Kristof Bathory – Humanoid Dystopia (Album – Cryo Chamber)
Genre/Influences: Dark-Ambient, Cinematic.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: This is the debut-album of Kristof Bathory -known as the front man of the Industrial band Dawn Of Ashes and is also involved with Void Stasis. The American artist composed eight tracks around a sci-fi theme dealing with ‘four androids exiled to a desert prison planet.’
Content: The work is driven by a fusion of Dark-Ambient and Cinematic music. You clearly recognize the Electro background of Kristof Bathory in the arrangements and sequences this work has been made of. But it first of all is a heavy sound production creating an apocalyptic vision through the slow progression of the tracks. Bombastic percussion parts and drones can be heard as well while parts have been accomplished with cool strings. Atrium Carceri and Dimensional Dryft have been both featured on one track.
+ + + : Kristof Bathory brings a different approach of Dark-Ambient and Cinematic music to the wide Cryo Chamber roster. The production is more elaborate and features numerous little details. It’s somewhat atypical but efficient. There’s a visual strength emerging at the surface creating the sensation of music composed for an imaginary Soundtrack. There’re multiple great tracks featured by I especially recommend listening to “Hostile Prisoner Colony” and “The Escape”. Other cool cuts are “The Arrival” for its heavy sound waves and the very Cinematic like “Surviving The Sandstrom” featuring Atrium Carceri. “Repairs For Space Travel” is another brilliant piece of darkness driven by cool sequences and overwhelming drones.
– – – : The album is just missing an absolute master track but this debut solo-work sounds phenomenal.
Conclusion: Kristof Bathory invites the listeners to visit a tormenting, sonic experience, in darkness.
Best songs: “Hostile Prisoner Colony”, “The Escape”, “The Arrival”, “Surviving The Sandstrom feat. Atrium Carceri”, “Repairs For Space Travel”.
Rate: 8½.
Artist: www.facebook.com/OfficialKBathory
Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com / www.facebook.com/CryoChamber
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