B°Tong – Zenihilist (Digital/CD Album – Krater Recordings)
It’s been 20 years since Chris Sigdell released his first album under the B°Tong banner. Since then, he has produced an impressive body of work and returns this year with a new release on Krater Recordings, a subdivision of Audiophob.
The album’s title includes the words ‘zen’ and ‘nihilism’—two concepts the German artist approaches with both irony and sincerity. These ideas are transformed into a distinctive sound that drifts between Dark-Ambient, Cinematic, and Experimental. The structure of the opening tracks is superb, marked by deep sonic textures and an uncanny, immersive atmosphere. Spoken word passages further enrich the soundscape, perfectly complementing the overall tone. As the album progresses, more droning and humming waves of sound emerge, although the final section feels somewhat less compelling.
B°Tong delivers a highly commendable work, with a powerful and engaging beginning that gradually loses some of its momentum toward the end. (Rating:7).
Listen to “Graveyard Prayer”:
https://audiophob.bandcamp.com/track/graveyard-prayer
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