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!

CrAwE – Tre​(​O​)​w Dr​ē​Am​-​Cr​æ​ft​)​)​)

Regular readers will know that I a massive CrAwE fan – so I was absolutely thrilled when I learned that Adam was releasing this new 10 track album! As with his previous releases, the music here is a breathtaking blend of bow-played guitar based drone, synth work, tape loops, and field recordings. The end result is the audio equivalent of the apocalypse – full of brooding, haunting, doom-laden soundscapes. Simply wonderful.

Eudscher – SN23001

Eudscher is the brainchild of Belgian musician, Olivier Désir, who combines ghostly percussions and hypnotic drones to create a sonic experience that is both soothing, disturbing and captivating. His latest release, SN23001, is a 7 track collection of eerie, otherworldly minimalist soundscapes that effortlessly combines elements of electronica, noise ambient, and more traditional dark ambient. It’s incredible stuff, that draws the listener into an audio adventure that is part nightmare, part melancholic trip. Awesome!

Abandoned Toys – Where Tides Defy the Moon

The latest release on the Mythical Records label is this gorgeous album from Abandoned Toys, which beautifully combines dramatic neoclassical arrangements with dark ambient soundscapes. The end result is jaw-droppingly good – uplifting in parts, soothing in others, yet with a dark undercurrent running through it all. This is one of those albums that you lose yourself in, as the ethereal soundtrack unfolds and carries you along with it. A definite must-have for fans of neoclassical and avantgarde dark ambient!

Various Artists – Mysterium, Incubus et Terror. Music inspired by Edgar Allan Poe stories

Raffaele Pezzella (a.k.a. Sonologyst) does an incredible job of curating albums with a common theme (previous examples have included Dracula, HP Lovecraft, and David Cronenberg, to name just a few) and his latest release on the Eighth Tower Records label is this album of music inspired by Edgar Allan Poe stories. The music featured over the course of these 10 tracks is primarily dark ambient in nature, but there are also elements of noise, experimental, drone, and industrial – meaning that each track offers something different for the listener. This is one of those albums to give yourself nightmares as you listen to it alone in the dark. Terrifying!

Bonzaii – Das D​ä​mmern Der Welt

I’m a huge fan of both Bonzaii and the Decaying Spheres label, so I was delighted when I discovered this new 6 track album! This is another gorgeous release from Bonzaii, with discordant drones, field recordings, and low tempo synth patterns expertly blended together to create something very special. There is something about this music that fills me with a wistful poignancy, leaving me yearning for days long past and friends long lost, and the whole listening experience feels truly magical. Stunning.

Scott Lawlor – Screaming at the Light

This new release from Slithering Black Records sees Scott Lawson returning to the darker side of his wide musical repartee, with eerie drones and sinister dark ambient soundscapes combined perfectly to create an album that somehow manages to be both disturbing and soothing in equal measure. This is very highly recommended for fans of cinematic dark ambient and ethereal haunting drones. Fabulous!

Michael Bonaventure – Works 2018 – 2023

This collection of recent works by Michael Bonaventure features mesmorising drone and dark ambient soundscapes, created in large part through the use of a hammond organ. The resulting organic music offers a refreshingly classical, old-school take on the genre, with each and every track offering something a little different. In places this is dark and broody, in others it is more playful and almost joyous – but running throughout the entire album is a melancholic, almost bleak, undertone that means this will appeal to all fans of the dark ambient genre. Wonderful stuff.

Mount Shrine – Lost Loops Collection

César Alexandre a.k.a Mount Shrine was an incredibly talented and well-liked dark ambient musician, who sadly died from covid in 2021. This latest release from Cryo Chamber compiles all currently known underground albums, singles and EPs produced by Mount Shrine into an impressive 4 hour album of timeless music, full of shimmering, organic textures. The music here is quite simply breath-taking, and I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it, losing myself in its depths for hours. An absolute must-have of an album. Beautiful.

Various Artists – Anthology Of Electroacoustic Music From Finland

This latest release from the ever awesome Unexplained Sounds Group label is this impressive compilation of electro-acoustic music from Finland, with 9 tracks of dark ambient / experimental / drone that each offer something different, yet combine perfectly to create a flawless album from start to finish. I’ve really enjoyed listening to this album, and on the strength of what I’ve heard here, I’ve already been checking out some of the contributors to see what else they’ve released. This rewarding album is highly recommended for fans of electro-acoustic music, or for those looking for something a little different. Fantastic stuff.

Spacecraft – Ethereal

I’m a big fan of Mumbai based Spacecraft, so was delighted when I heard there was a new album of his downtempo ambient soundscapes. As the name suggests, the music on Ethereal is light, delicate, and beautiful – with slowly evolving drones skillfully blended with gentle synths and subtle soundscapes. The end result is simply gorgeous, with a soothing, almost meditative vibe that makes this album perfect for relaxing and unwinding to. Wonderful.

Ian Nyquist – BLACK EARTH CAIRN

Inspired by cathartic expeditions through the Wicklow Mountains near his home in Dublin, Black Earth Cairn is an album of haunting dark ambient and drone soundscapes that perfectly captures the mood of the bleak and unforgiving landscape. Utilising the “visceral, brutal, metallic quality” of his bass guitar, Ian Nyquist has created an album that is dark, otherworldly, and disturbing in equal measure. This is not an album for the faint-hearted, but one that will reward those who listen to it. Gorgeously dark!

Dragon & Jettenbach – Interesting Times

I’m a massive fan of Dragon & Jettenbach, falling in love with each and every album they release. Their latest album, Interesting Times, is a masterpiece of electronic ambient drone, with 8 tracks of atmospheric soundscape dark ambient sprinkled with elements of glitch and post-industrial excellence. This is another album I’ve had on repeat play since I first heard it – with each listen offering me something new as I dive deep into its discordant depths. An absolute must have for those who like dark ambient / drone with an electronic edge. Incredible stuff.

Phoan – HARVEST

The latest release from Italian sound designer & experimental electronic music composer Phoan, is this wonderful collection that includes his first 2 EPs, a demo, and a track from a compilation released by the Tiny Drones For Lovers label. I’m a huge fan of Phoan‘s first EP, so it’s great to have all of his music on a single release, and the inclusion of the demo and compilation album track is a nice bonus. The music here is stunning, with subtle synth sounds perfectly blended with soaring drones, resulting in music that gets the balance between dark ambient and experimental electronica spot on. Highly recommended!

HANDALIEN – Apocalypse (single)

Handalien creates cinematic dark ambient, and their latest release, Apocalypse, is a breathtaking 18 minute track of eerie and atmospheric dark ambient. Featuring skillfully blended field recordings and evolving drones, this is a dark and brooding piece that sucks the listener into its black depths as it slowly unfolds. This is one of those gorgeously dark tracks made for listening to as you lie on the sofa with the lights out. Simply wonderful.

Loss – I Kill Everything (Reissue)

The latest release from the awesome Inner Demons Records label is this re-release from label owner Dan‘s own project Loss. His debut album, I Kill Everything, was originally released on the Spectre label back in 2005, and is now available again and includes 2 additional remixes. This is very much on the “noise” side of the dark ambient genre, with aggressive industrial beats and screeching glitches added to the mix to create a soundtrack for the dystopian future we’re already living in. Highly recommended!

Various Artists – Music For Abandoned Monasteries

Music For Abandoned Monasteries features 15 tracks of haunting dark ambient / drone, with each track providing a creepy soundscape perfect for exploring these abandoned ancient buildings. Featuring a range of talented musicians, including Mombi Yuleman, Michael Bonaventure, Torus Dome, and Kloob to name just a few, this is an album that rewards multiple listens, with something new to discover each and every time you wander through the crumbling ruins. Gorgeous.

LAN Formatique – Mud & Flame

Another release on the awesome Inner Demons Records label, this is an incredible album of harsh and aggressive noise ambient, with a brooding undercurrent and a melancholic sense of despair running through it. This is another album I’ve had on repeat play, with the skillful blend of dark ambient and noise ambient drawing me in again and again. In places, this isn’t an easy listen, but LAN Formatique has created something special here, and this is an album that will reward those who take the time to explore what it has to offer. Stunning.

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

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!

Darja Kazimira & Zura Makharadze – Songs from an obscure matriarchal tribe

The latest release from the ever awesome Unexplained Sounds Group label is the impressive Songs from an obscure matriarchal tribe by Darja Kazimira & Zura Makharadze. By mixing together creative vocalism, electroacouustic improvisation, and Eastern ethnic music influences, they have created an album that sounds genuinely unique and is jaw droppingly good. This is an album that will transport you to another time and place, as it soothes and disturbs in equal measure. Incredible.

CHAIGIDEL & NERATERRÆ – Lama​š​tu

I’m a huge fan of NERATERRÆ‘s 2020 album, Scenes From the Sublime, so I was thrilled when I learned that he and and CHAIGIDEL had joined forces to create an album of “deeply evocative ritualistic” music. The resulting release, Lama​š​tu, is simply stunning – with gorgeously gloomy soundscapes and haunting whispered vocals this is an album that is dripping with atmosphere. Highly recommended for fans of dark, ritualistic dark ambient / drone. Fantastic.

Dev-I-Ant – Progression Of The Wolf

Progression of the Wolf sees Dev-I-Ant (Canadian duo Devin Sabatini and Anthony Prugo) channeling their mutual love of horror films and soundtracks into an album of deliciously dark music combining elements of drone ambient and post-industrial. These is seriously unsettling stuff, and not for the faint-hearted – with haunting soundscapes and eerie field recordings working together to produce an unforgettable audio experience that will have you reaching to switch the lights on. Wonderful.

PLANKTAN SANQUIN – MOIRA

The latest release from Australian musician PLANKTAN SANQUIN is this awesome album of experimental ambient / dark ambient / electronica. Combining repeated rhythms, phasing beats, and machine-like glitches, the end result is an album that provides a rewarding listen that offers something new with each and every listen, as you discover new pieces hidden in the multi-layered sonic textures. A must have for fans of dark ambient with electronic elements. Remarkable.

Cliffdiver – Cliffdiver

Oh wow. The latest, self-titled, release from Cliffdiver is a one of those albums that you fall in love with as soon as you hear it. This is an album of heartfelt, melancholic ambient – with minimalist electronic soundscapes and guitar based tracks working together to produce a life-affirming soundtrack that is quite simply incredible. Highly recommended for those looking for something a little less dark, but with a strong emotional edge. Outstanding.

GALÁN / VOGT – The Dark Opens The Way (Markus Guentner Remix)

This breath-taking ethereal track is the second digital single from the forthcoming GALÁN / VOGT remix album, All The Time In The World (due for release later in 2023). Evolving drones and shoegaze sensibilities combine together to create a hypnotic listening experience that has me itching for the full album to be released. Definitely worth checking out if you like drones you can lose yourself in. Stunning.

Pulvil – Asura

Decaying Spheres continues to be one of my favourite labels, and their latest release, Asura by Pulvil, is another fantastic album of drone based ambient. This is atmospheric soundscape at its best, with the listener being taken on an audio journey of differing moods and textures of unfolding drones. I’ve had this on repeat play since I first heard it, losing myself in the multi-layered depths each and every time. Amazing.

AstroPilot, Spacecraft – Lights in the Sky

I’m a big fan of Mumbai based Spacecraft, so was delighted when I heard he and AstroPilot were releasing an album together. This is an album of wonderfully soothing ambient tracks, featuring rich, immersive and warm drones that do an incredible job of transporting the listener away to a place of lush cosmic soundscapes. This album is a must have if you’re looking for something to listen to when trying to relax and unwind. Beautiful.

jarguna – Explorations of the Unconscious

The latest release on the wonderful Reverse Alignment label is this impressive dark ambient album from jarguna. The music here is introspective, multi-textured, and meditative – with dark ambient soundscapes and evolving drones working together to create an album that is light and positive in places, dark and despairing in others. Absolutely sublime.

Karen Vogt – Le Mans

Now this is a very cool concept!  Using recordings taken from the 2022 24 hour Le Mans race, and adding only vocals, Karen Vogt has created an incredible album of experimental ambient / drone that expertly blends human and machine. The music here is uplifting and haunting in equal measure, with an underlying dream-like ambiance that is wonderfully hypnotic. Highly recommended for fans of ambient / drone albums that do 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:

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!

Void Stasis – Viral Incubation

Wow. Every now and then, an album comes along that just blows you away. Viral Incubation, the second album from Void Stasis, is one of those albums. Their 2022 debut, Ruins, was impressive enough, but this takes things to a whole new level. If you like dark ambient with a gritty industrial edge, then this is an absolute must have. The music here is dark and broody, with an underlying sense of growing menace. The thick layers of sound reveal something new and disturbing with each and every listen, and the subtly added field recordings and an additional element of horror to the mix. A masterpiece.

These Liminal Days – Science Fictions

I’m a big fan of Empty Spaces 1, the previous release from These Liminal Days, so I had high hopes when I learned that Science Fictions was being released. I’m delighted to say that I wasn’t disappointed – this is another album of gorgeous electronic ambient, and one that does an incredible job of portraying the mood and wonders of travelling the galaxy. Like its predecessor, this is an album that provides a relaxing listening experience, but one with an underlying sense of foreboding and otherness. Simply beautiful.

Druid & Jok – Terminals

Now this is a refreshing twist on the dark ambient genre, combining drone, electronic and even grime elements together to create something rather special. The album was created during lockdown, and does an amazing job of giving a sense of what it must have been like to walk through the grey and gloomy mid-lockdown streets of London. The overall tone is one of melancholy and sadness, but there are moments of hope and optimism as cinematic melodies and soaring synths shake things up a bit. Highly recommended for those of you who like something a little different. 

Tim Minneci – Pleasant Dreams

Pleasant Dreams, the latest release from Tim Minneci, is an album of masterfully crafted electronic ambient tracks. Featuring evolving drones, melancholic soundscapes, and subtle key work, this is music with real depth to it; where each and every note adds something special to the unfolding melodies. This is one of those gorgeous albums that you can just lose yourself in, with each play of the album revealing something new and wondrous. Sublime.

Various Artists – Deep Red. A Tribute to the Cinema of Dario Argento

To celebrate the cinema of Italian film director Dario Argento, Eighth Tower Records asked musicians to provide their musical interpretation of his movies and his “dark giallo” (murder mystery horror) universe”. The resulting album, Deep Red. A Tribute to the Cinema of Dario Argento, is a wonderful collection of dark ambient, drone, noise, and industrial music that does an incredible job of capturing the essence of his films. As usual, Raffaele Pezzella has done an amazing job of producing these tracks and pulling them together to create an album with a unified tone and sense of identity, despite the range of artists and genres involved. Stunning.

Ybalferran – Karadi

Karadi, the latest release from Ybalferran, is an album of experimental electronic ambient, that also skillfully combines elements of dark ambient, noise and field recordings to create an impressive audio journey through imaginary landscapes. Fans of the more electronic side of the dark ambient / drone genres will really enjoy this album, but there is something here for everyone with each track offering something unique. Wonderful.

Med Gen – Frontier of Former

Frontier of Former by Med Gen is a wonderfully multi-layered album of drone and dark ambient, positively dripping in gorgeous natural field recordings. The resulting listening experience is almost transcendental, with the calming music and sounds combining magnificently to produce a soothing and meditative effect. This is another cracking release from the ever impressive Reverse Alignment label, and is one of those fantastic albums that is absolutely perfect for a spot of relaxation and and deeper soul-searching. Gorgeous.

Spanned Canyons – Spanned Canyons

Spanned Canyons is a new project of dark ambient / noise / post-rock that is described as “… very sci-fi horror / score-for-unmade-film…” which sums up this impressive release very nicely. 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. Highly recommended.

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:

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!

KELADOS – The Night Glows

The latest release on the ever awesome Reverse Alignment label is this incredible album of isolationist ambient music from Slovakian musician Kelados. Using analogue and modular synths, electric guitar, contact mics, field recordings, hydrophone, geophone, and electronics, Kelados has created a wonderfully minimalist album of dark ambient, with elements of post-industrial music that give the album a suitably machine-like finish. This is one of those albums that is just perfect for a spot of introspection, or for losing yourself in when you want to escape from things and chill out.

Jesús Acevedo – Off​-​World Chronicles

Spanish ambient music composer Jesús Acevedo has released a number of neo-classical ambient albums, and his latest is Off​-​World Chronicles. Described as “… ambient music with discreet cyberpunk touches …” the music here is simply gorgeous, with a calm, contemplative ambiance that  – due to the expertly blended dark ambient undertones – never becomes twee. This album is a must have for those looking for some mellow dark ambient with a sci-fi twist.

Matterhorn Well – Sketches For Francis

The latest release from Icarus Records is this haunting album of neo-classical ambient / drone from Matterhorn Well. The music is melancholic in places, eerie and disturbing in others, but it is all gorgeous and dripping in raw emotion as synths and evolving drones compliment the cello playing at the heart of it all.  The end result is simply stunning, and this album is one you have to check out if you’re a fan of dark ambient drone with a classical edge.

Kagami Smile – Obscured Face

Decaying Spheres are a label that consistently releases ambient music of the highest quality, and this album from Kagami Smile is no different. Featuring pulsing discordant drones and soaring synths, this is mesmerising and hypnotic stuff that takes the listener away to another place. Every play of this multi-layered album offers something new to discover, and every listen is a genuine joy. A must have for fans of  dissonant drones, and powerful and poignant music.

HANDALIEN – Foundation

Handalien is the master of cinematic dark ambient, and their latest release, Foundation is a stunning collection of dark ambient drone, inspired in equal measure by the works of authors Isaac Asimov and HP Lovecraft. The music is space ambient, with elements of drone and subtly added field recordings, all working together perfectly to create an impressive audio soundtrack of cosmic horror and space exploration.

Sigh Of Relief – Lifespan

If you’re a fan of electronic ambient, then you definitely need to check out Lifespan, the latest release from US based musician Sigh of Relief. Listening to this album takes you on a 38 minute journey of electronic soundscapes that develop and evolve as the music plays. With dark ambient elements added to the mix, the resulting music sometimes sounds like classic Tangerine Dream, and I found myself playing this album on repeat play again and again. Highly recommended.

Scott Lawlor – but everybody’s gone, so I will never know

This concept album from talented ambient musician Scott Lawlor is actually a few years old and for some reason had passed my by until recently – but I’m so glad I’ve finally discovered it because it is quite simply stunning. Telling the story of an astronaut stranded in space while the Earth below succumbs to a lethal virus, this is a dark album, featuring meditative ambient / drone which has been expertly complimented by sometimes chilling field recordings. Because of the subject matter, this isn’t an easy listen, but it’s testament to Scott‘s skill as a musician that it’s a very rewarding one. 

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:

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!

The Great Old Ones – Mythos Of Cthulhu

Following on from the awesome Yog​-​Sothoth album which was released last April, The Great Old Ones (aka Raffaele Pezzella / Sonologyst) is back with his second release of Lovecraftian horror. The music here is deliciously dark and otherworldly – with discordant drones and eerie soundscapes skillfully combined to create the perfect audio nightmare. Definitely an album to check out if you’re a fan of experimental dark ambient / drone with underlying sense of the strange and horrific.

Rojinski – DEFCON 1

I’m a big fan of Rojinski‘s music, so I was thrilled when I learned he had a new release. DEFCON 1 is a themed album of cinematic dark ambient, centred on the idea of ever increasing world hostility and the inevitable global destruction that follows. It’s dark, edgy stuff, with soaring soundscapes and subtly blended field recordings that combine together to give you a real sense of growing horror for the way things are going. Highly recommended if you like your dark ambient to be bleak and despairing.

nula.cc – beyond sublargo

The latest release from nula.cc (aka intermedia artist Lloyd Dunn) consists of six distillations of much longer improvisations he made for a 22-hour radio broadcast. The music here explores “… what human attention undergoes when faced with endless plains, vast oceans, the wind and weather, the blur of travel, and the birds and stars above …” The end result is an album of wonderfully inventive experimental drone / ambient, which takes the listener on a rewarding audio journey of discovery.

SONOLOGYST – Electrons (new edition)

Electrons (new edition) is a remastered version of the original 2016 digital-only release  – and this time, as well as including a new track (LHC), it is also available on CD. As the album name suggests, the music is here is very much electronic in nature, with pulsing drones, analogue synthesizers, and processed sounds utilised in expert fashion to explore the science and mystery of quantum physics theory. This is a must-have for fans of the more experimental, electronic-based side of the dark ambient genre.

loscil // lawrence english – Colours Of Air

Colours of Air is a collaborative creation from Lawrence English and loscil (aka Scott Morgan) using a century old pipe organ housed at the historic Old Museum in Brisbane, Australia. They then processed and transformed the resulting music, to create eight wonderful electro-acoustic ambient / drone tracks. The music here is soothing, heartfelt, and in places melancholic – with each piece positively dripping in mood and an underlying sense of the sacred. The end result is one of those albums to lose yourself in.

Macrogramma – Asphyxia

Macrogramma creates dream-like, electronic-based ambient music, that does an amazing job of taking the listener away from their surroundings into another realm. Asphyxia is another wonderful release, with thought provoking audio soundscapes that unfold in an almost hypnotic manner. This subtle dark ambient / drone, with real depth and a brooding, introspective vibe to it – perfect for a spot of life evaluation and soul-searching.

Perry Frank – Nuit Ensemble

Nuit Ensemble, the latest release from Perry Frank is an incredible album filled with gorgeous  guitar and synth loop soundscapes. Listening to this music is an absolute joy, and I found myself fully immersed in the soaring ambient textures and slowly evolving drones as they unfolded. With its hypnotic melodies, this is one of those albums to listen to when you want to chill-out, unwind, and forget about everything.

CrAwE – Dr​(​o​)​neNotDrones

CrAwE is fast becoming one of my personal favourites, and I’ve had this release from last May on repeat play since I first discovered it a couple of weeks ago. As with other CrAwE releases, Dr​(​o​)​neNotDrones is full of dark and brooding dark ambient that sounds like the soundtrack for the end of the world. This is guitar based drone of the finest order, with haunting soundscapes and a real sense of impending doom that your soul will be consumed by the darkness.

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:

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!

DARDIS – Funerealism

Inner Demons Records is a very cool label that describes itself as “a transparent, socially liberal, d.i.y. experimental music and noise label.” Their latest release is this fantastic album from DARDIS – featuring 4 tracks of evolving drone and dark ambient that have an almost hypnotic effect on the listener. This is seriously impressive stuff, with multi-layered sounds that are perfect for losing yourself in. This is a musician I will definitely be keeping an eye on to see what they do next.

Sulk Rooms – Ceremony

Decaying Spheres from Manchester is one of my favourite labels, producing consistently gorgeous ambient and drone releases of the highest quality. Ceremony by Sulk Rooms is a wonderfully melancholic album of drone and dark ambient, with eerie soundscapes that wash over you as the tracks unfold. In places the music is gentle and soothing, in others it is harsher and more abrasive – but it all fits together perfectly, creating a unified album of mesmerising audio delights.

Hannya White – And a POW world

And a POW world is a track from Hannya White‘s upcoming EP, I call you an other name, and what a fabulous teaser for the full EP it is! The music here is more experimental electronica than outright dark ambient, but its haunting, brooding soundscape is a rewarding listen all the same – and if you’re a fan of music that isn’t afraid to try something new, you will really enjoy this.

PRISM SHANKS – Spirit Trumpets

The latest release from Prism Shanks (multi instrumentalist James Worse and guitarist / producer John W. Newman) is a wonderful 7 track album of avant-garde drone / noise that takes the listener on a journey of atmospheric and hypnotic audio discovery. With dark, ritualistic undertones and throbbing rhythms, eerie field recordings, and soaring ambient soundscapes, this album is challenging yet rewarding – providing the listener with the perfect soundtrack for some quiet self-reflection. This is music with real depth to it and very much worth your time if you are looking for something a little different.

Spacecraft – Lunar Sessions

Mumbai based Spacecraft (producer Rishi Bhatia) creates downtempo ambient soundscapes, and his latest release, Lunar Sessions, is another album full of wonderfully soothing ambient tracks. The music here is simply gorgeous – slowly evolving drones are skillfully blended with gentle synths and subtle soundscapes, resulting in music that is perfect for listening to when trying to relax and unwind.

Fionnlagh – What Came After

In November 2021, I reviewed Fionnlagh‘s debut album, What Came Before, saying “… this is jaw-droppingly good – eerie, dark, and brooding. with a real sense of menace running right through it….”, so I was thrilled when I discovered this new release – a sort of epilogue album, featuring new original material and remixes by some of ambient’s most talented atmosphere specialists. The music here is cinematic dark ambient, with a sharp edge and a distinctly dystopian vibe. Definitely one for fans of the darker stuff. 

Dudgrick Bevins, Andi Reisner – Two Brothers

Zustandsaufnahmen is a cool German label that releases experimental / punk / ambient / strange stuff, and their latest album is this impressive collection of experimental ambient from Dudgrick Bevins, Andi Reisner. This is one of those remarkable albums that offers something new each and every time you listen to it – with music ranging from full-on dark ambient, to eerie soundscapes and looping acoustic guitars. There are a diverse mix of styles at play here, and yet it all fits together perfectly – showing just how talented these two musicians are. Definitely one to check out if you like the more experimental side of the genre.

Science of Sleeping, Spacecraft – Moons of Jupiter

As well releasing the wonderful Lunar Sessions (see review above), Spacecraft has teamed up with another top ambient producer, Science of Sleeping, to create this 8 track ambient album. This is space ambient of the finest order, with lush cosmic soundscapes and gently evolving drones expertly combined together to create a soothing sonic soundtrack. This is highly recommended if you’re looking for something to help you relax and chill out.

CrAwE – TogetherWeSashayThroughVariationsOfHell

This is another release on the awesome Inner Demons Records label, and one that grabbed my attention as soon as I heard it. CrAwE describes his music as “Solo Improv Dark Ambient Guitar Soundscape Dronez with occasional contributions, the sound of the impending apocalypse and fridge buzz” and that sums this album up perfectly – it’s full of dark and brooding dark ambient that sounds like the soundtrack for the end of the world. I liked this so much that I’ve already been checking out CrAwE‘s back catalogue. Very highly recommended.

Bonzaii – On the Last Afternoon / Erde

As you’ll know by now, Bonzaii is one of my favourite artists, so I was delighted when I discovered he was releasing this new EP. This is another impressive release, with first track, On the Last Afternoon, featuring distorted pulsing drones and a melancholic undertone, and second track, Erde, providing a lighter but equally sorrowful sound. This is heartfelt, dream-like music, that is perfect for a spot of self reflection or when you want to lose yourself and forget about the world outside.

Capricorni Pneumatic – Nibbas

Now this is very cool! A re-release of the cult 1989 tape cassette Nibbas by Capricorni Pneumatici who between 1987 and 1991 were one of the most active projects of the esoteric / industrial Italian underground. The music here is dark and eerie, with discordant tones mixed with unnerving field recordings. The end result is like listening to the soundtrack to your worst nightmare – and a must have for fans of the more disconcerting audio soundscapes.

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:

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!

hectic zeniths – Ambient Melodic Drone Works

The latest album from hectic zeniths is a little different from his previous downtempo/trip-hop releases, with gritty experimental electronica blended skillfully with drone and dark ambient soundscapes. Then end result is a wonderful collection of tracks that take the listener on a breathtaking audio adventure. This is definitely worth checking out if you like your drone / dark ambient with something a little different added to the mix. Fantastic!

CALDON GLOVER – Labyrintia

Cyclic Law continue to release ambient, experimental and industrial soundscapes of the highest quality, and this album from doom industrial/ ambient musician CALDON GLOVER is no exception. This collection of brooding dark ambient has been on repeat play since I first heard it, as I find myself drawn again and again to the unfolding dark, otherworldly soundscapes. This is seriously impressive stuff, and I will be watching CALDON GLOVER with real interest to see what they release in future. Amazing!

Various Artists – Dracula – Music Inspired By The Bram Stoker’s Novel

The latest release from Eight Tower Records is this gorgeous collection of musical interpretations of the Dracula myth, provided by 12 talented musicians from around the globe. The music here ranges from gloomy dark ambient soundscapes to electro-acoustic compositions – and all of it is inspired by chapters, scenes, or characters from Bram Stoker’s novel. Every single track offers something different for the listener, and for fans of dark ambient / gothic horror there is plenty of great music to get your teeth into!

øjeRum – Reversed Cathedral

Now this is very cool. øjeRum has created an album of dark and dreamy ambient / drone, using an antique German made Mannborg Harmonium organ as the sole sound source. The music is melancholic and melodic, with a real sense of underlying sadness that manages to be both beautiful and heartbreaking in equal measure. This is one of those albums to lose yourself in as you lie back on the sofa on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Highly recommended!

Rien Post – Liath

The album notes describe Liath as a “… multi-layered, constantly changing instrumental trip with various moods and movements …” which sums up this incredible release perfectly. Over the course of 46 minutes we are treated to an eclectic mix of moods and sounds, with moments of ambient, dark ambient, classical and dark electro that all hang together perfectly to create a single, united ‘vibe’. Rien Post (along with Marten van Holten and Peter Evers) has created a wonderful album here, and if you’re a fan of ambient soundscapes with multi-textured sounds, then this is definitely an album for you. Amazing!

Torus Dome – Turned Into Stone

Torus Dome is a prolific musician, having already released 12 albums this year – each of which features beautifully crafted tracks of dark ambient and drone. I could easily have reviewed any one of those 12 albums, because they’re all so damn good – but I’ve picked Turned Into Stone because this is the one that has resonated with me the most and because I simply cannot stop listening to it! This is an album of eerie soundscapes and brooding tones, and definitely worth checking out if you like your dark ambient with a growing sense of dread and despair. Wonderful!

Rojinski – Winter

Rojinski creates the most amazing cinematic dark ambient soundscape albums, and Winter is another impressive release – featuring soaring drones, synths, and subtly blended field recordings. This is the soundtrack to the post apocalyptic ice-age, with the listener getting a real sense of the harsh cold winter landscape as the album unfolds. On the strength of Winter, I will definitely be checking out more of Rojinski‘s music. Superb!

PATASONUS – Umbra

I’m a big fan of the debut EP from London based PATASONUS, so I was thrilled when I discovered he had had released another album! If anything, the music here is even more experimental then on the previous release, but it still has elements of dark ambient and drone blended into the mix, resulting in a wonderfully rewarding album of dark and moody textures. Highly recommended for fans of dark ambient music that does 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: