Tag: Review (Page 1 of 19)

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – September 2024

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 CollectionS.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

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

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

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:


 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – April 2024

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!


Ugasanie – Cold World of Eternity

 

I’m a big fan of Ugasanie‘s music, but with their latest release – on the ever awesome Cryo Chamber label – they have taken things to another level. Cold World of Eternity is an incredible album of dark ambient / drone, with a polar ambient soundscape guaranteed to knock your socks off. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it several weeks ago, and after 30+ plays I am still absolutely loving it! Very highly recommended!


Adam Wiltzie – Eleven Fugues For Sodium Pentothal

 

Now this is very cool – an album of dark ambient / drone, with classical instruments brought to the forefront, and a melancholic undertone. The end result is an album that provides an emotional listening experience – one in which the listener is drawn into introspection and valuation of their life and the world around them. Definitely one of those albums for listening to alone, late at night, with a glass of wine. Gorgeous!


Harvestman – Triptych: Part One

 

The latest release from HARVESTMAN (the psych/folk/ambient project of Neurosis’ Steve Von Till) is the first in a three-album series titled Triptych, and has been released to coincide with April 23rd’s Pink Moon (the next two parts of the series will be released to coincide with July 21st’s Buck Moon and October 17th’s Hunter Moon, respectively). This is an album of dark ambient / drone, with other elements added to the mix – including folk, psychedelia, and sludge. The resulting album is wonderful multi-layered experience and a must have for fans of dark ambient that does something different. Awesome!


Abul Mogard & Rafael Anton Irisarri – Impossibly distant, impossibly close

 

This impressive release of dark ambient / experimental  electronica sees Abul Mogard and Rafael Anton Irisarri working together to create something very special indeed. This is a beautiful music, full of unfolding melodies and gradually evolving tracks that introduce multi-layered soundscapes that are quite simply breath-taking. If you like your dark ambient with an electronic, synth-based edge, then this well worth checking out. Stunning!


Noctilucant – Deadlier Meat

 

Deadlier Meat, the latest release from Noctilucant is a re-recording of their classic 2015 album, Dead Meat with additional re-recordings of other Noctilucant obscurities. Even if you never heard the original album, this is well worth checking out because it is more than a remix album – full of haunting dark ambient tracks with industrial and post-industrial undertones, this is an album of apocalyptic soundscapes – subtle and melancholic in places, aggressive and disturbing in others. Wonderful!


IO – Saturn Devouring His Son

 

Inspired by Francisco Goya‘s Black Paintings, the latest release from IO is this deliciously dark track that perfectly evokes Goya’s own psychological struggles and anxieties. With an otherworldly vibe, and strange haunting field recordings and echoes, this a track that manages to be both reassuring, yet wildly disturbing – offering a vague sense of familiarity, while simultaneously making us feel out of our depth and alone in the dark. Incredible stuff!


Various Artists – Anthology Of Contemporary Music From Far East

 

The latest release in the impressive “Sound Mapping project” series from the Unexplained Sounds Group label is this collection of Far Eastern dark ambient / drone / experimental music, featuring tracks from China, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Nepal. The music here varies in genre and style, but each and every track is fantastic and has something to offer the listener, so whatever your tastes, this album deserves your attention. Stunning stuff!


Scott Lawlor – Screaming at the Dark

 

Scott Lawlor‘s second release on the awesome Slithering Black Records label is this wonderful album of depressive dark ambient. This is an album of bleak, despairing music, that provides the listener with an audio experience that is the equivalent of finding yourself dragged into purgatory. And I mean that in a good way – yes, this beautifully haunting music is dark and suffocating – but listening to it is an incredibly rewarding experience. Highly recommended!


Sam – Organic Faith

 

The latest release from Sam is Organic Faith – a fantastic 3 track album of acoustic guitar based dark ambient / drone. With bluesy undertones, this is another quality release from this talented musician who has created their own distinctive ‘guitar dark ambient’ sound and continues to develop that with each every album. This is one of those albums that sticks in your mind when it’s finished playing, and you find yourself drawn to it again and again. Beautiful.


Archaic – Into The Void

 

The latest release on the Zero K label is Into The Void by Archaic (the electronic music project of Jelle Groen and Pieter Hooghiem). The release notes say that “Discovering the complexities of modular synthesis and navigating the labyrinthine pathways of signal flow, they created intricate eerie sonic landscapes” which summarises this brilliant 43 minute track perfectly. Minimalistic, electronic, and glitch filled, this is provides a delightful sonic journey into the realms of wires and circuits. Amazing!


Scott Lawlor – The Road of Peril

 

The Road of Peril by Scott Lawlor is an impressive release by this talented musician. The music here is a wonderful mixture of dark ambient, drone, and ritual ambient, with religious and spiritual undertones. This is perfect for listening to on a rainy day, as you consider yourself and the choices you’ve made, and the choices that still lie ahead of you. Every time I listen to this album I lose myself deep within the music. Simply mesmerising.


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 – March 2024

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!


Jettenbach – a voicenote to the hierophant

 

I’m a huge fan of Dragon & Jettenbach, so I was delighted when I heard that Jettenbach was releasing a new solo EP! a voicenote to the hierophant is a deliciously dark and ominous dark ambient album with seriously  industrial / harsh electronic undertones. Subtle and melancholic in places, aggressive and angry in others, this is one of those albums where each and every listen is an absolute joy. Very highly recommended for fans of dark ambient with an industrial / electronic edge!


PATASONUS – TENEBRIS

 

The latest release from London based Patasonus is TENEBRIS, an album of experimental soundscapes that skilfully combines elements of drone, dark ambient, and electronica. This is yet another impressive album from this talented musician, with each track offering something different, while also retaining the overall feel and vibe of the album. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard this, and it gets better with each and every listen. Awesome stuff!


Nerthus – Silent Monuments

 

The latest release from the ever amazing Eighth Tower Records is this wonderful album of post-industrial dark ambient. Inspired by a passion for abandoned industrial facilities photography, this album explores abandoned industrial complexes, with each track perfectly capturing the sense of desolation, isolation, crumbling decay, and rusting machinery. This is one of those albums to lose yourself in as you lie back on the sofa with the lights out. Absolutely breath-taking.


IO – Frontispiece​,​”What is Man​!​”

 

The latest track from sound and visual artist IO is Frontispiece​,​“What is Man​!​” . Inspired by the works of the English poet, painter and typographer, William Blake, this is a haunting dark ambient / dark industrial piece with evolving drones and an underlying sense of melancholy that perfectly captures the human experience with all of its vices, follies, virtues and strengths. Another impressive track from a musician who never fails to deliver!


David Lee Myers, Sonologyst, Lars Bröndum – Unus et Trinus

 

Now this is very cool – an album featuring 3 incredibly talented musicians! With individual offerings from each artist, as well as the wonderful collaborative track, Unus (created from exchanges of samples, audio experiments, music segments), this is an album that cannot fail to impress. The music here is dark ambient, with an experimental edge that take things to the next level. If you’re looking for something that pushes the boundaries of the genre, while retaining the essence of it, this is an album that you simply have to check out. Fantastic!


Hiemal – Alone in Temporary Places

 

Regular readers will know that I’m  a huge fan of Hiemal, and that I’m always excited when he releases something new. As with previous albums, Alone in Temporary Places is a feast of slowly evolving drone filled soundscapes – with each track providing a mediative listening experience that is second to none. If you haven’t listened to Hiemal before (and if not, why not?!), this is a great place to start – so do yourself a massive favour and check this out now!


RDKPL – noitavoNC

 

Inner Demons Records is one of my favourite labels, consistently releasing high quality experimental and noise music, so I’m always thrilled when one of their new releases comes to my attention. And noitavoNC, by Czech noisemaker RDKPL, is another awesome release – a 4 track album of noisy drone with elements of post-industrial added to the mix, with each and every listen offering something new. highly recommended for fans of the noisier side of things. Noise-tastic!


Orquesta Drone Tropical – Goblins

 

Goblins is the latest album from Colombian drone / dark ambient / experimental musicians Orquesta Drone Tropical. This is one of the most creative and rewarding albums I’ve listened to in quite a while – yes, in places it’s not an easy listen, but that is most definitely part of its charm. With some incredible samples and field recordings (the screeching cat is just one marvellous example!) blended skilfully into the music, this will have you admiring the inventiveness of the audio journey unfolding as you listen. Wonderful!


Michael D. Tidwell – The Lonely Scapes of a Darkened Soul

 

Dark Odyssey Records is a Canadian dark ambient label that is already making quite a name for itself with a trilogy of impressive releases. First up is The Lonely Scapes of a Darkened Soul by Michael D. Tidwell – an EP of cinematic dark ambient inspired by movies such as Dune, The Fifth Element, Elysium, and Lord of the Rings. The music here is multi-layered with real depth to it, taking the listener on an audio journey that is as rewarding as it is entertaining. Highly recommended for fans of cinematic dark ambient and movie soundtracks!


Dark Awake – ARCHEMOROS

 

Next up from Dark Odyssey Records is this ritualistic dark ambient release from Greek musician Dark Awake. With neoclassic influences, and subtle industrial undertones, this is an unnerving album full of brooding atmosphere and a sense of otherworldly dread. I’ve had this on repeat play for several weeks now and I’m still loving it as much as I did the first time I heard it. If you’re a fan of eerie dark ambient with ritual ambient elements, then this is an absolute must have!


Chaigidel – Entrails of the Earth

 

Finally from Dark Odyssey Records is Entrails of the Earth by Italian musician Chaigidel – an album of breath-taking industrial ambient that does an incredible job of combining the esoteric with industrial to create something very special indeed. This is another one of those albums that offers an amazing listening experience, both challenging and rewarding the listener in equal measure. With multi-layered depths this is an album that will offer something new each time you play it. Simply awesome!


Bonzaii – Escalating Quiet

 

I’ve been a huge fan of Bonzaii for a number of years now, finding each and every release an absolute pleasure to listen to and lose myself in. Escalating Quiet is no different, with a wonderfully subtle melancholic feel to it, and featuring slowly evolving drones that are skilfully blended with field recordings and samples. This is music that is perfect for a spot of meditation or self-reflection, or for simply losing yourself in as you lie back and close your eyes. Beautiful.


Tineidae & Sole Massif – Remnants of War

 

Oh wow! The Cryo Chamber label has done it again – releasing this incredible cyberpunk dark ambient album from Tineidae & Sole Massif. With soaring synths, thumping bass, and a deliciously deep dark ambient vibe, this is simply stunning. This is the perfect soundtrack to any cyberpunk sci-fi novels, movies or movies, and I have lost myself to this music again and again since this was released. This is an essential purchase for anyone who likes cinematic dark ambient with a sci-fi edge. Mind-blowing!


Spacecraft – Drifting in Peace

 

Mumbai based musician, Spacecraft, creates the most wonderfully chilled out space ambient / drone music – evoking a sense of calm and galactic wonder. Strictly speaking, this is more ambient than dark ambient, but fans of the genre will find this an incredibly rewarding album, due to its impressive soundscapes and multi-layered textures. Definitely an album worth checking out for those looking for something a little more melodic and contemplative. Gorgeous!


Capricorni Pneumatici – Al​-​Azif

 

Al-Azif is the second album from Capricorni Pneumatici. Originally released on tape in 1987, this has now been released on the Eighth Tower Records label to make it available to a wider audience. This is an album of deep, dark industrial ambient with an incredibly unique sound resulting from the fact that the album was recorded underground in location containing a number of large cement tanks. Fans of industrial / post-industrial ambient should definitely check out this classic album now that it has been re-issued. Wonderful stuff!


Vyormouth – Between Planes

 

Zero K continues to release dark ambient / experimental albums of the highest quality, and Between Planes by Vyormouth is no different – providing an “auditory journey through the liminal spaces of both the physical and psychic realms”. With 3 tracks, each an hour in length, this album is perfect for losing yourself in as the slow pulsing drones, and monotonous and desolate frequencies take us far away from our surroundings and ourselves. Absolutely remarkable!


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 – February 2024

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!


Atrium Carceri & Kammarheit – Apparatus

 

Cryo Chamber continues to be the genre leading label for atmospheric soundscape dark ambient, and Apparatus, the latest release from Atrium Carceri & Kammarheit, is yet another stunning piece of audio excellence. With analogue tape reels, haunting electronics, pulsating basslines and massive reverbs, this is an incredible listening experience best listened to on headphones in a darkened room. If you like cinematic dark ambient then this is an absolute must have. Seriously impressive stuff!


Dronny Darko & ProtoU – Acoustics of Shadows

 

Also on the Cryo Chamber label is Acoustics of Shadows, the new release from Dronny Darko & ProtoU – a gorgeous drone ambient album full of layered textures and otherworldly soundscapes. Striking the balance perfectly between a sense of calm and feelings of disquiet, this is a warm and dreamy album that offers something different each and every time you listen to it. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it, and it just keeps getting better and better. Simply wonderful!


System Exile – New Innsmouth

 

I’m a huge fan of The Shadow Over Innsmouth (the 1931 horror novella by American author H.P. Lovecraft) and for quite a while now I’ve been looking for a dark ambient album that captures the mood of the book. Well, my search is over – New Innsmouth by System Exile is the perfect soundtrack to the novel. With an underlying sense of menace, and haunting drones paired with subtly added field recordings, this is a truly impressive album. On the strength of this album, I will also be checking out other releases from System Exile, and I suggest you do the same. Awesome!


The Deep Bleed – Machines That Search for God

 

I’m a huge fan of Inner Demons Records (IDR), who describe themselves as “a transparent, artist-owned, liberal / left-wing, d.i.y., experimental music and noise label” – with each and every one of their releases offering something new and exciting to explore. The latest to grab my attention is Machines That Search for God by The Deep Bleed – a 2 track EP of industrial-tinged experimental drone and pulsing noise-scapes that is captivating from start to finish. Highly recommended for those who like their albums with an attitude and edge!


Akoustik Timbre Frekuency – Namu Myoho Renge Kyo

 

I’ve been a big fan of Akoustik Timbre Frekuency for quite a while now, so I was thrilled when I learned he had another release on the way! Namu Myoho Renge Kyo is an album of shamanic ritual dark ambient, providing an incredible soundtrack for meditation, reflection, and consideration. As usual with releases on the Sombre Soniks label, the production quality is of the highest order, and this is one of those albums to lose yourself too as you lie back, and contemplate your path to enlightenment. Stunning!


Lazharus – Scorn Zone

 

Now this is very cool! An album of dark ambient / drone / doom, by experimental metal duo Lazharus on which they experiment with electronic sounds, drum machines and synthesizers to create something very special indeed! The 2 tracks from this album have been stuck in my head since I first heard them, and I cannot wait to see what Lazharus do next – because this is seriously good stuff that will appeal to those looking for something that isn’t afraid to try something new, while retaining a coherent sound and mood. Wonderful!


IO – The Unicorn at the Fountain

 

Brazilian sound and visual artist IO continues to release albums of the highest quality – their music encompassing dark ambient, dark industrial drones, and other cinematic sound elements to create deep and textured ethereal soundscapes. Inspired by the series of seven tapestries known as “The Hunt of the Unicorn” or the “Unicorn Tapestries“, this is another exceptional album featuring gorgeous 5 tracks of dark ambient with goth-like undertones. Beautiful!


Noise Hangover – The End of Everything

 

With a name like Noise Hangover, you know what to expect from their latest release The End of Everything. The music here is aggressive and harsh, with discordant drone sounds and machine like glitches skilfully combined together to create an audio experience like no other. This is far from easy listening, but that’s the point – this is music designed to grab you by the throat right from the off and not let go. It’s refreshing and powerful stuff, and a definite must have for fans of the noisier side of the genre!


Richard Bégin – Lavrador

 

New from the ever awesome Reverse Alignment label is Lavrador by Richard Bégin – an album inspired by the polar and subarctic expanse of Labrador, a continental region in eastern Canada. Each track on this remarkable album “seeks to convey the essence of an ecology simultaneously fragile, merciless, and sublime” – combining drones, synths, and field recordings to create deep and textured music that is quite simply breath-taking. This is is one of those albums that is stunning from start to finish. Very highly recommended for those who like a sense of solitude and introspection in their music. Magnificent!


Various Artists – Witchcraft And Black Magic In The United States

 

Developed from a personal interest in American witchcraft, this latest release on the Eighth Tower Records label sees Rafaele Pezzella bring together a range of talented musicians together to create an album of deliciously dark ambient, drone and experimental electronic music designed to transport listeners into the captivating realms inspired by the witchcraft and black magic in the United States. With each and every track offering something special, this is an album well worth checking out if you are looking to discover some new talented musicians within the the genre. Gorgeous!


Fabio Keiner – Battle Hymn

 

Another release on the Inner Demons Records label, Battle Hymn is Fabio Keiner‘s rendition of the same named American patriotic song written by abolitionist writer Julia Ward Howe during the American Civil War. These 3 tracks are haunting, experimental pieces, with each offering something a little different, but fitting together perfectly to provide a cohesive listening experience. This is moody, dark and unnerving music, with undertones of introspection and melancholy. Very highly recommended.


The Black Monolith – End And Beginning Are Dreams

 

End And Beginning Are Dreams – the latest album from Greek dark ambient / drone musician The Black Monolith – is “an immersive musical ritual inspired by Thelema and the esoteric realms of Enochian magic“. This music here is dark and brooding, with a real sense of the otherworldly – invoking primal energies and the spirits of the void. This is a must have for fans of ritual dark ambient and music with an eerie or haunting feel to them. Simply stunning!


Monovoth – Pleroma Mortem Est

 

Monovoth‘s latest release is an album of wonderful drone / funeral doom – combining elements of the dark ambient and metal genres to produce something truly unique. Yes, this isn’t pure dark ambient, but this is gorgeously dark music that has skilfully created elements of drone and dark ambient contained within it – and the resulting audio journey this album creates is one that will most definitely appeal to those who enjoy dark and brooding music, regardless of the genre. On the basis of this album, I will certainly be checking out the other releases from this Argentinian, one-man instrumental doom / drone metal project – you should too!


P.U.M.A. – Red Winter

 

P.U.M.A. is a project of sound artist Luca Valisi with contributions from Monica Calanni Rindina, and here they explore various types of “musique concrete” and drone. Utilising synths, field recordings, echoing voices, sequencing, and a large degree of audio processing, the resulting album contains elements of dark ambient, drone, and electro-noise. This is quite simply breath-taking, with each play of the album providing an incredible listening experience of the highest order. One for fans of haunting, ethereal music with an electronic edge. Fantastic stuff!


The Tapes – A Touch of Despair

 

Oh wow. A Touch of Despair was recorded in 1986, on a standard 2-track cassette recorder, using a 4-channel Fostex mixer (the infamous “echo unit”), a Korg MS-20, and toy instruments. The album has now been remastered and re-released, and is well worth checking out – the music may be almost 40 years old, but it sounds as fresh and exciting as anything being released today, with it’s analogue tones and strange other-worldliness creating a haunting listening experience that is deep and multi-layered and dream-like in nature. Absolutely stunning!


secret places of the lion – Hex

 

Hex, the latest release from secret places of the lion, is an album of experimental guitar based drone / ambient, that combines elements of hedonism, the occult, and psychedelia to produce an album that manages to sound both familiar, and completely new and original at the same time. Strictly speaking, this isn’t dark ambient, but there are definitive dark ambient and drone influences at play here, and for those who are willing to try something new, this album offers a very rewarding listening experience that will stay with you long after the album has finished. Very highly recommended!


Ceremonial Abyss – Betrayal

 

The new album from Ceremonial Abyss is another exceptional release of dark, minimal, electronica. The description states that “It’s a love story that slits its own throat, but it’s not a story at all. It’s your life. Your heart beats as a reminder of the beating you’ve taken…” That does a wonderful job of telling you what to expect from this album – music that is poignant, melancholic, and tragic in nature, with a heartfelt tone and mood. This is one of those albums that will touch you and stay with you long after you’ve finished playing it. Beautiful.


VVAA – Rituals from Ancient Europe

 

This 8 track compilation of ritual dark ambient is an incredibly impressive debut album on the Ominous Sounds label, featuring talented musicians from countries such as Germany, Belgium, Spain, Poland, United Kingdom, Scotland, Malta and Portugal. Each contributed track has something special and different to offer, and yet the album hangs together as a whole – testament to the great work of Hiemis who curated the album. Ominous Sounds is definitely a label to keep an eye on – I can’t wait to see what they release next!


Scott Lawlor – in Brief Agonies of Disillusionment

 

As regular readers will know, I’m a huge fan of the music of Scott Lawlor – each and every one of his albums is always of the highest quality, and it’s clear that Scott is very passionate about what he does. His latest release, in Brief Agonies of Disillusionment, is an incredible 3 hours and 20 minutes long (!) and is a wonderful piece of atmospheric space ambient / dark ambient / drone. The is an album that I’ve found perfect for both meditating to, and for drifting off to sleep at the end of a long hard day. Simply gorgeous.


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 – December 2023

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!


Sebby Kowal – Wonders

 

The latest release from the ever awesome Decaying Spheres label, is this album of incredible drone based soundscapes from Polish producer Sebby Kowal. There is a emotional thread running through the heart of each and every track here, and that – combined with the otherworldly field recordings and sound effects – provides the listener with an audio experience of differing moods that range from melancholy and despair, through to hope and a sense of rebirth. Simply breath-taking.


Ceremonial Abyss – Equinox

 

The new album from Ceremonial Abyss is a wonderful post-industrial / experimental / dark ambient release with 2 distinct sides that compliment each other perfectly. Side 1 has a gorgeous dream-like vibe to it, creating an almost mediative state in the listener. Side 2, in contrast, has a harsher edge to it, but still retains an underlying hypnotic sound that continues from where side 1 left off. This is remarkable stuff – and on the basis of this, I will definitely be checking out more releases from Ceremonial Abyss!


Spanned Canyons – Snowload EP

 

Back in March, I reviewed the debut album from Spanned Canyons, saying “Looping synths and organ performances are melded skillfully with electronic glitches and field recordings. The end result is like something out of a hybrid horror-tech hallucination – guaranteed to entertain you and give you nightmares at the same time…” Their latest release, the Snowload EP, is just as inventive and just as impressive – featuring 5 tracks of ambient / jazz / post-rock / experimental music. With a remix of 2 tracks from the debut album, a brand new 3-song suite, and a very cool cover of “Race for the Prize” by The Flaming Lips, this is an EP that I’ve had on repeat play since I first heard it. Highly recommended for those who like something a little different.


Facetoucher – Mutations

 

Facetoucher combines improvised noises with vocals, computer drums, and long feedback manipulations to create otherworldly music that manages to be both soothing and disturbing in equal measure. The tracks on Mutations range from subtly evolving eerie drones, to in your face full on industrial, glitch-filled sonic assaults – leaving the listener bewildered and delighted at the sheer scope and emotive drain of it all. In places, this is a challenging listen, but ultimately a very rewarding one. Absolutely wonderful.


The Washing Planck – Integrale Sui Cammini

 

The Washing Planck is a musical project by Matteo Mariano and Domenico Diano, that “…utilizes a hybrid system of sound creation, combining analog and digital synths, structured algorithms, and magnetic tapes to create series of generative textures that lead to different paths based on the same principles…” The end result is 2 tracks that share the same inherent underlying DNA, but that each sound unique and offer something different. The music here is minimalistic, with subtle field recordings added to the undercurrent of unfolding drones, perfect for losing yourself to. Gorgeous.


IO – The Creation

 

The Creation from IO is the latest release in a series of releases inspired by the 51 ‘The Dance of Death’ woodcuts by German artist Hans Holbein The Younger that were developed between 1522 and 1526. This is beautifully done dark ambient with haunting echoes and sounds skilfully combined with evolving drones to create music that is dripping with a real sense of menace. This track, and the rest of the ‘The Dance of Death’ series, is a must-have for fans of dark ambient. Stunning.


Francisco Meirino – Francisco Meirino “A Perpetual Host”

 

A Perpetual Host is Francisco Meirino’s fourth full-length, solo studio album on the Misanthropic Agenda label, and is described as “A deep dive into personal loss and the banalities of life and art, A Perpetual Host captures the raw, solitary, and often acerbic extremes that drive creation.” It’s a fitting description, because the music here is focused on ‘sonic failures’ (such as electrostatic noise) and utilises field recordings to create music that is designed to challenge. This is one of those albums where each and every listen delivers something new and rewards multiple plays. Highly recommended for fans of the experimental / electronic side of the genre!


jim haynes – inauspicious

 

The latest release on the brilliant The Helen Scarsdale Agency label is this 2 track album from Jim Hayes, and is described as “… two twenty minute chunks of controlled noise that follow an internal logic that snakes from brooding power drones, spectral radio transmission, and an aktionist demolition cast upon metal, glass, and unfortunate wooden objects…”. Which gives you a great idea of what to expect – music that is as much industrial / noise as it is dark ambient, with rough edges, overlapping noisescapes, and an aggressive subtone that grabs the listener by the throat from the off. Seriously impressive stuff!


Phiorio – The Perpetual Self Doubt

 

Phiorio is best known for his stripped back techno style, but recently he has ventured more into the experimental and dark ambient territories, resulting in some very special music. The Perpetual Self Doubt is the perfect example of this – with eerie soundscapes combining elements of dark ambient with the repeated loops and rhythms of techno, along with field records and glitch effects. The end result is quite simply stunning, and I found myself lost in its depths each and every time I played it. Wonderful!


Bill Seaman / Tim Diagram / Stephen Spera – The World Was Turning Before

 

The World Was Turning Before sees Bill Seaman, Tim Diagram and Stephen Spera working together to create an album of delicate beauty and flowing musical collages. This is an album with hidden depths, that draws you deep inside of it as you let the music slowly unfold. With elements of dark ambient, drone, glitch, and electronica, the music here is timeless, multi-layered and multi-textured. Every time I’ve played this album I’ve discovered something new and wonderful, and I’ve found myself drawn back to its minimal tonal gestures again and again. Beautiful.


Neon Noodle – Nostalgism

 

I’ve been a fan of Neon Noodle for quite a while now, so I’m always thrilled when I get my hands on their latest release. Nostalgism is another impressive release – starting with the deeply disturbing dirge of “Love Is The Only Word” and taking us on through an audio adventure of  doom-gaze, drone, experimental rock, and outside noise, this is one of those albums that stays with you long after it has finished playing. This is not an album for relaxing to, but fans of the noisier side of the dark ambient genre will absolutely love this masterpiece. Fantastic!


Various – Rhan​-​Tegoth

 

Rhan​-​Tegoth is the latest in the series of H.P. Lovecraft Mythos themed collaborations from the always impressive Cryo Chamber label. Here, over 20 artists have linked studios and sound for over a year to create deep audio collaborative exploration of the mythos and Rhan-Tegoth (a fifteen foot tall, medusa-like, insectoid amphibious Great Old One). With contributions / input from artists such as Atrium Carceri, Gdanian, Tineidae, Skrika, Dead Melodies, and God Body Disconnect (to name just a few!) the music here is of the highest standard, with dark ambient soundscapes perfectly blended together with otherworldly field recordings to create a 2 hour album that is jaw-droppingly good. Like all of the albums in the series before it, this is an absolute must have!


SoRIAH, Norman Westberg and Hans Joachim Roedelius – LUMINA

 

With LUMINA, world-renowned throat singer/performance artist/shaman SoRIAH returns with an incredible set of two collaborations featuring experimental legends Hans Joachim Roedelius (Cluster, Harmonia) and Norman Westberg (Swans). The music here is majestic, ethereal, and spiritual in both vibe and tone – and is intended to bring peace to the lost souls of those who have recently passed, a common overarching theme of SoRIAH‘s work. This album is also available here on beautiful 10” white smoke vinyl, with a hand numbered limited edition of 350. Simply wonderful.


Autoprozessor – Die Wiederkehr

 

Now, this is very cool! An album of guitar based ambient, that combines elements of drone and dark ambient with a more guitar centric sound to create an album that is quite unlike anything I’ve listened to for a while. Yes, it’s not as “dark” as a lot of dark ambient, but if you like your music to offer something a little different then this release is well worth your attention – I’ve had this album on repeat play since I first heard it, and I’ve found myself drawn again and again to the subtle soundscapes it contains. Gorgeous.


CrAwE – IC​)​)​)​ENI

 

As regular readers will know, I am massive CrAwE fan, so when I saw that he was releasing a new album I was absolutely thrilled! IC​)​)​)​ENI is “…Inspired by the original Anarcho-feminist Boudica and the people of the Iceni/Eceni whose footprints in the soil can be felt as I walk my dog Moon in the Norðfolc countryside…” and builds on the previous albums – with bowed guitar / bowed bass, synth, tape loops and field recordings all combining to produce a soundscape to the apocalypse. Here, especially in the first track, the subtle field recordings add an extra level of magic to the mix, resulting in some haunting, goosebump-inducing music. Very highly recommended!


Hiemis – Malleus Maleficarum

 

Spanish musician, Hiemis, combines dark ambient, ritual sounds, and drones to create albums of dark and disturbing environments. Malleus Maleficarum, as the name suggests, is based on the most famous of all books on witchcraft and perfectly captures the nature of the book that was ultimately used as a manual for the Inquisition in their cruel and bloodthirsty crusade against witchcraft. The music here is deliciously bleak, dark and heavy – and ideal for giving yourself nightmares. Stunning!


Venus Volcanism – Tissue

 

Venus Volcanism is a vocalist, musician, and sound explorer from the island of Crete, now based in Iceland. Tissue was written and recorded just 40 km south of the Arctic Circle, and combines ethereal vocals, drones and field recordings to wonderful effect. This is definitely one of those albums that is perfect for listening to on headphones as you lie back in a darkened room, losing yourself in the unfolding music. Beautiful.


Cryo Chamber – Dark Ambient of 2023

 

Continuing their yearly tradition, this is Cryo Chamber‘s annual album highlighting some of their many excellent releases from the previous twelve months. With contributions from Mount ShrineCrypthiosDUGA-1Void StasisAtrium CarceriCaldon GloverGdanianKristof Bathory, and Keosz, this is a great way to discover some new artists and albums, and to explore the dark ambient genre in general. And what’s more, it’s completely free! And absolute must have for fans of dark ambient!


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 – November 2023

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!


SONOLOGYST – Shortwave Spectrum

 

Well, this is very cool – an album of dark ambient / deep drone, inspired by and using edited shortwave radio broadcasts from the mysterious ‘number stations’ that during the cold war (and beyond) transmitted coded messages for agents deep undercover in enemy nations. The resulting album is a collection of haunting and otherworldly tracks unlike anything I’ve heard in a long time. As a bonus, Sonologyst has included a 7th track that is less filtered – it contrasts beautifully with the six expertly crafted tracks that came before it, and provides an even deeper experience of these ghostly broadcasts. Highly recommended!


Joel Gilardini, Lars Bröndum, Mombi Yuleman, Vongoiva – Black Programs Facility

 

Black Programs Facility is a project by the ever awesome ZeroK label and features albums from of their four label veterans: Joel Gilardini, Lars Bröndum, Mombi Yuleman, and Vongoiva. The music here includes dark ambient, looping drones, electro-acoustic soundscapes, and experimental noise ambient. Each of these 28 tracks is of the highest quality, and each of the 4 albums here would be worth getting individually, they are all that good – getting all 4 albums together is simply incredible!


Spacecraft – Above the Clouds

 

Spacecraft is back with another amazingly delicious album of soothing space ambient, featuring soaring drones and ambient soundscapes. This is one of those albums that is just dying to be played on headphones, as you like back in a darkened room, letting yourself get lost in the unfolding sonic soundscapes. Perfect music for relaxing and for meditation, but also a captivating listen in its own right. Simply wonderful!


Mario Lino Stancati – Revision

 

Revision, is the 3rd Mario Lino Stancati release with the Unexplained Sounds Group, and features recordings from 2017 to 2021. This album is a great place to start exploring the music from this talented artist, giving the listener an insight into his extensive body of work of electronic and concrete music. Some of it is far from easy listening, but that’s sort of the point – with the absence of formal constraints allowing Stancati to take us on audio journeys like no other – where the chaotic nature of the world around us is reflected back at us. Impressive!


Triswara – Transcendent

 

Listening to the latest album from Triswara is an almost spiritual experience – evolving drones are complimented by mystic chanting and subtle field recordings, creating an audio journey that takes the listener to other worlds and other realms, yet retains its Earthen roots. In places, it’s almost tribal, and fans of ritual dark ambient will find plenty to savour. Exceptional stuff!


Sam – Sun melted my soul

 

The latest release from Sam is another wonderful album of blues inspired drone, featuring echoing acoustic guitars and haunting soundscapes, all gorgeously wrapped up in looping drones and mid-western melodies. It’s refreshingly different from most dark ambient / drone, yet retains the reflective nature of the wider genre. The resulting album is – quite frankly – breath-taking, and very highly recommended if you are looking for something a little different. Gorgeous!


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 2023

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!

Note: Unfortunately, due to real-world demands, we have not had the time this month to provide accompanying mini-reviews for the below albums – but we wanted to share these amazing releases with you so that you can check them out yourself – either by visiting each Bandcamp page in turn, or by clicking on our BNDCMPR link at the bottom of the page.


Gdanian – Mechanical Gods

 

 

Virus2020 ( فيروس ٢٠٢٠ ) – Khushue

 

Aeons – Into Eternity​’​s Embrace

 

Hiemal – Guarding Eternity

 

Various Artists – The Necronomicon Pages

 

Jeton Hoxha – VOWEL

 

qorakitobchi – Ruins of Uzbekistan

 

Neon Noodle – Impossible Window

 

Various Artists – Music For Haunted Asylums

 

Various Artists – Anthology Of Contemporary Post Industrial Music

 

JUSTIN WALTER – Destroyer

 

Mantis and Shadow – Epicedes

 

The Black Dog – My Brutal Life

 

Shadow Echo Canyon – sleeping among ice and mud

 

Yudol – Anthems of Nonexistence

 

 

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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