Hilyard – Division Cycle (Album – Cryo Chamber)
Genre/Influences: Dark-Ambient, Cinematographic.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Over the past eight years Bryan Hilyard has released an impressive discography. He was already familiar with Cryo Chamber, having released an album together with ProtoU (cf. “Alpine respire”) in 2017. “Division Cycle” is the American’s artist newest creation.
Content: “Division Cycle” perfectly matches with the sound approach of Cryo Chamber; a sonic trip throughout Cinematographic and Dark-Ambient fields. Mixing buzzing sound waves together with field recordings, the composition has something inhibited and mysterious. The last track was achieved together with Dronny Darko and ProtoU.
+ + + : I like the intimate approach of the composition. It feels as a sonic voyage through dark, imaginary places. The album has a strong visual appeal; at least some passages have this magic strength to stimulate your fantasy, facing images and feelings of despair and solitude. “Abandoned The Ramparts” is a perfect illustration of this vision.
– – – : A little bit more diversity would have been a bonus.
Conclusion: “Division Cycle” stands for a dark, chilling experience in Ambient music.
Best songs: “Abandoned The Ramparts”, “Of Hatred And Wrath”, “Altars Of Warfresh”.
Rate: 7.
Artist: www.facebook.com/hilyardmusic
Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com / www.facebook.com/CryoChamber
About Hilyard
Hilyard is the ambient project of Bryan Hilyard from Aurora, Maine, USA. Discogs lists releases from 2013 onwards, starting with “Flow”, “Between Silence And Solitude” and “Dystopia”, the last one made with Elam. Much of the catalogue came out on Stereoscenic, including “Asleep In Amber” (2016), “Repose” (2017), “Mercy Within” (2018), “Somnolent” (2019) and “On The Sorrow Of Firn” (2020).
His first Cryo Chamber release was the 2017 collaboration album with ProtoU, “Alpine Respire”, reviewed on Side-Line in October 2017, followed by the solo album Furthermore (2018), reviewed in January 2019. He is also among the participants on the label’s group album Yig (2021).
“Division Cycle” was released by Cryo Chamber on 23 February 2021 on CD and as a download. The nine tracks are “Division Cycle”, “Equal Segments”, “Of Hatred And Wrath”, “Altars Of Warflesh”, “Feed The Earth”, “Roots And Bones”, “Heartwood Reverie”, “Abandoned The Ramparts” and “To The Warmth Of Pyres”, the last written with Oleg Puzan (Dronny Darko) and Sasha Puzan (ProtoU). Hilyard wrote, produced and performed the album; Simon Heath mastered it and made the artwork. Later releases are the EP “Veils” (2021), “A Wake In Shadows” (Stereoscenic, 2022) and “Tomb Of Witches” (2023). “Division Cycle” is his second solo album for Cryo Chamber.
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