Here are the dark ambient albums that we at This is Darkness have been listening to this month – some are new releases, but a few are older gems we’ve just (re)discovered.

Please check these out by clicking on the Bandcamp link next to each review, and please consider supporting the featured artists.

Enjoy!

If you have a Bandcamp release you’d like to be considered for inclusion as one of our picks of the month , please email richdodgin-tid@virginmedia.com. Bandcamp download codes for albums to be reviewed are always very welcome, but are not essential.

UENO Collective – Maurizio Sebastianelli – In Principio Era Il Suono

 

Now, this is very cool – a split EP of experimental electronic ambient and classical tracks, with the works from each artist offering something different, but complimenting each other perfectly. The two UENO Collective pieces feature soaring synths and slow evolving drones, providing a soothing ambient soundscape perfect to chill out to. The two Maurizio Sebastianelli pieces are a little more sombre in tone, but no less beautiful, with music that is as relaxing as it is haunting. Highly recommended!

Andreas Davids – All That’s Left is Here to Remain

 

New on the ever awesome Inner Demons Records label is this wonderfully dark and twisted EP from Andreas Davids. Waves of drones are blended perfectly with dark ambient soundscapes and eerie field recordings, to create an audio experience that is hypnotic yet unsettling in equal measure. This is music that is perfect for listening to as you lay back on the sofa with the lights out. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it. Fantastic!

The Great Old Ones – Lands Of Azathoth

 

Regular readers will know by now that I’m a huge fan of both Eighth Tower Records, and all things Lovecraftian – so I was thrilled when I got my hands on this incredible new release from The Great Old Ones. This is the soundtrack to the cosmic horror that threatens all of humanity, full of strange discordant soundscapes, eerie otherworldly field recordings, and ritual ambient overtones. Fans of the darker side of the genre will love this!

Substak – Hades

 

New from Spanish label, Drama Recorder, is this release from another favourite of mine, Substak. Featuring 6 tracks of drone / noise, with an added twist of dark ambient, this is a sublime album of music that is dark and unsettling and draws you deep into its fold right from the start. This is beautifully done, and one of those amazing albums that offers the listener something new and rewarding with each and every listen. Stunning!

Stephen Roddy – Corpus/Mimesis

 

Oh wow! With his latest release, Stephen Roddy has combined experimental electronic ambient and drone with the voice of Jean-Luc Nancy reading aloud his fifty-eight indices on the body. It’s a wonderful concept, and its delivery is simply breath-taking with the music and words complementing each other perfectly. The resulting music is gorgeous, emotive, and melancholic, with a real feeling of depth and meaning to it. This is very highly recommended for those looking for something reflective. Marvellous!

Various Artists – Dark Ambient Vol. 29

 

The Dark Ambient collections from the amazing Sombre Soniks label are always guaranteed to be full of music of the highest quality, and Volume 29 is no different – featuring top class music from twenty-four musicians, many of whom are genre favourites, but also providing some great music from newer artists. There is something here for everyone, so those wanting to discover some new dark ambient artists should definitely check this out. Incredible!

Humanfobia – Vampire Mortuorie (Black Forest Edition)

 

Fans of dark, electronic, glitch filled experimental music will absolutely love Vampire Mortuorie (Black Forest Edition), the latest release from Chilean duo Humanfobia. The music here is gloomy and unsettling, with an incredible use of field recordings that have skilfully blended with drones, dark ambient soundscapes, and post-industrial elements. In this age of bland music for the masses, it’s great to know that there are talented artists like this out their pushing musical boundaries and offering something new and exciting. Wonderful!

Scott Lawlor – The Isolation Concerts, Volume 3

 

I’ve been a big fan of Scott Lawlor’s works for a long time now, but as he’s such a prolific creator of music that it’s sometimes hard to keep up with all of his releases – hence my discovery of this gorgeous album from back in 2020, mid-pandemic. Scott describes the creation of this album “… as a way to provide some internal comfort and peace of mind for those who need it during this time of physical distancing and social isolation… “ This is meditative ambient at it best – perfect for finding some time to relax and unwind, and forget about the stresses of the day. Beautiful!

Her Menacing Pet – Humbug

 

Dark Odyssey Records continue to release music of the highest calibre, and Humbug, the new album from Her Menacing Pet, is no exception. Featuring deep, layered, dark ambient soundscapes, this is an album absolutely dripping with atmosphere and an underlying sense of menace from start to finish. On the basis of this album i will definitely be checking out other releases by Her Menacing Pet – and I strongly suggest you do the same. Awesome!

Ceremonial Abyss – Despair

 

Every now and then an album comes along that just blows you away – and Despair, the latest release from Ceremonial Abyss, is one such album, with the melancholic music really striking a chord with me. Slow evolving drones and subtle synth and piano works merge together to create an ambiance that is emotive and moving. I find myself drawn back to this album again and again, losing myself inside its depths. Gorgeous!

ElectronicDeathBlackDogs – The Black Dragon

 

New from Scottish based dark ambient project ElectronicDeathBlackDogs is The Black Dragon – a deliciously dark 30 minute track of dark ambient soundscapes, expertly combining soaring synths, beautiful string work, and tantalising field recordings. The end result is simply wonderful, with the listener being taken on an audio journey full of eerie, otherworldly soundscapes. A definite must-buy for fans of cinematic dark ambient!

Richard Hamilton – Deus Ex Machina

 

Now this is a very cool concept – 5 tracks, each telling a story set in a sci-fi dystopian world, exploring the ideas of technology, religion, and mystical experiences. With dark ambient and drone soundscapes featuring subtle field recordings and with a spiritual / religious vibe running through the whole album, fans of ritual / mystical dark ambient will absolutely love this. The story info provided for each track is a wonderful touch and really helps the listener fully immerse themselves in this dystopian nightmare. Amazing!

insectarium – away from the light

 

I’m a big fan of insectarium‘s music – skilfully combining dark ambient, drone, world, ritual, & industrial elements together to produce tracks that are simply oozing with darkness and a sense of the unnerving. away from the light is another masterpiece, with 5 tracks of brooding dark ambient soundscapes full of uncanny field recordings and an almost overwhelming sense of hopelessness that is guaranteed to give you nightmares. Marvellous!

Wahn – Black Sea

 

Wahn is a French electronic music producer crafting immersive soundscapes that bridge ambient, IDM, and techno. His latest four-track EP, Black Sea, blends hypnotic techno pulses with the dark, textured depth of his more dark ambient works. It’s refreshingly different, and I found myself returning to the music again and again, each time desperate for just one more listen. If you like your dark ambient with an electronic edge then I cannot recommend this highly enough. Incredible!

Kamyki – Shortcuts

 

Fans of guitar based dark ambient will love the latest album from Polish instrumental post-rocker Kamyki. Yes, this isn’t strictly speaking dark ambient, but when the music is this good, who cares? Impressive guitar work is complimented by dark ambient soundscapes, resulting in music that is darker than your typical post-rock, and more intense and in-your-face than a lot of dark ambient. This is very much worth checking out if you like music that pushes boundaries and refuses to be pigeon-holed. Divine!

ITCHY-O – SÖM SÂPTÂLAHN

 

Fans of ritual or mystical dark ambient will adore this new album from ITCHY-O – with 8 tracks of music that is quite honestly breath-taking. Featuring an array of instruments (including double bass, percussion, synths, guitar, cello, vocoder, theremin, to name just a few!) the music here is multi-textured, subtle, melancholic, and mystifying in equal measure. I would love to see a live performance by this group, because listening to this gives me goosebumps. Wonderful!

Richard Bégin – Déjà Vu

 

Canadian composer Richard Bégin uses his music to explore themes of memory, and his latest album, as the name suggests, is centered on the concept of deja-vu –  where a person feels like they have already lived through the present moment, even though they know it’s their first time experiencing it. The music here features ghostly echoes, layered soundscapes, and eroding repeated loops. It’s incredibly well done, and I’ve had this on repeat play since I first hear it – drawn again and again to the decaying depths of this haunting audio experience. Stunning!