Unnatural History
Coil · 1990
57 min · 13 tracks · experimental music
An unsettling collage of industrial textures and haunting melodies, evoking a disorienting exploration of darkness and decay.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Pope Held Upside Down — This track exemplifies Coil's characteristic blend of irony and tension, juxtaposing serene melodies against disturbing lyrical content that critiques authority.
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His Body Was a Playground for the Nazi Elite — With its provocative title and chilling soundscape, this track encapsulates the album's exploration of dark history and societal horror, pushing boundaries in both music and message.
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How to Destroy Angels — As the lengthy closing track, it serves as an immersive experience that combines layered instrumentation with philosophical musings, challenging listeners to confront uncomfortable truths.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- haunting ambiance for late nights
- provocative themes for deep thought
- short tracks for focused listening
- disorienting textures that unsettle
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of upbeat energy
- prefer straightforward melodies
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Unnatural History marked Coil's transition into the 1990s as their third album, following the acclaimed Horse Rotorvator. By this point, Coil had solidified their reputation for avant-garde experimentation, building on their earlier works while delving deeper into themes of obsession and mortality.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Throbbing Gristle· Nurse With Wound· Current 93
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Various Hands 3:26
- 2 The Swelling of Leeches 3:04
- 3 The Pope Held Upside Down 3:41
- 4 His Body Was a Playground for the Nazi Elite 3:28
- 5 Homage to Sewage 2:22
- 6 Here to Here (Double Headed Secret) 4:51
- 7 S Is for Sleep 3:26
- 8 Dream Photography 3:22
- 9 Comfortable 1:40
- 10 Never 4:36
- 11 Penetralia II 3:10
- 12 Sicktone 3:22
- 13 How to Destroy Angels 16:41
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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