Northumbria &#8211; SIDE-LINE

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. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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

About Cryo Chamber

Cryo Chamber is a dark ambient label run by Simon Heath, known for its yearly Cryo Chamber Collaboration albums uniting artists from its roster. Earlier entries in the series include “Azathoth” in 2015, “Nyarlathotep” in 2016 and “Shub-Niggurath” in 2019, all paying tribute to the work of H.P. Lovecraft. “Yig”, released at the end of 2020, continues that series with contributions from Atrium Carceri, Alphaxone, Dronny Darko and Northumbria among others.

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.

Randal-Collier Ford – Advent (Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 18:30:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-Ambient, Cinematographic.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Randal-Collier Ford remains a prolific project, this newest album having been released at the end of 2020. The inspiration is taken from some anguished and sci-fi like natural elements among the forests of South-America.

Content: “Advent” only features 3 tracks. The first and last cuts are extended pieces, which have been meticulously built up. You get the feeling being imprisoned by heavy, breathing noises and blasts. Some droning sounds are resonating in the background. You’ll also notice more delicate and mysterious piano playing. The other cut left has been composed together with label mate Northumbria. This track is shorter, but maybe a bit darker and more hostile.

+ + + : This is a great work featuring 3 fascinating pieces. I especially like the first- and last one. “The Second Wound” is a masterpiece and perfect finale to this album. I especially like the last part of the cut with the crescendo percussions section, accentuating the terror supporting this album. It’s a strong piece of music with a true visual appeal. I also recommend “Eyes Of The Temple” resulting from a great collaboration with Northumbria.

– – – : The only single regret I could imagine about this work, is that there are only 3 cuts!

Conclusion: Randal-Collier Ford probably accomplished his most poignant and most brilliant opus to date!

Best songs: “The Second Wound”, “Beckoning Absurd Shapes”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/randalcollierford

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

“Advent” by Randal Collier-Ford

About Randal Collier-Ford

Randal Collier-Ford is a Seattle-based artist whose Discogs chronology runs from “Dark Corners” (2012) through “The Architects” and “Remnants” (both 2015) to “[APEX]” and “Promethean” (2017).

Collier-Ford also contributed production to Cryo Chamber’s collaborative albums, including 2016’s “Locus Arcadia” with Flowers For Bodysnatchers and the compilation “Azathoth” (2015). “Advent”, mastered by Simon Heath of Atrium Carceri and featuring guest musician Jim Field, was followed by “The Red Faith” (2022) and “Thaumaturgy” (2022).

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

About Cryo Chamber

Cryo Chamber is a dark-ambient label founded in Sweden in 2011 by Simon Heath, also known for his own Atrium Carceri project, and later relocated to Eugene, Oregon.

The label has released a series of H.P. Lovecraft-themed label-wide collaborations, including “Cthulhu”, “Azathoth”, “Nyarlathotep” and “Yog-Sothoth”. “Shub-Niggurath”, reviewed here, continued that series as a double-album collaboration credited to the full Cryo Chamber roster.

Northumbria – Vinland (CD Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 21:00:57 +0000

Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, dark-ambient.

Background/Info: On “Vinland” Jim Field and Dorian Williamson achieve their trilogy dealing with the splendor of the Canadian High-North. It also is their fifth full length album to date.

Content: “Helluland” (2015) and especially “Markland” (2017) both were fascinating sonic odysseys. “Vinland” moves on a similar, dark evasive way. The compositions are into pure dark-cinematic style, accomplished with field recordings, guitar and bass guitar. On top of it all you also will notice overwhelming sound blasts. The major part of the work is definitely cinematographic-like, but I also noticed a few excellent and more dark-ambient orientated cuts.

+ + + : The way Northumbria are playing the guitar and manipulating the sounds is a quite noticeable element. It now injects an authentic touch to the work and next moves into somewhat psychedelic passages (cf. “Frozen Lake”). The cinematographic aspect of the work reflects a dark and prosper atmosphere. But I personally prefer the more dark-ambient tracks (although pretty close to the cinematographic approach). “The Windjigò” and “Overwintering” both are noticeable cuts, but especially “Vinland” is a truly masterpiece. The dark mood give you goosebumps.

– – – : I here get a similar feeling as on other releases. Some passages are less diversified and a little bit monotonous.

Conclusion: “Helluland”, “Markland” and now “Vinland” are albums you really have to see and consider as a wider entity. They constitute a fascinating trilogy on, which you perfectly can feel the inspiration from nature transposed into sounds and noises.

Best songs: “Vinland”, “Overwintering”, “The Windjigò”, “Frozen Lake”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www .facebook .com /NorthumbriaDrone

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

About Northumbria

Northumbria is the Toronto-based project of Jim Field and Dorian Williamson. After the EP “Untitled” in 2012 and the albums “All Days Begin As Night” on Altar Of Waste in 2013 and “Bring Down The Sky” on Consouling Sounds in 2014, the duo moved to Cryo Chamber for the trilogy completed by “Helluland” in 2015, “Markland” in 2017 and “Vinland” in 2018, reviewed here. Northumbria self-released the album “Isolering” in 2021.

Randal Collier-Ford – Promethean (CD Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 19:30:16 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, cinematographic.

Background/Info: Randal Collier-Ford is now already active for a couple of years and has released multiple noticeable productions. This new opus is the next chapter in the projects history, which is succeeding and even achieving the work that was featured on the albums “The Architects” and “Remnants”. ‘Promethean is a multilayered effort to tell an overarching storyline, through multiple timelines and multiple realities. To allow the listener to dive deep into each tracks meaning in their symbolism, how they tie the album together, as well as the series.’

Content: Time is moving by, but has no real impact on the work of this artist. “Promethean” moves on there where previous albums stopped. The opening cut is an interesting piece taking off with a spoken, ghostlike part. It creates an instant chilling sensation, which will be accentuated the entire album long.

The listener is surrounded by dark atmospheres, now and then accentuated by instruments reminding to saxophone, violin and piano. Heavier electronic sound blasts are joining in. It all together creates this cinematographic impression, which is always present in the work of this artist.

Notice by the way that 2 cuts were accomplished with guests; first Northumbria and next Simon Heath (Atrium Carceri, Cryo chamber label owner).

+ + + : Randal Collier-Ford again reveals great composing skills and clearly knows the way to compose poignant dark-ambient music refined with some neo-classicism. It’s an artistic exposure of how dark-ambient music has to sound. But it also is –and once again, a diversified opus with an open-minded vision and a wider arsenal of influences. The debut- and final cut both are brilliant exposures of this fascinating album.

– – – : If I can imagine just one single reproach it definitely is that Randal Collier-Ford is not a project reinventing its own sound. This work moves right at the point where the previous albums stopped.

Conclusion: Randal Collier-Ford belongs to this contemporary group of dark-ambient artists who are more dealing with diversity and the implementation of extra influences. “Promethean” features a few impressive cuts next to other tracks that are less fascinating.

Best songs: “Rebirth Through Fire”, “The Breach”, “Apotheosis feat. Northumbria”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www .facebook .com /randalcollierford

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

Northumbria – Markland (CD Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 18:30:06 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, cinematographic.

Background/Info: “Markland” is the fourth full length for Jim Field and Dorian Williamson aka Northumbria. It also is the second work released on Cryo Chamber (after “Helluland”) and the second part of a trilogy inspired by the Norse discovery of Canada.

Content: “Markland” is more than the ‘classical’ dark-ambient album. It also is an experiment of sounds, which have been mainly composed by guitar and bass. The sounds have been seriously transposed and reworked creating an overwhelming atmosphere of loneliness and despair and have been accomplished by field recordings and other electronic effects.

“Markland” sometimes sounds like as a dark astral voyage. The songs have been composed with patience and knowledge, creating a strong visual appeal.

+ + + : There’s a noticeable move from “Helluland” towards “Markland”, which is characterized by a more sophisticated sound creation, but also reflect a similar dark atmosphere. There are some monstrous sounds running through this work and I especially want to recommend “Ostara’s Return”, which is a little sonic jewel. “Markland” is an overwhelming production, which can’t leave you unmoved… if you like dark-ambient music. It’s a fascinating soundtrack dedicated to the splendor of nature. But it also feels like an astral exploration like walking on an imaginary dark moon.

– – – : Some passages of the work are a little less monotonous. The sound formula is not that new and sometimes missing a real climax although it remains a fascinating experience.

Conclusion: Northumbria is an obscure travel agency made of dark and haunting sonic stations, which will invite you to discover the hidden mysteries of the high North.

Best songs: “Ostara’s Return”, “The Night Wolves/Black Moon”, “Low Sun I”, “Torngat”, “Sunstone”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www .facebook .com /NorthumbriaDrone

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

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

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

Dark Ambient of 2015 by Cryo Chamber

Dark ambient label Cryo Chamber giving away free Best of 2015 album

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Sun, 20 Dec 2015 13:30:28 +0000

Dark ambient label Cryo Chamber are giving away a free Best of 2015 album, titled “Cryo Chamber – Dark Ambient of 2015”, with the labels finest tracks, available as a 1 hour seamless soundscape mixed by label head Atrium Carceri. The release also acts as the label’s Christmas gift to all who supported the label so far.

Says the label: “On this 1 hour+ seamless track mixed by Atrium Carceri, he takes us through his own work of Atrium Carceri, Sabled Sun and his collaboration with Kammarheit and Apocryphos, but also dives deep into the emotional waves of Flowers for Bodysnatchers and Wordclock. Explores the outwordly ambient guitar soundscapes of Northumbria and the occult ritualism of Metatron Omega.”

You can check it out below and download right here. It’s a good way to check out this label and what it has on offer.

Northumbria – Helluland (Digital Album – Cryo Chamber)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Wed, 27 May 2015 18:54:48 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, cinematographic.

Content: Northumbria is one of the newest signings on the Cryo Chamber label. Set up by Jim Field (who you maybe know from the gothic-minded Rhea’s Obsession) and Dorian Williamson, both members were already active under the Holoscene moniker.

Northumbria joined their new label to unleash their 3rd album.
“Helluland” reminds me of the great Northaunt project. There’s a similar cinematographic approach in sound however Northumbria defines their sound as ‘ambient-metal.’ I think there’re similarities in the dreamy and abyssal content of their work. And I guess it’s not that of a coincidence if both projects are inspired by landscapes of their own country. I was not that surprised to hear that “Helluland” is inspired by the Norse discovery of Baffin Island (Canada) over a thousand years ago. The Vikings called this new discovery ‘Helluland’, which can be translated as ‘the land of flat stone.’

From the very first notes you’ll feel like you are entering an imaginary sound abyss. The music sounds dark, but rather relaxing. The main characteristic of Northumbria –and that’s probably why they call their sound ‘ambient-metal’ is the use of guitar, which has been seriously transformed and reworked into pure ambient creation. Most of the songs reflect a real prosperity although “Sacred Ground” is definitely darker and even reminds me to Lustmord.

“Helluland” is a cool sonic travel, which next to dreamy cuts and a few real dark and haunting tracks reveal a soundtrack approach. It sounds delicate and mysterious. These tracks are more into refinement and “Catch A Falling Knife I” is a real attention grabber here. I like the kind of isolated guitar notes that create a beautiful, but sad impression.

The title track is an absolute apotheosis in a similar genre. The guitar manipulations are absolutely fantastic here while this track is a great match between reverie and melancholia. “Helluland” also is the longest track on the album.

A last essential composition is “Catch A Falling Knife II”, which is one more essential cut leading you safely to the ultimate destination of this great ambient adventure.

Conclusion: I enjoyed the dreamy and sometimes freaky progression of this album, which sounds like great ambient music has to be.

Best songs: “Helluland”, “Catch A Falling Knife I”, “Catch A Falling Knife II”, “Sacred Ground”.

Rate: (DP:7½)DP.

Band: www.facebook.com/pages/Northumbria/346750775343604

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