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
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