artists

Zer0 れい

Zer0 れい (pronounced zero rei) is the artist name of Belgian visual and experimental music artist Sebastien Dessauvage. Zer0 れい has been making music under that alias since early 2018 and has released on labels such as Seikomart, Sunset Grid, power_lunch, Palm84 and Holloway Tapes.

As a musician his work exists in the post-modern void between Ambient, New-Age, Dungeon Synth and Elevator Muzak. Undeniably part of the third wave of Vaporwave music, his online presence is centered around an earnest fusing of his DIY punk background with current trends in underground electronic music. Previously Zer0 れい mainly made Noise, Soundscapes and other experimental music under the monikers Crucifix Eye, Unholy Analog Noisemachine and MxCx, these influences shine through his current music as well.

For his visual art the focus is staunchly on digital art combining elements of more traditional collage with glitched computer aesthetics and retro CGI software.

Releases

Hellveterra

Hellveterra is the latest brainchild of Belgian producer Zer0 れい and his second vinyl release to date. Taking a sharp thematic and sonic departure from early 2019’s “ブラックマジック (Black Magic)”, which had heavy oriental themes and a more cinematic approach, Zer0 れい now sinks his teeth into the controversial legacy of the Dungeon Synth genre.

The album combines heavy swathes of Dark Ambient with a playful yet respectful take on Black Metal riffage that eschews guitars in favor of wobbly, gritty and sometimes playful synth chords. Underneath these dungeonous riffs there swirls a myriad of new-age inspired pads, panflutes and chiptune-esque accents.

Taking mixing cues from lo-fi Symphonic Black metal albums such as the early works of Summoning, the album rounds out with cavernous layered drums to borrow and steal from both classic electronic drummachines, ethereal percussion and the grittiest of 32-bit era retrogames.

Legendary producer t e l e p a t h テレパシー能力者 took up the challenge of mastering this unholy marriage and managed to polish all this up to a mirror sheen.