With Homeland back on TV this Friday, it’s perfect timing for a new album from Vatican Shadow, the US military-inspired project from noise and underground metal demigod Prurient.

Interestingly but unsurprisingly, Ornamented Walls arrives on Manchester techno label Modern Love, best known for the dub-techno and “knackered house” of Claro Intelecto and Andy Stott, respectively. The album features live mix rehearsals of Operation Neptune Spear, a Vatican Shadow EP released earlier this year, as well a 25 minutes of unreleased material.

The press release explains more: “Released to coincide with his first tour of Europe, the album incorporates the live mix rehearsals of ‘Operation Neptune Spear’ with tracks made in their aftermath, recorded straight to tape and mastered by Matt Colton at Air Studios.

“Anyone familiar with Fernow’s live setup will recognise the distinct nature of this material – making use of  stems and partial tracks separated into a cassette system which is then relayered and mixed, effected with electronic processing.

“In short – Fernow uses his tape machines like turntables in a mix, weaving a hazy and intuitive narrative  of sounds that never quite head in the direction you expect, all imbued with an almost feral attitude that’s  exhilarating to witness, their limitations (ever noticed how VS tracks end so abruptly? the tape ran out), and  their mechanical machine qualities used to devastating effect.”

Modern Love will release Ornamented Walls next Monday, October 8.

Tracklist:
A1. Operation Neptune Spear
Part 1 (Live Mix Rehearsal)
A2. Operation Neptune Spear
Part 2 (Live Mix Rehearsal)
A3. Operation Neptune Spear
Part 3 (Live Mix Rehearsal)
B1. Cairo Is A Haunted City
(Mythic Chords)
B2. Nightforce Scopes
B3. Yemeni Telephone Number)
B4. India Has Just Tested A
Nuclear Device
B5. Church Of All Images
(Church Of The NSA)
B6. Boxes Were Wired To
Batteries Then Loaded Into
A Brown Toyota Cargo Truck