Apocryphos – Against Civilization (Album – Cryo Chamber)
Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, cinematographic.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Robert C. Kozletsky has been – and still is, involved with different projects (Shock Frontier, Psychomanteum ao) his most renowned project remains Apocryphos. “Against Civilization” is the first ‘new’ solo-album since “Stone Speak” (2016).
Content: “Against Civilization” is much different, like revealing an artist who explores the cinematic style deeper. The atmosphere recovering the work remains dark, sometimes a bit tormented, but still intimate. The tracks are pretty comparable to each other, creating a dense sonic puzzle with a few highlights. Notice by the way Pär Bostrom (Kammarheit, Cities Last Broadcast, Hymnambulae) contributed to 2 cuts.
+ + + : I can’t say this is the best work I’ve heard from Apocryphos, but it definitely appears to be the most intimate and personal work to date. There’s a deeper concept behind, but it all feels like an artist who shares his deepest frights together with his audience. So the work has a real visual strength, which is reinforced by the use of field recordings. I like the most obscure side from the album appearing with “Dysphagia”, but especially on “Sunken Eyed Theopanies”. Some sound effects and field recordings have a very subtle touch, like little details accentuating the truly spirit and darkness of the work.
– – – : The album has something monotonous; there’s not that much difference between the tracks so you can get the sensation listening to a single, long during track without that much diversity.
Conclusion: This album totally fits the cinematic concept of Cryo Chamber, but it’s definitely not my favorite Apocryphos work in history.
Best songs: “Sunken Eyed Theopanies”, “Dysphagia”, “Altschmerz”.
Rate: (7).
Artist: www.facebook.com/apocryphosdrone
Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com / www.facebook.com/CryoChamber
About Apocryphos
Apocryphos is the solo dark ambient project of American musician Robert C. Kozletsky, also known for Shock Frontier and Psychomanteum. Kozletsky first appeared on Cryo Chamber with the 2015 collaboration “Onyx” alongside Kammarheit and Atrium Carceri, before the solo album “Stone Speak” in 2016 and a further Kammarheit/Atrium Carceri reunion, “Echo”, in 2017. The project has continued on Cryo Chamber since “Against Civilization” with further albums including “Phantoms Received”, “Atrementia” and “Ultimim Saeculum”.
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