Dark Ambient

Maud the Moth + Trajedesaliva – Bordando el manto terrestre Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on May 25, 2023 in Reviews, 32 comments

“Unquestionably I spend most of my listening time browsing this site’s namesake aesthetic, but I also enjoy sticking my nose elsewhere to try to catch a whiff of what else may inspire that same special beauty in ugliness I desire. Though the Maud the Moth (Amaya López-Carromero also of healthyliving) side has a metallic line to the pleading halls of Scotland’s Ashenspire, Trajedesaliva (the duo of Mon Ninguén on synths and unavena on voice) hosts no such connection, living in their own experimental electronic ambient world.” MOAR Moth?

At the Altar of the Horned God – Heart of Silence Review

By Thus Spoke on February 27, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, 28 comments

“There’s a reason humans have worshipped nature throughout history. The natural world has an allure and a power that many can appreciate, whether or not they attribute divinity to it. At the Altar of the Horned God takes the more worshipful tone, conducting their second rite of reverence through deeply atmospheric, folk-tinged, experimental black metal.” Horns up.

The Lovecraft Sextet – Miserere Review

By Dear Hollow on October 26, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Drone, 14 comments

“No one does music like Jason Köhnen. His projects like Mansur, The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble, and Bong-Ra constantly push boundaries, and while my reception to his work has been largely mixed, The Lovecraft Sextet has stuck. Debut In Memoriam was a unique and visceral experience, somehow weaponizing dark ambient, black metal, jazz, and opera into six tracks with three disparate but compatible palettes.” Sax and tentacles.

Blood Incantation – Timewave Zero Review

By Saunders on February 24, 2022 in Reviews, 124 comments

“After releasing a pair of highly acclaimed albums, coupling quality old school death with progressive and psychedelic embellishments and spacey themes, Denver’s Blood Incantation rapidly ascended into a respected, high profile ‘it’ band in the modern death metal scene. As such, any new material is eagerly awaited upon. Hidden History of the Human Race dropped in 2019, rolling the momentum onwards and upwards from their Starspawn debut, again showcasing Blood Incantation’s innovative and experimental approach to death metal. Well-publicized prior to its impending release, third LP, Timewave Zero, marks a drastic experimental detour, featuring a pair of lengthy compositions of ambient, cosmic atmosphere.” Empty space in your face.

Plasmodium – Towers of Silence Review

By Dear Hollow on April 27, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 35 comments

“Plasmodium is described by Metal Archives as “psychedelic black/death metal,” and that is definitely appropriate. Formed in 2016, the Melbourne, Australia, sextet features veteran blood, particularly drummer Matt “Skitz” Sanders of Damaged fame, and Aretstikapha of Mazikeen. Releasing Entheognosis in 2016 to underground interest, it introduced this highly atmospheric breed that doesn’t quite land in death metal or black metal, but somehow fills the dead air between. Featuring blackened vocals and drumming, sophomore effort Towers of Silence features some of the strangest soundscapes of 2021 thanks to its deranged string attack and cosmic ambiance.” Enjoy for silence.

Vajra – Irkalla Review

By Akerblogger on January 17, 2021 in Reviews, Dark Rock, Industrial Metal, 37 comments

“After confusing body/soul searching I opened my third eye to Irkalla. Following the band’s advice to light a candle (I could only find a mulled wine scented candle from Christmas) after midnight I listened to the record, enhancing my journey into the esoteric darkness of my soul. What I found, deep within, was dark.” Block the chakras.

Paysage d’Hiver – Im Wald [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Dear Hollow on December 21, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Black Metal, 36 comments

“Always toeing the line between raw and atmospheric, mastermind Wintherr’s (also a member of the formidable Darkspace) demo work has ranged from the crystalline ambiance of Die Festung to the unrelenting rawness of Winterkälte, consistently providing an aural experience of a blizzard at its most violent and a winter’s evening at its most empty. This has all built up to this: first full-length Im Wald, which feels far too anticlimactic for this stunning project’s storied 23-year career.” Winter has come.

Sxuperion – Omniscient Pulse Review

By Dear Hollow on June 20, 2020 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Industrial Metal, 17 comments

“If I say the magic words “space-themed death metal,” what do you see? If you see Blood Incantation or Artificial Brain come swooping in like a half-giant on a flying motorcycle, push your disappointment to the back of your mind, because we ain’t talking about them today.” Sxuspend expectations.

Ulveblod – Omnia Mors Aequat Review

By Dear Hollow on April 7, 2020 in 2020, Ambient, Black Metal, ConSouling Sounds, Drone, Dutch Metal, Industrial Metal, Noise, Reviews, Black Metal, Industrial Metal, Noise, 28 comments

“I wanted a black metal/noise hybrid. I figured it was the trvest style out there: the ultimate form of pitch-black atmosphere that could conjure abstractness and bleakness to new heights. While there have been plenty of artists that have tried, like Enbilulugugal, Gnaw Their Tongues, and Abruptum, success has been limited, so I wished upon a star for noisy black metal.” Cut off your noise to spite your face.

Örnatorpet – Vid Himinsenda Review

By Dear Hollow on November 13, 2019 in 2019, Ambient, Black Metal, Dungeon Synth, Nordvis Produktion, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Synthwave, Black Metal, Dungeon Synth, Folk, 21 comments

I have nothing against Dungeons & Dragons. I do, however, have an issue with the one kid who kept me from lesson planning by ceaselessly listing off statistics of his paladin and barbarian like I was supposed to know what the fuck he was talking about. I have a resentment toward the game thanks to that kiddo, unfortunately, so I’m already prejudiced against the relatively new genre of “dungeon synth.” While it began very ambitiously, taking cues from Medieval and Renaissance music and fantasy literature, bearing a black metal aesthetic, its role as a challenging and world-building style of dark ambient has been demoted as mere soundtracks of D&D campaigns everywhere. Örnatorpet seeks to add to the dungeon synth genre, hoping to whisk listeners away to a “forgotten realm, an arcane age.”” Dungeon lounge muzak.