Genre/Influences: Ambient-Electro, IDM, Cinematic.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: After numerous collaborative productions and split-albums French artist Gwenn Trémorin strikes back with a new studio album of his sonic alter-ego Flint Glass. The album is also available on vinyl from Sealt (Russia). The work is the second chapter of a trilogy based upon H.P. Lovecraft’s “Cthulhu myth”.

Content: Flint Glass is not an artist who’s easy to catch and that’s mainly because of complex sound and writing. Numerous influences have been mixed together creating an imaginary soundtrack devoted to the genius of Lovecraft. From Klinik-al sequences to pure Ambient Electro-darkness to IDM to Experimental parts to Tribal sequences, the work covers an impressive sound canvas.

+ + + : Gwenn Trémorin is an artist who  no longer has to prove his talent, but it’s just a pity he isn’t more recognized for his genius. You can’t define his music as one particular genre, but he simply collects genres and influences to create his own sound devoted to H.P. Lovecraft. I like the sound intelligence and poignant atmospheres emerging from this creation, which leads to an absolute climax on “The Troubler Of The Sands”.

– – – : This is the kind of record you have to listen to a few times before you totally get into it. It’s not the most accessible production, but I guess it’s not made to entertain a wider audience.

Conclusion: A sophisticated, diversified and fascinating production once more confirming the visionary style of Flint Glass.

Best songs: “The Troubler Of The Sands”, “The Nameless Mist”, “Xexanoth”, “Nyctelios”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/FlintGlass

Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, dark-ambient.

Background/Info: This album is not a compilation, but a collaboration between numerous Cryo Chamber artists. Atrium Carceri, God Body Disconnect, Dronny Darko, ProtoU, Kolhoosi 13, Neizvestija, Northumbria,
Apocryphos, Randal Collier-Ford, Dead Melodies, Flowers For Bodysnatchers, Ager Sonus, Council Of Nine, Kammarheit, Gydja, Creation VI, Darkrad, Aegri Somnia, Ugasanie, SiJ, Alphaxone and Keosz have all contributed to this work, which took them over a year to accomplish “Shub-Niggurath”. It’s a conceptual work inspired by H.P. Lovecraft. Cryo Chamber already released previous Lovecraft tributes as a collaboration between label mates on “Cthulhu”, “Azathoth”, “Nyarlathotep” and “Yog-Sothoth”.

Content: “Shub-Niggurath” features 2 albums. It’s impossible to know what has been the real contribution of each artist, but one thing becomes rapidly evident: it’s a truly Cryo Chamber work. The influences and especially the dark-cinematic approach are easily recognizable. Each disc features a long duration track. The work is driven by the strength of the dark atmospheres and their visual appeal. From nihilistic landscapes towards cellar music, the work is joined by passages with drones, slow rhythms and an impressive arsenal of subtle noises, scratches and other sound effects.

+ + + : This kind of album featuring an endless list of artist is a real ‘tour de force’. It’s a fascinating concept, which I think would be interesting to realize how this album took shape and what have been the inputs of the artists. Next to the way it has been accomplished the album also reveals exciting passages and I here especially refer to low sound vibrations, the detailed format of the work with its endless number of sounds and noises, but most of all the baleful atmosphere recovering this tribute to the Master of fantasy and fiction.

– – – : Some passages are a bit long in duration and monotonous, but globally speaking there’s a real flow running through his work. I personally prefer the first disc although the final part of the second disc sounds pretty cool as well.

Conclusion: I don’t know other labels other than Cryo Chamber releasing this kind of conceptual work. It’s not only about a conceptual theme, but also about a label, which seems to be a real ‘family’.

Best songs: “Shub-Niggurath 1”.

Rate: (7½).

Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com /  www.facebook.com/CryoChamber

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient.

Background/Info: This new opus by Norwegian Svartsinn also is the first new studio album in 8 years. In the meantime Jan Roger Pettersen released a split album together with Northaunt and earlier this year the album “Collected Rarities”, which as the title indicates was an album filled with rarities. On “Mørkets Variabler” Pettersen got the company of cello player Amund Ulvestad. Notice by the way the album is also available on vinyl format as a double disc.

Content: Svartsinn bring us back to the essence of dark-ambient atmospheres characterized by the vision of abandoned landscapes and other endless sound corridors. Long and monotonous vibrating sound waves are leading the listener into a universe of discomfort. And when resonating screams of horror are suddenly disturbing the nihilistic mood hanging over the work you really get shocked. The cello adds an extra touch of sadness. The last cut is a remix by Kammarheit.

+ + + : “Mørkets Variabler” is an album without real surprises and I can’t affirm it’s innovating. But as I already say it brings us back to the essence of qualitative dark-ambient music, which is constructed with chilling sound, deep vibrating sound waves, elements of horror like screams, ghost-like voices and even some passages with percussion. It all together creates a strong visual appeal reaching its climax at “Where No Other Can Follow (Demon Stalker)” and “Echoes Of Silent Cries – Among The Sea Of Trees”.

– – – : This is a great album, which will hold you in its grip from start till finish, but it doesn’t bring anything new. But is it really necessary when you get such a great result?!

Conclusion: Svartsinn opens a gate to an imaginary vision of horror and hell. Forget the beauty of life and get ready to embrace the magic of darkness.

Best songs: “Where No Other Can Follow (Demon Stalker)”, “Echoes Of Silent Cries – Among The Sea Of Trees”, “In The Wake Of Azathoth – A Lovecraftian Epilogue”, “And In This Cloak Of Darkness I Cast My Shadow Short – Ghost Boy”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.svartrsinn.com / www.facebook.com/svartsinn1

Label: www.cycliclaw.com / www.facebook.com/cycliclaw

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

In 2014 Cryo Chamber got some of the most prominent dark ambient artists together to synchronize their studios during a year of collaboration creating the album “Cthulhu” in tribute to H.P. Lovecraft. It was followed up by the “Azathoth” collaboration album in 2015.

Following “Cthulhu and Azathoth”, Cryo Chamber now announces “Nyarlathotep”. This time 25 artists (!!!) synchronized their studios to create this tribute to H.P. Lovecraft. The album comes as a 3CD set and will soon be available for ordering via Cryo Chamber’s Bandcamp page.

The album will be officially out September 27, 2016. And to wet the appetite (and we’re pretty sure that serious dark ambient fans will be craving for this release) here’s already the list of bands which collaborated on the upcoming release:

• Kammarheit
• God Body Disconnect
• Dronny darko
• Ugasanie
• Kristoffer Oustad
• Alphaxone
• Svartsinn
• SiJ
• Gydja
• Atrium Carceri
• Darkrad
• Flowers for Bodysnatchers
• Aegri Somnia
• Randal Collier-Ford
• Neizvestija
• Metatron Omega
• Wordclock
• ProtoU
• Northumbria
• Sjellos
• Sabled Sun
• Council of Nine
• Cryobiosis
• Apocryphos
• Enmarta
• Mystified

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

side-line.com

The busy bees at Cryo Chamber are launching a 50% discount on all collaborations (and that includes compilations) available on their Bandcamp page from Azathoth, Onyx, Earth Songs, Cthulhu, Tomb of Empires, Sacrosanct and Behind the Canvas of Time.

And that’s not all, the label also presents various X-mas CD bundles (aka CD deals). You can check the deals out right here on the label’s Bandcamp page where you’ll find all kind of bundles.

Cryo Chamber is a 24 BIT dark ambient label focusing on deep high quality dark ambient with a cinematic edge. The 3-year old label has more than 70 releases under its belt and has been showing a strong and consistent output. A label to check out now in case you haven’t done so yet.

Owner of the label is 38-year old Simon Heath, a Swedish composer known for his work with Za Frûmi, Atrium Carceri, Abnocto and Krusseldorf. Heath also co-founded Za Frûmi with Simon Kölle and Donald Person. He has several other projects and also works on mastering other artists in the dark ambient scene.

You’ll be hearing more from Heath in the next days as he has compiled for us the TOP 10 ambient releases of 2015.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, soundscape.

Content: Last year Cryo Chamber released one of the most noticeable conceptual albums in history of dark-ambient music. “Cthulhu” was a collaboration of multiple artists in the genre accomplishing a phenomenal work around Lovecraft’s famous Cthulhu mythos and Dream Circle.

“Azatoth” is the successor to this impressive work. It again deals with the fantasy universe of H.P. Lovecraft, which has been transposed into dark sonorities by an impressive list of bands. It’s important to mention this is not a compilation, but an amazing collaboration featuring Atrium Carceri, Kammarheit, Foundation Hope, Taphephobia, Alphaxone, Alt3r3d Stat3, Apocryphos, Aseptic Void, Cryobiosis, Dark Matter, Darkrad, Dronny Darko, Halgrath, Mystified, Wordclock, Sabled Sun, Neizvestija, Randal Collier-Ford, Sjellos, Svartsinn, Tarradaemon and Ugasanie.

Each disc features just one single track. The 1st disc featuring “Azathoth 1” will hold you in its grip for almost an hour. It’s hard to imagine how this collaboration took part, but it once more stands for a real coup de force. You simply don’t get the impression this work resulted from the common efforts of all those bands. You’ll immediately get the impression of embarking on a heavy ambient trip leading you to imaginary freaky places. Low sound waves reinforced by overwhelming dark treatments are emerging to the surface creating a dark and frightening sensation.

Multiple sound treatments suddenly emerge like small pieces of a wider sonic puzzle. “Azathoth” stands for the chemistry of dark sounds, but especially for the chemistry between all those great artists. It’s hard to find the real input of every single formation, but I can assure you the impact of their common labor simply will leave you stupefied. This is for sure one of the most ambitious releases in history of dark-ambient music!

Cavernous passages joined by icy chain and humming sounds of imaginary spirits, plus multiple field recordings imprison the listener in a great, but freaky sonic cage from which you don’t really want to escape. You’ll progressively beg for more, just like reading a thriller which you cannot but down until the very end.

The 2nd disc featuring the track “Azathoth 2” will bring you more than 60 minutes of new chilling experiences. The style hasn’t changed and will directly lead you again towards the darkest corners of your imagination. I get the impression of being aspirated by the mouth of an evil force. This composition is carried by low vibrating sound waves featuring a kind of white noises. There’s a very progressive evolution towards darker and overwhelming passages.

This composition is also characterized by a few more accessible parts accentuating some prosperity. The work however remains ultra dark revealing chilling strings and echoing sound treatments.

Conclusion: It simply sounds incredible how this album has been realized while revealing a perfect cohesion between the input all of artists. I guess there’s no better sonic ode to Lovecraft than this work.

Best songs: “Azathoth 1”, “Azathoth 2”.

Rate: (DP:8½)DP.

Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com / www.facebook.com/CryoChamber

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

In 2014 Cryo Chamber got some of the most prominent dark ambient artists together to synchronize their studios during a year of collaboration creating the album “Cthulhu” in tribute to H.P. Lovecraft. As we announced in early August Cryo Chamber has doubled the effort with a 2CD release follow up titled “Azathoth”.

No less than 20 artists have been working for the last year to synchronize and co-create “Azathoth”. Hence why “Azathoth” should be considered a collaboration and not a compilation.

You can order your copy of the compilation right here.

The full artist list is as follows: Atrium Carceri, Kammarheit, Foundation Hope, Taphephobia, Alphaxone, Alt3r3d Stat3, Apocryphos, Aseptic Void, Cryobiosis, Dark Matter, Darkrad, Dronny Darko, Halgrath, Mystified, Wordclock, Sabled Sun, Neizvestija, Randal Collier-Ford, Sjellos, Svartsinn, Taphephobia, Terradaemon, Ugasanie.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

side-line.com

In 2014 Cryo Chamber got some of the most prominent dark ambient artists together to synchronise their studios during a year of collaboration creating the album “Cthulhu”. This year Cryo Chamber almost doubles the effort with a rumoured 2CD release follow-up. No less than 20 artists have been working for the last year to synchronise and co-create “Azathoth”. The album is scheduled for release in late 2015.

Note that “Cthulhu” and “Azathoth” are not compilations but collaborations.

The full artist list is as follows: Atrium Carceri, Kammarheit, Foundation Hope, Taphephobia, Alphaxone, Alt3r3d Stat3, Apocryphos, Aseptic Void, Cryobiosis, Dark Matter, Darkrad, Dronny Darko, Halgrath, Mystified, Wordclock, Sabled Sun, Neizvestija, Randal Collier-Ford, Sjellos, Svartsinn, Taphephobia, Terradaemon, Ugasanie.

Here’s a glimpse on what “Cthulhu” sounded like:

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

side-line.com