Centum

Info

For a milestone such as 100 releases, we knew we wanted to do something that went above and beyond. "Centum" exists simultaneously as both a metaphorical abstraction and a literal representation of our first chapter, serving as a comprehensive compendium of our entire audio/visual catalog of releases from AAX-001 through AAX-099. While many of these have been readily available as downloads dating back to our oldest website iterations, we have painstakingly transferred, edited, titled, and organized every single second of every single release into high-quality 320 KBPS MP3 files, with meticulous metadata and cover art embedded.

Metaphorically, AAX-100 is our olive branch to the dissenters of obsolete media, compiling the physicality of 99 albums into the convenience of a MicroSD Card smaller than the size of a postage stamp.

Literally, it is the destroyed remains of all 99 releases that came before it - smashed, shredded, crushed, and blended - contained inside a 300 ml glass Apothecary bottle sealed with a cork top. The debris includes, but is not limited to, broken glass, magnetic tape, pieces of tile, sunflower leaves, nails, cassette shards, scouring pads, sandpaper, wax seals, elk antlers, vinyl chunks, and more, forming a poisonous concoction of audio/visual detritus.

In addition to the complete audio archive, any and all accompanying media tied to specific releases has been included as well. Files such as UNHOLY TRIFORCE's CMDEXE(INIFINITY).exe program from AAX-031, the black/white film from the VHS version of SHROUDED ELK's Skeletal Forests, a 50-page PDF copy of DANTE AUGUSTUS SCARLATTI's Ameritheism zine, and more. Audio reproduction of interactive and altered-playback mediums has been transferred from their original format, with Locked Groove Lathe Plate grooves played back for 1 minute each, and similar excerpts of the Untitled Tape Loops from UNHOLY TRIFORCE. The first batch of the Nintendo Soundtrack Series is included as well, with each track from every game presented as its own titled file. Finally, all anti-releases and seemingly unplayable releases such as the 17" lathe cut Transcryptions and 10" glue record have also been included, with transfers taken from an actual copy of the anti-release.

This is single-handedly the largest and most comprehensive archive of media we have, and ever will, publish. While we love each and every one of these releases for their own individual reasons, we nevertheless are ready to transition into our Second Chapter of Existence. With this comes an absolute cleansing of all past traditions, processes, and projects.

Packaging

- 300 mL glass apothecary bottles with cork top
- 8GB MicroSD Card embedded in cork
- Clear glossy label attached to bottle
- Scroll laser-printed onto clear transparencies, tied with black string
- Black wax seal on bottle top
- Sealed in cardboard box