Category: Retro Reviews (Page 1 of 6)

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – November 2025

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On November 29, 2025

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

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

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

Enjoy!

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

 

Brooddark – Overvoltage

 

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

 

Dragon – The Tullus Project

 

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

 

Sublimatio Mortis – Ghur

 

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

 

insectarium – AMDUSIAS (the noise)

 

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

 

Tomáš Šenkyřík & Pavel Zlámal – 306

 

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

 

Various Artists – Analog 2025

 

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

 

Substak – Natura Non Constristatur

 

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

 

AlphaBet – TAGS

 

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

 

Wahn – Drifted Vol. 4

 

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

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – October 2025

By

On October 25, 2025

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

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

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

Enjoy!

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

 

Bleak Haven – Oblivion

 

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

 

Lham – Tertium Quid

 

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

 

Sam – Saint Noise

 

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

 

The Nine Lands of Oblivion – Black Chamber Music

 

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

 

Lambwool – Ashes

 

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

 

Substak – Σφαῖρα

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Malamati – Youm-e-Malamat

 

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

 

Sowl – Ensemble Vide

 

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

 

God Ton – Alla Mina Djur

 

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

 

Ambiotik – Ocean of Space

 

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

 

Bill Brennan and Andy McNeill – Dreaming In Gamelan

 

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

 

Nerthus – Love letters via Echelon

 

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

 

Altum – Kingdom of Radiant Darkness

 

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

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – August 2025

By

On September 3, 2025

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

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

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

Enjoy!

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

 

Hand To Earth – Ŋurru Wäŋa

 

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

Dorcas – Dorcas

 

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

 

SPIRIT RADIO – DEW POINT

 

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

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

 

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

TH3.DR3ΔD3D.ØN3 – The Echoes Beneath Aetherfall

 

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

Substak – Nexus

 

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

Carya Amara – Carrion Carya Amara

 

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

Andrew Staniland – The Laws of Nature

 

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

Coppergear – Eventide

 

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

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – July 2025

By

On July 30, 2025

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

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

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

Enjoy!

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

Caldon Glover – Eternal Night Radio

 

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

Sonologyst – Planetarium

 

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

Erik Wøllo – Gateway (2025 remaster)

 

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

Substak – Motion Of The Deep Sea

 

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

Audible Masticators – String Theory 2

 

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

Aconis – Forged

 

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

Substak – Motif Tracks

 

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

Pestzone – Mi-Go

 

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

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

 

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

 

Frozen In Time: This is Darkness playlist – June 2025

By

On June 28, 2025

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

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

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

Enjoy!

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

Spanned Canyons – The Only Perfect Way for This to End

 

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

Wahn – Drifted Vol. 3

 

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

Various Artists – Anthology Of Experimental Music From Australia

 

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

E.U.E.R.P.I. – Warm Waves

 

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

Bipolar Explorer – Memories of the Sky

 

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

Peur du noir – L’orage, à pleines mains

 

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

Substak – Drone Day 2025

 

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

Jabe Ledoux – Sacred Quietude

 

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

The Black Monolith / Olik Nesnah – Svarteboken

 

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

The Black Monolith – Wreathed in Serpents, Crowned in Thorns

 

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

Syldag – CYBERILLA

 

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

M.B. – Mectpyo Bakterium

 

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

Matteo Cantaluppi – Inequal

 

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

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

 

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

Exploding Skull – Coyote

 

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

 

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 – March 2025

By

On March 26, 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.

Tsarewitch & Brooddark – Supra Memoriam

 

Wow! I’ve had this release from Tsarewitch & Brooddark playing non-stop, multiple times a day, since I first heard it over a month ago – I honestly cannot get enough of it. The blurb says “The dark industrial noises of Brooddark meet the mystical rituals of Tsarewitch to merge into a hypnotic, mesmerizing and cinematic canvases.” which nails what I’ve found so compelling about it – the album hits the sweet spot of minimalism and evolving drones, with a delightfully dark added twist of post-industrial elements that keep pulling me back for one more listen. I really hope this is the first of many collaborations from these two talented musicians. Absolutely stunning!

Andy Aquarius – Holy Glade

 

The latest album from Andy Aquarius is this wonderful EP of harp based medieval folk ambient, all recorded in an abandoned church in the mountains of Croatia. The music here is gentle and heartfelt, with a neoclassical ambient vibe running through it that will definitely appeal to those who like their dark ambient music with a folk / classical ambiance. This is quite simply gorgeous, and on the strength of this EP, I will definitely be checking out more of Andy’s releases. Wonderful!

Various Artists – The Neuromancers. Music inspired by William Gibson’s universe

 

Now this is very cool – an anthology of tracks inspired by William Gibson’s cyberpunk universe! With the music from the thirteen artists each offering the listener something different, but working together to provide a combined audio experience, the end result is breath-taking. Fans of electronic edged dark ambient, soaring synths, and glitch filled post-industrial soundscapes will positively love this. Yet another first class release from the Unexplained Sounds Group label. Awesome!

Pietro Zollo – Abstraction

 

Abstraction by Pietro Zollo is one of the beautiful albums that stays with you long after it’s finished playing. The melancholic, minimalistic ambient soundscapes and slow evolving drones combine perfectly to create an incredibly rewarding and mesmerising listening experience. The music here is subtle, but multi-textured, and I found myself drawn to it again and again, losing myself in its depths each and every time. This is one of those albums to listen to, lying on the sofa, in a darkened room. Fantastic!

Sam – Space Dust Obsession (feat. SYN)

 

I’ve been a fan of Sam for quite a while now – with each of his releases offering something new, but each being of the highest quality. Space Dust Obsession is hard to classify, but there are elements of dark ambient, psychedelic space ambient, and guitar based ambient – all complementing each other wonderfully, and creating a 45 minute trip that is – as intended – out of this world. A definite must have for fans of space ambient and those who like their music to be doing something a little different. Brilliant!

KABRA – The Return of the Cambrian Period

 

The Return of the Cambrian Period by KABRA is based around an intriguing concept – what if the planet Earth regressed, its landscapes dissolving back into the primal abyss of an ancient past? Dark cinematic ambient soundscapes and unfolding drones are blended with subtle field recordings, resulting in an album that really makes you feel as if you are listening to the world undergoing a newly awoken primeval chaos. Very highly recommended for those who like otherworldly, unsettling cinematic dark ambient. Marvellous!

Sound_00 + Lefterna – Collab 67

 

New on the ever awesome Inner Demons Records label is this fantastic release from Sound_00 + Lefterna, combining elements of dark ambient, drone, and ambient noise to produce the audio equivalent of a strange and disconcerting caffeine and magic mushroom fuelled trip around the small neighbouring town that your mother always warned you about. Eerie, haunting voices rise out of the shadows, and then are lost in the enveloping mist, only to surface again from a different direction. This is simply sublime, and strongly recommended for those looking for multi-layered music that rewards as much as it unsettles. Magnificent!

Substak – Fractured Reality

 

Newly released on the Drone Works International label is Fractured Reality, a delightful EP of minimalistic drone from Greek sound artist Substak. The five tracks here are subtle affairs, with gradually evolving drones that provide the listener with an almost meditative experience. It’s wonderfully done, and very highly recommended for those who like mellow, subtle drone sounds, with a slight electronic edge. Superb!

Dead Angel Ensemble – Bow To The Old Ones

 

I’m a huge fan of anything Lovecraftian, so I was thrilled when I got my hands on my copy of Bow To The Old Ones, the latest album by Dead Angel Ensemble. This is dark and brooding dark ambient, with deep discordant soundscapes blended expertly with disturbing field recordings and vocals, all working together to create an unnerving and otherworldly audio adventure for the listener. This is definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of Lovecraft’s tales of the Great Old Ones, or if you like your dark ambient with a gloomy, eerie sensibility. Glorious!

DARDIS – A Murmuration of Stalins

 

Another cracking release from the Inner Demons Records label, is this 40 minute track from Northern Irish sound artist DARDIS who “…wanted to create something slow and sinister, echoing the spreading malaise and sickness of the Trump administration. Something capturing the dread of the civilized world right now…” The end result is a dark and disturbing track that is as uncomfortable to listen to as it is ultimately rewarding. With chaotic, discordant industrial soundscapes, this is a must have for those who like ambient / drone to have sharp teeth and an underlying sense of melancholy and despair. Magnificent!

R.C. Kozletsky – Pulsed in a Dull Glass Bell

 

Now this is very cool – new on the Dark Odyssey Records label is this remaster of the original Danvers State Recording cassette release of Pulsed in a Dull Glass Bell by Robert Kozletsky. Inspired by Cormac McCarthy‘s ‘The Road‘, the music here is dark, unsettling, with stark sonic landscapes that provide the perfect soundtrack to a nightmarish post-apocalyptic future. This is far from easy listening, but that is the whole point, and those who spend the time to lose themselves in the depths of this multi-layered beast will not be disappointed. Stunning!

VVAA – Rituals from the Ancient World

 

With the release of Rituals from the Ancient World, the ever impressive Ominous Sounds label has done it again – featuring outstanding tracks from eight international musical projects each presenting their own vision of rites and ceremonies, this is first class stuff from start to finish. Each track here offers something unique but compliments the others perfectly, resulting in an album of unified ritual dark ambient that pulls the listener down into the realms of the ancestral and the ominous. Awesome!

Insectarium – Pit Fiend

 

The latest album from dark ambient musician Insectarium is Pit Fiend, a deliciously dark collection of 8 tracks that together tell the tale of the Paladin and his ego-fuelled quest to battle a pit fiend. Blending organic sound design with electronic elements, this is simply gorgeous from start to finish, with dark ambient soundscapes blended with haunting drones and eerie field recordings. This is one that will definitely appeal to fans of dark, foreboding nightmare inducing dark ambient. Fantastic!

Substak – Ashes In The Aether

 

This month’s second release from Substak is an album of differing moods – in part, quiet, under spoken and subtle, and in another loud brash and jarring. This contrast helps to enunciate the sounds of both extremes, and the resulting listener audio experience is an intriguing and rewarding one. Best listened to in a darkened room with earphones on, this is one of those remarkable albums that stays with you long after it has finished, and keeps drawing you back for more. Striking!

Syldag – .Carrion.

 

.Carrion., the latest release from French musician Syldag is a glorious 2 track album of wave like drones, noise filled post-industrial sonic assaults, and jarring glitches and moments of distortion. It’s gripping stuff from start to finish, and those who are looking for something challenging but rewarding will not be disappointed. Definitely an artist to keep an eye on. Wonderful!

The Aurore – .Music. .for. .ghosts.

 

The Aurore is described as “Syldag‘s ambient side” – and on listening to .Music. .for. .ghosts. I can see the connection between the two. This lighter, less abrasive release does still have it’s own noise-filled moments, but they are few and far between – instead, the music here is haunting, unearthly, and somewhat unnerving – giving the listener a uniquely disconcerting audio experience that is nevertheless as hypnotic and mesmerising as it is unsettling. Highly recommended for those who like their ambient drone with a subtle touch of the uncanny.

400 Lonely Things – Subdivisions

 

I’m a big fan of Scottish electronic music duo Boards of Canada, and this latest release from 400 Lonely Things has moments that remind me of them – which is no bad thing. The music on Subdivisions is strange and melancholic, and listening to it feels at times like you’ve tuned into some long forgotten radio show from the distant past. This is one of those wonderful albums that warrants multiple plays, because each and every listen will offer something new to discover. In this day and age where there are so many albums being released, it’s so great to hear an artist who has their own unique sound and sense of identity. Stunning stuff!

Spacecraft – JVPD Night Skies

 

Regular readers will know I have a soft spot for the music of Mumbai-based musician Spacecraft – his electronic space ambient albums never fail to impress, with each providing the listener with a dreamy out of this world cosmic audio journey. And JVPD Night Skies is another first class release of soaring synth work, heavenly ambient soundscapes, and an underlying feeling of calm and tranquillity that is very much needed these days. Definitely an album to buy if you are looking for some chillout down time away from the stresses of the day. Beautiful!

Markus Guentner – Black Dahlia

 

Black Dahlia, the latest album from German electronic music pioneer, Markus Guentner, features seven breath-taking tracks, each blending electronic elements with multi-textured ambient layers. The end result is an incredible listening experience, as intricate layers of pulsating rhythms, haunting melodies and ethereal atmosphere unfold and draw the listener into its depths. Highly recommended for fans of ambient drone with a gentle ambient sensibility. Gorgeous!

Dead Bandit – Dead Bandit

 

Dead Bandit describe themselves as “Indie / Post Rock“, but there are plenty of elements of dark ambient and drone at play on this stunning self-title release, with the resulting music being hard to categorise or pigeon-hole. It’s a smooth, laid-back affair, with the occasional moments of darkness added into the mix for good measure. This is another one of those remarkable albums that offers something new with every listen, and fans of melancholic, emotive ambient and drone will really enjoy this, as will those looking for something a little different. Awesome!

 

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:

 

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