Coil - How To Destroy Angels

‘How To Destroy Angels’ is Coil’s debut album, released in 1984, rooted in experimental electronic, industrial, and drone music. It presents a dark, ritualistic sound world built from gongs, bowed and struck metal, sparse percussion, sustained resonance, and gradually accumulating layers of sonic decay.

Rather than following conventional song structures, the record unfolds through atmosphere, repetition, and tension. The LP feels austere, hypnotic, and confrontational, emphasizing physical sensation and altered states of consciousness rather than melody or entertainment.

Its minimalist arrangements create an oppressive silence, making small changes in texture and resonance increasingly significant. How To Destroy Angels affirms Coil’s early interest in esoteric themes, controlled sonic environments, and music as a transformative ritual.