Den Sorte Død – Undergangen (Album – Cyclic Law)

Genre/Influences: Ambient-Electro, Cinematic.
Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.
Background/Info: The Swedish duo Den Sorte Død -which can be translated as The Black Death, joined hands together with Cyclic Law and re-release “Undergangen” originally released in 2019 as digital- and vinyl production.
Content: The work features the 7 original songs leading the listener into a pure Ambient-Electro sphere with a wink to pioneers like J.M. Jarre, but with a darker approach. The tracks have been progressively built up, featuring multiple astral sounds and bleeps while driven by down-tempo rhythms.
+ + + : Den Sorte Død is a surprising signature to the Cyclic Law roster, but on the other hand it also enlarges the sonic horizon of the label. I like the analogue sound treatments and effects, which sound pretty retro-like although with a personal, obscure touch on top. The opener, which is the title-track, is a master cut.
– – – : It’s a pity the production remains instrumental. I perfectly imagine spoken vocals and/or chants emerging now and then.
Conclusion: Dark and relaxing space-music.
Best songs: “Undergangen”, “Dyster Köld Mörker”, “Dödsdans I Skogsbrand”.
Rate: 8.
Artist: www.facebook.com/densortedoed
Label: www.cycliclaw.com / www.facebook.com/cycliclaw
Listen to “Undergangen”:
About Den Sorte Død
Den Sorte Død is a ritual project by the Swedish artists working as Offermose and Angst. The pair first issued “Undergangen” themselves in 2019 in a limited self-released edition, presenting the record as a spell cast from the forests of Sweden.
Cyclic Law brought the album back on 22 July 2022 on CD and vinyl, on the same day it released the duo’s fifth full length, “Depressiv Magi”. Both titles were pressed in runs of 300 copies per format. The reissue carries the seven original tracks.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
