Category: Retro Reviews (Page 1 of 7)

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – June 2026

By

On June 28, 2026

In Frozen In Time: Weekly News, Retro Reviews, Reviews

Here are the dark ambient albums that we at This is Darkness have been listening to recently – 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.

 

NoRinTon – Agonyxis

 

Agonyxis is the second release from NoRinTon on the ever awesome Cryo Chamber label. And what an outstanding release it is – with evolving dark ambient soundscapes, deep walls of sound, and dark almost melancholic vibe running through it all, this is simply stunning. The multi-layered textures here are wonderfully subtle, with each and every listen an absolute joy. Very highly recommended for any fan of dark ambient. Incredible!

 

The Deep Bleed – Rise or Fall

 

New from The Deep Bleed (Mark Hjorthoy) is this gorgeous EP of slow, evolving, menacing drone. With a goosebump inducing, intense sonic resonance, the music takes the listener on a deeply rewarding audio journey. This is one of those releases that is perfect for listening to on headphones as you lie on your back in a darkened room. Stunning!

 

pestzone – third containment

 

Pestzone never fails to deliver, and their latest release, third containment, is no exception, with seven remarkable tracks of distorted textures, dark and brooding echoes, and strange, disturbing industrial soundscapes. This is the soundtrack to that sci-fi horror movie that you haven’t seen yet – the soundtrack to the looming apocalypse, to the end of the world. Absolutely amazing!

 

Lucusfauni – Hunter Moon, Serpent Night

 

New from Italian musician Lucusfauni is this wonderful 12 minute long track, dedicated to the “brightest Light that lies in the underworld“. This hymn-like release was created using notes from a traditional chant, expertly blended with field recordings taken during a ritual, among trees and ancient tombs. The end result is jaw-droppingly good, with an incredible, almost religious, ambiance that transports the listener to another realm. Outstanding!

 

OUTER BANKX – 07.01.71 Original Soundtrack

 

Now this is very cool! This is Part 1 of an original motion picture soundtrack for 07.01.71. – a science fiction movie currently in post-production with a projected release for Fall 2026. The music here is wonderful dark ambient with a sci-fi inspired synth edge, creating one of those soundtracks that you have on repeat play – because it’s just so damn good. Highly recommended for fans of dark ambient with subtle synth work, and sci-fi soundscapes. Gorgeous!

 

Kryoscope – The Engine Room

 

The Engine Room is Kryoscope‘s debut album – and what an album! Atmospheric dark ambient soundscapes unfold, with complimenting evolving drones and subtly added field recordings of engine sounds – all working together to create an audio experience that fully immerses the listener in the story of The Engine Room – a tale of forgotten machinery that powers entire worlds and spins countless stories. Remarkable!

 

Rune Clausen – Another Day in Paradise

 

The Ominous Sounds label continues to release first class dark and ritual ambient, and their latest release – Another Day in Paradise by Rune Clausen is no exception. The music here is deliciously dark and brooding, with an almost ethereal eeriness that manages to be both disturbing and strangely reassuring in equal measure. This feels like something ancient or out of time – an audio experience of something beyond human understanding. Awesome!

 

Farshad Akbari – Soft Blue

 

Wow. Every now and then, an album comes along that simply takes your breath away – Soft Blue by Iranian Farshad Akbari is one of those albums. Composed during the days of war and blackout in Iran, this release “… is the sound of suspended time: afternoons with no news, no internet, and a sky that remained silently blue…“. The music here is subtle, understated, and perfect for some introspection and evaluation of yourself and the world around us. Powerful stuff!

 

Susumu Yokota – Laputa (Skintone Edition)

 

Previously only available in Japan, Laputa is now getting the (re)release it so richly deserves. This is a wonderful album of multi-layered, complex tracks, each offering something a little different, but all working together to create a rewarding listening experience – with lush ambient soundscapes, background murmurings, and slow evolving drones. This re-issue has been released in the memory of Susumu Yokota, and in association with the Yokota family. Very highly recommended. Beautiful!

 

Mana ERG – Concealed Under A Strange Tongue

 

It’s been fifteen years since the last Mana ERG album, but now they are back with Concealed Under A Strange Tongue – another impressive twelve tracks blending together elements of dark ambient, cinematic soundscapes, and post-rock. In places soft and melancholic, in others darker with a more aggressive edge, this is one of those remarkable albums that takes you on a breath-taking journey from start to finish. Highly recommended for fans of guitar based dark ambient. Wonderful!

 

IUGA – Meldrop

 

New on the ever awesome Unexplained Sounds Group label is this very impressive debut release from IUGA – an album of deliciously dark and disturbing ambient drone. Featuring multi-layered sounds and dense textures, this is the audio equivalent of the descent into the darkest parts of the human consciousness – resulting in an emotional and thought-provoking listening experience that is quite simply stunning. Incredible!

 

E.U.E.R.P.I. – Microworlds

 

The latest release from Bulgarian E.U.E.R.P.I. is this intriguing album that features “… field recordings made using contact and ecoutic microphones, which record the subtle and often inaudible sounds of several insect species, capturing vibrations, movements and interactions that usually escape human perception…”. The resulting album is a minimalist one of gentle, subtle sounds – that are as fascinating as they are entertaining, with listener drawn into this microscopic world of wonders. Beautiful!

 

Substak – The Mesmeric Recording

 

With their latest release – The Mesmeric Recording, on the Inner Demons Records label – Substak has created something very unique… a haunting, almost ethereal track, sourced from the frequencies of a metro station platform, with sounds that are hypnotic and otherworldly. The strangeness of the track has an interesting effect on the listener – partly mesmerising and drawing them in, and partly unnerving them. Wonderful stuff as always. Awesome!

 

Shogun’s Castle – The Sacred Creed of Devotion and Purpose

 

The Sacred Creed of Devotion and Purpose is the third instalment of Shogun’s Castle, a “… Japanese folk-synth album based on Koto & warrior drums, dedicated to the 10-fold path of sacred and forgotten virtues…” Fans of ritual ambient and dark ambient will really enjoy this gorgeous album – I found myself drawn deep into the soundscapes, and into a reflective and introspective state. Beautiful!

 

Agdistiz – Martor al semnelor timpului

 

New from Romanian musician Agdistiz is Martor al semnelor timpului (“Witness of Time’s Signs”) – an album of experimental noise ambient that “… seeks to illustrate the redundant condition of a detached spirit, compelled to observe the passing of moments in the absence of any other metaphysical option…“. This is an impressive album of multi-layered tracks that seamlessly blends together elements of noise, dark ambient, and drone to create music with depth. Highly recommended for fans of the noise side of the dark ambient genre. Stupendous!

 

Pulsar1081 – L’inizio della fine

 

New on the Greek FYC Records label is L’inizio della fine by duo project Pulsar1081. This is an album of wonderfully dark and twisted dark ambient with subtle elements of ritual ambient added to the mix. This is one of those remarkable albums that somehow manages to be both relaxing and unsettling at the same time – which makes for an interesting rewarding listening experience. Fans of dark ambient / ritual ambient with love this. Fantastic!

 

Gostrail – Stones breathing out

 

The latest release from Estonian musician, Gostrail, is Stones breathing out – an 8 and half minute track of first class dark ambient / doom ambient. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it, drawn again and again to the eerie doomy drone and ambient soundscape, finding myself lost in the unfolding ambiance. On the strength of this track, I will be checking out Gostrail‘s previous releases – you should too. Awesome!

 

Perry Frank & Matteo Cantaluppi (with Marco Scipione) – MEGACHURCH

 

MEGACHURCH is a “… collaboration between two ambient composers exploring analog textures, processed saxophone, and secular soundscapes …”. This is beautiful, ethereal – almost spiritual – music, instilling a sense of peace and contentment that means this album is perfect for relaxing to or for some meditation and introspection. The saxophone adds a unique edge to the music, and each and every play of this provides a new experience to the listener. Stunning!

 

Space Entropy – Luminary Aether

 

Space Entrophy‘s latest release is this gorgeous album of dark ambient / cosmic ambient music. This is one of those delightfully upbeat and uplifting albums that you cannot help but enjoy – the evolving ambient soundscapes, soaring harmonies, and subtle synth and string sounds all working together perfectly to create something very special indeed. Fans of ambient and soundscape music will absolutely adore this. Wow!

 

AcjnN – Mythopoeia

 

 

New from AcjnN is Mythopoeia – a wonderful album of electronic ambient / dark ambient, with unfolding soundscapes, incredible synth work, and subtly added field recordings. This is music that has an emotional impact – uplifting in places, thought provoking in others, and all with a melancholic edge that adds an extra depth to it all. Incredible!

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – April / May 2026

By

On May 4, 2026

In Frozen In Time: Weekly News, Retro Reviews, Reviews

Here are the dark ambient albums that we at This is Darkness have been listening to recently – 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.

 

Ris – The Curse of Leptirica (Проклетство Лептирице)

 

Created as a soundtrack for an unproduced adaptation of Yugoslavian folk horror film Leptirica, The Curse of Leptirica is a wonderfully dark and eerie album of dark ambient / dungeon synth music. If you enjoy atmospheric soundscape ambient with a horror film vibe running through it, then you will love this -I’ve had it on repeat play since I first heard it and will be listening to this for a long time to come yet. Marvellous!

 

Lucusfauni – Larth Purthne (Laukume, Dictator, Dvx)

 

The latest release from Lucusfauni is this impressive tribute to Lars Porsenna, Lucumone of Chiusi (late 6th century BC), a mighty figure of the political and priestly caste of ancient Etruria. The music here is atmospheric, broody, with a timeless ancient sensibility running through it from start to finish. The end result is a remarkable album of dark ambient / dungeon synth that does an incredible job of transporting the listener to another time and place. Stunning!

 

S4/ – F/T/W

 

S4/ is an electronic music project from Cagliari, Sardinia, using elements of drone, dark ambient and glitch to create wonderful music that defies genre tags. F/T/W is a dark album, featuring drone and dark ambient overlaid with glitches and interference – a perfect encapsulation of the despairing direction the world is heading in right now. It’s not easy listening – but that’s the point. Highly recommended for those looking for something dark with an electronic twist. Remarkable!

 

NS Bucher – reverser

 

Now this is very cool – a debut album from Ohio based NS Bucher that seamlessly blends together ambient, drone, neo classical, and new age influences, to produce a breath-taking album that is inventive and meditative in equal measure. This is one of those gorgeous multi-layered that offers something new to discover each and every time you listen to it. Very highly recommended for those looking for something a little different from the dark ambient norm. Impressive!

 

Kemlo and the Zones of Silence – Neurology Bingo

 

Neurology Bingo is the debut release from Kemlo and the Zones of Silence, a collaborative project by Kai Nobuko (Toxic Chicken) and Kevin Busby (Carya Amara). There is a delightful space ambient / experimental electronic feel to this album, and that combined with the uplifting vibe of the music here means that listening to this is a positive and rewarding experience. Wonderful!

 

FossaDelRumore – Chatting With a Dirty Loom

 

New on the Hong Kong based Mouhoi label, is Chatting With a Dirty Loom by FossaDelRumore – a fantastic 8 track album of inventive experimental / noise. This is one of those albums that needs to be listened to on headphones – because there is so much to discover in the deep, multi-layered sounds… from glitches and field recordings, to distorted whispers, and strange indescribable noises. Delightful!

 

Substak – Drone Vapors

 

New from Athens-based musician, Substak, is Drone Vapors – a gorgeous two track EP that “…deconstructs the steam iron and washing machine into industrial drones through pitch shifting…”. It’s wonderfully done, with both tracks having an almost hypnotic feel to them, with evolving drones that are soothing and harsh in equal measure. Definitely a release to check out if you are a fan of drone music. Awesome!

 

Various Artists – Anthology Of Electroacoustic Music From Portugal

 

Italian label, Unexplained Sounds Group, continues to release music of the highest standard and their latest album, Anthology Of Electroacoustic Music From Portugal, is yet another work of beauty. Featuring tracks from 13 different musicians, this impressive album explores “…the tension between the ancestral and the synthetic, inviting the listener to experience Portugal through sound, as a shifting terrain where electronics, Iberian tradition, ritual memory, and abstraction converge…” and is highly recommended for those looking to discover something wonderful and new. Incredible!

 

Qutana – A District for Eternity

 

A District for Eternity is a deliciously dark album of classical guitar based dark ambient / ritual ambient from Dallas-based musician Qutana. The music here is haunting and melancholic, with a neofolk edge to it that results in an album that is quite simply stunning. Very highly recommended for fans of the more melodic elements of Opeth, atmospheric dark ambient soundscapes, and guitar based music. Superb!

 

Nubiferous – Karroh

 

New from Russia-based Nubiferous, is Karroh, a dark and brooding album of dark ambient / ritual ambient / drone that is mesmerising and haunting. With a sense of menace running through it, this is an album that should be listened to on headphones, while you lie on your back in the dark and consider the meaning of existence. Amazing!

 

Peur du noir – A feathered friend

 

I’m a big fan of Peur du noir‘s music, so was delighted when I heard there was a new album coming out. And A feathered friend is a remarkable album of dark ambient / drone – telling the story of a childhood memory of rescuing an injured crow. The mood and emotion running through these 6 tracks is stunning, providing the listener with a deep and rewarding audio experience that leaves them feeling like they’ve ben touched by something special. Exquisite!

 

Sonora – Late Precursor

 

Sonora is an electronic improvisation duo from Istanbul (Gökçe Göknel: vocals, live processing, and Jashiin: synthesizer). The Late Precursor EP has been released to celebrate the 1-year anniversary of their first album, and contains edited soundboard recordings from a performance at Eylül Arnavutköy. The music here is wonderful experimental electronica, with a depth and creativity to it that is simply awesome and makes listening to it a complete joy. Sensational!

 

UNDIRHEIMAR – Utisetur I

 

Utisetur I  is the sixth album by Canadian ritual project Undirheimar and marks the beginning of an ambitious trilogy. Building on the project’s uncompromising spiritual and sonic vision, the music has been created entirely from layered overtone singing, resulting in a dense, primal album of trance like ritual ambient. This is quite simply stunning, and I for one am eagerly awaiting the next 2 releases in this trilogy. Brilliant!

 

Substak and Veiled – Resonant Route

 

Now this is very cool – a split EP, with a track from Substak and a track from Veiled, both featuring music created from manipulated sounds: Substak using recordings from a moving bus, and Veiled using the sounds of sea vessels with minimal synthesizer drones. Both tracks are doing their own thing, but they compliment each other perfectly, and the resulting listening experience is delightful. Highly recommended for fans of audio manipulation and drone. Wow!

 

ANSIKTSLØS – Crushing Earthly Semblance

 

New on the ever-awesome Dark Odyssey Records label is Crushing Earthly Semblance, the debut album from Ansiktsløs. The music here is atmospheric dark / black ambient, with subtle elements of industrial also added to the mix. It is dark, brooding, unnerving stuff, but it’s incredibly well done and listening to this album is an incredibly rewarding experience. With hidden depths and multi-layered textures, this is definitely one to listen to on your headphones. Phenomenal!

 

Patasonus – IGNIS

 

IGNIS is the fourth album from London-based musician Patasonus (Mario Guarnieri) and is another impressive release of electronic ambient soundscape. Featuring creative sound manipulation and processing, this is original and inventive and gorgeously different. Highly recommended for fans of experimental electronica and ambient soundscapes. Magnificent!

 

OID – Friends Of Paradox

 

Friends Of Paradox is a brand new compilation by Russian electronic producer/composer OID, spanning 25 years of music that ranges in style from dub techno to ambient, vaporwave, space gamelan, electronica and beyond. No, it’s not strictly speaking dark ambient, but it is wonderfully done, and for those who like music on the edge of the genre will find plenty here to thoroughly enjoy. Splendid!

 

Vyormouth – Cartographies of the Unseen

 

New on the Zero K label is Cartographies of the Unseen by American musician Vyormouth. This impressive album “… explores a sonic terrain defined by cold, abstract electronic structures and extended temporal development…” and features slowly evolving drones and synth work, and a fluid-like ambiance that means the listener is drawn into the music and into an almost hypnotic state. Recommended for those looking for meditative, introspective and evolving music. Sensational!

 

E.U.E.R.P.I. – Undertones

 

The latest album from E.U.E.R.P.I is as inventive and wonderful as last year’s Warm Waves – this time featuring underwater field recordings made with a hydrophone in Yantra River in the Veliko Tarnovo region, Bulgaria. This is meditative music of the highest standard, with the relaxing natural river sounds and the subtly added sound atmospheres working together to create an incredible listening experience. Highly recommended for those looking for something soothing and relaxing. Splended!

 

Toby James Music – 9 circles

 

New from UK-based composer, saxophonist, producer, and creator of cinematic and ambient music, Toby James Music, is 9 circles – a stunning cinematic drone and ambient composition, exploring the concept of the 9 Circles of Hell from Dante’s Inferno, featuring orchestral elements, granular textures, found sounds, and the spaces between. This is one of those beautiful albums that stays with you long after it’s finished playing – and draws you back to it again and again. Fantastic!

 

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – February / March 2026

By

On March 22, 2026

In Frozen In Time: Weekly News, Retro Reviews, Reviews

Here are the dark ambient albums that we at This is Darkness have been listening to recently – 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.

 

Wahn – Echo Mist Light

 

The latest release from French electronic music producer, Wahn, is an incredible album featuring techno, ambient, drones, and dub aesthetics. With echoing soundscapes and Dub-inflected delays, this is one of those gorgeous albums where the music is multi-layered, with rhythm and repetition working in unison to create a listening experience that is quite simply breath-taking. Highly recommended for fans of electronic music and dark ambient / drone with an edge. Stunning!

 

Valgorth – Cannibalism

 

Cannibalism is the debut album from Argentinian Valgorth (Aldo Requena), and an impressive debut at that. With elements of dark ambient, black ambient, and drone all expertly blended together, the end result is an audio journey full of dark delights, with cosmic inspired dissonance and unfolding soundscapes drawing the listener in from the first moment. Fantastic!

 

Substak – The Mutated Woods

 

Regular readers will know by now that I’m a big fan of Athens-based Substak – their music never failing to move and engage me. The Mutated Woods is a wonderful thirty-two minute long drone track that manages to be both harsh and hypnotic in equal measure, at times sounding something like an aircraft engine, but with a multitude of textures and nuances that give it real depth. Definitely one of those albums for listening to with headphones as you lie back in a darkened room. Incredible!

 

Giacomo Vanelli & Matteo Cantaluppi – A Small Life and Unnoticed Movements

 

Wow. Every now and then, an album comes along that leaves a makes a real impression on you. A Small Life and Unnoticed Movements is one of those albums. Born from a live performance in Milan, and then later transformed in the studio through Fender Rhodes and subtle ambient processing, the six tracks here explore micro-sounds from nature in an album that is as absorbing as it is beautiful. Highly recommended for those who like music with heart and a gentle ambiance. Gorgeous!

 

VVAA – Ancestral Rites

 

Spanish label, Ominous Sounds, continues to release albums of the highest quality, with their latest collection, Ancestral Rites, being another perfect example. With seven dark / ritual ambient tracks from seven talented musicians, this is a fantastic album from start to finish. Each track explores the concept of ancestral magic – each offering something different, but working together to create an album with a cohesive feel. Very highly recommended for fans of dak / ritual ambient. Amazing!

 

Rapoon – Grain of Light

 

New from the ever awesome Unexplained Sounds Group label is Grain of Light by Rapoon (Robin Storey), a delightful album of meditative, eastern-influenced ambient. The music here is introspective in nature, with non-Western rhythms and pulses of sound that carry the listener with them. Evoking ritual, thought, and memory, Grain of Light is a remarkable album and one that fans of music with depth and meaning should definitely check out. Magnificent!

 

Nerthus – Jonastal

 

The latest release from German audio and visual dark ambient artist Nerthus is Jonastal, a thematic audio exploration of the Nazi bunker system and concentration camp. As you’d expect from the theme, this is a dark and brooding album, but it’s done in a respectful manner, leaving the listener both disturbed  and touched by the experience. At a time where a lot of music is nothing more than a disposable commodity, it’s refreshing and heart-warming to know that music with real meaning is still being created. Breath-taking!

 

insectarium – Initiation

 

insectarium is an artist whose music is always of the highest quality, and Sombre Soniks is a label that never fails to deliver. So when I discovered this new album, I had high expectations… and I’m delighted to say I wasn’t disappointed! Initiation is an electro-acoustic ritual ambient album, featuring an impressive range of traditional instruments, including a 36” Stagg Tam Tam gong, a digeridoo, seven Tibetan bowls, bamboo and metal wind chimes, and a rainstick… to name just a few. This is powerful stuff, with a ritual soundscape that I found hypnotic and inspirational. This is very highly recommended for fans of ritual ambient. Superb!

 

Sam – Hornet’s Hell

 

Polish musician Sam has released a number of impressive albums, every single one of which has made a huge impression on me. His latest release, Hornet’s Hell, is inspired by and dedicated to the “Hornet Fuzz” guitar effect, providing a bluesy ambiance that runs through all 5 of these gorgeous electronic-tinged tracks. This is one of those amazing albums that rewards the listener with something different each and every time they listen to it. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it, and I keep discovering new delights hidden in its multi-layered textures. Astounding!

 

Markus Guentner – On Brutal Soil, We Grow

 

The new album from German ambient pioneer Markus Guentner is On Brutal Soil, We Grow – his most emotionally charged work to date. Exploring growth amid adversity, the music here is a breath-taking collection of ambient soundscapes that provide a meditative and reflective listening experience. In places dark and brooding, and others positive and uplifting, this is an emotional album that offers an introspective refuge from the chaos of the world around us. Tremendous!

 

Rhad – Ghost Music Library

 

Oh wow! Italian sound artist and label owner Raffaele Pezzella has released his second album under the RhaD moniker, further exploring “the margins between archival research, improvisation, and sonic abstraction”. This is incredible stuff – listening to it is like dipping into a collection of forgotten sounds tapes and recordings… an experience that is laden with feelings of nostalgia for a vanished world. This is definitely an album to check out if you like experimental music with soul and depth. Splendid!

 

FAIL – When you’re a nail, everything starts to look like a hammer

 

New on the fantastic Inner Demons Records label is another first class release from Fail, the wonderfully titled When you’re a nail, everything starts to look like a hammer – a hard hitting album of post-industrial ambient noise. This isn’t easy listening, but that’s sort of the point – the music here is an expression of grief and rage, and it is powerful and emotional stuff. Very highly recommended for those looking for something on the noisier end of the ambient / drone spectrum. Terrific!

 

Melophobia & Substak – +θ/esis

 

+θ/esis is the second collaborative release from Melophobia & Substak, and is a gorgeously minimalistic soundscape of noise / drone, with glitches, echoes and post-industrial tones added to the mix. The end result is on of those albums that at first listen feels like nothing much is going on, before you realise the hidden depths in each track and find yourself drawn into the unfolding audio journey. Brilliant!

 

BIRTAWIL – Dua Min

 

New from French “one-man post-something” musician BIRTAWIL is this stunning album of ambient / drone / post-rock with a deliciously dark brooding vibe running right through it. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it, and I will definitely be checking out previous releases from this talented artist. If you’re a fan of guitar past dark ambient or post-rock, then this is an album you have to check out. Outstanding!

 

OUT ON IN – EP08

 

EP08 is the 8th in the OUT ON IN series of live studio recordings from John Gutenberger and Thom Monahan. Featuring ambient drone soundscapes, the music here is melancholic, haunting, and thought provoking – perfect for listening to via headphones on a Sunday afternoon as you contemplate your life choices. If you’re a fan of ambient drone, this album – and the others in the series – are well worth checking out. Awesome!

 

Reibung – chrysanthemen

 

Chrysanthemen is the impressive debut album from Reibung, the new project by German producer & multi-instrumentalist Ben Krahl. This is electronic ambient / drone at its finest – with multi-layered sounds, cinematic soundscapes, and dark organic textures that carry the listener to another time and place. I cannot stop listening to this, and I will be eagerly following to see what Reibung does next. Astounding!

 

Between Heaven and Sky – Quiet Geometry of Light

 

Quiet Geometry of Light is the debut EP from Between Heaven and Sky – the ambient collaboration of Spacecraft (Rishi Bhatia) and Applefish (Nik Davies). As a huge fan of Mumbai based Spacecraft, I was excited to hear this album, and I’m delighted to say that it is even better than I had hoped. With soothing space ambient soundscapes of the highest quality, this is one of those albums that is just perfect for chilling out and de-stressing to. Wonderful!

 

Ambiotik – Healing River

 

New from Ukranian music-therapist Ambiotik is Healing River, an album of beautiful ambient music, with soothing sounds and frequencies designed to help the listener relax. It’s expertly done, with the light pleasant music and calming river sounds working together to create an audio experience that is an absolute joy from start to finish. Highly recommended for those looking for something to help them relax to. Breath-taking!

 

1981OCTOBER5 – Arrows of Time

 

Designed to be purchased on cassette, Arrows of Time is an album that focuses on “…simplicity and texture : a minimal setup to stay close to primary ideas and instinctive recording“. The music is calming and provides a contemplative ambiance for the listener, giving them an opportunity to escape the pressures of an increasingly busy and demanding digital world. Beautiful!

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – January 2026

By

On January 31, 2026

In Frozen In Time: Weekly News, Retro Reviews, Reviews

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.

 

insectarium – with wings removed

 

The latest release from the ever awesome insectarium is with wings removed, an album of deliciously dark drone and dark ambient, with perfectly balanced post-industrial elements added to the mix. This is one of those albums best listed to one headphones, as you lie in a darkened room – losing yourself in the multi-layered soundscape as it unfolds and develops, dragging you down to hell with it. Absolutely divine!

 

Poena Sensus – A Cold Furnace

 

I’m a big fan of the Ontario based Dark Odyssey Records label, and their latest release – A Cold Furnace by Poena Sensus – is another cracker, featuring 9 tracks of wonderfully executed winter ambient / drone. The sounds of decaying machinery and haunting echoes compliment the music to create a breath-taking audio experience. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it, and each time I listen I discover something new and wonderful. Superb!

 

Music Analysis Discussions Records – M​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​A​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​D. VI

 

Oh wow! New from the Music Analysis Discussions Records label is this incredible 104 track compilation album of tracks by artists linked to their community. Featuring a wide mix of genres (noise, post-industrial, dark ambient, drone to name a few) this is an absolute masterpiece that reflect the love and attention to detail that the label and the involved musicians have. With so many high quality tracks, this album is a must-have. Stunning!

 

Esmam La Crowned – Trance

 

The latest release from Bangladesh based Esmam La Crowned is a heartfelt album of emotive music, with gentle soothing tracks and darker more abrasive ones working together to create a remarkable and rewarding listening experience. There is a melancholic undertone running throughout this album, and it adds a feeling of genuine depth and meaning to the music. This is a fabulous album and highly recommended if you are looking for something introspective. Wonderful!

 

Substak – Glass Whispers

 

I’m a huge fan of both Substak and the Inner Demons Records label, so I’m always thrilled when the two collaborate! Glass Whispers is a fantastic 19 minute long track of ambient drone, that features “pitch-shifted grains and infinite shadows“. It’s a wonderful, dark piece with a distorted machine-like sound and a meditative feel to it that keeps pulling me in for listen after listen. Incredible!

 

Mark Hjorthoy – The Future That Never Existed

 

New on the ever awesome Zero K label is this delightful release from Mark Hjorthoy. Inspired by Mark Fisher’s concept of ‘hauntology’, the album explores “futures that never existed”, featuring dark ambient, drone, and synth work, the end result is a remarkable collection of tracks that take the journey on a real journey of discovery. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first got my hands on it, and I cannot recommend this highly enough. Magical!

 

Dead Angel Ensemble – Spiritus Immundus

 

The latest release on the excellent Befalling Silence Productions label is Spiritus Immundus by Dead Angel Ensemble – a haunting album of ritual dark ambient, featuring eerie soundscapes and unnerving whispered vocals. “Spiritus Immundus” or “Unclean Spirit” in English, is a phrase usually associated with Catholic exorcisms, and the tracks here do an amazing job of invoking the brooding essence of those rituals. Outstanding!

 

Ugasanie – Endless Cold, Endless Darkness

 

The Cryo Chamber label continues to deliver the goods, with their latest release –Endless Cold, Endless Darkness by Ugasanie – being another first class album, with music that is harsh and cold, conjuring up images of blizzards in frozen wastes. With an eerie, melancholic undertone, evolving drones, and a growing sense of dread, this is an album that is wonderfully dark and atmospheric, and is a must buy for those who like artic ambient and dark ambient. Phenomenal!

 

Hiemis – Compendium

 

I’m a huge fan of Hiemis – their music always dark and brooding, and always leaving a powerful impression. Compendium, as the title suggests, is a compilation album, featuring tracks from 2018 to 2025 that were released on official albums on compilations, as well as a previously unreleased song. With brooding dark ambient soundscapes, haunting ethereal vocals, and an almost hypnotic feel to it, this album is very highly recommended for anyone who likes dark ambient. Stupendous!

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – December 2025

By

On December 28, 2025

In Frozen In Time: Weekly News, Retro Reviews, Reviews

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.

 

CrAwE – Imprisoned In The Bones Of Our Ancestors

 

Regular readers will know by now that I am a huge fan of CrAwE – his guitar based dark ambient / drone hitting that perfect sweet spot between despair and hope, with sonic soundscapes that are haunting and reassuring in equal measure. Imprisoned In The Bones Of Our Ancestors blends evolving drones with subtle field recordings to create a beautiful multi-layered album of music that is perfect for a pot of introspection and self reflection as those cold winter nights draw in. Absolutely  gorgeous!

 

Demetrio Cecchitelli & Simon Hansson – yritys

 

yritys is the result of a long-distance collaboration and correspondence between composers Demetrio Cecchitelli and Simon Hansson, and features a musical exploration of distinct sensibilities and how they meet in sound. The music here is, quite simply, stunning – with an underlying melancholic tone running through it, and a real sense of depth and meaning. This is one of those albums that is best listening to on headphones, while you lie in a darkened room, letting the music carry you with it. Incredible!

 

Modern Silent Cinema – Flesh Mother (Redux)

 

Flesh Mother (Redux), the latest album of lo-fi electro-acoustic experimental music from Modern Silent Cinema isn’t your standard dark ambient fare, featuring a more rock / post-rock oriented sound… but with definite dark ambient elements, a bleak undertone, and disturbingly dark soundscapes added to the mix. Every time I listen to this I discover something new hidden in its depths, and this album is highly recommended to those looking for something a little different. Fantastic!

 

Sense of Self – By a Thread

 

New on the ever awesome Inner Demons Records label is By a Thread by Sense of Self. This is a wonderful album of experimental soundscapes, which ranges from moments of calmness and tranquillity, to others of chaos and aggression. The end result is an exhilarating audio journey that is as rewarding as it is exciting. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it, and I’m still loving it. Awesome!

 

Materiæ Abyssu – Aëthÿrinn Na Viixhræ

 

Oh wow. Now this is very cool. An album combining elements of dark ambient, post-industrial, and darkwave! Featuring deliciously dark vocals, haunting music, and a wonderful ritual ambient vibe, this is one of those albums that will stay with you long after you’ve finished listening to it… before you are drawn back to it again and again. Magnificent!

 

Runes Order – No Future

 

Eighth Tower Records continues to release the most incredible music, with this re-release of the 1993 album No Future another perfect example. Originally released on cassette and limited to 30 copies this album gained a cult following due to its unsettling exploration of the nuclear nightmare. It’s wonderful to see this masterpiece get a digital and CD release and a chance to gain a much deserved wider audience. Using synths, tape loops, and slow evolving drones, the music here is dark, despairing and full of tension. Marvellous!

 

The Surrealist & Austin Rockman – Light Lies Awake

 

Light Lies Awake is the latest album from The Surrealist & Austin Rockman, and I’m delighted to say that this is even better than the glorious Seek No End which I reviewed back in May! With evolving drones, ambient soundscapes, and experimental electronica this is one of those incredible albums that rewards multiple listens… because each and every listen uncovers something new and wonderous. I’ve lost myself in the depths of this album again and again since I first heard it, and I cannot recommend this strongly enough. Simply stunning!

 

insectarium – a lamp unto thy path

 

New from Illinois based dark ambient musician insectarium is a lamp unto thy path, an album of eerie, unnerving dark ambient of the highest order. This is the soundtrack to those nightmares that you wake from in the middle of the night, screaming. It’s incredibly well done and is a reminder of just how powerful dark ambient music can be. Very highly recommended. Superb!

 

 

OUTER BANKX – OUTER BANKX Pt 1

 

Now this is very cool – a cinematic, ambient album built around manipulated NASA Apollo mission transmissions and dark synth sound design textures! With a combination of dark ambient, drone, glitch, synth work, and NASA control room transmissions found online, OUTER BANKX has created an album that is an intriguing as it is rewarding – each listen is an absolute delight. On the basis of OUTER BANKX Pt 1 I will definitely be watching to see what OUTER BANKX does next. Amazing!

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – November 2025

By

On November 29, 2025

In Articles, Frozen In Time: Weekly News, Retro Reviews, Reviews

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.

 

Brooddark – Overvoltage

 

Every now and then an album comes along that just blows you away because it resonates with you perfectly. Overvoltage by Brooddark is one of those albums – I have listened to this every day since I first got my hands on it, and I’m still loving it weeks later. With dense drones, multi-layered sounds, sweeping soundscapes, and an industrial element to everything, this is absolutely stunning. This is Brooddark‘s first solo album, and on the strength of this I will be keeping a very close eye on what they do next. Incredible!

 

Dragon – The Tullus Project

 

I’ve been a big fan of Dragon‘s music for quite a while now, so I was thrilled when I found out he had another album due to be released. The Tullus Project is a glitch filled masterpiece, featuring 10 tracks of experimental electronica with glitch, noise, and ambient elements all working together perfectly. The end result is simply breath-taking and offers the listener something new and wonderful to discover each time they hear it. Very highly recommended to those who are looking for something with a glitchy electronic sound to it. Wonderful!

 

Sublimatio Mortis – Ghur

 

Dark Odyssey Records continue to deliver high quality releases, and Ghur from Sublimatio Mortis is the perfect example – featuring eerie soundscapes and multi-layered evolving drones, this is a deliciously dark album with a real sense of chthonic menace running right through it. This is one of those albums that deserves to be listened to using headphones, because the attention to detail in the crafting of this music is fantastic. Highly recommended for fans of ritual ambient. Stunning!

 

insectarium – AMDUSIAS (the noise)

 

New from insectarium is this impressive album of 9 noise tracks – each created using no-input mixer methods, and then offered to a different musician to manipulate further. The musicians involved were: Her Menacing Pet, Kaarlo Herden, Kathodos, Marius Anguis, Mike Benoit, Mindspawn, Olik Nesnah, The Black Monolith, and Ubekvem. The music here is challenging and rewarding in equal measure, with moments that are aggressive and in your face, and others that are almost soothing in nature. It’s incredibly well done and well worth picking up if you are a fan of noise or are looking for something a little different from your standard dark ambient fare. Awesome!

 

Tomáš Šenkyřík & Pavel Zlámal – 306

 

Now this is very cool! Using his recording of instrumentalists from leading Czech ensembles and symphony orchestras who had gathered on stage, but didn’t play, Tomáš Šenkyřík worked with saxophonist Pavel Zlámal to create this remarkable album of ambient drone and field recordings. It’s like nothing I’ve heard before, and the audio journey this album provides is simply incredible. This album is a must have if you are looking for something new and original. Amazing!

 

Various Artists – Analog 2025

 

New from the Unexplained Sounds Group label is this delightful rerelease of the 2016 album ‘Analog 2020’. This newly remastered edition appears on CD for the first time, and features three previously unreleased tracks. With tracks from 13 musicians, the compilation pays tribute to those who continue to explore the richness and unpredictability of analog machines. The music here is beautiful, heartfelt, and moving. Very highly recommended. Powerful stuff!

 

Substak – Natura Non Constristatur

 

Inner Demons Records continue to release the most amazing albums, and Natura Non Constristatur, the latest release from Substak, is no exception. This is a subtle album – featuring a sustained wash of drone, built from low frequencies, crackles and distortion – and one that needs to be listening to using headphones, to ensure you experience the full effect of this remarkable album. Definitely one to listen to while you lie back in a darkened room. Wonderful!

 

AlphaBet – TAGS

 

TAGS is the debut album from AlphaBet (Piotr Skrzypczyk and Krzysztof Janiszewski – best known for their work with the band Half Light) and is a 10 track album of electronic ambient. With unfolding drones, ambient soundscapes, and intriguing field recordings, this is one of those remarkable albums of uplifting, emotive, and thought provoking music with real soul to it. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it, and I cannot recommend this highly enough. Beautiful!

 

Wahn – Drifted Vol. 4

 

I’m a big fan of Whan‘s previous releases, so was thrilled when I discovered this new album. Drifted Vol. 4 continues Wahn’s journey into immersive, bass-driven ambient, but with a subtly lighter tone and featuring gentle piano sounds and evolving ambient soundsapes. This is melancholic, heart-felt music of the highest standard, perfect for listening to on a rainy Sunday afternoon as you self-reflect and consider the world around you. Gorgeous!

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – October 2025

By

On October 25, 2025

In Articles, Frozen In Time: Weekly News, Retro Reviews, Reviews

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.

 

Bleak Haven – Oblivion

 

Dark Odyssey Records continue to release dark ambient music of the highest quality, and Oblivion by Bleak Haven is no exception. Right from the off, there is an impending sense of dread oozing our of this album, as the dark, cinematic soundscapes unfold in a pulsing, machine like echo. The music here is delightfully eerie and otherworldly – the perfect sci-fi horror soundtrack you didn’t know you needed. Absolutely stunning!

 

Lham – Tertium Quid

 

New from the Italian Silentes label is this wonderful album of intriguing experimental electro ambient from Lham. Expertly blending elements of classical music, field recordings, glitches, gentle synth work, and dark ambient / drone soundscapes, the end result is a mesmerising audio journey that is as refreshing and original as it is beautiful. Highly recommend for those looking for something uplifting, life affirming, and inventive. Gorgeous!

 

Sam – Saint Noise

 

I’m a big fan of Sam, the one man project by Marcin Kaczmarek, who describes his music as “strange blues”. His latest album, Saint Noise, combines electric guitar, drone, and sound manipulation, to produce a remarkable album that is bluesy, chilled out and laid back, and yet also provides a captivating and gripping listen. Highly recommended for those looking for something different and heartfelt. Amazing!

 

The Nine Lands of Oblivion – Black Chamber Music

 

Now this is very cool – an album of dark ambient / dungeon synth from Portugal, with an impressively bleak and doom-ridden tone running through the whole thing from start to finish. The music here is haunting, eerie, and the description of “A medieval fever dream through haunted chambers and old crypt” sums this up perfectly. Wonderful!

 

Lambwool – Ashes

 

New from French sound sculptor Lambwool is this incredible album of uncompromising dark ambient, created in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Combining slowly unfolding dark ambient soundscapes, with authentic field recordings taken from news reports and journalistic coverage of the conflict in Ukraine, the end result is quite simply breath-taking. This is far from an easy listen, but that’s the point. Highly recommended. Powerful stuff.

 

Substak – Σφαῖρα

 

Regular readers will know I’m a big fan of Substak (Greek musician Kostas Staikos), and I’m always thrilled when he releases a new album. Σφαῖρα begins with a light ambient feel to it, but as the album unfolds the soundscapes become darker and more drone like – taking the listener on a rewarding audio journey in the process. This is one of those albums that is perfect for listening to on headphones as you lie-back in a darkened room. Fantastic!

 

Gensai Hasegawa, KPC a.k.a. kassn – Experimental Session, Tokyo, Japan, Sep 2025

 

Inner Demons Records continues to be one of my favourite labels, and with releases like this it is easy to see why. This is the recording of an experimental music session in Tokyo earlier this year, with lots of interesting and innovative things going on – drones, glitches, electronica, and field recordings are blended together and play over each other, resulting in a unique multi-layered sound experience that offers something different each and every time you listen to it. Superb!

 

Malamati – Youm-e-Malamat

 

Wow. Now this is a compelling album of dark ambient music – an “auditory manifestation” of the frustration with the hypocrisy and humanitarian crises caused by modern war and the failure of the western world to act. The music does an incredible job of reflecting those feelings, and the resulting listen is a dark and disturbing one – and that makes this album all the more powerful for it. Stunning.

 

Sowl – Ensemble Vide

 

With their latest release, Sowl (Olivier Verleye on guitar, bulbul tarang, and Valentin Brügger on soma pipe, Enner, micro Korg, DeepMind6, vocals) has created an album of incredibly beautiful melancholic music. Sounds develop, merge together, echo, and dissolve – exploring the fragility of human connection. This is wonderfully done, and I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it. Highly recommended for those looking for something that is perfect for a spot of introspective review. Spectacular!

 

God Ton – Alla Mina Djur

 

The latest release from Swedish musician Got Ton is this gorgeous album of mediative rhythmic ambient, combining ambient soundscapes with elements of downtempo electronica. The resulting album is relaxing and soothing, but never too laid back or slow moving. This is one of those albums that is perfect for listening to on lazy Sunday afternoon, as you unwind, self-reflect, and take some time out for yourself. Beautiful!

 

Ambiotik – Ocean of Space

 

Ocean of Space by Ambiotik is a gorgeously chilled album of space ambient soundscapes, perfect for relaxing to and taking some time out from the every day hustle and bustle. This is beautifully done, with gentle soaring synth work and slow evolving drones, working together to create a harmonious panorama of soothing ambient soundscapes. Simply marvellous.

 

Bill Brennan and Andy McNeill – Dreaming In Gamelan

 

New from Bill Brennan and Andy McNeill is Dreaming In Gamelan, an album with its roots firmly planted in West Javanese traditions, that also embraces elements of ambient jazz and more experimental musical styles. The end result is an album of jaw-droppingly stunning music that stays with you long after the album has finished playing. This is captivating stuff, and a must have for fans of experimental ambient music. Glorious!

 

Nerthus – Love letters via Echelon

 

Eighth Tower Records continue to release amazing album after amazing album, and Love letters via Echelon by Nerthus is no exception. Exploring the shadowy tension between intimacy and control in the age of global surveillance, the music here is oppressive and claustrophobic, reflecting the psychological weight of being watched, tracked, and decoded. This is an album of dark ambient / post-industrial music at its finest and a must have for fans of dark, haunting music with an electronic and industrial edge. Awesome!

 

Altum – Kingdom of Radiant Darkness

 

The Spanish Ominous Sounds label has released some stunning albums in the last couple of years, and Kingdom of Radiant Darkness by Altum is a worthy addition to their roster. The music here is dark ambient / ritual ambient, with a melodic edge and wonderful evolving soundscapes. In parts light and airy, and in others dark and haunting, this is an album that rewards multiple listens. Definitely one to check out if you are a fan of atmospheric dark ambient. Stunning!

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – August 2025

By

On September 3, 2025

In Articles, Frozen In Time: Weekly News, Retro Reviews, Reviews

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.

 

Hand To Earth – Ŋurru Wäŋa

 

New on the Room40 label is this incredible release from Hand To Earth. Combining dark ambient soundscapes and indigenous vocals, this is a haunting, melancholic album with a reflective vibe running through it from start to finish. This is one of those albums that stays with you long after it’s finished playing, and I’ve found myself drawn back to it again and again. Simply stunning!

Dorcas – Dorcas

 

Polish underground label Loża Oficyna has just released Dorcas, by the Italian musician with same name. This wonderful album channels the literary work of Gene Wolfe, with orchestral movements, subtle synth work, and a number of other instruments including hand drum, Tibetan bells, and harpsichord. The end result is gorgeous, with music that is uplifting, mysterious and ethereal. Highly recommended for fans of orchestral ambient or dungeon synth. Beautiful!

 

SPIRIT RADIO – DEW POINT

 

The latest release from SPIRIT RADIO is this breath-taking EP of ethereal, haunting tracks featuring ghostly vocals and eerie otherworldly ambient soundscapes. The listening experience is quite honestly incredible – this is one of those albums that rewards listening to it on headphones with your eyes closed, as you savour the melodies as they wash over you in echoing waves. Very highly recommended for those looking for something haunting yet beautiful. Fantastic!

Various Artists – Bio-Mechanik. Aural tribute to the art of H.R. Giger

 

The latest album on the ever awesome Eighth Tower Records label is this aural tribute to the art of H. R. Giger – the artist best known for his design of the creature in the Alien sci-fi / horror movie. The 12 tracks here do an amazing job of capturing the essence of Giger’s work – where human forms are invaded by machines – with a mix of dark ambient, post industrial, and experimental music. Curated and mastered by Raffaele Pezzella (a.k.a. Sonologyst) this is – as you would expect – eerie, disturbing music of the highest calibre. Incredible!

TH3.DR3ΔD3D.ØN3 – The Echoes Beneath Aetherfall

 

New from TH3.DR3ΔD3D.ØN3 is this stunning album of deliciously dark and twisted dark ambient / drone. The music here is incredibly atmospheric, with cinematic dark ambient soundscapes to die for. I’ve had this album on repeat play since I first heard it, and on the strength of this release I will be following what TH3.DR3ΔD3D.ØN3 do next with interest. Terrific!

Substak – Nexus

 

Regular readers will know I’m a big fan of Substak – their music is always inventive, creative and rewarding. Nexus is another such release – with 3 tracks of evolving drone, each offering something subtly different, but all 3 joining together to create a wonderful audio experience. There s real depth to the music here, and I found myself drawn to it again and again. Highly recommended if you’re  fan of drone. Marvellous!

Carya Amara – Carrion Carya Amara

 

New on the UK Earthrid label is this release of intriguing electronic music from Carya Amara. Combining elements of dark ambient, drone, and experimental and avant-garde music, this is a wonderfully inventive album guaranteed to delight and captivate you from start to finish. Uplifting and dark in equal measure, this is one of those albums that offers something new with each and every listen. Remarkable!

Andrew Staniland – The Laws of Nature

 

Andrew Staniland is considered one of Canada’s most important and innovative musical voices, and his latest album, The Laws of Nature, demonstrates why. Using the EEG mode of the JADE digital musical instrument to create MIDI and audio data from the brain waves of performers from the Kittiwake Dance Theatre, he then shaped and sculpted the resulting MIDI and audio data into this incredible 12 track album of breath-taking electronic / ambient music. Stunning!

Coppergear – Eventide

 

Combining dark ambient, drone, and post-industrial electronica, the new album from Coppergear provides an awesome audio experience that is as rewarding as it is surprising. This is music that isn’t restricted by genre and isn’t afraid to try something different – offering something refreshingly different in this age of risk free pap for the masses. Very highly recommended for those looking for something unique and original. Wonderful!

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – July 2025

By

On July 30, 2025

In Frozen In Time: Weekly News, Retro Reviews, Reviews

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.

Caldon Glover – Eternal Night Radio

 

I absolutely love Caldon Glover‘s previous releases – in particular Labyrintia and Metrophagy – so I was thrilled when I heard they had another album on the way, hoping for another cracking album of eerie otherworldly dark ambient… and I’m delighted to say I wasn’t disappointed, because I think Eternal Night Radio may well be their best release yet! With a dark, brooding undercurrent, discordant drones, and disturbing soundscapes, this is one of those dark ambient albums that is quite simply stunning from start to finish. Very highly recommended. Incredible!

Sonologyst – Planetarium

 

Now this is very cool! Planetarium, the latest release from Sonologyst, is “… an aural exploration of the solar system, using data from NASA’s probes….”. What that means is a sublime album of space ambient / drone, created from cosmic non-audible signals (like radio waves, electromagnetic waves, and plasma wave fluctuations) that were recorded by NASA and then converted into audio frequencies we can hear using a process called data sonification. The end result is jaw droppingly good, with each and every track carrying in it in the wonder and mystery of the Universe. Absolutely amazing!

Erik Wøllo – Gateway (2025 remaster)

 

Originally released in 2010, this wonderful ambient album has been remastered by its creator, Erik Wøllo, to produce an enhanced sound with a more detailed, transparent and wider audio spectrum with greater sonic cohesion. In a word, this is breath-taking. Bridging grand harmonic realms and gentle, serene environments, and featuring soaring synths, evolving drones, and gorgeous soundscapes, this is one of those albums that just keeps drawing you back again and again. This is a definite must-buy for those who like tranquil ambient music with a soothing vibe. Beautiful!

Substak – Motion Of The Deep Sea

 

Regular readers will know I’m a big fan of Athens-based musician Substak, and his latest album, Motion Of The Deep Sea, is another awesome release. Featuring field recordings of the ocean, this is an album of contemplative ambient drone, that does an amazing job of transporting the listener to ocean realms. This perfect for chilling out to, and for getting away from things, or for closing your eyes and convincing yourself you are adrift at sea. Wonderful!

Audible Masticators – String Theory 2

 

Inner Demons Records continues to be one of my favourite labels – because of the consistently high quality of their releases. String Theory 2, the latest album from Audible Masticators, is a perfect example. Made with a minimalistic approach using bass guitar and effects only, the music here is original, noisy, brooding, and deliciously different – being rewarding and challenging in equal measure. This is a must have for those who like their music to be unafraid to be doing something different and experimental. Spectactular!

Aconis – Forged

 

Forged, the latest release from UK based musician Aconis, is Forged, a deliciously dark album of dark ambient / ambient drone. With a sinister undertone, dark ambient soundscapes, and unfolding drones, this is an impressive album that fans of atmospheric dark ambient will absolutely adore! I’ve had this album on repeat play since I first heard it, and it gets better and better with each and every listen. Stunning!

Substak – Motif Tracks

 

Our second release from Substak this month is a collection of tracks created for the monthly motif radio show on grey clay radio (in which experimental electronic music producer Dogs versus Shadows invites the community to submit recordings based on their personal interpretation of a theme). The tracks here vary somewhat in style and tone, but on the whole are minimalistic and best described as experimental electronica. Each and every track offers something different, and yet they fit together wonderfully on this album, creating a marvellous audio journey for listeners. Superb!

Pestzone – Mi-Go

 

Oh. My. God. This album is incredible – sounding like it has been dragged from the deepest depths of hell itself. The first time I played this I was genuinely stunned at what I was hearing – because it was so so dark and disturbing, and yet so undeniably damn good! Pestzone continues to push the boundaries of what constitutes “music”, and this is another fantastic album that is the exact opposite of ‘easy listening’. But that’s the point. This is dark music for a dark world, and it is everything we deserve. Thoroughly, unreservedly, glorious!

Various Artists – The Eraserhead. Music Inspired by the Film of David Lynch

 

The latest release from the ever awesome Unexplained Sounds Group label is this impressive album tribute to the ground breaking 1977 movie, Eraserhead. Featuring tracks by 13 different musicians, there is something here for everyone – for fans of dark ambient, drone, experimental electronica, and noise. As always, Raffaele Pezzella (aka. Sonologyst) has done an incredible job of curating and mastering the album, with each track offering something different, but with the album working beautifully as a whole. Gorgeous!

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – June 2025

By

On June 28, 2025

In Frozen In Time: Weekly News, Retro Reviews, Reviews

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.

Spanned Canyons – The Only Perfect Way for This to End

 

This is an album that I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of, and I’m delighted to say that it more than meets my high expectations! With 9 tracks of awesome, electronic dark ambient / drone, featuring distortion, glitches, and some baritone sax added to the mix, the music here is simply stunning. Add to that some subtly blended spoken word, and the end result is a haunting album that delivers from start to finish. This is one of those remarkable releases that stays with you long after it’s finished playing, and fans of experimental electronica will absolutely love this. Incredible!

Wahn – Drifted Vol. 3

 

The latest album from Wahn sees him continuing to explore and develop his unique sound, producing a delightful album of cinematic ambient with an organic edge, containing elements inspired by IDM and bass, and with an underlying introspective, melancholic vibe. This is refreshingly different stuff, and I found myself drawn back to it again and again, in awe at what I was hearing. Highly recommended for those looking for something inventive, multi-layered, and with real depth to it. Stunning!

Various Artists – Anthology Of Experimental Music From Australia

 

Unexplained Sounds Group is a label that continues to deliver, and their latest album – the newest release in their Sound Mapping series – is no different. Featuring experimental music from eighteen Australian musicians, this is an impressive album that has something for everyone. Each track offers something unique, but the album has a unified vibe to it, meaning the listening experience is a smooth one – providing the listener with an audio journey through a sonic territory both familiar and alien. Wonderful!

E.U.E.R.P.I. – Warm Waves

 

Featuring field recordings from a trip to Malaysia in 2024, Warm Waves is an album that pays “… sincere homage to presence, travel, and the emotional resonance of place.” It’s beautifully done – the gorgeous field recordings expertly complimented by added synth sounds and delicate minimalist guitar, resulting in dream-like sonic soundscapes that take the listener with them to other, special places. This is one of those albums for chilling out to, for taking some time to remember vacations abroad, and for reconnecting with yourself. Gorgeous!

Bipolar Explorer – Memories of the Sky

 

Containing elements of dark ambient and drone, but also shoegaze, dreampop, and post-rock, Memories of the Sky – the latest release from Bipolar Explorer – is impossible to pigeon-hole… and that’s no bad thing! Featuring 22 tracks of brilliantly dark, deep, and meditative music, this album is perfect for sitting inside as you watch the thunderstorm and lashing rain through the window, and contemplate your life and the wider world around you. Simply divine!

Peur du noir – L’orage, à pleines mains

 

The latest release from Peur du noir is this wonderful 3 track album of electronic dark ambient / drone. The first track is harsh and eerie, with unfolding drones and an uncompromising edge, with tracks 2 and 3 a little mellower in nature, providing a more contemplative feel to them. The contrast works wonderfully, helping highlight the strengths of each track, and providing the listening with a rewarding audio experience. I’ve had this one on repeat play since I first heard it, and I find that I’m still drawn back to it weeks later. Fantastic!

Substak – Drone Day 2025

 

Made for Drone Day 2025, this new release from Athens-based artist Substak is a subtle, minimalist drone track. With a slowly evolving drone, this is a track to savour – listening to this on headphones, while lying down in a darkened room, is a truly amazing experience. This is very highly recommended for fans of drone, and for those looking for something to ‘zone out’ to. Brilliant!

Jabe Ledoux – Sacred Quietude

 

Now this is very cool – a 3 track release built around the recording of a car journey, featuring the deep bassy drones of the engine & tires-on-road, as well as the sounds created by some drums being transported in the car. It’s incredible stuff – the resulting music has a drone like quality to it, and I found listening to these tracks was a hypnotic experience. This is definitely one to check out if you are a fan of experimental music, and if you are looking for something a little different from your standard drones. Marvellous!

The Black Monolith / Olik Nesnah – Svarteboken

 

New on the awesome An Eclectic Collection Of Dust label is this album of dark brooding music from The Black Monolith / Olik Nesnah. “Svarteboken,” means “Black Book”, usually referring to a spell book in Scandinavian folk magic traditions, and the music here does an amazing job of capturing the essence of that – featuring elements of dark ambient, dungeon ambient, and ritual ambient. This is a must have for fans of dark, eerie dark ambient / ritual ambient. Magnificent!

The Black Monolith – Wreathed in Serpents, Crowned in Thorns

 

Also new from The Black Monolith is Wreathed in Serpents, Crowned in Thorns – available now on the Noctivagant label. This is a wonderfully atmospheric album, built around a series of invocations by Israel Regardie, that “explores the initiatory path of the adept — from the shattering of the ego to the revelation of true will.” With deep drones, dark soundscapes, and ritualistic textures, this is an incredibly powerful album, evoking a real sense of personal reflection and loss. Gorgeous!

Syldag – CYBERILLA

 

With elements of electronica, heavy synth work, and dark ambient, the listening experience provided by CYBERILLA is refreshingly different – with each and every play of the album offering up something new to discover. Fans of electronic / synth music will absolutely love this album – and those looking for something that isn’t your standard dark ambient fare will also find this worth their time. On the strength of this album, I will definitely be checking out other releases from Syldag. Incredible!

M.B. – Mectpyo Bakterium

 

New from the ever awesome Eighth Tower Records is this re-release of Mectpyo Bakterium by M.B. (Maurizio Bianchi). With minimalistic, electronic sounds, this album evokes the feel of sterile laboratories, decaying tissues, and viral mutations. It’s brilliantly done, and I found myself drawn deep into the music and losing any sense of time and place as I listened to it. Highly recommended for fans of minimalistic, electronic drone ambient. Awesome!

Matteo Cantaluppi – Inequal

 

New from Italian producer and musician Matteo Cantaluppi is Inequal, a fantastic electronic ambient album pulling together elements of drone, ambient, and dark ambient. The end result is an album that is simply breath-taking – with music that is haunting, soothing, and melancholic in equal measure. This is a must have for fans of subtle music with depth. Wonderful!

Devil’s Breath – Abandoned by Humans – Adopted by Wolves

 

Now this is awesome – an album combining elements of dark ambient, industrial music, and drone. This is music that is dark, aggressive, and uncompromising, and it is absolutely stunning – I’ve been listening to this non-stop since I first heard it and still cannot get enough of it. If you like your dark ambient to have an industrial / post-industrial edge to it, then I cannot recommend this album enough. Phenomenal!

Exploding Skull – Coyote

 

New from Bad Channels Records is Coyote by Exploding Skull. This is an album of minimalistic experimental guitar-based music, with a subtle dark ambient / drone undertone running through it. This is one of those remarkable albums where you can easily lose yourself inside the music, sinking into its multi-layered depths, adrift and away from everything else. Stunning!

 

Page 1 of 7

Next →

Archives

Categories

Meta

RSS This Is Darkness

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 181 other subscribers.

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén

%d bloggers like this: