listener's mood, and these droning dark ambient textures create an atmosphere that echoes the melancholy accompanying this cyclical change. The synth layers evoke a sense of desolation, mirroring the stark contrast between the vibrant summer and the mournful winter. Each note echoes the feelings of isolation and introspection that many experience as the days grow shorter, enveloping the listener in a blanket of sorrow that is both familiar and profound. The structure of "One Eighty Seven" effectively mirrors the rhythmic nature of seasonal depression, using a semi-pleasant yet unsettling drone that feels like the weight of impending darkness. This slow build never culminates, as feelings constantly twist and turn, perfectly capturing the unpredi...

In " Chamber ", Haggari Nakashe takes listeners on an auditory journey melding dark ambient, noise, synth drones, and electro-acoustic elements into what often feels as a tundra-like soundscape. This album features five meticulously crafted tracks that delve into the intricate relationship between sound patterns and the emotional landscape of depression. With a keen focus on how specific frequencies resonate with human psyche, Nakashe employs an experimental approach, transforming simple melodic lines into complex layers that somehow evoke both unease and calm, relaxed introspection. The album’s haunting textures and immersive atmospheres reflect the artist's personal struggles, offering a sonic interpretation of his experiences with mental health. Each track on "Chamber" serves as an exploration of the delicate interplay between sound and emotion, inviting listeners to confront their own emotional responses as they journey through the music. Nakashe's fusio...

Sabixatzil's latest album, "Calm Down," is focused on showcasing an intriguing approach that centers on simpler guitar arrangements. This release embraces a cleaner and more minimalist sound, steering away from the more chaotic noise and complex jazz elements that often characterize the artist’s portfolio. In doing so, "Calm Down" presents a contrast, inviting listeners to experience the beauty and intricacy that arises from a more straightforward, stripped down musical expression. Despite its emphasis on simplicity, the album does not shy away from incorporating the intense and chaotic elements that fans have come to expect from Sabixatzil’s earlier projects. Instead, these more tumultuous components are woven seamlessly into the fabric of the music, creating a dynamic interplay between the serene and the chaotic. The result is a sound that is both distinctive and captivating, blending experimental nuances with a sense of clarity and directness that makes for a...

Immerse yourself in the enigmatic world of gaop's newest avant-jazz album " Cardboard Boulevard ", an experimental sonic odyssey that challenges the boundaries of conventional contemporary jazz music. This extraordinary release invites you on a journey through mesmerizing soundscapes characterized by rich, dark tones and haunting ambient atmospheres. Here, improvisation intertwines with the unexpected, offering an exhilarating auditory experience that captivates the senses. Drawing inspiration from the deep-rooted traditions of avant-garde jazz, this album intricately blends a variety of elements: ethereal vocal harmonies that echo with emotion, the soulful resonance of wind instruments, the dynamic textures of electric pianos, and rhythmic pulses from hand percussion. The dissonance that gaop creates is joined by gifted collaborators who lend their unique talents to further enhance this eclectic tapestry of sound. This captivating exploration of musical possibilities is ...

  xPhin - takahashi, album cover by Azalia Imamutdinova It brings us much joy to inform you about the next release! xPhin's "takahashi" is a unique delight, and every single track on this concept album is a certified banger. It's a wonderful type of minimalistic ambient music, originating in noise, but existing as melodic synth drones with a certain punch to them. That is until you get to the parts of the album where it's a full-blown, face-melting, HNW assault. This album has intricate layers, subtle motifs, and well-thought-out complexity. In "takahashi", xPhin is a skilled storyteller, taking you on a journey.  Speaking of tales and journeys, the nine tracks on this album might or might not correspond with the nine panels of the album cover. It's up to the listener to decipher and establish the connection. Tell us if you do, please; as the abstract might (and should) resonate differently with each listener.  xPhin is a name you might recall from ...

  Honey & Cream offers an intriguing take on the original track, " Honey Hunting " by Les Carnages Possibles and NishMa, now reimagined by gaop. Like the original, this release features the same mesmerizing drones and captivating female vocals enveloped in dark ambient sounds, but it adds to it. This edited and overdubbed version takes the emotionally charged original, adding delicate layers of synth drones, subtle hiss noises, and woodwinds, resulting in a beautiful and poignant tribute with a unique character of its own.

"3" is a split release by cÆNINEZ , Haggari Nakashe & gaop , and  SMEGMASMOG , showcasing just how interesting, layered, dynamic, and complex noise music can be. This release is a standing proof of the greatness of a genre, which is often blamed for being diluted by an infinite number of artists on their home computers.  With only three tracks, and clocking just under half an hour, this release brings forth a potpourri of haunting sounds, the darkest of ambients, drones, shrieks, and beeps.  With the sheer amount of music released every second, this testament to the remarkable side of noise might get lost to time, only to be occasionally remembered by the participants themselves. But such is always the nature and risk of music. This is especially true for noise music genres. The constant fate of extreme, independent, and experimental releases that have little to no mass appeal to begin with. At the end of the day, it is up to each and every one of us to make sur...

  Released March 18th, 2024, this is a series of audio experiments. Nine tracks, clocking just under 19 minutes, featuring layers of synth "music", in the form of various textures. This EP presents a compelling and innovative approach to audio experimentation. It stands as a significant addition to the collaborative projects of gaop and Haggari Nakashe, showcasing their dedication to pushing creative boundaries and exploring new sonic territories. At the current stage of audio evolution, achieving true revolutionary innovation in the realms of sound may be quite an arduous task. Nonetheless, this dynamic duo persists in delving into refreshing concepts using their distinctive approach, and it is their unwavering dedication that renders their exploration truly captivating.  Seems that it's this infant-like amazement that allows one to approach everything with a brand new perspective, even if the subject at hand has indeed been explored by numerous artists and scholars. Thi...

RAW POWER, the brand-new release by SMEGMASMOG is now available on Bandcamp.   We'll also be distributing SMEGMASMOG's back catalog soon, along with a few new releases that are currently in the works. RAW POWER by SMEGMASMOG

  A Longing is a release by Sabixatzil, further exploring the (post) classical guitar sound. Decades ago, it was our friend and colleague TFIM (The Famous Itai Matos) who supposedly invented the "broken" guitar style. Today, it's Sabixatzil that's perfecting it. Moreover, for this release, it's merged with recording techniques, found sound elements, field recordings, and other layers that elevate this from being a merely solo guitar effort, into an experimental masterclass. We're thrilled to have Sabixatzil in the studio again after a long hiatus. There are a few more of his releases we'll post about soon, and we're hopeful there will be even more coming our this year!

  A while back we told you about an upcoming special release that wasn't only a collaboration between artists, but also a joint effort between RZRecords and Ranger Magazine . Ranger Magazine was the first platform on which we released IN DRONE WE TRUST , the dreamy, spooky, wonderfully haunting album by NishMa , Haggari Nakashe , and gaop . This release is interesting as it's almost a meditative trance of sorts, while also being heavy-hitting (bordering on doom metal aesthetics) at times, and ambient-like, droning, and experimental enough to contain elements of noise and free jazz. We're now glad to announce that this album is available on all streaming platforms, and if not all then surely most of the big ones.  Please, go on and enjoy this thing of beauty. IN DRONE WE TRUST by NishMa, Haggari Nakashe & gaop One last note: while this year our main focus is releasing and distributing digital albums, we are considering releasing this gem in physical format. This ...

Our good friend ohrr is back with a brand new single! Ambient that turns into a groovy, guitar (and synth) led, electronica. Good stuff! You can hear it and his other tracks via ohrr's Spotify , or on this very embed: There's another great release by ohrr we've yet to post about, but promise we will soon. It's called " Put Your Hand in Mine and Call Me Missy ", a superb collab album he released with gaop a couple of months ago.

So let's start with the good news: Paxit is now available on Bandcamp . They've started adding some of their releases, and new materials will also be available soon. This is in addition to Paxit's Spotify discography .  And now for the bad news: some of the releases are still missing, so no full discography here. Bad Pizzas by Paxit For those not in the know, Paxit is a group that noise metal group, although for their first decade of existence, they had ten members for their live shows, some of them playing trumpet, saxophone, or just screaming into the void in costumes and makeup. They went from that to a doom, drone, sludge trio, and there have been numerous lineup changes, sound pivots, and so on. The lineup changes didn't hurt their passion, and even though they had frequent style changes, the core remained raw and crazy. This is what they looked and sounded like for a hot moment around 2007, which is around seventeen years ago: While this is somewhat expected...

  Sabixatzil’s A.LL ALON.E stands out from the rest of the artists' works with its unique focus on simpler guitar, much cleaner, less chaotic sounds over the regular noise and jazz.  Despite this, it still manages to incorporate some of the more intense and chaotic elements present in Sabixatzil’s other releases and projects. The album's sound is both distinctive and straightforward in a very impressive manner, making it an enjoyable listening experience, still bordering on the experimental, with the recording techniques, tonality, and overall motif.  If you’re a fan of neo-classical, Spanish-influenced, guitar noodling, look no further. There's a whole range of sounds of emotions for you, in this eight-track release.