Month: April 2017 (Page 1 of 2)

Frozen In Time: Weekly News 1 May 2017

This week was seeming a bit slow until some major news started to develop on Saturday. You can have a look at what we know so far below under the Concert Coverage section. This is huuuuuuge! There is a bit of interesting news this week, some really great releases for you to preview and hopefully support these artists and purchase!

Concert Coverage and Music Videos

Cold Meat Industry 30 Year Anniversary Live!
Presented by Death Disco Productions & Cold Meat Industry, it appears that we are getting a MASSIVE reunion concert over the span of two days in Sweden. On the 3rd and 4th of November 2017 we can expect a performance at the Klubben venue in Stockholm Sweden! Artists playing this epic two-day show will include: Mortiis, Arcana, Archon Satani, Brighter Death Now, Coph Nia, Desiderii Marginis, Deutsch Nepal, In Slaughter Natives, Morthound, MZ.412, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, Raison D’etre, Sanctum, Sephiroth, Sophia! This Information has obviously taken the dark ambient world by storm!

This Is Darkness is attempting to take the zine’s owner Michael Barnett to Sweden for full concert coverage. I’ll be unveiling an Indiegogo campaign, most likely next week. This Is Darkness is looking to set up a ton of interviews, capture a mountain of photographs, and to give patrons a high-quality selection of rewards for donating toward this goal. More information for the concert and for my funding campaign will be announced to readers ASAP.

Treha Sektori & Lamia Vox
These two highly respected dark ambient artists will perform at this year’s Nuit Dark Ritual in Thoix, France. You can follow the news about this concert through their event page on Facebook, which can be found here.

New Releases and Pre-orders

A Bleeding Star – New Single Released
“Nightrollin’ Pianos & Raindrop’d Violins: A Delightful Voyage On Count Frost’s Carriage” is the latest release by the unorthodox and always interesting dark ambient musician A Bleeding Star. As usual you can expect an entertaining and experimental track.

Dronny Darko – New Album Pre-orders Now Available
Abduction is the second Cryo Chamber album by Dronny Darko where he presents us with some spacey lowercase style dark ambient. Cryo Chamber says about the release, “Dronny Darko brings us a new album of dark dreams, recorded in the smoke filled Black Room studio (Kiev, Ukraine).
Dark entities roam the edge of our reality. An incomprehensible intellect observes our primitive patterns and behaviors. Vulnerable and naked, you become abducted and pulled into their domain. Examined by strange machines that hum, buzz and drip. You awaken, ankle deep in a purple fetid sludge that submerges the floor of the charcoal citadel. Alien symbols adorn the colossal doorways here, each leading into a new world. In the distance guttural clicks reverberate as they watch your trembling steps from within the shadows. Are they waiting for you to choose your fate?
This album merges the lowercase and minimal genre with a strong science fiction element. Throbbing bass layers croak and groan under the pressure of whirling machines that buzz and hum. Very dark and brooding.”
Abduction releases on 11 March 2017.

Endless Melancholy – New Remix Released
“Dirty Ocean” sees a remix by dark ambient aficionado Gamardah Fungus.
Oceanmixes is a collection of remixes and reworks of Endless Melancholy compositions. Gamardah Fungus were invited to remix one of the tracks. That’s how “Dirty Ocean” was born.

Iron Cthulhu Apocalypse – New Album Released
Dark Ambient: Crypt Light is the latest release from the prolific Iron Cthulhu Apocalypse. Crypt Light takes Iron Cthulhu Apocalypse into some minimalistic and introspective territory, perfect for reading your favorite Lovecraft tale about the elder gods.

Kazuya Ishigami – New Album Available For Pre-order
V.M Insensitive is the latest release on Kalpamantra. I am a bit unfamiliar with Kazuya Ishigami’s work so we will have to  see where this release takes us.

Peter Bjärgö – New Single Released
“Duality” is a bonus track from the brilliant Animus Retinentia which released recently on Cyclic Law. You can check out my review of that album here.

Scott Lawlor and The Gateless Gate – New Album Released
Scott Lawlor says of Regret “[it] is the second collaboration between ambient musician Scott Lawlor and kosmische act The Gateless Gate. The basis of the music is a lengthy, mournful symphonic drone by Scott, with guitar, keyboards and effects added by The Gateless Gate.
The recording is intended to be listened to as a seamless whole. The theme is autumnal feelings of melancholy and regret.”

VACUUM AETERNA – New Album Available For Pre-orders
You can read my fresh review of the new album here.
Cyclic Law says of Project:Darkscapes “Italy’s newcomers VACUUM AETERNA present the first installment of their unfolding aural journey. A cryptic sonic representation of a voyage trough a fog and humidity drenched enclave of a forgotten ancient forest. An atmosphere of tribalism and mystery emanates from these pieces where ancient tales and myths linger. Deep atmospherics clash with tribal percussions and industrial noises providing an at times quiet and serene soundtrack to a fragile stillness before the lingering chaos emerges.”
Project:Darkscapes will release on 12 May 2017.

VelgeNaturlig – New Album Available For Pre-orders
Winter-Light says of the album, “Our next release on the Winter-Light label is by the Portuguese sound sculpture VelgeNaturlig and is entitled Opalescent Pust. VelgeNaturlig is no stranger to Winter-Light, having appeared on our recent DCD compilation “…that first season”, with his beautiful track ‘Golden’.
Opalescent Pust has an entirely different feeling altogether, one of constant motion, one of change. Opalescent Pust; the breath opal, the colour of pearl, the purest form of breath. A cleansing process, that of a purifying experience. Purity.”
Opalescent Pust releases on 10 May 2017.

The Vomit Arsonist – New Album Available For Pre-orders
Meditation on giving Up Competely is a brilliant new album, expect a review here soon. Malignant Records says about the release: “After some minor delays, The Vomit Arsonist’s latest opus, Meditations On Giving Up Completely is now available for pre-order on Bandcamp! There is no reinvention of the sound and no veering off course with this one, but rather a narrowing of the sonic palette, condensed into a continual free-fall of complete despair and nihilism. As if fans of Andy’s work would want it any other way, or expect anything less.”

Other News

Father Dagon – New Episode
The latest episode of Father Dagon, S01E03: Anna Tilton, has been released. Written by Victoria Snaith, produced by Dread Falls Theatre. Original soundtrack by Seesar. See where their Lovecraftian story takes us this week!

Pär Boström – Guest Sessions: Dark Ambient Mix
The first mix in our “Guest Sessions” series for ThisIsDarkness.com is prepared by Pär Boström, the veteran dark ambient musician known for his projects Kammarheit, Cities Last Broadcast, Hymnambulae and Altarmang. Pär Boström has created a mix that showcases his love for the ritualistic, escapism and mysticism. All these elements come together to form a brilliant mix which is tailored for dreamers, yet it should be pleasing to just about any sort of dark ambient fan. Whether you are lying in the dark with your headphones, curled up on your sofa with a good book, or burning a thick cloud of incense meditating on the greater meaning of life, this mix should be a welcome and highly enjoyable experience.
Check out his fantastic mix here.

Twin Peaks – New Trailer Released
The latest trailer for the upcoming season showcases “The Town of Twin Peaks” with a handful of quick shots of various parts of the town and surrounding forests.

Weekly Specials

Deep-Audio
Check out the latest special on Deep-Audio, which can be purchased here.

This Is Darkness Week In Review

Paranoia Inducta – From The Depths
Paranoia Inducta covers much ground with From The Depths. It tells the closing of a story which clearly doesn’t have a happy ending. The technical talents of the artist are at an all time high on From The Depths. Each track feels unique, yet fits perfectly into the whole. Add to this successful combination of sounds the beautiful artwork and A5 digipak of the physical edition, and we are left with a powerful all-encompassing work of art. Paranoia Inducta has proven with From The Depths that they still have plenty of energy and potential for this almost 15 year old project. In fact, some of the best work may still be yet to come. Where the next chapter in the story of Paranoia Inducta will take us, we must wait to discover.
Read the full review here.

Vacuum Aeterna –  Project:Darkscapes
Vacuum Aeterna has created an album in Project:Darkscapes which is uniquely relevant to our times. It asks the hard questions of humanity and refuses to allow the listener to ignore the warning signs. I could absolutely recommend this to fans of the more primal forms of dark ambient, while there is also much here to entertain fans that prefer a more industrial infused sound. It will be interesting to see where they take their sound next, if they will continue delving into these topics and this format, or if they will veer off into a totally different direction. The level of skill seems to be there to make either a worthy endeavor.
Read the full review here.

Please consider making a donation!

This Is Darkness has gone live with the help of friends and supporters. I have been disabled since 2015, due to a spinal injury. Any support that can be given is greatly appreciated. Donations will go toward the maintenance of this site as well as additional promotion to increase its reach and influence.

Vacuum Aeterna – Project:Darkscapes – Review

Artist: Vacuum Aeterna
Album title: Project:Darkscapes
Release date: 12 May 2017
Label: Cyclic Law

Tracklist:
01. Kurtz
02. Eulogy
03. Anatomy of a Spirit
04. Liminal Rits
05. Nibela Equinox
06. Control Metamorphose
07. Parasites Fall
08. Neglect
09. Enenra

Cyclic Law has released a lot of albums recently from well known artists in the post-industrial realm. They are the solid in a sea of fluidity. Fans are likely to know what to expect and without a doubt will find a positive confirmation in their latest release. Vacuum Aeterna is one of the new names to enter the dark ambient scene. Coming from a label like Cyclic Law, there is plenty of reason for fans to pay full attention to this debut.

What listeners will find on Project:Darkscapes is a breath of fresh air. There are certainly the usual dark ambient tropes involved. But the album uses the formula in their own unique way, coming up with something that will be hard to compare to other seemingly similar releases.

The opening track “Kurtz” sets the scene. We are given equal doses of industrial and ambient here. What starts out feeling like it is taking place in a primal setting, deep in a wooded wilderness, soon comes to life, not through some animals or humanity, but through the machinations of a futuristic, highly industrialized world. Yet, as the album progresses, the line between the primal and the mechanical becomes increasingly blurred. It seems that each track shows a different way of confronting this dilemma, a dilemma that speaks volumes about the state of our planet. Standing at a crossroads in time, where we will either fall backward into the life of previous countless generations or storm forward inevitably destroying the remains of the planet in the process, we certainly have a decision to make. Vacuum Aeterna seems to use this premise to make us think hard about where we stand in time.

From a technical standpoint Project:Darkscapes definitely paves its own path. While there could be similarities drawn between this album and something like Paleowolf or Ulf Söderberg, there are some distinct differences making it stand out. The tribal elements are overwhelmingly present. But the feel never moves into a primal ancient era. We somehow continue to feel the futuristic elements presented. The beating of the drums feels simultaneously futuristic and primitive. The drones and field recordings setting the foundation move from an ambient forest to the depths of some highly mechanized facility. The combination of the two seems counter-intuitive, but it somehow comes together smoothly.

The instrumentation used on Project:Darkscapes is uniquely interesting and nuanced. For example, on “Anatomy of a Spirit” there are deep whirling drones providing the foundation. A thumping bass sounds like the beating of a heart. Field recordings and possibly even some vocals can be heard dispersed masterfully throughout the mix. All the while a distorted guitar fades in and out, going from disjointed noises to outright solos. By the close of the track we are left with nothing but a staticy noise that slowly fades out. “Liminal Rites” brings those tribal drums back to the spotlight, though they can barely be considered primal, at times moving much closer to something that would feel natural on an industrial metal album, if only for fleeting seconds. There is always a dichotomy to be faced. One can never settle on a certain style or direction in which the music moves.

While Project:Darkscapes can certainly become quite active at times, it never takes on a disruptively bold persona. If one intends to use it as background music to study, read, or whatever else, it will certainly work, with only a few distractions. Conversely, it has so many interesting takes on the dark ambient genre, so many unique uses of the instrumentation and such a vast catalog of field recording sounds that there is more than enough to keep the focused listener entertained for multiple playthroughs. Each time I hear the album there are several new elements that present themselves, new ideas that take shape.

Vacuum Aeterna has created an album in Project:Darkscapes which is uniquely relevant to our times. It asks the hard questions of humanity and refuses to allow the listener to ignore the warning signs. I could absolutely recommend this to fans of the more primal forms of dark ambient, while there is also much here to entertain fans that prefer a more industrial infused sound. It will be interesting to see where they take their sound next, if they will continue delving into these topics and this format, or if they will veer off into a totally different direction. The level of skill seems to be there to make either a worthy endeavor.

Written by: Michael Barnett

Paranoia Inducta – From The Depths – Review

Artist: Paranoia Inducta
Album: From The Depths
Release date: 12 March 2017
Label: Rage In Eden

Tracklist:
01. Desolation Zone
02. Today We Will All Die
03. Whispers And Cogs
04. And Soon The Darkness
05. From The Depths
06. The Noonday Demon
07. Sanctuary Of Madness
08. Witchtrap
09. I’m Just Pain
10. Children Of Saturn
11. My Own Purgatory
12. Shadow People
13. Near-Death Experience
14. Locked-in Syndrome

Paranoia Inducta is a vastly diverse musical project, helmed by Anthony Armageddon Destroyer. While there have been guest musicians on his albums, Paranoia Inducta is mainly a one man project. Entering the dark / industrial / noise ambient scene back in 2004 with his debut Sanctified Destruction, Paranoia Inducta has shown a diversity from its very inception.

Listening back through the discography of Paranoia Inducta, one may find examples of many different musical genres. Everything from sacral choir music to ungodly guitar riffs paint a picture of a world on the brink of destruction. Paranoia Inducta call their style apocalyptic death industrial and for the most part this is a fitting tag.

Yet, the sounds of Paranoia Inducta go much further than would be expected from apocalyptic death industrial. There has always been a variety of styles in the project, but nowhere more than this present release of From The Depths. We can hear a beautiful if somber piano arrangement on “Today We Will All Die”. The track is truly enchanting, and yet all the while there are metallic echoes and dripping waters as if there is a grand piano slowly rotting away in the bowels of some old-world sewer system.

From The Depths stands as the finale to the trilogy of releases which began with Evil Angel in 2010, followed by Maze of Death in 2013, and closing with From The Depths in 2017. In their own words, “This is the story about loss, loneliness, despair and lack of hope.” This is surely an apt description of the themes presented on all three albums. The sense of loss and despair can only be felt after losing something worth holding onto. In this way we hear these beautiful section of music throughout the album serving as a reminder of a past which held the key to happiness. A past which will never return. A chapter closed. The present chapter holds no serenity. There is now only a deep sense of regret and resignation. Paranoia Inducta warns listeners of the album’s ability to induce a deep state of depression. Indeed, From The Depths writhes in depression. It showcases the disaster of the present, markedly diverging from the contentment of the past.

While the album seems to reflect inner turmoils, personal struggles, there is also a strong sense of religiosity. From the throat singing of “And Soon The Darkness” to the lovely female choral vocals of “From The Depths” we can sense that there is more to the story than just an interpersonal relationship souring. There seems to be an abandonment of faith added to the depression. As if God was invoked to bring about a happier scenario, yet the prayers fell on deaf ears. The reverent follower loses faith, falls from grace. This leaves them open to the darker strains of religion, the unholy rites of demonic resurrections. If God will not help, maybe his arch-nemesis will…

Paranoia Inducta covers much ground with From The Depths. It tells the closing of a story which clearly doesn’t have a happy ending. The technical talents of the artist are at an all time high on From The Depths. Each track feels unique, yet fits perfectly into the whole. Add to this successful combination of sounds the beautiful artwork and A5 digipak of the physical edition, and we are left with a powerful all-encompassing work of art. Paranoia Inducta has proven with From The Depths that they still have plenty of energy and potential for this almost 15 year old project. In fact, some of the best work may still be yet to come. Where the next chapter in the story of Paranoia Inducta will take us, we must wait to discover.

Written by: Michael Barnett

Guest Sessions: Dark Ambient Mix by Pär Boström

The first mix in our “Guest Sessions” series for ThisIsDarkness.com is prepared by Pär Boström, the veteran dark ambient musician known for his projects Kammarheit, Cities Last Broadcast, Hymnambulae and Altarmang. Pär Boström has created a mix that showcases his love for the ritualistic, escapism and mysticism. All these elements come together to form a brilliant mix which is tailored for dreamers, yet it should be pleasing to just about any sort of dark ambient fan. Whether you are lying in the dark with your headphones, curled up on your sofa with a good book, or burning a thick cloud of incense meditating on the greater meaning of life, this mix should be a welcome and highly enjoyable experience.
While you are listening, have a look at this week’s Frozen In Time segment, our weekly dark ambient news article!
[Scroll to bottom to see the full playlist and links to the respective artists.]

Playlist:
01. 0:00:00 Arktau Eos – Stillatory Of Umbræ
02. 0:06:40 Hymnambulae – Orgelhuset
03. 0:13:00 Elegi – Fyrtårnet Part 1
04. 0:19:14 Asmorod – Anaesthetic Season
05. 0:30:42 Arktau Eos – Oracle Of Frozen Sands
06. 0:37:34 Popol Vuh – Mantra II
07. 0:42:51 Tusen År Under Jord – Sorgsendömet Fobos I
08. 0:47:30 Elegi – Fyrtårnet Part 3
09. 0:51:40 Troum – Ghutó-m
10. 0:58:05 Deutsch Nepal – Neris Of Tears
11. 1:05:32 Halo Manash – Uhr-a-Usva
12. 1:13:24 Kerovnian – Before The Oblivion
13. 1:18:57 Kammarheit – The Excavation Site
14. 1:27:38 Daina Dieva/Skeldos – Miego

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Frozen In Time: Weekly News 24 April 2017

This week we see a ton of new releases, announcements, and even a few more videos of full live performances! Be sure to check out the deals of the week at the bottom, as well as the reviews covered by This Is Darkness since last Monday!

Music Videos & Live Performances

Gnawed
I recently reviewed the side project of Grant Richardson, Atrox Pestis, which can be viewed here. His main musical outlet, Gnawed, recently performed in Queens, NYC at the release party for No Workers Paradise. The box set can be purchased here. His performance was captured for our viewing pleasure, so please enjoy!

Mebitek – “Mebistep (Beget Movement) Music Video Released
Something that is a rare occurrence for dark ambient music, a proper music video! Though to be far, Mebitek is also quite an unusual artist for the genre, as he incorporates many different styles of music into his sounds. Mebitek says about the concept for this video, “As an ancient, bizarre and grotesque craftsman, we were able to create God from our innards, shaping her-him into a stunning inanimated doll, which we can slithly feel but cannot own as a part of ourselves. We can just fear her-him, but always in chains we linger together until the end of time.”

The Vomit Arsonist
On the fringes of dark ambient and power electronics lies the genre of death industrial. This harsher, more industrial sister to dark ambient focuses on many of the same themes and uses many of the same techniques for sound-sculpting. Within this genre The Vomit Arsonist is one of the greats. Here is a full live performance by this gifted musician. Expect my review in the near future of his upcoming album Meditations On Giving Up Completely which will be released on 25 April! This particular concert is celebrating the release of the massive eight cassette box set recently released on Chthonic Streams.

New Releases & Pre-orders

Ah Cama-Sotz – New Album Released
A veteran on the dark ambient scene, producing music for the last 25 years, Belgian artist Ah Cama-Sotz has just released a new album which consists of remixed material. While some of these tracks may greatly stray from the usual dark ambient template, they are still a fine collection of remixes, certainly worthy of mention.

Biosphere – Pre-orders Available
One of the most well known and distinguished artists in the world of ambient music, Biosphere, has announced a new mini-album. The Petrified Forest is inspired by the movie of the same name, released in 1936 and directed by Archie Mayo. The album will be released on 12 May 2017

BVDUB – New Album Released
Epilogues For The End Of The Sky is the latest release on Glacial Movements. On this album, BVDUB delivers sounds which walk the line between beauty and a melancholic darkness. There are beats on many of the tracks, but they are subtle and sit well in the background.

Eighth Tower Records – New Compilation Announced
Metempsychosis, 3nd volume of “black series” by EIGHTH TOWER RECORDS, is now available for pre order. Expect another heavy dose of darkness from a combination of well known artists and others whose careers are just budding.

Jim Wylde – New Album Released
The latest ritual ambient offering from Sombre Soniks comes from the Canadian artist, Jim Wylde, best known for his project sp3ct3rs. Wylde says about the release, “The Death Swells is a work that was created over the course of a year. The focal point of each piece was meditations on death; from the act of dying, through to preparation rituals of the body and the notions of an afterlife. Most of the music on the album was created with a Korg EPS-1, Cathedral reverb, Deluxe Memory Boy and Oto Biscuit.”

Polterngeist – New Album Released
Levels of Perception is the third album by Polterngeist the side-project of the man behind UgasanieLevels of Perception takes a different direction from the main project, but still shows the same sense of subtlety and intricate layering for which Ugasanie is known.

Randal Collier-Ford – New Single Released
In preparation for his upcoming album, Randal Collier-Ford reveals the track “Apotheosis” created in collaboration with Northumbria. Randal shared a bit of information about this single and the upcoming release with This Is Darkness. “I made this track, initially, to give a throwback to the sound design style of The Architects, something far more drone-based, something slow building, with edited field recordings. I wanted to feature the blaring horns from”The Return”, as many people have expressed (during live shows, mostly, or just in person for people I have met) they enjoyed that detail in the track. But, thematically, it had a purpose in the track, and in that album. And, as this newest album is a 3rd entry in a trilogy that I’ve been building, and this track pulling back to that first album, I wanted to feature it again as it fit with the ‘story’ that has been happening thus far. But, outside the album/track themes, I’ve had an urge to continue working with members of Cryo Chamber, as I have done in the past. And when I came to Jim from Northumbria about finally working together, I mentioned that I loved his work in Nyarlathotep with the bowed guitars. He added such a rich, and cultural feel to the work he did, and I knew that I wanted it in this record. Not just because it sounds cool, but, again, it fit thematically.”

Sadistic Cult – Releases New Album
On ʍąµȿǿŁéƹ, Sadistic Cult deliver a haunting ambient black metal album which has plenty in common with dark and ritual ambient. Shifting drones and spine-tingling field recordings abound. Listen with the lights on.

VelgeNaturlig – Promo Video Released
The upcoming release on Winter Light, Opalescent Pust, has been revealed. The promo video gives us a hint of the mind bending soundscapes to be expected on the 10 May 2017 release of the album.

[ówt krì] – Releases New Album
[ówt krì] says about their new work on Sombre Soniks label, “[ówt krì] (phonetics of ”outcry”) is the main creative output for multi-instrumentalist, instrument builder and artist Kenneth Kovasin. Kenneth studies aural textures and contrasts and compiles them by utilizing different sources and effects. Since 2005 he has been perfecting his methods and finding new innovative sound sources and instruments for his recordings. Dark ambience and soundscapes have been the backbone for [ówt krì] through the years, even if the methods and instrumentation have become more refined. Psychological Warfare is a thick and brooding soundscape fueled by nightmares. The dramatic sounds and chanting vocals tie you to the grim swelling waves of ambience that leave you stranded in the coldness of space.”

Other News

Danica Swanson, the entity behind The Black Stone Hermitage and author of an upcoming book focusing specifically on dark ambient, gives us a proper introduction to the genre. After years of following dark ambient music, interviewing many of its most prominent artists and studying the history and inner workings of the genre, Danica Swanson is uniquely positioned to speak with authority about the genre as a whole. Her latest article focuses specifically on introducing the genre to polytheistic practitioners, but it’s an equally informative and interesting read for any dark ambient fan. You can read her article here. You can also find out more about The Black Stone Hermitage here.

Flesh of the Void is an upcoming experimental horror film by the indie company Sodom & Chimera. Aiming to finish production in May of 2017, Flesh of the Void should be making its way to theatres before too long.

Stalker, the sci-fi classic by Andrei Tarkovsky, is given a second life as a fully restored re-release in The Criterion Collection.

Twin Peaks has a new trailer available in preparation for the third season of this cult masterpiece, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost way back in the early 1990s. The new season will premiere on Showtime on 21 May 2017 at 9PM EST.

Darkrad has released her new book / compilation combo entitled King In The Thicket. Darkrad presents haunting short stories and fairy tales in her first book. The accompanying compilation sets the perfect mood for late night readings of her tales.

Weekly Specials

Cyclic Law
Both books by Krist Mort released through Cyclic Press are now on sale. Tera is 50% off, while Inlumaeh book/cd combo featuring Lamia Vox is 25% off! Both books can be found here.

Deep Audio
This week Deep Audio features Samadhi State by Inade as their €5 bargain. You can purchase this highly acclaimed album here.

This Is Darkness Week In Review

PhonothekRed Moon – Review
Red Moon takes all the best elements of Lost In Fog and doubles down on them. They leave behind the aspects that didn’t seem to fit their style as well. For many artists of all genres, the sophomore release is always the best indication of their longevity. Will they hone their skills further, tapping into a wealth of ideas and talents, or will they stall, grasping for new ideas where there is little left to be found? Phonothek clearly fit the latter, and they seem to be set on a path of excellence which won’t fade anytime soon.
Read full review here.

MebitekArt Has No Diplomacy – Review
In such a simultaneously advanced yet bleak period of human history, Mebitek is an artist that fully embraces the contradiction. Art Has No Diplomacy is certainly not your average dark ambient album, often leaving that genre classification entirely. Yet, thematically and cinematically the sounds should be welcome to the ears of many dark ambient fans. Mebitek provides us with an original take on the fringe elements of ambient and electronic genres, paving his own path. Enjoy Art Has No Diplomacy in those moments of despair or cynicism when the mind needs something more than gentle field recordings and drones.
Read full review here.

Black Wanderer Hostile Territory – Review
Hostile Territory is a welcome addition to an already impressive catalog from this artist. It provides us with a totally fresh set of ideas from its creator. There are likely many more directions that Black Wanderer can be taken in the future. The focus on these older alien-influenced sci-fi films doesn’t necessarily have to stay as the primary subject matter for Black Wanderer to keep its template and hold the attention of listeners. While technically it isn’t quite as innovative as the latest Stuzha album, it still holds a great deal of emotion and interesting content.
Read full review here.

Psionic AsylumComa – Review
The album is a solid and consistent work giving just enough ritualistic tones to fit the discography of Noctivagant, yet it holds its own character, stands apart from its brethren as an unique album in a sea of uniformity. Psionic Asylum incorporates a little bit of many different variations of dark ambient on Coma, giving it a value to a highly diverse set of listeners. Fans of cinematic, drone and ritual ambient styles should all find reasons to enjoy Coma. It is nice to see Noctivagant keeping their standards high while simultaneously taking risks with lesser known projects.
Read full review here.

Please consider making a donation!

This Is Darkness has gone live with the help of friends and supporters. I have been disabled since 2015, due to a spinal injury. Any support that can be given is greatly appreciated. Donations will go toward the maintenance of this site as well as additional promotion to increase its reach and influence.

Phonothek – Red Moon – Review

Artist: Phonothek
Album: Red Moon
Release date: 4 April 2017
Label: Cryo Chamber

Tracklist:
01. Yellow Forest (feat. Keosz)
02. Last Melody (feat. Cities Last Broadcast)
03. Come In The Whisper
04. Cryo From The Abyss
05. Margo
06. In The Smell Of The Wolves
07. Mudra
08. Red Moon

Phonothek is a dark ambient act from the country of Georgia. Their first release, Lost In Fog, debuted last year on Cryo Chamber. Lost In Fog quickly caught the attention of fans and critics alike with their use of a noir jazz infused form of dark ambient. This year they release their follow-up Red Moon, which takes this style even further. Honing their sounds, Phonothek are proving to be one of the most interesting acts on Cryo Chamber. Which is no small feat considering the amount of talent backed by this young but well established record label.

On Lost In Fog we heard fleeting moments of this noir jazz infused dark ambient style. Tracks like “Old Swings” began to tap into this energy, yet “Heavy Thoughts” was the most blatant use of the format. My thoughts at the time, regarding Lost In Fog, were that Phonothek had a solid start, but would be able to distinguish themselves from the rest of the genre even more so if they directed more focus toward the use of their horns, trumpets, and trombones. Some tracks on Lost In Fog were not wholly impressive to me, while others seemed to shine a brilliance over the entire album, more than making up for a few weak points.

Red Moon certainly remedies any previous misgivings. Phonothek have chosen their path, and are now following it unapologetically. Throughout the entire album we hear these jazzy instruments taking on a life of their own. The use of viola, trombone, trumpet, horn and bariton all come together throughout Red Moon to lend an air of authenticity and real world appeal to the project. One may imagine themselves walking through the filthy alleys of New Orleans, late at night, as a thick fog hovers over the streets and the scent of refuse and the homeless sicken the senses. The darkness is perfectly blended with the noir jazz style, breathing life into Red Moon. It effortlessly pulls the listener along for a journey which won’t be soon forgotten. Of course, Phonothek may have never seen the streets of New Orleans, and certainly there are many other and older cities across the lands of Europe and Russia which would equally fit these sounds.

As if the honing of their style weren’t enough, Phonothek brought Keosz and Cities Last Broadcast along for the journey on Red Moon. The opening track “Yellow Forest” introduces us to this hazy smog ridden environment. Who better to add atmospherics to this dark urban style than Keosz, an artist who engages with the midnight city streets like few others in the genre. It is also fitting that Keosz is featured on this track, as his album, AVA, released soon after Red Moon. As mentioned in the review of AVA, Keosz and Phonothek have both stepped up their performances on these latest releases, delivering two quite memorable albums, and highlights of their careers thus far.

On “Last Melody” Phonothek made another brilliant move by adding the skills of Pär Boström’s often apocalyptic urban soundscapes that are Cities Last Broadcast. Cities Last Broadcast adds some of its more eerie and occult leaning work to “Last Melody”. We hear Boström’s falsetto voice barely cutting through the mix at one point, adding an otherworldly feeling to the track. After these two highly original and perfectly executed collaborative tracks, the rest of the album is able to commence at a running start.

As we proceed through the rest of Red Moon, we hear a style and theme that is consistent from beginning to end. Each track adds another layer to their noir-jazz midnight urban stroll. The city streets come to life at every turn. Yet, the instruments and field recordings incorporated throughout also exude an aura of occult mysteries. There is more to this story than just the envisioning of a cityscape in the nighttime hours. There is a darkness with a sense of the supernatural complementing the urban nightscapes. This part of the story is best left to the individual listeners’ imagination. Surely each person will find their own answers in the song titles and field recording cues throughout the album.

Red Moon takes all the best elements of Lost In Fog and doubles down on them. They leave behind the aspects that didn’t seem to fit their style as well. For many artists of all genres, the sophomore release is always the best indication of their longevity. Will they hone their skills further, tapping into a wealth of ideas and talents, or will they stall, grasping for new ideas where there is little left to be found? Phonothek clearly fit the latter, and they seem to be set on a path of excellence which won’t fade anytime soon.

Written by: Michael Barnett

Mebitek – Art Has No Diplomacy – Review

Artist: Mebitek
Album: Art Has No Diplomacy
Release date: 9 March 2017
Label: Mebitek / Nootempo.net

Tracklist:
01. Machina
02. Desolation
03. Cinekinetik
04. Chi No Torrat
05. Iscuritat
06. The Cinematic Experience
07. Pray (feat. Larissa & Gangalistics)
08. MebiStep
09. March of Borderliners (feat. 10jonct)
10. All My Love (feat Daniele Porta)
11. Stepper in the Dark (feat. Quilo Sa Razza)
12. What I Have Lost
13. Cudda Domu RMX (feat. Pandro)

Mebitek is a budding electronic artists hailing from Sardinia an island off the coast of Italy in the great Mediterranean Sea. Long known for their innovations, Italy has over the years spawned more than a few unique sound technician. The likes of Bad Sector, Winterblood and Sonologyst are but a few familiar to the dark ambient genre, all pushing their musical endeavors to the very limit of genre classifications. Mebitek is no different in this manner. His music is certainly dark and electronic, but going much further than that into applying labels will be pointless.

After almost a decade of singles and EPs, Mebitek has finally delivered a proper full length album. On this debut Mebitek stays true to his form, in creating music that transcends genre boundaries and provides the listener with a wholly new experience. Each of the 13 tracks is well produced and honed down to the finest of details. It may have taken Mebitek a while to bring a full-length album together, but Art Has No Diplomacy is a worthy milestone.

In order to provide some context to these sounds, there are a few artists who could be loosely compared to Mebitek, The Haxan Cloak comes to mind, along with the afore mentioned Bad Sector. There are beats laying the ground work of this album. These beats take on the forms of glitch and dubstep among other forms of electronic music which go beyond the standards of traditional electronica. “Chi No Torrat” is a great example of this amalgamation of genres. “Chi No Torrat” starts off with futuristic and industrial samples along with even a bit of ambient elements, in the form of a distant thunderstorm. It slowly progresses into a melancholic and introspective downtempo ebm piece in which comparisons to The Haxan Cloak fit most closely. Yet, by the second half of the track, the use of orchestral sounds gives the track a unique feel, again going well beyond any specific genre classifications.

Mebitek brings along with him on this album a few other Italian artists of various forms. Larissa provides a beautiful voice on the track “Pray”. While Quilo Sa Razza applies a hip-hop verse over “Stepper in the Dark”. Each of these and several other guest artist always provide a brand new element to the sounds of Art Has No Diplomacy.

Futuristic and post-apocalyptic tropes abound throughout the works of Mebitek. At the very base of his project, we see in his logo a face equipped with a gas-mask. The high-quality music video for the track “MebiStep”, created by Mebitek and Serena Pilloni, provides the greatest visual cue to this post-apocalyptica. A gas-masked figure drags a few leather gimp suit laden victims through the streets of some old city. We then follow him into a dungeon where he turns a ragged doll into his living queen of darkness.

In such a simultaneously advanced yet bleak period of human history, Mebitek is an artist that fully embraces the contradiction. Art Has No Diplomacy is certainly not your average dark ambient album, often leaving that genre classification entirely. Yet, thematically and cinematically the sounds should be welcome to the ears of many dark ambient fans. Mebitek provides us with an original take on the fringe elements of ambient and electronic genres, paving his own path. Art Has No Diplomacy could easily be recommended to fans of the afore mentioned artists The Haxan Cloak and Bad Sector along with other heavily beat-oriented sound-sculptors Access To Arasaka. But, while these projects could be an example for fans to compare some similarities in style, Mebitek clearly is not following in the footsteps of these musicians, rather he is making his own way, in his own style. Enjoy Art Has No Diplomacy in those moments of despair or cynicism when the mind needs something more than gentle field recordings and drones. Let yourself fall under the spell of Mebitek, a truly interesting artist to say the very least.

Written by: Michael Barnett

Black Wanderer – Hostile Territory – Review

Artist: Black Wanderer
Album: Hostile Territory
Release date: 1 May 2017
Label: Ksenza Records

Tracklist:
01. What Appears To Be Normal
02. Station4
03. Hide Inside An Imitation
04. Our Superior In Every Way
05. Nothing Can Stop Us
06. Freedom To Act Irresponsibly
07. Such Power Exists
08. Планета Бурь

Black Wanderer is the newest musical venture by Daniil Kazantsev of Algol and Stuzha. Each of his three projects deliver a totally different form of music, all fitting within an ambient framework but each having its own template of execution. Algol is a space ambient experience, with a style similar to that of Sphare Sechs. Stuzha is a chilly dark ambient sound drawing comparisons to the likes of Ugasanie and Northaunt. Black Wanderer is a dark cinematic ambient project which includes many samples from films to build a set of narratives upon a guitar/bass heavy form of dark ambient.

The basics of Black Wanderer are quite stripped down. There is little in the way of field recordings or synth-crafted drones. The bass guitar provides a basis for the project. The electric guitar adds a brighter set of textures. While these two instruments provide the droning elements there is a heavy usage of film samples. The instruments are not used in a technically complicated manner. They often deliver sustained single notes. The bass guitar builds a thick and atmospheric foundation for many of the tracks. Meanwhile, the electric guitar often picks higher pitched single notes, giving the necessary emotional charge to the mix.

Hostile Territory focuses on several films in particular to provide the narrative. The Thing is heavily sampled on the Black Wanderer album, a film which by most accounts is a classic in the horror/sci-fi genre. Focusing on a maleficent life form which crash lands deep in Antarctica, The Thing spreads from person to person, fully mimicking its hosts. On “What Appears To Be Normal” Black Wanderer uses a clip in which the doctor first realizes that the thing is capable of mimicking humanity. The track is complemented with some sort of horn to add a bit of character to the narrative.

Again on “Hide Inside and Imitation”, we hear another clip from The Thing. Kurt Russell is sitting in his bedchamber, taking notes about their current circumstances on an audio recorder. “…nobody trusts anybody, and we’re all very tired.” is recorded, just before being erased. The quote adds a deep sense of tension to the track. The gently shifting drone-work is again complemented by a lonely guitar, using single notes to add suspense to the atmospherics.

On “Freedom to Act Irresponsibly”, Black Wanderer uses sound clips from the film The Day The Earth Stood Still. Documenting a conversation between an American official and an alien life form, Black Wanderer produces a chilling effect on the listener. The conversation plays with the idea that mankind would never be able to come together in unison to decide upon a coordinated response to the coming invasion. While its an interesting conversation, the general feelings that it invokes in the listener allow it to become a contemplative experience. The electric guitars and bass work in unison here create interesting textures which lend themselves to a thought provoking atmosphere. They give listeners ample room for mulling over their own interpretations of the sound clips. “Freedom to Act Irresponsibly” seems to be a bitter more doom-laden than the previous tracks. It suggests that mankind would never be able to work together, and that these alien lifeforms would most likely remove our human race from existence.

The use of so many audio clips from films makes Hostile Territory a more demanding listen than we are used to from Algol or Stuzha. As a stand-alone album, it becomes a more thought provoking experience. Especially for fans of these old films, there will be a lot of nostalgic value. For listeners that are not familiar with these classics, there is sure to be a good deal of interest taken in the subject matter.

For fans not interested in active listening, preferring a passive ambient sound to complement their reading, studying or gaming, there will be a bit less interest. The other projects Algol and Stuzha are more in line with this passivity and either is a perfect pairing to study. As Daniil Kazantsev already had two projects with this general focus, it makes sense that he wanted to move outside that template and make an album with different goals and procedures.

Hostile Territory is a welcome addition to an already impressive catalog from this artist. It provides us with a totally fresh set of ideas from its creator. There are likely many more directions that Black Wanderer can be taken in the future. The focus on these older alien-influenced sci-fi films doesn’t necessarily have to stay as the primary subject matter for Black Wanderer to keep its template and hold the attention of listeners. While technically it isn’t quite as innovative as the latest Stuzha album, it still holds a great deal of emotion and interesting content. With three musical projects, Black Wanderer being by far the newest, it seems reasonable that Kazantsev will continue to evolve as Black Wanderer and further hone his skills on this project.

Written by: Michael Barnett

Psionic Asylum – Coma – Review

Artist: Psionic Asylum
Album: Coma
Release date: 18 February 2017
Label: Noctivagant

Tracklist:
01. Inner Night
02. Frozen Cave of Whispers
03. Buried in Paranoia
04. Coma

Psionic Asylum is a dark ambient project from Russia. As with so many other Russian dark ambient projects we find in Psionic Asylum a sound which captures the desolate cold exteriors along with the isolation and warmth of the interior. Their second full length album, Coma, has been released through the small but quality driven label Noctivagant.

Known for its subtle and always dark forms of music Noctivagant seems to be the perfect home for Coma. Coma consists of four roughly twenty minute tracks. The album captures various aspects and emotions of a coma patient. Each track takes on its own unique characteristics yet all fit together as a perfectly composed whole.

The music of Coma is enshrouded in a deeply emotive subtlety. This subtlety seeks to envision the thoughts and feelings of one in a comatose state of being. The first track, “Inner Night” takes on a more ritualistic feel. It includes bells and chimes, manipulated vocal melodies and industrial rattlings. The field recordings and extremely conservative use of drone introduce the listener to the mind of the subject. We are able to close our eyes and feel the coma taking its hold on us, as we are allowed to drift off into a half-dazed state of consciousness.

“Frozen Cave of Whispers” takes the sense of losing oneself to the next level. A plethora of whispering voices provide a textural basis for the track. The comatose patient is still able to hear what is happening in the external world, yet it is muddied, outside their control or even their understanding. “Buried in Paranoia” continues building upon this theme of disassociation. The sounds are darker, more haunting, more otherworldly. The patient is losing a sense of self, entering the void. The textures of the drone elements are deeply disturbing in a style reminiscent of Jarl. There is a complexity which slowly builds upon itself until our minds are barely able to follow a set of patterns, we become one with the sound.

“Coma” plummets us into the final frontier of consciousness. There is nothing left. All sense of the outside world has vanished along with any memories or feelings of the ego. As the mind collapses into a slumber, it leaves the patient and the listeners in a deeply internalized void. The drones are thick, dense yet still subtle. Voices from the outside world find their way inside, but their meaning is totally lost to us.

Like most Noctivagant projects, Coma is presented in a limited edition of 99 physical copies. The inner-sleeve adds a bit of extra text to accompany the track titles, allowing the listener to further engage themselves with the project. The album is a solid and consistent work giving just enough ritualistic tones to fit the discography of Noctivagant, yet it holds its own character, stands apart from its brethren as an unique album in a sea of uniformity. Psionic Asylum incorporates a little bit of many different variations of dark ambient on Coma, giving it a value to a highly diverse set of listeners. Fans of cinematic, drone and ritual ambient styles should all find reasons to enjoy Coma. It is nice to see Noctivagant keeping their standards high while simultaneously taking risks with lesser known projects. Coma is surely a highlight of their catalog of releases.

Written by: Michael Barnett

Frozen In Time: Weekly News 17 April 2017

This week things are a little less busy in the dark ambient world. We have a few very interesting upcoming releases, but little else in the way of news. I’m sure that means next week will be all the more interesting! Don’t forget to check out the reviews of this past week, posted at the bottom of the article!

Music Videos

Northumbria – “Wonderstrand” Music Video
Northumbria premiered their newest music video through Noisey online zine. “Wonderstrand” comes from their latest album Markland. You can check out the full article on Noisey here.

New Releases & Pre-orders

April Larson – New Album Available for Pre-order
The new album Up Below will be released on Polar Seas Recordings. The label says about Up Below, “Otherworldly new work by April Larson, who has put out several beautiful releases on Wist Rec, Assembly Field, Soft Bodies, among other fine labels. Polar Seas is happy to present this new album of dark ambience. Inspired by the subterranean. Recorded 2016-2017 by April Larson. Releases April 21, 2017.”

Corona Barathri & Sodomic Baptism – Promo Video for their new split.
Womb Ov Sheol is the collaboration of the occult project Corona Barathri, recorded in conjunction with the project Sodomic Baptism. Womb ov Sheol combines two music genres – ritual dark ambient and satanic death metal.  The concept of the release is based on the Unholy Trinity.

Darkrad – releases a new dark ambient compilation.
King In The Thicket is a compilation which accompanies her new book of the same name. Darkrad says about the project, “Inner psychosis, strong emotions, metaphysics and supernatural – these are the main topics of the artist. The art of Jana Komaritsa is an ocean of feelings from the somber corners of the sub consciousness, never suppressing emotions, but sharpening them to a sometimes frightening peak.

“King in the Thicket” is the first book by Jana Komaritsa (Darkrad). This is a compilation of short stories – grim fairy tales from the world beyond. It creates a reality where there is no rational flow of life, where time sucks one in a vicious funnel of dark and wicked. She is playing with the surreal worlds, strengthened by a vivid imagination, while capturing the unknown, both frightening and alluring.

The book was illustrated by the author and comes with a music compilation with exclusive tracks from prominent industrial and dark ambient artists: Apócrýphos, Capsular, Darkrad, Dirk Geiger, Flint Glass, Frl. Linientreu, Iszoloscope, T_error 404, Torn From Beyond and Worms of the Earth. The music from these artists creates an emotional landscape and sets a mood which compliments the atmosphere of the book.”

Eiva Ada – releases a new album.
Ritual Invocation to Nibiru is the latest ritual ambient work by Eiva Ada. Eiva Ada, a dark ambient artist first entering the scene back in 2004, delivers another album from the hopeless darkness of  their Madman home studio.

Gimu – New Album Available for Pre-order
Gone Again, Haunted Again by Gimu is the latest offering from Aurora Borealis Recordings. Aurora Borealis says about the album, “Gone Again, Haunted Again’ is a colossal new work from Brazilian sound artist Gimu. The album inhabits a liminal space between realms. Informed by the bleakness of reality, but with hope of transcendence, Gone Again, Haunted Again offers the glimmer of possibility and the potential reality of escape.” The album releases on 1 May 2017.

Lord Lovidicus – Debut Album Finally Sees Physical Release
Obscure Dungeon Records says about the release, “Dungeon Synth / Dark Ambient master Lord Lovidicus has finally released his 2013 debut as a digipak through Obscure Dungeon Records. Only a few lucky collectors had the chance to catch the first Lord Lovidicus tapes we made in 2013. Now the American artist and us worked on a special digipack edition of his wonderful album Book Of Lore Vol. I, and we are really proud to offer you our first digipack release at the same time. No need to introduce his works and his dedication to the world of Tolkien, only a few artists manage to achieve such a sound in the genre. With 10 epic songs, full of wonderful melodies, delicate and enchanting atmospheres and a grandiose sound quality, Book Of Lore Vol. I is a true masterpiece of Dungeon Synth.”

James A McDermid – New Album Available for Pre-orders.
Ghost Folk is the new album released through Polar Seas Recordings. Polar Seas says about the release, “Having previously released music in the early-mid 2000’s on David Newlyn’s October Man Recordings, this is the first work from James A McDermid in quite a few years, and it is a stunning collection of over 70 minutes of ambient tones and electronics. I’m happy to be able to present this sprawling work from James A McDermid.” Ghost Folk releases on 21 April 2017.

Opalescent Pust – Teaser Video for New Album
The new album will be released 10 May 2017 through the Winter-Light  label.

Pausal – New Album Released
Released on the Dronarivm label, Avifaunal is the latest album by dark ambient artist Pausal. Dronarivm says about the album, “Their music has been described as ‘billowing, vaporous, and cloud-like’, ‘a shimmering haze of humid ambience and sparkling field recordings’, ‘a colourful, yet ghostly, world of slow-moving, rejuvenating sound’.”

Robert Rich & Markus Reuter – New Album Released
The artists say about Lift a Feather to the Flood, “Swimming defiantly upriver, slowly through sonic swirls, Fractal shards and crystalline clouds. Troubled, yet calm.
An incantation to transform the luminous darkness.”

Seaman – New Album Released
ΠΑΝΘΕΟΝ says about the Shapes EP, “The beauty of slow motion, presented as an aural landscape by Saint-Petersburg based project Seaman, known for his minimalist approach to ambient music. Slowly unfolding, this piece sets mood for contemplation, creating desired pause in daily routine, letting the thinking go and giving place for deep listening experience… Headphones are recommended.”

Sundaria – New Album Released
Frozen Light releases the new ablum Lucid Nightmares by Sundaria. Frozen Light says about the album, “Frozen Light presents Lucid Nightmares, the second album by the Spanish project Sudaria. A sinister soundtrack for your worst realistic nightmares convicted in frozen flames of industrial music combined with ritual ambient, classical music, drone and black metal. Don’t miss!”

Weekly Specials

Deep-Audio
Deep-Audio are offering Thee Fabulous Feast Ov Flowering Light CD by Psychic TV for €5 offer is good 14 April through 23 April.

Other News

Dread Falls Theatre
– New Episode In Podcast Series
The second episode of Father Dagon is now available on the youtube. The music is produced by Seesar, who often works with Sombre Soniks.

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This Is Darkness Week in Review

Druhá SmrtThe Way and The Virtue – Review
Druhá Smrt are not the kind of project that will affect an amazement in the listener at their technical prowess. Through much of their discography, they hold a relatively uniform style. Yet, this style is immediately recognizable and always welcome. Often their contributions to compilations are highlights of the albums in question. So, The Way and The Virtue stands as a minor evolution in their structure. It is one step closer to that perfection they are seeking.
Read full review here.

Keosz AVA – Review
Keosz creates something in AVA that has been tried on more than one occasion. But on this album this artist perfects the formula. The combination between dark ambient and post-rock elements is flawless. The soundscapes move from introverted to highly energetic and back again in such a natural way that the transitions are often hard to notice.

These dynamics of AVA are quite a pleasant surprise. All the elements that made Be Left To Oneself such a gorgeous album are still present. Yet, AVA offers so much more. It is alive with emotion on a whole new level for this artist.
Read full review here.

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