Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, ritual.

Background/Info: Ukrainian artist  Andrzew Gladushevskiy joined hands together with Malignant Records to unleash the second official album of Monocube. The work features 9 cuts and reveals a few interesting features from Apocryphos, Treha Sektori and Asmorod.

Content: The dark atmosphere hanging over this work rapidly conjures images of isolation and other horror atmospheres. Typical obscure sound treatments, icy sweeps, ghost-like growls and I presume field recordings are the main ingredients of this poignant work.

The work progressively moves towards more overwhelming cuts resulting in two noticeable final cuts featuring first Treha Sektori and next Asmorod.

+ + + : Good ambient music always has this magic visual appeal and it’s not that different here. But “The Rituals” also reveals great sound treatments, which remains dark and sometimes moves into ritual passages. From the monotonous, but ghost-like sounds towards heavier sonic treatments accentuated by some drones to finally end in a pure cinematographic approach this album has a lot to offer. It’s an elaborated opus with a great finale and especially the tracks together with Treha Sektori and Asmorod.

– – – : I like the progression in the tracklist although some cuts from the debut are missing the real evil spirit from the final part. I expected a bit more out of the collaboration with Aprocryphos.

Conclusion: Monocube sounds like the architect of an imaginary obscure area, which quickly becomes a sonic temple of evil forces.

Best songs: “Father Fenris”, “Anthracite Glow feat. Treha Sektori”, “Drowned Sun”, “Initiation feat. Asmorod”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.facebook.com/monocube.official

Label: www.malingnantrecords.com / www.facebook.com/malignantrecords