I’ve never heard an album that wastes less time getting down to business than Chaos is My Name by Khlyst, the newest project of James Plotkin. Some might remember Plotkin as the bassist of the currently defunct Khanate. Khlyst is taken from a Russian word meaning "whip", and the music deserves the moniker. It does not sound much like his former band, Plotkin has successfully channeled the terrifying and suffocating vibe they were known for, although the methods used to create this feeling have been changed considerably. Joining Plotkin are Khanate’s former drummer Tim Wyskida and Runhild Gammelsaeter. Fans of Thorr’s Hammer, Runhild’s former band, will instantly recognize her terrifying screech, which she belts out in the opening second. Like I said, this album wastes no time. For those new to her vocals, she truly sounds possessed, almost as if Linda Blair’s character in The Exorcist has control of the microphone. I’ve heard more than my fair share of evil vocals, but I can’t think of any that can single handedly evoke pure terror better than the ones on this album. Accompanying this truly frightening vocal display is the meandering, jazzy, feedback-laden guitars of Plotkin. Occasionally, Wyskida will appear with drums very reminiscent of Boris’ Atsuo in the way of short, rolling bursts.

Describing the individual songs on this album would be pointless, as it altogether sounds like a seriously demented jam session, albeit an extremely minimalist one. The album is made up of chapters (I-VIII), ranging from feverish drone to simple, dark ambience. Chaos is indeed an apt term for the title. The first time I heard this album, most of it sounded like a bunch of disjointed noise, which, even after repeated listens, it still does at times. However, the more I listen to Chaos is My Name, the more everything seems to be expertly premeditated. The album’s short runtime is offset by its pace and atmosphere, making it seem much longer. In addition, there are virtually no standout aspects that can be recounted, such as a thunderous chorus or riff. In fact, there is one simple riff, if you can even call it that, which appears a few times throughout, but mostly the sound is made up of ambient noise (wind, feedback, etc.), guitar drenched in fuzz, cymbal heavy drums, and Runhild’s truly evil vocals. Often times whole chapters will be an exercise in minimalism, and many fade into each other. Chaos is My Name needs to be listened to in its entirety to be truly experienced. The closest this album comes to an actual standalone track is VII, which breaks up the bleak and continuous drone of the first six chapters with it’s low end guitar riff where the listener can almost make out a discernable melody. This track is also a showcase for Runhild, as she switches from the low death growls she previously used for Thorr’s Hammer to screeches and various other terrifying outputs. Her vocals have a truly unsettling effect that is hard to describe, but they are nonetheless performed masterfully and deserve to be heard.

This album took a lot of patience for me, as I’m sure it will for anyone who takes the time to give it a listen. Even though I would recommend Khlyst to fans of Sunn O))) or Boris, Chaos is My Name is decidedly less accessible than anything either of the aforementioned has ever released. Going in, please realize that Chaos is My Name is not the kind of album that will just click the moment you throw it in your car stereo. It is devoid of melody and catchiness. It is instead bleak, unnerving, and evil in its construction. Maybe it will eventually grow on you, as it did me. On the other hand, you may find that this album is headache inducing. Either way, it’s a listening experience that’s not likely to be forgotten easily.

Note: The link for the band's website contains a video of a live performance that gives a small taste of what to expect from this album.