Tag: Retro-review (Page 1 of 6)

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!

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – May 2025

By

On May 27, 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.

Alphaxone & Dronny Darko – Invisible World

 

Cryo Chamber have released some amazing albums in recent months, and this latest one from Alphaxone & Dronny Darko is one of the best! With soaring soundscapes, deep dark ambient tones, and an underlying sense of calm running through it all, this is one of those incredible albums that gets better with each and every listen. I’ve had this on non-stop replay since I first got my hands on it, and I’m going to be listening to it for a long time to come yet. Very highly recommended for fans of multi-layered dark ambient with heart. Gorgeous!

CrAwE – Hypnogogic Music For Hypnogogic States Pt.2

 

Regular readers will know that I’m a huge CrAwE fan, and am always thrilled when I discover he has a new album out. Hypnogogic Music For Hypnogogic States Pt.2 is a little different from previous releases, in that this time the music was created using a minimal desktop electronic set up alongside tape manipulated field recordings – rather than the usual, primarily guitar based set up. The end result is an album that provides something a little different from previous releases – while still retaining that unique CrAwE “sound”. This is a must buy for those who like atmospheric deep drone and soothing sonic soundscapes. Marvellous!

Sándor Vály – Early Works 1988-1992

 

Unexplained Sounds Group continues to be one of my favourite labels, with each and every release offering something new and exciting to discover. This latest album is no exception – collecting together the early works from Hungarian artist Sándor Vály, recorded between 1988 and 1992. Created using homemade instruments, rudimentary electronics, and cassette gear, the resulting music is as unsettling as it is rewarding – perfectly encapsulating the years of trauma that he lived through – experiencing exile, confinement, political escape, and cultural rebirth. A definite must have for fans of experimental drone / electronica. Awesome!

Sequences – Aluxes

 

Aluxes, the latest release from Belgium based Sequences, is one of those wonderful albums that effortlessly merges drones, dark ambient, and field recordings, to create something truly beautiful. Using guitar, zither, magnetophone and a eurorack modular system, with field recordings recorded while travelling through Mexico in 2022 and 2023, the resulting music is intriguing, surprising, and delightful in equal measure. With multi-layered textures, and hidden depths, this is an album you will be drawn back to again and again. Fantastic!

Substak – Dark Horizon Call

 

Dark Horizon Call, the latest album from Athens-based artist Substak, features six tracks of minimalistic drone, with an electronic glitchy edge. The album blurb says “As you listen, you will feel the deep sense of solitude and the realization that you are utterly alone, surrounded by a lifeless universe.”  It’s the perfect description of the experience listening to this album gives you – a sense of the self, of being alone in a vast, dark universe… of a cosmos we will never truly understand and will always be an insignificant part of. Wonderful!

Sam – Keep Calm And Turn Ambient (feat. SYN)

 

I’ve been a fan of Sam for quite a while now – with each of his releases offering something different, but each offering a wonderful listening experience. Keep Calm And Turn Ambient (which also features SYN) is a 5 track album of experimental ambient music, which is relaxing, yet intriguing – taking the listener on an audio journey like no other. This is a definite must have for those who like their dark ambient / drone to have a sense of experimentation. Brilliant!

The Surrealist & Austin Rockman – Seek No End

 

Oh wow! The best thing about writing for This is Darkness is discovering amazing new music, and those special moments where you press play and are completely blown away by what you are listening to. Seek No End is one of those albums. Featuring 12 tracks of electroacoustic tones and experimental ambient soundscapes, the music here is simply divine. Each and every listen offers something new to uncover, with multi-layered textures and a wonderful array of sounds and tones to experience. Remarkable!

Dust of Time – The Waking Hours

 

The Waking Hours is the debut album from Dust of Time (Greek musician, Manolis Fasoulakis), featuring neoclassical and cinematic dark ambient, and with spoken words by Shane Beck – all blended seamlessly together to provide an audio documentary of Manolis‘s final moments with his father and the events leading up to that ill-fated day. It’s wonderfully done, with the different elements working together to produce an emotional audio experience with an underlying melancholic edge. This is a beautiful album and one that cannot be recommended highly enough. Stunning!

 

Abul Mogard – Quiet Pieces

 

New from Abul Mogard is Quiet Pieces, a 5 track album of gorgeous evolving drones and unfolding dark ambient soundscapes, each running through with a sense of contemplative introspection. There is a dream-like feel to the music here, meaning this is one of those perfect albums for listening to on headphones as you lie back on the sofa and let yourself get lost in the experience of listening. Absolutely beautiful!

SAD MAN – ART

 

The latest release from SAD MAN is this fantastic 12 track album of dark ambient and experimental electronica. Based on a short story inspired by Midlands based surrealist artist and painter Emmy Bridgewater “… each track loosely soundtracks chapters from the story, whilst more broadly exploring the potential for surrealist approaches in music making…” The resulting music is experimental, even quirky in places, with a real sense of adventure underlying it all. It’s wonderfully done, and I fund myself drawn back to the music again and again. Awesome stuff!

loscil – Lake Fire

 

Lake Fire is the new album from Vancouver based artist loscil (Scott Morgan), an album of stunning drone / ambient of the highest quality. With subtly evolving drones and ethereal ambient soundscapes expertly blended together, this is jaw-droppingly good! On the basis of this remarkable album, I’ve already started checking out his back-catalogue and added loscil to my list of artists to keep an active eye on. Highly recommended for fans of ambient drone. Gorgeous!

theAdelaidean – TOKORO

 

TOKORO, the latest album from theAdelaidean, blends subtle field recordings and minimalistic synths and electronics, to provide an immersive aural portrait of life in Japan. The music here is dreamlike, otherworldly, with a sense of wonder and beauty running through it. Listening to the music is a soothing and reflective experience, and this is one of those beautiful albums that deserves to be listened to on headphones, with no distractions, so that the music can be savoured. Outstanding!

Tremosphere – saturated solace

 

Strictly speaking, Tremosphere are not dark ambient – describing themselves as “Experimental, sultry, post-rock dreampop, dark wave, pop drone music…”. But, there are definite dark ambient elements to their music and – quite simply – this is so good that I felt it deserved to be shared here. This is one of those albums that gets under your skin (in a good way!) and keeps pulling you back for “just one more listen”. Highly recommended for those looking for something a little different from the usual dark ambient. Splendid!

Aarktica – No Solace in Sleep (2025 remaster)

 

The latest release on the every awesome Projekt Records label is this remaster of the wonderful 2000 album, No Solace in Sleep by Aarktica. The music here is a mellow affair, with a dreamy blissed-out feel to it, and quietly evolving ambient soundscapes. Thanks to the fantastic remaster (handled by ambient/electronic pioneer Taylor Deupree at 12k) this album sounds as incredible as it did when it was released 25 years ago, and is very much worth checking out if you like your ambient / drone to have a chilled out vibe. Marvellous!

Coppergear – Experimental

 

New from experimental ambient artist Coppergear is Experimental – a delightful album of inventive ambient / drone / electronica, with moments that are laid back and introspective, and others that are faster paced and exhilarating. It’s beautifully done, with the listener taken on an audio journey that is as rewarding  as it is eye opening. Highly recommended for those looking for something that isn’t afraid the blur the boundaries of genre. Remarkable!

Jakob Balogh & Martin Tillman – Life

 

Jakob Balogh & Martin Tillman have collaborated together to create Life, a truly gorgeous album of warm, cinematic ambient / drone. Based on natural field recordings, listening to this album takes you on a journey – with the sounds and mood intensifying as the tracks unfold, before stripping back down again as the album nears its end. This is one of those albums that warrants multiple plays, and is a must have if you are a fan of cinematic ambient with melancholic undertones. Stunning!

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – April 2025

By

On April 30, 2025

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

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!

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – January 2025

By

On January 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.

Sublimatio Mortis – Transubstantiatio

 

The latest release by Sublimatio Mortis (Canadian duo Chris of Undirheimar & Mo Masaya de Kemetis) is this fantastically dark and disturbing album of ritual ambient / drone. The music here is bleak and brooding, conjuring up images of gloomy stone monasteries and dark forbidding sepulchres . It’s incredibly well done, and I’ve felt myself drawn back to this album again and again to experience the sonic textures contained within it. Very highly recommended for fans of ritual dark ambient. Gorgeous!

Nerthus – The Path of the Elder Ones

 

I’m a huge fan of all things Lovecraftian, so I was thrilled when I discovered that the ever awesome Eighth Tower Records were releasing this dark ambient / post-industrial album from Nerthus. With eerie, otherworldly tracks full of dark menacing soundscapes and creepy field recordings, this is a wonderfully dark album that does an amazing job of capturing the essential essence of the Lovecraft mythos. Fantastic!

E.U.E.R.P.I. – 1971

 

Now this is very cool indeed – an album created using field recordings of the sounds of an old (manufactured in 1971) Soviet train that is still running on the Bulgarian railways! The resulting album is glorious – full of the industrial sounds of the railway, with glitches and echoes and all manner of strange noises. It’s incredibly atmospheric and each and every play of the album provides the listener with a multitude of new things to discover. Highly recommended for those looking for something a little different. Wonderful!

Druhá Smrt – dialectic of Thorn

 

The latest release from the fantastic Sombre Soniks label is this deliciously dark album from Druhá Smrt. The music here is a wonderful blend of doom, drone and dark ambient – a combination that gives this album a unique sound that is both familiar yet unfamiliar in equal measure. The lack of willingness to be pigeon-holed into one genre means this won’t appeal to those looking for standard dark ambient fare – but those willing to try something new and to experience something different, this album is a must buy. Superb!

Various Artists – Music For Alien Temples

 

Described as “… an ambitious and visionary project that ventures into the realm of speculative soundscapes, imagining the religious practices, spiritual rituals, and cosmic ceremonies of advanced alien civilizations…” Music for Alien Temples is an album that totally delivers on its premise. With 14 tracks of strange, multi-layered otherworldliness, presented by a range of talented musicians, this is one of those remarkable albums that is an absolute joy to listen to from start to finish – each track offers something unique, and yet they all fit together perfectly to create a unified audio experience that is quite honestly stunning. Impressive!

VIRUS2020 ( فيروس ٢٠٢٠ ) – A FROG A GUN AND A SAD MAN فيروس٢٠٢٠ ـ الضفدع ، المسدس و الرجل الحزين

 

Now this is refreshingly different. An album of dark ambient / experimental music that combines Arab and north-African elements, field recordings, and a range of instruments to create a multi-textured album of shifting moods. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first got my hands on this, and each and every time I play it I discover something new and wonderful. Once again, the Unexplained Sounds Group label has released an incredible album that is simply breath-taking. Essential!

Substak – Echoes of Chaos

 

Inner Demons Records continues to be one of my favourite labels, and their latest release is the perfect example of why. Described as “…a haunting blend of drones and distortion, echoing the chaos within the experimental soundscape…” the music here is dark, unnerving, and impossible to categorise – featuring distorted soundscapes, eerie field recordings, and machine like post-industrial sounds. This is one of those albums best experienced in a dark room with earphones on, so that you can lose yourself in the deep dark depths as the album unfolds. Marvellous!

Pestzone – Colour

 

Also from Inner Demons Records is the latest release form Pestzone, featuring industrial tinged dark ambient and drone work, with added glitch-like elements. This is an amazing album – full of dark disturbing soundscapes that are as rewarding to listen to as they as they are challenging. This is the soundtrack to an underground industrial nightmare and very highly recommended for those looking for something dark and relentless. Outstanding!

Sad Man – Dark Ambient Collection

 

The latest album from UK based Sad Man is this wonderful 15 track collection of tracks brought together from previous albums under the heading of Dark Ambient. Featuring an array of styles and sounds, this album provides the listener with a rewarding journey of discovery, with each and every track offering something new and exciting to grab your attention and draw you in. Highly recommended for fans of dark ambient, experimental electronica, and everything in between. Stunning!

Abul Mogard & Rafael Anton Irisarri – Live at Le Guess Who?

 

This gorgeous album by Abul Mogard & Rafael Anton Irisarri was recorded live at Jacobikerk, Utrecht (NL) on November 9, 2024 and features the full, unedited recording of the set. Wow. I would have loved to have been at the concert – because this is one of those wonderful albums of evolving ambient soundscapes that you just let wash over you and lose yourself into. I cannot recommend this album highly enough. Wonderful!

 

 

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – December 2024

By

On December 28, 2024

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 (or by clicking on the BNDCMPR link at the bottom of the page), and please consider supporting the featured artists.

Enjoy!

If you have a release you’d like to be considered for inclusion as our one of our picks of the month , please email richdodgin-tid@virginmedia.com

Spanned Canyons – PRETTY LAKE 092824

 

Pretty Lake 092824, the latest album from Spanned Canyons is – like their previous releases – a wonderfully inventive album, effortlessly merging elements of dark ambient, post rock, and jazz, to produce an audio experience that is simply sublime. Hats off to Pete Nickerson (electronics) & Gary Gahan (sax) for creating something genuinely unique and refreshingly different. Very highly recommended for fans of experimental music that isn’t afraid to mix genres. Awesome!

Rafael Anton Irisarri – FA​Ç​ADISMS

 

Oh wow. Now this is something very special. A mood filled, reflective album of experimental ambient music that is both mournful and hope filled in equal measure. The album notes describe this as “… a late capitalist lament of simmering electric despondency” which sums this emotive audio experience up perfectly. With evolving drones and soaring soundscapes, this is one of those albums for losing yourself in, as you let the music wash over you. Stunning!

Paul Kerdommarec – Sel

 

Decaying Spheres continues to be one of my favourite labels, consistently releasing ambient / drone / dark ambient albums of the highest quality. Their latest release, Sel by experimental artist Paul Kerdommarec, is no exception – featuring an incredible blend of organic and electronic elements that work together to produce an audio journey that is simply stunning. With a melancholic vibe running through the heart of each of these 7 tracks, this is heart felt music with real depth and meaning. Gorgeous!

Philippe Blache – Tristitiam Et Metus Tradam Portare Ventis

 

Philippe Blache (from neoclassical dark ambient project, Day Before Us) has just released his latest solo album, and it is absolutely gorgeous. Featuring brooding, meditative piano and sweeping cinematic soundscapes, and subtly added elements of electronica, this is a gothic-tinged beauty of an album, that is quite simply breath-taking. Highly recommended for fans of atmospheric dark ambient, this is perfect for listening to as you wander through windswept graveyards at midnight. Wonderful!

KOKUM – Obscured Instinct and the pale Folklore

 

The latest release from the ever awesome Eighth Tower Records label is this impressive album from Hungarian musician, Kokum. Combining organic and synthetic sounds, the music here is ritual dark ambient with a definite post-industrial edge – providing the perfect soundtrack to a haunting horror film full of subterranean tunnels and primordial cults. This is a must have for fans of dark, unsettling dark ambient. Powerful stuff!

E.U.E.R.P.I. – Intuition

 

Now this is a very cool concept – an album created together by Bulgarian experimental musician and composer Mirian Kolev and five children from the autistic spectrum. The collaborative recording sessions took an improvisational and intuitive approach, allowing the children to express themselves, and the resulting music is inventive, emotive, and experimental in equal measure. This is definitely an album to check out if you are a fan of experimental ambient. Fantastic!

Dragon – In The Year Of .​.​.

 

Ryu Recordings is a London-based independent music label known for its distinctive experimental electronic soundscapes, and their latest release is this wonderful album from Dragon (who regular readers will know from my reviews of the collaborative albums from Dragon & Jettenbach). In The Year Of .​.​. is an album of electronic, glitch-filled excellence that is as impressive as it is inventive. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it, finding myself drawn again and again to the looping, minimalistic electronic soundscapes. Outstanding!

Monotone Murk – Withering of Reality’s Presence

 

Spanish label, Ominous Sounds, has already made a name for themselves with their impressive debut release (the compilation album, Rituals from Ancient Europe), and now they have released this equally amazing album from Monotone Murk. With haunting soundscapes, and eerie field recordings added to the mix, this is one of the wonderful ritual dark ambient albums that stays with you long after you’ve finished listening to it. I really look forward to hearing more work from this very talented musician, and also to see what Ominous Sounds release next. Magnificent!

Coppergear – RELAX

 

New from Steampunk Alien Records is Relax by experimental ambient artist, Coppergear. Effortlessly combining elements of ambient, drone, electronica and techno, this is a wonderfully inventive and original album, that will be an absolute delight to those looking for something a little different. In parts introspective and moody, and in others light and uplifting, this is one of those albums that offers something new and exciting each and every time you listen to it. Remarkable!

Unexplained Sounds Group – 10th Annual Report – Anniversary Edition

 

To celebrate turning 10, the awesome Unexplained Sounds Group label has released this amazing 35 track compilation album. Label head Raffaele Pezzella has done an astounding job of curating this release, ensuring that not only does each track offer something new and exciting to listen to, but also that all 35 tracks fit together to create a unified album from start to finish. It’s impossible to summarise all of the music here, but featuring a range of experimental music styles, from an impressive cast of musicians, and featuring over four and a half hours of music, this album is an absolute must buy for fans of experimental music from across the globe. Incredible!

Xerxes The Dark – Absurd

 

Absurd is the latest album from Iranian composer and producer Xerxes The Dark. Featuring heavy dark ambient and drone, this is an album that “… explores themes of false hopes and empty feelings, reflecting the absence of hope in our seemingly meaningless lives… “ It’s beautifully done, with cinematic soundscapes blended skilfully together with slow evolving drones, and harsher glitch like elements. The end result is a moving, thought provoking album that packs a real emotional punch. Phenomenal!

Spacecraft – Sky Conjunctions

 

Mumbai based musician Spacecraft creates ambient space music that is ethereal and timeless. Their latest release, Sky Conjunctions, is another impressive album of soaring cosmic soundscapes, with gorgeous synth work combined with subtle field recordings and mellow drones to produce a wonderfully chilled and mellow listening experience. This is one of those albums that is perfect for listening to on a lazy Sunday afternoon, and for lying back and forgetting all the stresses of the day. Wonderful!

Atavus Infectum – Narrow Neck

 

Now this is very cool indeed! The debut album from Australian musician Atavus Infectum features music that can be best described as dark ambient / experimental banjo crossover. It’s absolutely wonderful stuff, with the music genuinely offering something new – melancholic banjo play is complimented perfectly by dark ambient soundscapes and eerie field recordings, resulting in an audio experience that is unlike I’ve anything I’ve heard in quite a while. This is highly recommended for those looking for something unique. Marvellous!

Cryo Chamber Collaboration – Juk​-​Shabb

 

The annual Lovecraft themed collaborative albums from the ever amazing Cryo Chamber label are one of my highlights of the year – with each and every one of these releases featuring a number of incredibly talented musicians and providing over 2 hours of top quality dark ambient. Juk​-​Shabb is no different, with contributions from Council of Nine, Atrium Carceri, God Body Disconnect, Ugasanie, and ProtoU to name just a few. Listening to the album is a wonderfully rewarding experience and if you are a fan of dark ambient then this album – and the rest of the series – are an absolute must have. Staggering!

Click on the below image to go to this month’s This is Darkness playlist on BNDCMPR, which features 1 track from each of the above albums:

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – October 2024

By

On November 3, 2024

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 (or by clicking on the BNDCMPR link at the bottom of the page), and please consider supporting the featured artists. Enjoy!

These Liminal Days – Empty Spaces 2

 

I’m a big fan of These Liminal Days – and thoroughly enjoyed Empty Spaces 1 (reviewed here on This is Darkness back in July 2021) – so I was thrilled when Pria contacted me to let me know that Empty Spaces 2 was being released. The music here is dark, brooding, and effortlessly combines elements of dark ambient, drone, and electronica to produce an audio experience that is unique and incredibly rewarding. This is definitely one to check out. Stunning!

Harvestman – Triptych: Part Three

 

The latest release from Harvestman (the psych/folk/ambient project of Neurosis’ Steve Von Till) is the final part of his three-album series titled Triptych, and has been released to coincide with October 17th’s Hunter Moon. The first two albums in the series were both absolutely wonderful – combining elements of dark ambient, drone, folk, and sludge at play – and I’m delighted to say that part three is just as amazing! This album, and the series as a whole, provides a multi-textured listening experience that is well worth your time. Fantastic!

dreamu – nrem

 

Now this is very cool! An album that blends drone, dark ambient, shoegaze and noise-metal to create an immersive sonic experience. Dreamu (aka Fran Sarró) says the following: “Primarily using reel-to-reel machines and cassettes, his music is recorded with processed electric guitars and pianos, granular synthesis and field recordings” which gives you a great idea of what to expect from this album. This is heartfelt, sometimes melancholic music that feels timeless in nature – both expressing and affecting our emotions. Wonderful!

Tim Brady – Imagine Many Guitars

 

Award-winning guitarist and composer Tim Brady has been a key player within the Canadian contemporary music community since the 1980’s, and his latest release – Imagine Many Guitars – is a great way to start exploring his catalogue of incredible music. Yes, not all of this album could be classified as dark ambient, but with music this inventive and – quite simply – this good, it honestly doesn’t matter. This is one of those remarkable albums that provides something new and exciting with each and every listen, and this is highly recommended for fans of the more experimental side of the genre. Amazing!

vÄäristymä – v​Ä​ä​ristymä 2014 – 2024

 

The latest release from the ever-awesome Unexplained Sounds Group label, is this gorgeous 10 year retrospective of Finnish duo vÄäristymä – two of the most prominent innovators in the field of minimal electronic music. Wow! The music here is jaw-droppingly good! I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it – again and again losing myself in the multi-layered depths of this experimental electronica – and I’m still loving it. This is one of those albums that is perfect for those who like experimental / avant-garde music with a minimalistic electronic edge. Incredible!

Hiemis – Nephilim

 

Spanish musician, Hiemis, combines dark ambient, ritual sounds, and drones to create albums of dark and disturbing environments. Their latest release explores the myths and legends of the giants known as Nephilim – via deliciously dark and heavy dark ambient soundscapes that provide the listener with a real sense of foreboding and looming dread. This is simply stunning, and anyone who calls themselves a fan of dark ambient music should be checking this album out. Gorgeous!

Sonic Oscillations – You Can’t Fight Fire With Water

 

The latest release from Sonic Oscillations is this wonderfully hard hitting album of death industrial / noise / power electronics that – given the state of the world, and where things are heading right now – is a very welcome sonic assault on the senses. This is music that pulls no punches, and that’s what makes it so breath-takingly powerful and effective. This is most definitely not an easy listen, but that is completely the point. Absolutely stunning!

CrAwE – AllGreatTruthsBeginAsBlasphemy

 

Regular readers will know well by now that I simply adore CrAwE‘s music – the evolving drone landscapes he conjures from playing the guitar with a bow somehow managing to be both uplifting and foreboding in equal measure. His latest album,  AllGreatTruthsBeginAsBlasphemy, released on the fantastic Owlripper Recordings label, is another stunning 9 track audio experience that hooks you in from the very start. With doom filled undertones, this album is both a comment on the hopelessness facing humanity due to greed and selfishness – and the hope that maybe, someday, we can break free from making the same fateful choices time and time again. Amazing!

Wahn – Drifted Vol. 2

 

The latest release on the Bulgarian Mahorka label is this wonderful from Wahn, featuring heavy bass / sub dark ambient, and a refreshing piano and IDM touch. I’ve had this on repeat play for the last few weeks now – the music here is so inventive and different from anything I’ve heard in quite a while. In places this is dark and despairing, and in others it is light and hopeful – and the contrast between those two extremes is what makes this cinematic dark ambient such a melancholic and rewarding listen. Simply wonderful!

Jettenbach – isearchedthedarknessfindingonlymyself​.​.​.​.​.​.​anditwashome

 

Jettenbach continues to be one of my favourite musicians – with each and every release offering something different, but that always – without fail – touches the listener in some way. isearchedthedarknessfindingonlymyself​.​.​.​.​.​.​anditwashome is, as the name suggests, a dark and gloomy track, but it’s testament to Jettenbach‘s skill and talent that listening to this track is a moving, and ultimately rewarding, experience. This is heartfelt, soul-stirring stuff and cannot be recommended highly enough. Outstanding!

Child Of The Clouds – A Journey Into The Light

 

Child Of The Clouds is an ambient / neo-classical producer based in Los Angeles, and their latest release, A Journey Into The Light, is a marvellous album of ambient / dark ambient / cinematic soundscape. The music here is simply gorgeous, with an uplifting tone running throughout that provides a wonderful sense of hope and positivity. Highly recommended for those looking for something a little less dark and a little more sanguine. Glorious!

Sujevera – Sujevera

 

Now this is very cool! The debut album from a quartet of artists from the Slovenian music scene, featuring 10 tracks of mediative, ritualistic sonic ambience. This is wonderful music featuring a real mosaic of tones and feelings – created from slow evolving drones, subtle but powerful field recordings, and impressive dark ambient soundscapes. This is another album that rewards multiple listens – with each and every play of it providing the listener with something new and exciting to discover. Incredible!

British Misery – A sense of self derived only from the validation of others

 

Oh wow! The latest release from the ever-amazing Inner Demons Records label is this powerful 2 track EP from British Misery (a Jettenbach side project). Described by the artist themself, this is a “morose harsh noise project” – meaning almost 30 minutes of unforgiving drone and noise, mixed together in a blender with concrete slabs and barbed wire. And it’s simply stunning. This is the sort of music that challenges the listener – but in a good way – it wakes you up with a slap to the face, and makes you release there’s more to life than the rut you’re stuck in. Magnificent!

Infinexhuma – R​ă​zbunare (Remastered)

 

Dark Odyssey Records is another of my favourite labels – consistently releasing first class albums from a number of established and upcoming dark ambient musicians – and with R​ă​zbunare (Remastered), by Infinexhuma, they’ve done it again. This is a glorious 8 track album of deliciously disturbing dark ambient, featuring soundscapes and field recordings combined together to produce what sounds like the soundtrack to the most evil film in the world. Definitely one to listen to alone in the dark… if you dare. Absolutely sublime!

Battaglia – Season One / Season Two

 

Italian composer Battaglia has just released her debut solo project – consisting of two albums – Season One and Season Two – on the wonderful Four Flies Records label. The music here is a throwback to 80’s soundtracks – blending together dark wave, synth-pop and cinematic elements, and inspired by the music of Tangerine Dream and John Carpenter. Though not strictly speaking dark ambient, these albums will definitely appeal to fans of the genre due to the cinematic dystopian and horror soundscapes, and are well worth checking out. Impressive!

Capricorni Pneumatici – Witchcraft

 

The track Witchcraft by Capricorni Pneumatici was originally released by SSS Production on a C25 cassette in 1989. Now, Eighth Tower Records has re-released it, this time on CD, along with three entirely unreleased tracks. The music here is dark and foreboding, with slow evolving drones, elements of noise / glitch added to the mix, and an undercurrent of the disturbing and uncanny. This is definitely one to check out if you like your dark ambient / drone with a sense of dread. Beautiful!

Substak – Dark Nature Talks

 

Another cracking release from Inner Demons Records is this new release from Greek musician, Substak. Featuring two tracks of drone ambient with accompanying glitches, the music of Dark Nature Talks is a minimalistic / subtle affair, but one that grabs the listener right from the start due to the multi-layered textures and tones. This is another gorgeous release that warrants repeated listening – with something new and wonderful for the listener each and every time. Superb!

The Black Monolith – Thee I Invoke

 

The latest release on the ever awesome Slithering Black Records is Thee I Invoke by Greek dark ambient / drone musician The Black Monolith. The music here is dark and menacing, with an undercurrent of dark forces and evil intent running through it – conjuring up images of elder gods, deranged cults, and dark powerful forces uncontrolled by man. This is a definite must have for fans of the darker, more ritualistic side of the genre. Stunning!

Click on the below image to go to this month’s This is Darkness playlist on BNDCMPR, which features 1 track from each of the above albums:

 

 

 

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – September 2024

By

On September 25, 2024

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 (or by clicking on the BNDCMPR link at the bottom of the page), and please consider supporting the featured artists. Enjoy!

Spacecraft – Skyscapes

 

I’m a huge fan of Mumbai based Spacecraft – their ambient / drone music providing a much needed tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of every day life. With soaring soundscapes and delicate, multi-layered textures, Skyscapes is another wonderful release that provides the listener with the perfect soundtrack for a spot of introspection, meditation, or simple relaxation. Very highly recommended for fans of space ambient, or those looking to chill out. Stunning.

SPIRIT RADIO – Distract’d by a Kaleidoscope Salesman

 

Every now and then an album comes along that simply blows you away. Distract’d by a Kaleidoscope Salesman is one such album – blending together elements of dark ambient / drone, classical music, folk, and eerie field recordings to create something very special indeed. This is an album to lose yourself to, with each and every listen offering something new, as the swirling, evolving sonic soundscape carries you with it. Simply wonderful.

Shadow Echo Canyon – A Daymare Reality

 

The latest release from Italian dark ambient / drone musician Shadow Echo Canyon is another outstanding EP of emotional, thought provoking music that grabs the listener by the throat and doesn’t let go. With an oppressive vibe and chilling undertones, this is not an easy listen – but that’s kind of the point, and the music is more powerful because of it. In these days of disposal music, it’s great to have an artist such as this who is making music that means something. Fabulous.

Michael Scott Dawson – The Tinnitus Chorus

 

The Tinnitus Chorus, the gorgeous new release from Michael Scott Dawson, is a twelve track album of soothing ambient, featuring evocative subtle field recordings, and beautiful soul-stirring melodies. With collaborations from a number of different talented musicians, this is an album that creates a wonderful sense of nostalgia and life affirmation, perfect for unwinding to on an a rainy afternoon. Absolutely amazing.

Esmam – We Lost The Green, Not Hope

 

Esmam is a Bangladesh based dark ambient musician who creates music with depth and feeling, with movements of hope and despair in equal measure – providing the perfect soundtrack to this complicated thing we call life. Fans of moody, melancholic dark ambient will love this album, but it is highly recommended for anyone looking for something emotive and reflective. Gorgeous.

Rafael Anton Irisarri – FA​Ç​ADISMS

 

FAÇADISMS, the new solo album from Rafael Anton Irisarri, is released on the 8th November, so I’m a little ahead of things – but the first track, Control Your Soul’s Desire for Freedom, is available already, and I’ve had it on repeat play for the last few weeks… so I thought I’d share this now while I impatiently await the full album. Featuring Julia Kent (cello) and Hannah Elizabeth Cox (vocals) this is wonderful, powerful stuff, and definitely one to check out if you like evolving drones and a sense of impending doom. Stunning.

CrAwE – PrimalStar

 

Regular readers will know that I absolutely love everything CrAwE releases – the incredible music he creates using bowed guitar & bass, complimented perfectly by synth work and field recordings, is quite simply breath-taking, and never fails to affect me. I cannot recommend this highly enough – if you like drones, dark ambient soundscapes, and a sense of general foreboding, then you quite simply have to buy yourself this EP. Seriously awesome.

Guentner | Spieth – Valenz (GAL​Á​N / VOGT Rework)

 

Now, this is very cool! Galán and Vogt have taken a track from the wonderful album, Overlay, by Markus Guentner & Joachim Spieth and remixed / transformed it into something equally – if not more – amazing. The essence of the original track can still be heard, but here it is given a different, edgier sound and feel. This is one of those tracks that is so good you wish it would never end. Very highly recommended. Spectacular stuff.

Uniform – Nightmare City

 

Uniform are an industrial / industrial rock trio, so I was more than a little intrigued when I received a copy of this dark ambient / drone release – a companion piece to their American Standard album that is essentially the same record devoid of the rock elements. The end result is four deliciously dark tracks that combine elements of dark ambient, sonic soundscapes, and post-industrial and are well worth checking out! Magnificent.

Pestzone – Leng

 

Inner Demons Records continue to release dark ambient, drone, and noise albums of the highest standard, and this new 7 track release from Pestzone is no exception. Inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, the music of Leng is bleak, sinister, and unearthly – conjuring up visions of disturbing otherworldly domains and dimensions, populated by hideous creatures and forgotten ancient gods. This album is an absolute must have if you are a fan of the darker, more ominous music of the genre. Delightfully menacing!

Ugasanie – Heart of the Swamp

 

Originally released in 2023, Ugasanie‘s incredible album, Heart of the Swamp, has just been rereleased on Dark Odyssey Records and is also available on CD for the first time. This is an album of gorgeous dark ambient / drone, with multi-textured music that perfectly evokes the sprawling lakes, vast swamps, and dense forests of Belarus – where reality meets myth, and tranquillity meets darkness. Remarkable.

Insectarium & The Black Monolith – KYKEON

 

The Slithering Black Records label releases music of the highest standard, and this album from Insectarium & The Black Monolith is the perfect example of that. A collaborative effort from two of the genre’s finest musicians, the music here combines elements of dark ambient, drone, and post-industrial music, resulting in an album that is wonderfully dark and disturbing and positively dripping in atmosphere. This is one of those albums that you can’t stop listening to, because –  quick frankly – it’s so damn good. Marvellous.

xxu & uxx – [channel]

 

Combining elements of dark ambient / drone with darkwave and ebm, this latest release from xxu & uxx is a genre defying album that will appeal to those who are looking for something a little different. With evolving drones, electronic glitches, and haunting vocals, this is an album that gets under your skin from the off, and keeps pulling you back to it after it’s finished playing. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it, and I’m going to be playing it for a long time yet. Amazing.

The Deep Bleed – Escape the Seventh Circle

 

Wow. This 20 minute track from The Deep Bleed is another awesome release from Inner Demons Records, and one that has made a big impact on me. Described as “… a journey through mental illness…” this is a powerful and emotionally charged dark ambient / drone piece, with an underlying sense of helplessness and despair running through it from start to finish. This is one of those tracks that needs to be listened to on a pair of headphones for the full effect, and doing so results in an audio experience that is simply astounding. Incredible.

M.B. – S​.​F​.​A​.​G. 31​.​11​.​1981

 

New on the ever awesome Eighth Tower Records label is the latest in their Italian Post Industrial Classics Collection – S.F.A.G. 31.11.1981 by M.B. (Maurizio Bianchi). Originally released on cassette in July 1982, this is an album of reverberating noise and dissonance that is almost hypnotic in nature, and provides the listener with a challenging yet rewarding audio journey into the unknown. Very highly recommended for fans of the more experimental sounds of the genre. Wonderful.

Click on the below image to go to this month’s This is Darkness playlist on BNDCMPR, which features 1 track from each of the above albums:

 

 

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – August 2024

By

On August 29, 2024

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 (or by clicking on the BNDCMPR link at the bottom of the page), and please consider supporting the featured artists. Enjoy!

Apocryphos – Atrementia

 

The latest album from Apocryphos – released on the ever awesome Cryo Chamber label – is an absolute gem of an album, with warm, analogue noise and looped pedal drones expertly blended together to create something rather special. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it, and have found its deep otherworldly depths perfect for losing myself in. This is one of the albums that draws you in, again and again. Simply stunning!

Harvestman – Triptych: Part Two

 

The latest release from Harvestman (the psych/folk/ambient project of Neurosis’ Steve Von Till) is the second in a three-album series titled Triptych, and has been released to coincide with July 21st’s Buck Moon. With elements of dark ambient, drone, folks, and sludge at play, this is one of those wonderful albums that provides the listener with something different each and every time it’s played. This is an album that is definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for something more experimental within the genre. Gorgeous!

Neon Noodle – Desolator

 

Desolator is an album of alternative rock inspired ambient drone that those who enjoy guitar based dark ambient will really enjoy. True, strictly speaking this isn’t dark ambient as such, but it’s dripping with atmospheric tones and dark undertones, and there is a healthy use of drone / ambient / noise elements to draw you in. A must listen for those who are looking for something a little different. Awesome!

Fail – Live at Apartment Music 46

 

Now this is very cool! A live track of noise / drone that doesn’t pull any punches, and at first feels like the audio equivalent of a naked spin inside a washing machine with a collection of sharp and heavy objects. And yet there are a multitude of subtleties at pay here, and the more I listen to this the more I discover. On the strength of this remarkable track, I will definitely be checking out more from Fail – and the thirtyfive label this has been released on. Wonderful!

Richard Bégin – State Of Control

 

I was intrigued by this album as soon I started reading the blurb… “Richard Bégin is a professor of media and film studies at the University of Montreal and a researcher-creator in art and sound design. “Phase 5” is the result of his research on disaster as a medium of perception.” The resulting music does not disappoint – with multi-textured tones and skilful combined elements of dark ambient, drone, and noise, the end result is an album that stays with you long after you’ve finished playing it. For fans of dark ambient with an electronic / industrial edge. Remarkable!

Substak – Consciousness

 

Inner Demons Records continues to be one of my favourite labels, consistently releasing albums of the highest quality. The latest release from Substak is no exception – with 3 eerie, otherworldly tracks guaranteed to give you nightmares. This is the soundtrack to the dystopian future on our doorstep, with experimental electronica and slowly evolving drones working together to create music that is as rewarding as it challenging. Amazing!

M.B. & Sonologyst – Forme

 

The latest release on the wonderful Unexplained Sounds Group label is this delightful album from M.B. & Sonologyst in which playful electronic music is blended with dark ambient undertones. The end result is absolutely gorgeous and reminds me in places of early 19070’s Tangerine Dream. This is one of those albums that reveals something new with each and every listen, and deserves to be listened to as you lie back in a darkened room and lose yourself to the unfolding music. Stunning!

Mount Shrine – The Mount Hibiki Tapes

 

Mount Shrine (Cesar Alexandre) was an incredible musician, and the world is a sorrier place without him in it. This latest release from the Cryo Chamber label, compiles all of the currently known underground albums, singles and EPs produced with the Mount Hibiki project. The music here is simply gorgeous – with warm, masterfully crafted drones complimented beautifully be subtle field recordings. This is a wonderfully relaxing, meditative collection of tracks, and highly recommended if you’re looking for something soothing and contemplative in nature. Spectacular!

The Grave Dominion – Landscape of Lost Dreams

 

New from the fantastic Sombre Soniks label is the second album from The Grave Dominion, featuring collaborative efforts from his friends The Spirit Dies, Dr. Gloom and The Saint. The music here combines classical music elements with unnerving field recordings, drones, and disturbing undertones – resulting in a something akin to a disturbing otherworldly funeral dirge, or the soundtrack of a horror film set in a haunted forest. Wonderfully dark!

Various Artists – Anthology of Experimental Music from Canada

 

Anthology of Experimental Music from Canada is the 41st release in the Sound Mapping series from the Unexplained Sounds Group label, and – as the name suggests – features music from Canadian artists. With a delightful range of musical styles, the 15 talented musicians each offer something different – from dark ambient to drone, to experimental electronica, and even abstract dance – and yet the album retains a single sense of identity and sound… testament to the skill of Raffaele Pezzella (Sonologyst) who curated and mastered the album. Superb!

A Thousand Reasons – Fragments

 

Fragments is one of those albums that had me hooked right from the start – blending post-industrial tinged dark ambient with electric guitar riffs to create an album of wonderfully dark and mesmerising music. It’s great to discover an artist who is doing something exciting and different – especially when it’s done as well as this. Very highly recommended for those who like their dark ambient with added guitars. Fantastic!

ULVTHARM – 7 Uthras

 

The second release from ULVTHARM (MZ 412 co-founder Jouni Ollila) is this amazing album that combines dark ambient, drone, and industrial music together, resulting in an audio experience akin to being dragged down to hell by ritualistic demons. It’s dark, disturbing, and heavy as hell… and absolutely wonderful! This is a must buy for fans of the heavier side of the dark ambient genre. Magnificent!

Melkor – Udkraxsha

 

Udkraxsha, the latest release from Melkor, is a 10 track album of stunning cinematic dark ambient / drone. And with each track doing something a little different, listening to this album is a truly rewarding experience, in which you’ll find yourself discovering something new each time you play it. This is an album that will be enjoyed by all fans of the dark ambient genre – and I strongly recommend you check it out. Glorious!

Die Sonne Satans – Omega

 

Now this is very cool indeed – a remastered and reissued collection of tracks from one of the masters of the Italian electronic scene of the 1990’s! Die Sonne Satans blends extensive field recordings with evolving drones and dark ambient soundscapes, creating music that is multi-textured and unique. This is one of those albums that is impossible to categorise, but that’s what makes it so wonderful to listen to – there is so much going on that you can’t help but drawn in. Sublime!

A°🄳+S/P°₂₃ – Monolith V

 

Monolith V the fifth instalment in the series of collaborations between A Demon Sheen (Grist) and P23 (Akoustik Timbre Frekuency), and features a two hour drone / processed guitar soundscape. The music starts off gentle with slow evolving drones, but then things step up a gear and things become more intense! This album is perfect for losing yourself in – just switch the lights off, settle back, and let yourself drift away for 2 hours. Incredible stuff!

Click on the below image to go to this month’s This is Darkness playlist on BNDCMPR, which features 1 track from each of the above albums:

 

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – July 2024

By

On July 10, 2024

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 (or by clicking on the BNDCMPR link at the bottom of the page), and please consider supporting the featured artists. Enjoy!

Animent – Revelation

 

Animent creates wonderful music that combines elements of Nordic folk music with neoclassical and industrial sounds. Their latest release, Revelation, is a 5 track EP that also draws from the sounds of the Middle East, Africa, and the Far East – resulting in something very special indeed. This is captivating music that is heartfelt and perfectly captures the human experience – our hopes, our passion, our desire to find our place in the universe. Highly recommended for fans of dark ambient / drone with a shamanic edge. Stunning!

Stephen Roddy – Stardust Sonata

 

Now, this is very cool – an album that “is both a tribute and lament to David Bowie in ritual ambient form…”. The music here is gorgeous ambient, with additional guitar and electronic elements added to the mix – combined perfectly to create haunting, ethereal soundscapes. In places this is desolate and despairing, in others it is more positive and hopeful. This is an album well worth checking out if you’re looking for something that offers something refreshingly different. Remarkable!

Neon Noodle – Atavist

 

The latest release from Neon Noodle is another awesome album that pushes against the boundaries of what can be done within the dark ambient genre. Soul music, triphop, and experimental rock elements added to the mix work beautifully together to produce an audio experience that is as rewarding as it is breath-taking. I’ve had this album on repeat play since I first heard it, and each time I play it, it offers something new and exciting. Incredible stuff!

Saishō 最小 – Manifeste Sonore pour un Sommeil R​é​volutionnaire

 

Inner Demons Records continues to be one of my favourite labels – consistently releasing music of the highest calibre, with each and every release offering something very special indeed. Manifeste Sonore pour un Sommeil R​é​volutionnaire from Saishō 最小 is a 2 track EP of hypnotic drone which is perfect for losing yourself in – and a great starting point for checking out the music from this talented artist. Simply wonderful!

Sam – BAD

 

The latest “bluedrone” release from Sam features 3 tracks of his signature acoustic guitar based drone ambient – over 50 minutes of seriously cool, laid back music. This is one of those albums that is ideal for relaxing to – its chilled out soundscapes taking the listener away from their stresses and worries, and transporting them to an oasis of calm, somewhere deep in the southern desert. Fabulous!

Modern Silent Cinema – Anemic Music

 

Strictly speaking, Anemic Music – the latest release from Modern Silent Cinema – isn’t dark ambient, but experimental instrumental guitar music. However, with gorgeous dark ambient and drone undertones, that doesn’t matter- because this is an album that will definitely appeal to those listeners looking for something a little different from the usual dark ambient fare. This is dark and edgy stuff, with eerie soundscape elements that compliment the guitars perfectly. Fantastic stuff!

Onasander – Under Unknown Stars

 

Fans of space ambient will absolutely love Under Unknown Stars, the latest album from Italian dark ambient musician Onasander. With soaring soundscapes, and evolving drones, this 6 track album has been on repeat play since first heard it – the soothing vibes drawing me back, again and again. This is highly recommended if you are looking for something uplifting with cosmic tones. Beautiful!

Various Artists – Cut UP. Deconstructing W. S. Burroughs

 

William S. Burroughs developed a literary technique known as Cut-Up that involving cutting words from an existing text to generate a new meaning by mixing the various words in a different order. Now, the ever awesome Unexplained Sounds Group label has released this album of music inspired by the man and the method. With each of the 13 tracks offering something different, there is something here for everyone – dark ambient, drone, experimental and avant-garde music to name just a few genres covered here. Wonderful stuff!

Eternal Cynic – A Load of Old Bollox (and Some New Bollox​)​!

 

“Prepare your ears and soul for a journey into the depths of auditory chaos with Eternal Cynic’s latest offering” is how the description from this new 7 track album starts, and it sums it up perfectly – because this awesome release is a total noise fest of the highest order and is an absolute blast from start to finish! No, this isn’t an easy listen, but that’s kind of the point – with song titles like “She Went on a First Date with the Boy Before She Realized He Was an Anarchist” and “Walls of Static” you should know what to expect. This is one of those albums that stays with you long after it’s finished playing. Amazing!

Rojinski – Zone of War

 

Rojinski is one of the most prolific dark ambient musicians out there, releasing awesome album after awesome album at a rate that is sometimes hard to keep up with – but each and every album is an absolute must listen. Zone of War is no different, with incredible soundscapes of cinematic dark ambient, blended skilfully with subtle field records to produce goose-bump-inducing music that is jaw-droppingly good. Quite simply, you have to check this out. Fantastic!

CrAwE – Hypnogogic Music For Hypnogogic States M​ō​na Drone Dr​ē​Am​-​Cr​æ​ft​)​)​)

 

By now, regular readers will know that I am massive fan of CrAwE and his haunting dark ambient / drone soundscapes. His latest release, Hypnogogic Music For Hypnogogic States M​ō​na Drone Dr​ē​Am​-​Cr​æ​ft​)​)​) is another work of art – made up of layers of bowed guitar and bass, synth, and field recordings made during late night walks. Perfect for losing yourself in, for de-cluttering your mind, and for connecting with your inner self. Absolutely amazing!

Michael Grunditz – Through a Glass Darkly

 

Through a Glass Darkly by Michael Grunditz is another cracking release on the ever brilliant Reverse Alignment label. Featuring slowly evolving drones, ethereal soundscapes, and haunting vocal layers, this is a wonderfully mesmerising album that leaves the listener feeling moved. With subtle melancholic undertones, this is an album that lives on inside you long after it’s finished playing. An essential listen for fans of the deeper, more thought provoking music within the genre. Breath-taking!

IO – The Creation of Light

 

Inspired by, and dedicated to the work of ‘Paradise Lost’ by John Milton and the 24 illustrations by John Martin (1827), this thirteen minute track combines dark ambient soundscapes with electronic glitches and an underlying sense of darkness and fragility. Highly recommended for fans of layered dark ambient with gothic undertones. Wonderful!

Marsupial Alliance, Vantage Planets, Fail, and Vasectomy Party – Live at the Fork and Spoon 05​/​18​/​24

 

Fans of noise, glitch, drones, and genre-defying sound art will absolutely love this co-release between Inner Demons Records, Fork and Spoon, and Forever Escaping Boredom! With live performances from 4 different artists (Marsupial Alliance, Vantage Planets, Fail, and Vasectomy Party) this is an essential purchase for fans of music that isn’t afraid to push against the boundaries and limits of the genre and provide the listener with challenging rewarding music. Stunning!

Jarl – Neurotransmitters​-​Sphere​-​Music

 

Neurotransmitters​-​Sphere​-​Music is Jarl’s sixth album on the Reverse Alignment label, and consists of four pieces showcasing his trademark psychedelic, hypnotic approach. This is gorgeously minimal music, with pulsating synth work and repetitive layers of evolving drones – all blended together to create something truly special. A must-listen for those of you who like subtle soundscapes and layered sound. Awesome!

Spacecraft – To the Milky Way

 

I’m a huge fan of Mumbai based Spacecraft – his space ambient music never failing to impress with its awe-inspiring dream-like cosmic tones and relaxing moods. His new single, To the Milky Way, is another masterpiece, with hypnotic drones and ethereal soundscapes working together in harmony to create an audio experience guaranteed to comfort and relax. Wonderful stuff!

Click on the below image to go to this month’s This is Darkness playlist on BNDCMPR, which features 1 track from each of the above albums:

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – May 2024

By

On May 27, 2024

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 (or by clicking on the BNDCMPR link at the bottom of the page), and please consider supporting the featured artists. Enjoy!

phoanøgramma & Luca Ferro – limen memoriae

 

The latest release from the ever awesome Unexplained Sounds Group label is this impressive album from 3 very talented musicians: Angelo Panebianco, Matteo Mariano, and Luca Ferro. Drawing inspiration “from the transient and fallible nature of memory” this is music that is otherworldly, disorienting, and haunting – providing the listener with an incredible audio experience as they are transported from the world we know to one of vast spaces and impossible, almost alien architectures. Wonderful.

floating shrine – Connecting

 

Floating Shrine‘s second album on the wonderful Decaying Sphereslabel is an album of gorgeously textured landscapes, featuring warm organic ambient arrangements and glitchy electronic elements. The end result is something very special indeed – with subtle melodies and melancholic undertones, this is an album that is perfect for a period of relaxation and introspection. Simply beautiful.

Coppergear – ​ö​ldanya

 

Coppergear‘s latest release is an album of deliciously dark ambient with industrial and post-industrial undertones that is jaw droppingly good. The music here is dark, moody, and dripping in atmosphere from start to finish. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it a few weeks ago, and it gets better and better with each and every listen. Highly recommended for fans of dark ambient with an industrial edge. Impressive stuff!

Raus / Nahtonerfahrung – an uns, die wir hier sind

 

The latest release on the wonderful Zustandsaufnahmen label features tracks of experimental ambient (from Italian viola artist Raus) and tracks of no-input, harsh noise improvisations (from two Cologne based musicians, Nahtonerfahrung). The contrast between the two types of music really works here, providing the listener with complimentary variances that make for a very rewarding audio experience. On the basis of this release, I will definitely be checking out more work from both artists – and this excellent independent label!

Shane Morris – Book of Shadows

 

Shane Morris is – quite rightly- making quite a name for himself in the dark ambient genre, with each and every release offering a real treat to fans of atmospheric dark ambient. His latest release, Book of Shadows, is another equally impressive collection of dark ambient tracks, featuring haunting soundscapes, evolving drones, and eerie field recordings – all working together perfectly to create a wonderfully rewarding cinematic listening experience. Fantastic!

Karen Vogt – Waterlog

 

Karen Vogt is one of those wonderful artists whose music transcends genres – using her voice, she creates incredible atmospheric, ambient and experimental compositions. Waterlog is a 7-track album written and recorded in three improvisational sessions just after Karen‘s beloved cat, LUIS, passed away. With themes of grief and deep emotion, the resulting music is melancholic, haunting, and dreamlike. It’s absolutely beautiful from start to finish, and very highly recommended for those looking for something delicate and evocative. Breath-taking.

karen vogt – diary#5

 

Another release from Karen Vogt, diary #5 utilises and explores unfinished and unreleased loops, improvisations and pieces made during her Little Pink Fluffy Clouds sessions. The first half of the tracks are textural loops made only of vocals, and the second half feature guitar and vocal pieces with some spoken and experimental pieces. All of them are stunning – and oozing with feelings of joy, heartache, and heartfelt emotion. This is one of those amazing albums that stays with you long after it’s finished playing. Gorgeous.

Spacecraft – Moments of Solitude

 

I’ve been a big fan of Mumbai-based Spacecraft for quite a while now – his albums of subtle dream-like electronic / drone / ambient never failing to impress. Moments of Solitude is, as the name suggests, an album of music perfect for chilling out to and losing yourself into. The music here is dreamy and ethereal – conjuring up images of spaces-capes and solar storms in distant galaxies. Divine.

insectarium – Hypatia

 

Slithering Black Records continues to release incredibly gorgeous dark ambient, ritual ambient, industrial, and Lovecraftian themed albums, and their latest release, Hypatia by insectarium, is another album of the highest order. The music is here is dark and brooding, with eerie soundscapes skilfully combined with haunting field recordings and slow unfolding drones. This is an album that is well worth checking out if you are a fan of atmospheric dark ambient. Wonderful!

Sanctuary – Psyche

 

The latest album from Sanctuary is this wonderfully dark and foreboding album of dark ambient / experimental electronica – in which the boundaries of the genre are blown away, resulting in an album that takes things to the next level. Multi-layered, and featuring incredible synth work, eerie drones, and spine chilling field recordings, this is an album that offers something different in each and every listen. This is an album for losing yourself in, as you lie back in a darkened room, and immerse  yourself in the unfolding soundscapes. Stunning.

Various Artists – Stalker – Music inspired by Andrej Tarkowskij’s movie

 

I’m a big fan of the novel, Roadside Picnic, on which the movie Stalker was based, so I was thrilled when I discovered that the wonderful Eighth Tower Records label was releasing an album of music inspired by the movie. With music from 14 talented musicians – including Mombi Yuleman, phoanøgramma, and Kelados, to name just a few – this is another impressive collection of tracks from this label. With music that features elements of dark ambient, drone, electronic, and industrial, there is something for everyone here, and fans of dark, atmospheric music will not be disappointed. Wonderful!

Click on the below image to go to this month’s This is Darkness playlist on BNDCMPR, which features 1 track from each of the above albums:

 

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