God Body Disconnect &#8211; SIDE-LINE

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.

Top 25 industrial / darkwave albums of the year 2023

Inferno Sound Diaries — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 11:58:15 +0000

Referring to the events that unfolded globally, 2023 has again been a bloody, terrible year. Music continues to be a true therapy for soothing pain and suffering, though it seems to have a diminishing impact on the ongoing horror. Therefore, I’m once again wrapping up the year with a personal selection of my very own ‘best of’ albums.

Throughout the year, over 700 productions were selected, and 450 reviews were conducted. Some productions were declined because the style of music didn’t fit, others weren’t reviewed for not being ‘good enough’, while a final portion of reviews will be postponed to early 2024. I am immensely grateful to all the labels, bands, and promoters for considering my work, and I look forward to collaborating again in 2024.

I extend my deepest gratitude and thanks to Rich Bova (NEIKKA RPM), who has been reading, correcting, and improving the reviews for many years. Without Rich, these reviews would not exist. I also want to thank Bernard Van Isacker, chief editor of Side-Line Music Magazine, for our ongoing, successful collaboration. Last but not least, I thank my lovely wife, Katja, for giving me the time and freedom to pursue my passion.

However…

Looking ahead to 2024, I’ve been scaling back my activities for a few years and plan to reduce them further. Having started with my first reviews and interviews back in 1991, I feel the end drawing near. My aim is to reach 2025, but nothing is certain. I’ve grown a bit tired and disillusioned with how things are evolving.

That’s why I want to express a big ‘F*** you’ to so-called ‘artists’ and label owners who fail to realize or appreciate the work I do in creating reviews and preparing interviews to spotlight them. Guys, I do this for free and in my free time! The attitude and lack of respect shown by some – fortunately a very few – is very, very sad. But, I’m afraid it reflects the world we live in. Behind a genius artist doesn’t always stand a great person. It’s odd realizing that the ‘biggest’ and long-established artists in this scene are often the most accessible.

Writing reviews remains highly subjective and a source of discussion. Remember, it’s always the reviewer’s perception. I assure you, I always strive to substantiate my reviews as best as possible. A review is subjective but must be honest!

Like every year, I’ve selected the best albums of the year 2023. This ‘TOP 25’ encompasses various styles like EBM, Dark-Electro, IDM, Synth-Pop, Ethereal, Dark-Ambient, Industrial, Ritual, Cinematic, Gothic, Post-Punk, Cold/Dark-Wave, Dark-Techno, and a few related genres. It’s always an exciting yet challenging task.

This ‘TOP 25’ is based on the promotional material I received, excluding compilations, ‘best of’ productions, EPs, and singles. So, here’s my ‘TOP 25’ from 2023, and don’t forget to share it with your friends…

Stéphane Froidcoeur (for Inferno Sound Diaries/Side-Line Reviews)

Top 25 albums of the year 2023

CERULEAN VEINS “Black” Cold Transmission Music
LIEBKNECHT “Fabrikat” Ant-Zen
FRONTIER GUARDS “Colony” Aliens Production
SOPOR AETERNUS & THE ENSEMBLE OF SHADOWS “Alone At Sam’s – An Evening With…” Apocalyptic Vision / Trisol
WAVESHARD “Waveshard” Corvus Records
THE EMPATH “Black Hole” Audiophob
VNV NATION “Electric Sun” Metropolis Records
EFF DST “Incarnate” Ant-Zen
ENZO KREFT “XL” Enzo Kreft
DELEYAMAN “The Sudbury Inn” TTO Records
GIRLS UNDER GLASS “Backdraft” Dependent Records
ALIEN VAMPIRES “Return Me To Hell” Alfa Matrix
SUN’S SPECTRUM “The Silence After The Fall” Cold Transmission Music
DANIEL MYER “Hingab” Sonic Groove
SHROUDS “Shrouds” Hands
DIARY OF DREAMS “Melancholin” Accession Records
MONO INC “Ravenblack” NoCut / SPV
ROME “Gates Of Europe” Trisol
OHNE NOMEN “The S-Witch” Cold Transmission Music
THE SEVEN WHORES OF THE APOCALYPSE “All Through The Waste” Scanner / Dark Dimensions
SPANKTHENUN “The Bunker Tapes Vol.3” SpankTheNun
BLACKCARBURNING “Watching Sleepers” COP International
GOD BODY DISCONNECT “The Weight Of Regression” Cryo Chamber
MILDREDA “Blue-Devilled” Dependent Records
PASCAL SAVY “Simulacra” Cyclic Law

Click Interview with God Body Disconnect: ‘The Project Can Be Viewed As A Blueprint To My Life’

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 18:00:00 +0000

Behind this American solo-project is hiding Bruce Maollem. He was previously involved with Metal projects till he set up God Body Disconnect. The debut album “Dredge Portals” was released in 2016 by Cryo Chamber. Bruce became a prolific artist who this year released “The Weight Of Regression” which is his eighth album so far. The music reflects some of the darkest thoughts and states from his inner life.It’s a dark and tormented sound universe featuring narrating, ghost-like vocals. God Body Disconnect is an unique experience in sound which incited me to get in touch with the artist.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: I think to might affirm God Body Disconnect is a very personal, prolific and intimate sonic project. Do we’ve to see it as a kind of mirror to your inner self and how important is this music project to you?

Bruce: God Body Disconnect is a dear project to me. A mirror reflecting myself is an accurate description. It represents my fears, hopes, pain, emotional states, etc. The project can be viewed as a blueprint to my life.

Q: How do you perceive the evolution of God Body Disconnect from the very first album “Dredge Portals” released in 2016 to your newest opus “The Weight Of Regression”?

Bruce: I don’t think the overall direction of God Body Disconnect has changed all that much since it’s inception. Even on “Dredge Portals” I was writing melancholic music, and doing introspective monologues. I view all my solo-albums to be interconnected. Each album represents a view of myself. If there is an evolution, it is representative of my own emotional growth. “The Weight Of Regression” is just the next chapter in the book so to say.

Q: “The Weight Of Regression” is based on your experiences in psychiatric hospitals, mental illness, and a chaotic past. That makes this work very personal and I even get the feeling to become ‘voyeur’. Can you share a bit more details about the content and the goal behind the work? And in which way do you consider music and especially God Body Disconnect as a kind of self-therapy?

Bruce: “The Weight of Regression” is very much connected to the title itself. It explores the dread, and emotional weight of regressing in my mental health. Going back to the psychiatric hospital, or the medicine I depend on not working anymore is a real fear of mine. The album also delves back into my past, and some of the traumas that have brought me to this point. With that being said, there isn’t one definitive theme I can point to for this album, or any of my albums, besides exploring my life and emotions.

God Body Disconnect is most definitely akin to self therapy for me. It’s a place where I can fully express myself, and try to make some sense of how I’m feeling, and why. I don’t always get the answers I seek, but I usually come out of it with a better understanding of who I am.

Q: God Body Disconnect also stands for a deeply, artistic music project. I’m always interested in the way an artist transposes concepts and especially inner-thoughts into music. Can you tell us a bit more about this procedure and your modus operandi to compose a track/album?

Bruce: I don’t have a set procedure for writing an album. When the inspiration hits, I’ll sit down and begin to compose. I’m never sure what the end result will be. The vocal narrations usually come at the end of the process, when I’ve had some time to process what music I’ve written. They aren’t well thought out or written monologues, but rather pieces of vocal recordings I’ll make at night off the cuff. When something resonates with me, I’ll use the vocals to build a story around the musical compositions. It’s sort of a backwards process, but it’s usually what works for me.

Q: What have been the highlights in the writing and production of the new album? And what have been the biggest challenges and difficulties?

Bruce: The highlights are always writing music that moves me inside, and the experience of going on a personal journey. The challenges are finding the correct path to begin the journey. I’ll sometimes write a full album, and find that I’ve reached a dead end with no real emotional closure. It’s then I’ll have to muster up the inner strength to start on a different path, hoping that it will reach something meaningful for me. It’s the same process with every album, not just my latest.

Q: I get the idea you must be already working on new ideas but what are the future plans and productions?

Bruce: I’m currently in production of a new God Body Disconnect solo-album. I’m also beginning to work with my good friend Pär Boström on our Underwater Sleep Orchestra-project. There is also a new non-Dark-Ambient project I’ve completed an album for that will soon see the light of day.

God Body Disconnect – The Weight Of Regression (Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Cinematic, Dark-Ambient.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Bruce Moallem unleashed the eighth album of his God Body Disconnect project this year. It remains a very personal music odyssey; kind of sonic canvas to express and exorcize some of his deepest thoughts. The new work is ‘based on his experiences in psychiatric hospitals, mental illness, and a chaotic past, Bruce serves us a harrowing story dealing with traumas, regrets, and gnawing thoughts of revenge.’

Content: God Body Disconnect doesn’t innovate but moves on there where previous work stopped. The music serves as poignant Cinematic exposure where you get the feeling of watching a movie/documentary without images. It sounds dark and ghost-like because of the narrating vocal parts which became a trademark of the artist. Long and abyssal compositions are inviting the listener to face the artist’s inner demons and traumatic experiences when he was hospitalized in psychiatry. The album also features more evasive -although still dark, Ambient parts featuring guitar play and slow rhythms.

+ + + : Music composition remains maybe the best cure to exorcize personal experiences. The album reflects an expressive atmosphere which I think is perfectly fitting to the traumatic theme of the work. It feels uncomfortable and even tormented. You in a way can imagine the fright and disorientation of Moallem. The long duration tracks have been built up to a crescendo to reach a final stage of angst. The visual appeal of the work is omnipresent while accentuated by the spooky, narrating, vocals. “Remnants Of A Soldier” is a brilliant exposure of the work and its theme. I also enjoyed the dark, dreamy, parts played with guitar and driven by a slow cadence.

– – – : The album stands for expression and to feel its density you definitely have to listen to the work in the right circumstances. It’s not the most classical Cinematic sound experience so it might take time to get into the work of this project.

Conclusion: This work sounds as a sonic testimony hiding an inner pain the listener can’t feel but we can only enjoy the beauty of this artistic juxtaposition.

Best songs: “Remnants Of A Soldier”, “Sometimes It Feels Like Hope”, “Dosed And Dreaming”, “Shackled By You”.

Rate: 8½.

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

Underwater Sleep Orchestra – Insomnolance (Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Cinematic, Dark-Ambient.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: After the successful album “The Night And Other Sunken Dreams” Pär Boström (Cities Last Broadcast, Kammarheit, Bonini Bulga ao) and Bruce Moallem (God Body Disconnect) renewed their collaborative work. “Insomnolance” is meant for ‘the drifters between sleep and wake. Music calling from blurry forests of the mind.’

Content: The work sounds more Cinematic and less into explicit Electronics than the previous work. It however remains a Cinematic exploration of dark sonic realms and imaginary, abyssal, depths. When you get the feeling it all becomes relaxing you immediately get aware of an ominous, invisible, danger. Dark and misty atmospheres have been accomplished with subtle sound treatments.

+ + + : Underwater Sleep Orchestra strikes back with a different kind of album although holding on the Cinematic style. This one sounds a little darker and the ghost-like atmosphere they injected has a strong visual appeal. It has something menacing and this uncomfortable sensation only accentuates the fantasy of the listener. That’s what I should call great Cinematic/Ambient music. Both debut tracks are the most noticeable cuts; darkness created by low, resonating sounds mixed with field recordings and human growls.

– – – : When you’ve heard both debut cuts you’ve already heart the best of this album. So no real climax after a brilliant, dark, beginning.

Conclusion: Underwater Sleep Orchestra has never sounded like an occasional collaboration but it feels as a true, talented, project.

Best songs: “Into The Woods (Far, Far Away)”, “Counting Poisoned Sheep”, “Mirage”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/underwatersleeporchestra

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

God Body Disconnect – Spiral Of Grief (Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Cinematic.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Bruce Moallem has unleashed his seventh studio album under the God Body Disconnect moniker. All works have been released by Cryo Chamber.

Content: “Spiral Of Grief” moves on there where the previous album “The Dormancy” (2021) stopped. An intimate sonic voyage throughout sad, imaginary, paths. Long sound waves have been mixed with dark string parts, field recordings and guitar-like sounds. And God Body Disconnect again injected ghost-like spoken vocals accentuating the sadness -and madness, of the work.

+ + + : God Body Disconnect clearly has a very own approach, kind of sound DNA which is mainly resulting from the cavernous, frightening, whispering, vocals and the obscurity of the sound which remains however delicate for its arrangements. It sounds as a very intimate and personal travel throughout the mind of Moallem.

– – – : I would have liked to hear more vocals which are that particular and accentuating the visual strength of this album.

Conclusion: It all feels a bit like God Body Disconnect wants to face ourselves with our deepest and most hidden demons and frights; a sonic path towards afterlife…

Best songs: “Lost Within The Spiral Of Grief”, “At The Edge Of The Cosmic Sea”, “The Furthest From God”, “Please Forgive And Release Me”.

Rate: 8.

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

God Body Disconnect – The Dormancy (Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-Ambient, Cinematographic.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: This is the sixth album by God Body Disconnect. Nine songs where Bruce Moallem invites the listeners to embark for a new sonic journey throughout the inner self.

Content: It’s not pure Cinematographic and/or Dark-Ambient music, but definitely a related style. The composer is mixing dark Electronic atmospheres together with field recordings and narrating voices. The tracks have been progressively built up, the field recordings accentuating the visual strength of the work till the last track revealing piano playing bringing the work to a higher dimension.

+ + + : The previous work of God Body Disconnect couldn’t totally convince me while this new opus brings us back to the essence of the project. I like the desperate sphere emerging at the surface. It all reflects a state of mental illness… solitude for sure, sometimes becoming a paranoid experience accentuated by the ghost-like storytelling. I also have to say a word about great field recordings accentuating the visual aspect.

– – – : This is definitely one of my favorite God Body Disconnect releases, which is just missing a few little details to speak about a true masterpiece.

Conclusion: “Dormancy” is an intriguing title and state of being masterly adapted into an inhibited, but poignant music piece.

Best songs: “Numb Rooms”, “The Dormancy”, “The Difference”.

Rate: 8.

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

Underwater Sleep Orchestra – The Night And Other Sunken Dreams (Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-Ambient, Cinematographic, Experimental.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: This new project is a collaboration between Swedish renowned artist Pär Boström (Cities Last Broadcast, Kammarheit, Bonini Bulga ao) and American artist Bruce Moallem (God Body Disconnect). ‘The album is presented as two different dreams from the same night. One a nightmarish trip within blurry worlds and one a nostalgic journey about things real and unreal’.

Content: If you might expect a symbiosis between both artist’s respective projects, you’re definitely wrong. This music however remains driven by Dark-Ambient elements, but globally speaking it sounds more Electronic and especially into minimalism. There’s a perfect harmony between field recordings and Electronic sound treatments. It’s an easy going dark sonic sensation, which is moving from dreamy passages to darker parts. The very last cut features a few spoken-like, whispering vocals.

+ + + : We all know Cryo Chamber for the collaborative efforts between the artists, but this one sounds different. It sounds like something totally new and with a very own focus. It’s definitely more electronic than most of the Cryo chamber productions, but it remains devoted to the Cinematographic taste of the label. It’s just a more visionary approach achieved with refined and subtle sound treatments and bleeps.

– – – : The work features 16 cuts, which is cool, but a little bit predictable after a while.

Conclusion: I can only encourage both artists to move on with this promising project, which has something apart from the ‘classical’ Cinematographic productions.

Best songs: “Sing It Like Fire”, “A Sullen Slumber”, “Wing Upon Wing”, “Dressed As A Memory”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/underwatersleeporchestra

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

God Body Disconnect – The Wanderer’s Dream (Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 18:30:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, Dark-Ambient.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: American composer Bruce Moallem strikes back with his fifth solo-album. It all looks like he moved on where his previous opus “The Depths Of Finality” stopped; a hard struggle with inner demons and the hard struggle with it.

Content: The sound formula Bruce Moallem is using hasn’t really changed. The album sounds a tiny bit less versatile as its predecessor, but the listener will again be invited to embark for an intimate cinematographic trip, chasing the inner demons of the musician. The production is less tormented, but more into a dark prosperity. Field recordings, featuring explicit aquatic noises, have been merged together with obscure tones and chilling atmospheres.

+ + + : God Body Disconnect seems to become a true therapy for its author. The intimate character is coming through although it doesn’t totally reflect the ‘concept’ or main theme. It rather sounds like pure dark-reverie. I like this prosperity accentuated by abyssal effects and directly coming through at the first track.

– – – : I sometimes get the feeling the simple fact of composing his music as a way to chase his inner demons, became more important to Bruce Moallem than the global result. I totally respect this method –which is a perfect cure and part of the healing process, but I definitely prefer the earlier productions.

Conclusion: Music -and expression generally speaking, both remain the best way to self-insight and cure; this Cinematographic trip is a new chapter in the process of God Body Disconnect to express emotions.

Best songs: “The Ghost That Dwells Within”, “The Heart Unfolds”.

Rate: 6½.

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

Cryo Chamber Collaboration – Yig (Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 23 May 2021 18:30:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, Dark-Ambient.

Format: Digital, 2CD.

Background/Info: Since 2014, each year we get a “Cryo Chamber Collaboration”-album. It always consists of a collaborative- and conceptual production between label artists paying tribute to the work of H.P. Lovecraft. This latest production has been released at the end of 2020 and features the following artists:Neizvestija, ProtoU, Dronny Darko, RNGMNN, In Quantum, Dead Melodies, Atrium Carceri, Keosz, Northumbria, Beyond The Ghost, Wordclock, God Body Disconnect, Randal Collier-Ford, Hilyard, Council Of Nine, Dahlia’s Tear, Lesa Listvy, Creation VI, Aegri Somnia, Ager Sonus, Ruptured World and Alphaxone.

Content: The work features two extended pieces from 70 and 69 minutes. “Yig 1” is more diversified featuring buzzing noises, passages with slow rhythms, vocal effects, dreamy atmospheres, and field recordings. It’s a pure Cinematographic sensation, which becomes even more explicit on “Yig 2”. We here get an abyssal sensation featuring low sound resonations and progressively evolving into a total ‘film music’ approach refined with piano parts.

+ + + : This collaborative concept remains a unique experience, but also a true tour de force set up and masterly lead by Cryo Chamber’s owner Simon Heath. The common thread of this work is the dark atmospheres reflecting a pure Cinematographic style. It’s a collage of different parts, which all together create a sonic osmosis. I personally prefer the first disc “Yig 1”, which is more diversified and also a bit darker. You don’t really get the feeling listening to tracks of one hour; there’s enough variety resulting in different passages, which are now refined and then rougher. This is the perfect release to accompany a visual performance.

– – – : Even if the production is diversified, there however is a monotonous sphere hanging over the work. I’m missing highlights.

Conclusion: This album once again stands for the true spirit of Cryo Chamber; Cinematographic music around a conceptual theme accomplished by the artists of the label roster.

Best songs: “Yig 1”.

Rate: (7).

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

God Body Disconnect – The Depths Of Finality (Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 20:00:10 +0000

Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, Dark-Ambient.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Behind God Body Disconnect is hailing American artist Bruce Moallem who this year released his fourth full-length solo-album by Cryo Chamber. Music has always been a kind of mirror to express the artist’s emotions. This work has been introduced as his most personal work to date coming after a hard period of sickness, hospitalizations and the shadow of death…

Content: I can’t say that the album feels to me as the most personal and/or intimate production composed by Bruce Moallem, but it definitely appears to be one of his most versatile works. Some tracks are extremely dark, obscure and even tormented while others feel like an enlightening and dreamy voyage. This way it might be understood as an exposure of death and life… the darkness moving towards the light. From monstrous voice effects towards the feeling of getting surrounded by stars, the composing is bringing extremes together. Among the relaxing cuts there’s this surprising last song played by guitar.

+ + + : God Body Disconnect has accomplished a fine cohesion between multiple field recordings and dark sonic manipulations accentuated by ghost-like atmospheres and monstrous voice effects. This sound creates a visual appeal getting me the illusion of entering the gate of afterlife. But there’s an interesting duality running through the work, which has been created by several, totally relaxing pieces. There’s no real hostility in the atmosphere, but an imaginary invitation to embrace life. That’s at least how I understood the work this artist has accomplished by once again expressing his deepest thoughts throughout creative impulses.

– – – : I can’t say this is my favorite album from God Body Disconnect as I prefer previous, darker productions, but I definitely feel a real emotional content coming through.

Conclusion: This is an album reminding us all music and artistic creation in general, remains one of the best therapies in life. This is an exit to hard reality!

Best songs: “The Fear Of Deliverance”, “Through The Old Mirror”, “We All Turn To Stars”.

Rate: (7).

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

Atrium Carceri & Cities Last Broadcast – Black Stage Of Night (Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 19:00:32 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, dark-cinematographic.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Simon Heath (Atrium Carceri, Sabled Sun ao) and Pär Boström (Kammarheit, Hymnambulae, Bonini Bulga ao) have already worked together on a previous album (cf. “Black Corner Den”) and another one with God Body Disconnect as an extra artist. They also did a few more albums together as Atrium Carceri and Kammarheit so both Swedes know each other very well.

Content: You don’t really get the feeling this album sounds like a side-project between label mates. There’s a true cohesion in the songs, which are mixing the dark-ambient and –cinematographic styles together. The songs have been slowly built up, progressively creating a haunting atmosphere, which feels a bit like announcing a disaster. Field recordings have been added to the writing. Some passages are accentuated by sad tunes leading the listener into an imaginary sadness.

+ + + : The main strength and characteristic of this album is the intimate mood created by both artists. Even if the tracks sound dark and supported with desperate atmospheres, there also is something evasive running through the composition. “A New Constellation” is a brilliant exposure of this inner feeling. There’s a touch of grace running through the album, which finally gave birth to a few beautiful tracks.

– – – : This is probably the best album released between both musicians. It however misses a total climax to speak about a genius work, but there’s magic vibes between Atrium Carceri and Cities Last Broadcast.

Conclusion: There’s strong chemistry between both artists, which resulted in a passionate and very personal production.

Best songs: “A New Constellation”, “Mind Turns To Night”, “Attic And Wormwood”, “All Things Nocturnal”.

Rate: (8).

Artists: www .atriumcarceri .com / www .facebook .com /Atrium –Carceri -376509390774 / www .facebook .com /citieslastbroadcast

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

God Body Disconnect – The Mist Between Mirrors (CD Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 18:30:05 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-cinematographic, dark-ambient.

Background/Info: It took two years for Bruce Moallem (aka God Body Disconnect) to achieve his third solo-album, which is inspired by solitude and loneliness.

Content: The cinematic approach became more explicit at the previous work “Sleeper’s Fate” (2017) and is again the essence of this new work. But there’s also a reminiscence of the psychedelic influence, which was present on the debut album “Dredge Portals” (2016). The guitar playing creates this psychedelic flavor while the dark electronic layers create an imaginary abyssal sound space, which has been accentuated by field recordings. You’ll also notice a few spoken passages and some female chants emerging at “Another Lullaby From The Abyss”.

+ + + : I definitely prefer this album to its predecessor. The writing is more mature and there’s an intimate, but poignant aspect emerging. The sonic universe of “The Mist between Mirrors” sounds prosper and yet there’s something tormented hiding deep inside. The tracks reveal diversity with a great transcendental sensation running through “The Existence Of Stars”. I here especially like the effects created by the guitar. But the truly apotheosis can be heard at the last cut. “Another Lullaby From The Abyss” moves back to darker ambient fields and reach a climax by the hypnotic female chants.

– – – : From a very personal point of view I would have liked to hear more passages with voices and especially chants.

Conclusion: This new opus is without a shadow of a doubt the most accomplished and simply best production to date from God Body Disconnect.

Best songs: “Another Lullaby From The Abyss”, “Where Our Ghosts Disappear”, “The Existence Of Stars”, “Grief Of The Living”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www .facebook .com /godbodydisconnect

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

God Body Disconnect – The Mist Between Mirrors (CD Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 18:30:56 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-cinematographic, dark-ambient.

Background/Info: It took two years for Bruce Moallem (aka God Body Disconnect) to achieve his third solo-album, which is inspired by solitude and loneliness.

– – – : From a very personal point of view I would have liked to hear more passages with voices and especially chants.

Conclusion: This new opus is without a shadow of a doubt the most accomplished and simply best production to date from God Body Disconnect.

Best songs: “Another Lullaby From The Abyss”, “Where Our Ghosts Disappear”, “The Existence Of Stars”, “Grief Of The Living”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www .facebook .com /godbodydisconnect

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

Atrium Carceri, Cities Last Broadcast, God Body Disconnect – Miles To Midnight (CD Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 20:30:06 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-cinematographic, dark-ambient.

Background/Info: Simon Heath (Atrium Carceri), Pär Boström (Cities Last Broadcast) and Bruce Moallem (God Body Disconnect) joined forces to compose what has been introduced as a jazz drums and cinematic wall-of-sound inspired by a mysterious ‘Lynchian’ hotel.

Content: “Miles To Midnight” totally fits to Cryo Chamber’s owner Simon Heath and sounds a bit like the ultimate dark-cinematographic work. There’s an unexpected jazzy atmosphere running through the work and, which becomes more explicit at “A Thousand Empty Rooms”. But the main passages are dark and even remind me of a requiem on the title track. You’ll also notice mysterious choirs in the distance. Dark sounds and field recordings have been mixed while the last cut, driven by a slow rhythm is bringing the work to a real climax.

+ + + : Cryo Chamber is without a shadow of a doubt ‘the’ label specialized in dark-cinematographic music and has many talented artists flying under its wings, but this work might be considered as the new reference in the genre. This work has something different and even a bit unique, but still featuring this ‘noir’ flavor. It’s a delicate- and even dreamy-like composition, which has something anguishing but also feeling like a sweet caress. You dive into an abyssal voyage created by the visual strength of the tracks.

– – – : The atypical character of the work is maybe what will be a little less confusing for some die-hard fans of the label. You don’t exactly expect a Cryo Chamber release with a jazzy touch on top.

Conclusion: Cryo Chamber has stimulated its artists to work together and numerous productions that have already seen the light of day, but “Miles To Midnight” definitely sounds as the most successful one in the genre. I can only encourage those artists to work on a new experience.

Best songs: “Quiet Days On Earth”, “Miles To Midnight”, “Scene Of The Crime”.

Rate: (8).

Artists: www .atriumcarceri .com / www .facebook .com /Atrium –Carceri -376509390774 / www .facebook .com /citieslastbroadcast / www .facebook .com /godbodydisconnect

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

‘Click Interview’ with Atrium Carceri: ‘I Am A Very Technically Inclined Producer’

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 18:00:35 +0000

In 2003 I heard the debut album “Cellblock” from the Swedish solo-project Atrium Carceri. This dark-ambient opus was one more great production released on the legendary Cold Meat Industry. Simon Heath should rapidly became a recognized artist in his music genre. He went on unleashing noticeable albums, started with side-projects such as Sabled Sun, Krusseldorf… and set up his own label Cryo Chamber in 2012. Simon Heath is a busy and prolific artist who by the end of 2018 released the newest Atrium Carceri opus “Codex”.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: 2018 has been a prolific year for Atrium Carceri. How do you look back at your different releases?

Simon: It’s been a creative year. I got the opportunity to work with a lot of talented artists and finally managed to finish up “Codex”, my solo album I have been working on for quite some time. All in all I tried pushing my boundaries, but my memory is getting blurry now that the year is drawing to a close.

Q: Your newest album “Codex” took you three years to get accomplished. What have been the different stadia you had to gone through to achieve “Codex” and what have been the main challenges and difficulties you encountered?

Simon: Since I created art, text, sounds, mastering, design, I could go back and forth between it all instead of finalizing stages and moving on. Both a curse and a blessing since it is a lot more time consuming, but being able to move freely within each step creates a lot of opportunity to tweak the coherency. If I had to name something to be happy about regarding this album it is how everything fits together.

Q: I experienced “Codex” as one of your most intimate releases in history. What is it really all about and how do you perceive this album in the Atrium Carceri discography?

Simon: I try not to explain too deeply how to interpret my works since it will ruin some of the personal interpretations out there and no interpretation is wrong. But for me the overarching theme is how we move between different states of mind and our relation to the reality of the majority. A pretend relationship based on lingual guesswork too primitive to fully cross reference our own reality.

Q: You like to work around ‘concepts’ so what is it all about for “Codex” and how do you transpose a concept into sounds, which become tracks and finally an entire album?

Simon: For me it comes down to justifications of sound within the concept. Each sound should represent something within the concept of the track; ‘cool sounds’ just aren’t enough justification for me. And then the tracks themselves have to be justified in relation to each other, and of course we can’t stop there, the artwork has to be justified in relation to the tracks. The reverse is also true, and going back and forth between everything to re-align/re-edit and adjust until it all fits together takes time. You tweak a sound, and it can mess with the flow of the album, mess with the artwork and the feel of the tracks change and so on.

Q: The music –properly speaking, is important, but the CD-version of “Codex” also features a digibook. What did you try to express by this artwork/digibook?

Simon: I made a decision on this album to not include any vocals in the audio itself, instead the DigiBook shoulders the responsibility with the narrative this time around. A big challenge is to find a balance with the narrative; don’t want too much exposition, but do not want to be overly ambiguous either and me working with art and text at the same time makes this process easier, if a bit more time consuming.

Q: Especially during the past few years you’ve collaborated with an impressive number of artists. What fascinates you in the work with other artists and does it have an impact/influence on your own way of working/composing/producing?

Simon: I thoroughly enjoy to dive into the workflow of other artists and am often blown away by different approaches to creating sound. While I am a very technically inclined producer, I often find myself the most creatively stimulated working with artists on the other side of the coin, true artists like the toy maker Pär of Cities Last Broadcast who has his weird tape-loop laboratory with self-made instruments, or musicians like Bruce of God Body Disconnect, a microphone connoisseur that jazz it out on his drums like it’s no big deal. They blow me away with their skill sets since they are so very different from my own.

Shub-Niggurath / Cryo Chamber Collaboration (DCD Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 21:00:21 +0000

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

God Body Disconnect – Sleeper’s Fate (CD Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 19:30:46 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, cinematographic.

Background/Info: One year after the debut work “Dredge Portals” Bruce Moallem is back on track, inviting the listeners to embark for a new journey into fantasy and horror.

Content: “Sleeper’s Fate” mixes elements of dark-ambient music together with pure cinematographic passages and field recordings. The album takes some distance with psychedelic elements running through the previous work and replaced it by an explicit soundtrack approach.

Some cuts are even into a kind of obscure reverie, which even sounds relaxing. The work has been once more accomplished by guitar playing on top of the electronic layers.

+ + + : God Body Disconnect doesn’t repeat itself and experiences with more pronounced cinematographic elements. Some of the field recordings only reinforce the visual strength of the work. You feel a bit like moving from horror visions towards more prosper and yet dark themes. I like this kind of reverie alternated with horror aspects. The field recordings and guitar playing are both essential items in this production. “Drowning With God” is a beautiful song with great and relaxing strengths.

– – – : God Body Disconnect remains an unusual dark-ambient experience. The versatile atmospheres moving from darkness to more relaxing passages is somewhat surprising and maybe not the most convincing part of the work.

Conclusion: “Sleeper’s Fate” can be compared to a nightmare. You’re progressively moving from restful and ‘innocent’ passages towards a state of total horror.

Best songs: “Drowning With God”, “Reservoir Dreamer”.

Rate: (7)

Band: www .facebook .com /godbodydisconnect

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

Sleeper’s Fate by God Body Disconnect

New God Body Disconnect album ‘Sleeper’s Fate’ released on Cryo Chamber – listen here

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 19:15:23 +0000

God Body Disconnect returns with a brand new 7-track album “Sleeper’s Fate”. Sonically you can prepare yourself for a really great mix of deep bass, ethereal guitar and post rock influences mixed with vocal narration and binaural field recordings.

Behind this dark ambient / post rock project is New Jersey (USA) based Bruce Moallem who debuted his God Body Disconnect project on Cryo Chamber with “Dredge Portals” which was released last year. The album is out now and is also available as a CD in 6 panel digipak limited to just 500 copies.

Note that he has been both drummer and lyricist to the experimental death metal act Dripping which over the years did everything from death and black metal to jazz fusion, and dreamy shoegaze rock. It explains his very different approach to dark ambient.

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.

Stardust by Alphaxone & ProtoU

Cryo Chamber launches a true Space Ambient Sale – listen to what is on offer!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 19:00:14 +0000

This week the dark ambient label Cryo Chamber is focusing on space ambient and for the occasion you can save 50% on the following digital downloads:

“Stardust” by the duo Alphaxone (Iran) & ProtoU (Ukraine)

The album mixes Alphaxone’s spacey synthesizers and ProtoUs’ filtered noise. The result is recommended for lovers of space ambient and old school science fiction soundtracks. Listen to it below.

“Locus Arcadia” by Council of Nine, God Body Disconnect, Flowers for Bodysnatchers and Randal Collier-Ford

“Locus Arcadia” is a split album between 4 artists: Council of Nine, God Body Disconnect, Flowers for Bodysnatchers and Randal Collier-Ford. This album focuses on a horror theme set on an abandon space station. For you who enjoy “Event Horizon” and similar space horror.

Locus Arcadia by Randal Collier-Ford, Flowers for Bodysnatchers, Council of Nine, God Body Disconnect

“Echoes from Outer Silence” by Alphaxone

This is the 4th album for Iranian Mehdi Saleh on the Cryo Chamber label. This space mystique album revolves around the interception of unknown signals from space. Field recordings from earth meet vibrations from deep space.

Echoes from Outer Silence by Alphaxone

Dark Ambient of 2016 by Cryo Chamber

Cryo Chamber releases 1-hour free ‘Dark Ambient of 2016’ track

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 19:30:09 +0000

Cryo Chamber has released a special Christmas gift to all of those who support the label. Continuing their yearly tradition, the label picked some interesting releases released this year and made an hour track out of it. Some of the tracks fall well within the dark ambient borders, while some other tracks scratch at the surface extending it’s inky tendrils all over neighbouring genres.

On this 1+ hour album you get to explore God Body Disconnect, Apocryphos, Sabled Sun and many other bands:

Here’s the tracklist:

Here’s a video that accompanies this free download:

Nyarlathotep : A Cryo Chamber Collaboration (3CD Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 18:33:34 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, soundscape, cinematographic.

Background/Info: Cryo Chamber definitely appears to be under the influence of H.P. Lovecraft. The label already released the “Cthulhu”-collaboration featuring several label artists working together and achieving a great opus.

“Nyarlathotep” is a new collaboration between an impressive number of label formations. The story is about ‘A season of political and social upheaval. Mankind felt as if the world was at a breaking point, but no one wanted to speak of this. Seasons grew hotter. Our faith in the known gods faltered. The timing was ripe for the arrival of Nyarlathotep.’

It has been transposed into music by 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 and Mystified. Three albums were accomplished.

Content: “Nyarlathotep 1” takes us away for a voyage throughout industrial metal sounds rapidly joined by dark, buzzing noise waves. The sound reveals heavy vibrations and the magic of an Eastern-like flute. We progressively join an imaginary world of obscure reverie, like entering a tenebrous universe featuring spooky voices. It also sounds like a misty sound universe made of disturbing passages accentuated by impressive sonic blasts.

“Nyarlathotep 2” definitely sounds more into the soundscape format. It’s not as heavy, but more into a dense and constant chilling atmosphere. It quite progressively evolves towards harder passages like echoing thunder in the background.

The final chapter and album “Nyarlathotep 3” takes off with a kind of signals from an imaginary, distant planet. It’s pretty astral-minded while reinforced by great sweeps and new buzzing sound waves. It moves towards a crescendo until reaching an absolute climax while the final part sounds pretty oppressive and tormenting, somewhat reminding to the early work of Lustmord.

+ + + : The realization of this work is absolutely amazing and rather unique. This is the kind of concept that wouldn’t have been possible without an artist taking the responsibility to create an interaction between all contributors. Simon Heath has been probably the one that made this enormous project come true. You don’t really have the impression of listening to a mishmash created by numerous artists. The work is pretty compact and homogenous featuring a great 1^st and 3^rd disc.

– – – : The release stands for more than 3 hours of sound and music so you really have to take your time listening to this work in the right circumstances. I wanted to discover the work without interruption, which took me several takes.

Conclusion: “Nyarlathotep” is a great conceptual release based upon an original idea, but it also reveals the ‘family’ approach of Cryo Chamber to unite all bands under the same wings.

Best songs: “Nyarlathotep 1”, “Nyarlathotep 3”, “Nyarlathotep 2”.

Rate: (8).

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

Randal Collier-Ford, Flowers For Bodysnatchers, Council Of Nine, God Body Disconnect – Locus Arcadia (CD Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 09 Oct 2016 18:58:31 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient.

Background/Info: We’re used to discovering Cryo Chamber releases featuring multiple bands from the roster working together on a conceptual theme. This album is more a kind of split-album featuring 4 bands each delivering one track and inviting listeners to embark for a voyage towards the ‘Locus Arcadia Space Station’.

Content: The common element between the 4 protagonists clearly is the sound they’re dealing with. This is a dark-ambient voyage revealing elaborated sound constructions accomplished with multiple noise treatments and other field recordings.

From the oppressive sound waves and sharp noise waves by Randal Collier-Ford to the extremely elaborated and diversified sounding contribution of Flowers For Bodysnatchers to the slowly progression track of Council Of Nine to the final cut of God Body Disconnect revealing an impressive arsenal of noises and sonic treatments, this work is moving from real freaky passages to evasive parts.

+ + + : The main strength of this work is the amazing arsenal of sounds and noises that were used by all of the bands. They really show us an impressive sound canvas mixing field recordings with sound treatments. All songs have been meticulously composed and elaborated. It clearly sounds like a work that has been made with truly passion. The opening piece by Randal Collier-Ford is a pure masterpiece.

– – – : I always have some reservations with split releases, but that’s for sure a very personal point of view. I prefer a full length opus from one band and Cryo Chamber clearly has different outstanding formations.

Conclusion: “Locus Arcadia” clearly appears the place to be when it comes to enjoy great dark-ambient atmospheres while Cryo Chamber confirms its growing status of major label dealing with dark-ambient music.

Best songs: Randal Collier-Ford “Into The Maw Where All Men Die”, “Council Of Nine “Pale Sister Of Sanctuary Lost”.

Rate: (7½).

Bands: www .facebook .com /randalcollierford / www .facebook .com /FlowersForBodysnatchers / www .facebook .com /Council –Of –Nine -728531383895261 / www .facebook .com /godbodydisconnect

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

190 minute dark soundscape album ‘Nyarlathotep’ available for pre-order

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 17:26:15 +0000

A 190 minute dark soundscape album recorded by 25 ambient artists to pay tribute to H.P. Lovecraft. That is in short what you can expect on the “Nyarlathotep” album which is going to be released September 27, 2016 as a 3CD album set (housed in an 8 panel full color digipak) and a high quality download via Cryo Chamber. Pre-orders for both formats are available now via the label’s Bandcamp page.

The release holds field recordings from the deepest dark corners of 4 continents. The release is a collaboration and huge undertaking involving 25 artists who linked their studios and sound for over a year so that they could work with each other.

Bands involved are: 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.

Cryo Chamber reveals the followup to ‘Cthulhu and Azathoth’: ‘Nyarlathotep’ – list of dark ambient artists revealed!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 19:13:04 +0000

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

Locus Arcadia by Randal Collier-Ford, Flowers for Bodysnatchers, Council of Nine, God Body Disconnect

Collaborative dark ambient album ‘Locus Arcadia’ out now via the Cryo Chamber label

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 17:37:05 +0000

“Locus Arcadia” is a collaborative album by the 4 artists Randal Collier-Ford, Flowers for Bodysnatchers, Council of Nine and God Body Disconnect. Out via the dark Ambient label Cryo Chamber you can order the album as download and on CD. The CD comes in a full color 6 panel digipak.

Here’s what the label says about this interesting collaboration: “This album takes us on a voyage across the stars to the Locus Arcadia Space Station as it follows a lone protagonists questions into what happened after loss of contact.”

You can listen to the album right below:

Here’s a visual approach which perfectly fits the music. Recommended release!

God Body Disconnect – Dredge Portals (CD Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 23:16:47 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, dark-psychedelic-ambient.

Background/Info: Cryo Chamber has signed this American solo-project set up by Bruce Moallem. This is the debut album by God Body Disconnect.

Content: The least I can say is that God Body Disconnect doesn’t sound like the average dark-ambient formation. There’s a solid and poignant obscure atmosphere emerging from the low sonic waves, which have been mixed with multiple field recordings. But the most creative aspect of the work can be find in the somewhat psychedelic guitar passages, which move in between reverie and chilling parts.

Moallem has found an interesting sound concept with a wider spectrum of influences. It’s quite fascinating to hear the way he mixes pure, cold sounds together with guitar. It feels a bit like a human trace on a planet where all life has been lost. The field recordings appear to be really important in this work. We move from aquatic ambiances to hard explosions to a ringing telephone to heavy thunder. It all perfectly matches with the chilling sounds of this album while a few spoken words can be heard now and then. It’s a spooky element reinforcing the dark power of this composition.

The last track is a bit different and more into pure cinematographic reverie. There’s a cool piano mixed with the sound of waves.

+ + + : The guitar has been used in a surprising, original and efficient way. It brings a wider dimension to dark-ambient music.

– – – : The work is maybe not dark enough for lovers of ‘pure’ dark-ambient music.

Conclusion: God Body Disconnect took me by surprise, unleashing an original and efficient work, which crosses over the limits of dark-ambient.

Best songs: “The Reflection Tower”, “Perpetually Devoured”, “Rise Of The Dormant Host”.

Rate: (DP:7½)DP.

Band: www.facebook.com/godbodydisconnect

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

Dredge Portals by God Body Disconnect

God Body Disconnect debuts with ‘Dredge Portals’ album on Cryo Chamber

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 18:01:11 +0000

God Body Disconnect debuts on Cryo Chamber with the album “Dredge Portals”, which the label describes as “an emotional roller coaster of an album that reaches through several genres of music to serve us a strong narrative of storytelling.” During the recordings of the album the band has been using everything from electronics, guitars to field recordings and vocals.

God Body Disconnect is the solo-project by Bruce Moallem. You can listen to the 7-track album below, it’s available on CD and as HQ audio download via Bandcamp.