As I continue my deep dive into music of the obscure, I often find myself enthralled by artists that know limitless boundaries for presenting their craft. Although there have been many instances of genre-bending throughout the years, there are still elements that I find new (and intriguing) that stops me dead in my tracks, enough to warrant my undivided attention. Humanfobia is one of those artists that combines elements of dark electronic, avant-garde, and even Dungeon Synth to create a unique universe of audial sophistication and elegance. On last year’s ‘Vampiresa’ release, six tracks of ambiguous compositions solicit an enigmatic approach to synth music that is powerful and mesmerizing.
Right from the start, “Enchanted Castle” imposes a barrage of symphonic sounds from multiple genres, combining them to form an impressive opening track. Haunting vocals are layered over hefty beats and distorted tones and as a slight tonal shift occurs, the vocals continue to tell its story almost until the final note is played. “Ataúd Solitario” begins with the tolling of a bell and a slight build up of the music. Synths play up and down a scale of notes while a rhythmic drum beat provides a polyrhythmic groove. At the same time, dreamy vocals build and contain various effects to give it a thick, layered sound. Hints of gothic undertones can be heard throughout, as this obscure piece goes through a rotational pattern with the music. “Vampiresa” is a creepy little track that contains some nice Dungeon Synth elements and haunting narrations. There is also a monstrous vocal effect in the background that is downright sinister. The drum beats in this track are pretty cool and show a modest Crypt Hop influence. “Ajos y Cruces” is another Dungeon Synth-heavy track with spacey vocals and an overall Renaissance era vibe to it. “Vampiric Ancient Transmutation” commences with heavy distortion and echo effects that get absorbed into a dark drone, while eccentric vocals begin to make their way into the mix. At the same time, backward narration samples add an alluring feel to this track that is completely devoured by a grim ambiance. The final track on the album is “Ataúd Solitario (Burial Version)”. It begins much like the original version but the drum beats and keys have been replaced with melancholic synths and eerie soundscapes. The vocal performance is still the same, which stands out in both versions of the track.
Humanfobia is a unique and talented entity that has a vision for arcane compositions and seems to feel comfortable at fusing any genre they can to produce quality synth music. ‘Vampiresa’ is a fascinating EP in quite an impressive catalog of releases that I’m still diving into from this artist. If you’re into esoteric music and albums that fuse various genres of music, then I recommend checking out ‘Vampiresa’. Click on the link below and support this artist and check out the large catalog of albums available on their bandcamp page.
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Links:
https://humanfobia-official.bandcamp.com/album/vampiresa-ep-2020
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