Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient.
Background/Info: DeepDark (Dmitry Vologdin) and Paranoia Inducta (Anthony ‘Armageddon Destroyer’)both have already released several split releases with other artists and are now releasing their first split-album together.
Content: Each project has 4 featured cuts. DeepDark takes off with an overwhelming, powerful dark-ambient composition. Deep, vibrating sound waves and resonating percussion have been mixed with field recordings and humming voices. There also is a cut with haunting piano-like playing.
Paranoia Inducta moves on, in the beginning less overpowering, but quite progressively the tracks became heavier and joining certain sonic climax.
+ + + : I’m not especially a huge fan of split releases, but “Mind Games” reveals a perfect twist between two inspired artists. I was deeply impressed by the monstrous sound treatments in both first tracks of DeepDark while Paranoia Inducta revealed a similar power in both last cuts. The tracks are progressively built up, reaching a devastating climax with a strong visual appeal. Notice by the way the CD is limited to 149 copies and is available in a digi-sleeve format..
– – – : I don’t see real minus points here; both debut tracks from Paranoia Inducta feel like a warm-up, but quite progressively this project also reaches a total apotheosis.
Conclusion: “Mind Games” is an interesting album, which will let you (re)discover two great projects in the dark-ambient music style.
Best songs: DeepDark: “Goals Of The Mind”, “Scorn” + Paranoia Inducta: “Torsion”, “Divine Invasions”.
Rate: (8½).
Artists: www.facebook.com/myDeepDark / www.facebook.com/paranoiainducta
