We have finally reached our favorite holiday of the year – Allhallows Eve, or Halloween as it’s referred to in modern times. For the youngsters, the festivities are completed by dressing up as their favorite characters and obtaining as much candy as possible while Trick o’ Treating! However, for others, it’s the perfect opportunity to embrace the darkness and dwell in all things maniacal and evil! Whether it’s watching your favorite horror series or getting an ear full of brooding music, there is no other day quite like this. My favorite thing to do is to have a dark music marathon of new and old music, no matter the genre. If you’re like me, there is never a shortage of music to listen to but if you’re down for checking out something new, I’ve compiled a set of summary reviews for seven new releases that are bound to get you into a dark, atmospheric mood. I hope you enjoy these recommendations and please support all of these artists and the labels that provide a platform for their ominous craft.
1. Halloween Scene – Issue No. 1-The Graveyard Manor
If you’re not spending Halloween with the sounds of spooky intent, then unfortunately you’ll not get to experience the full effects of the most ghostly night of the year. Thankfully, we have ‘Issue No. 1 – The Graveyard Manor’ by Halloween Scene to supplement our sinister audial needs. Over an hours worth of grim incantations of darkened ambience, this recording is just what we need to provide the eerie atmosphere for this special night. Whether it’s the ominous textures of “An Old & Gloomy Road”, “The Haunted Manor” and “An Eerie Secret Passage”, or the discordant soundscapes presented in “A Safe Room To Escape?” and “Cadavers Unearthed For Fiendish Reasons”, there is an uncanny presence though out that magnifies the intensity of this horror-filled evening. I hope that Halloween Scene continues to release these seasonal recordings, as it sets the mood perfectly.
2. Onasander – Eltanin
Onasander never fails to deliver the darkness and on the latest outing, ‘Eltanin’, we find a heavily drone-induced recording with the expansive elements of deep space ambience. Delivered in a soothing arrangement of flowing, broad textures, there is an ominous presence on each track that creates an unhinged barrier of menacing darkness. Tracks such as “Acrid” and “Council Of War” generate a dreamy scenario of comprehensive modulations akin to drifting in a celestial dimension, while “Ancient Nightsky” and “Outer Primitives” produce a range of eccentric soundscapes that may provoke a sense of fear. At any rate, this six track offering by Onasander is not only another amazing recording in his consistent discography, but it has a persistent sound direction that easily aligns with the theme of Hallows Eve.
3. Dev-I-Ant – A Place Of Warmth And Tears
Some Dark Ambient recordings are not meant for the squeamish; and by squeamish I mean those that are adversely triggered by haunting timbres and disturbing soundscapes. ‘A Place Of Warmth And Tears’ by Dev-I-Ant is a resounding journey through the macabre via unhinged, nightmarish textures and ominous field recordings. There is a frightful presence throughout this album that will send chills down your spine and may give your nightmares a nightmare. At almost seventy minutes in length, there is no escaping these terrifying modulations as they continuously elicit a sense of dread and provide jolts of disarray without any notice. Whether it’s Halloween or not, this is how Dark Ambient was intended to be played. If you think you’re ready for this menacing journey, then test the waters with tracks such as, “Carriage Of The Fox” and “The Room Of Despair”. These are prime examples of how disquieting this album is.
4. Erythrite Throne – Forever At The Mercy Of Thy Abhorrent Cruelty
Erythrite Throne has never released anything short of amazing. After all, in my opinion, Erythrite Throne is the G.O.A.T. of modern Dungeon Synth. On ‘Forever At The Mercy Of Thy Abhorrent Cruelty’, Wyrm constructs six tracks of Medieval enchantment, with powerful orchestrations and somber emotions that are compelled to bring out a sense of ensorcelled sorrow. It’s inevitably special when you can produce a sound of lugubrious intent and captivating beauty at the same time. At just under an hour, these six long players succeed in setting a gloomy mood and maintaining it for the duration of the recording. Not only is Erythrite Throne a treat to experience all year round, it’s uniquely amazing to experience it during the Season Of The Witch as well, as it magnifies the intensity of the darkness and all of the evil it brings with it.
5. Skuggkonungen – Skördetid
Skuggkonungen, an adept purveyor in the realms of Dark Ambient and Dungeon Synth music, presents his latest recording of minimalistic ambient music called, ‘Skördetid’. As if endlessly adrift in a vivid, hallucinating dream, these six modulations are crafted with enlightened intent. The electronic spectrum is a hallowed spectacle on this recording as each track presents a variety of soundscapes and modulations that flow seamlessly into the next, offering a unique, emotional experience along the way. Whether it’s the cold, disturbing drones of “Den Sista Frosten” or the retro soundscapes of “Vilan”, this amazing album has something to offer for all fans of ambient music. As Halloween festivities present a fabric for chaos and unhinged enjoyment, ‘Skördetid’ can be listened to for winding down from all of the abrupt discord that may have played out previously. Needless to say, this is a beautifully ominous album that can be enjoyed at anytime!
6. Mora-Tau – Music For Ghosts
When it comes to ambient improvisations, Mora-Tau is one of the best in the business. ‘Music For Ghosts’ is no exception as it showcases a sense of disharmonic nostalgia in the form of three epic tracks. At seventy two minutes long, there is plenty of room to balance haunting atmospherics with audible storytelling. Just in time for Halloween, this album can be used a a backdrop for those bleak moments that are to be expected during this dark, festive season. With layers of dissonant synth leads, there is a particular grimness that lurks around every corner and nothing is as it seems while churning through these long players. At just over twenty one minutes, the lead off track, “The Water Dripping From The Veins Of A Leaf” is the shortest on the album, but sets an ominous mood for what’s left to come. The albums title track (and fitting closer for this amazing recording) is twenty six minutes of sporadic modulations that complete the soulful journey that only Mora-Tau can present so eloquently.
7. Various Artists (Dustopian Frequencies) – Ghost Stories
In true Halloween fashion, Dustopian Frequencies presents ‘Ghost Stories’ a collection of tracks from four artists that go above and beyond the confines of basic presentation, by manifesting audial renditions of their favorite hauntings. With each song being around ten minutes in length, there is an endless space for translating these stories into magnificent audial performances that maintain the same level of impact. From Dark Ambient and Hauntology to Industrialized trance pieces, each convey a story or horror in their own unique way. My favorite amongst these transmissions is “Dullahan” by Everyday Dust. This whirlwind of a performance is a sonic journey through various modulations and sound sequences that are not only mesmerizing but paint a picture of a dystopian time where perpetual escapism becomes the norm and defeat by death exists at all costs. Each of the remaining tracks are high-level outings that demands the listeners attention with the utmost reward hanging in the balance.
Dungeon Synth & Dark Ambient Reviews!! 