We know Pavel Malyshkin primarily from his Ugasanie project, but he has also released several works under the name Silent Universe.

“Merger” opens with an overwhelming track that immediately transports the listener into a world of utter darkness. The following pieces continue to radiate an icy atmosphere with a powerful sense of imagery. While the tracks can at times feel somewhat monotonous, they still manage to deliver a breathtaking experience. The deep waves of sound remain obscure and ominous, with crescendos that are particularly effective. Each of the six tracks is long, and it isn’t always easy to maintain full attention throughout. In that respect, the final piece feels slightly underwhelming, but this does little to diminish the overall strength of the opus.

In my opinion the best work of this Belarusian artist. (Rating:8).

Listen to “The Great Attractor”:

About Silent Universe

Silent Universe is a Dark-Ambient and Cinematic project of Belarusian artist Pavel Malyshkin, who is also known for his Ugasanie project, formed in autumn 2010 and centered on polar and cold-ambient themes drawn from field research on the Yamal Peninsula. As Silent Universe, Malyshkin released “The Infinity Coordinates” in 2018, followed by “Immensity” in 2023 and now “Merger” in 2025, all issued via Cryo Chamber.

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, Cinematic.

Format: Digital, CD. 

Background/Info: Belarus artist Pavel Mal(yshkin) is probably more renown for his Ugasanie project but is now striking back with a new work of Silent Universe. This is the first new album in six years. The title indicates what it’s all about; referring to immensity of universe. 

Content: You clearly and rapidly recognize the main source of inspiration which has been transposed into explicit cosmos atmospheres. Dark humming sound waves are opening an imaginary gate to a dark cosmos. The work is switching in between floating- and anguishing passages. 

+ + + : I mainly like the visual strength of the production which has been accomplished by delicate sound treatments. I like both debut cuts  and “Dead Astronaut” for their darker side but there’s also worth listening to the more relaxing “A Thousand Light Years Of Emptiness”. 

– – – : It took me some time and a few new listening to get into “Immensity” which is however missing an total climax. 

Conclusion: This astral sonic journey is certainly pleasant although setting the world of Cinematic music alight. 

Best songs: “Dead Astronaut”, “The Mission”, “Astrosphere”, “A Thousand Light Years Of Emptiness”. 

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/silentuniverse.by 

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

Listen to “Immensity” below:

About Silent Universe

Silent Universe is a project of Belarusian artist Pavel Malyshkin, who is better known for Ugasanie, formed in autumn 2010. For Ugasanie, Malyshkin uses synthesizers, field recordings, and live instruments including khomus (jaw harp), ocarina, zhaleyka, and guitar, drawing on time spent in the Arctic Circle on the Yamal Peninsula. Side-Line has previously covered Ugasanie releases including “Border of Worlds” on Cryo Chamber.

“Immensity” is Silent Universe’s first new album in six years, also released via Cryo Chamber, and continues the cosmos-themed direction of the project.

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.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “Quasi” is a collaborative work between Ukrainian artist Oleg Puzan aka Dronny Darko and Danish artist Johan de Reybekill aka Phaedrus.They also joined hands together with Tineidae, Hilyard, Phelios and Silent Universe who are each featured on one track.

Content: The work features 5 tracks, which are mainly characterized by dark prosperity. But just at the point you think it sounds relaxing you’ll notice some more obscure passages. The work has been accentuated by sweeps and boiling sound structures, the tracks being slowly built up.

+ + + : The work sounds at the edge of reverie and nightmare… a dark expression leading the listener to face his inner demons. A strong visual exposure, which especially shows on “Forbidden Symmetry” featuring Phelios is reaching a peak of coldness.

– – – : I expected a bit more out of this collaborative opus; it’s a fascinating experience in its genre, but without a true apotheosis.

Conclusion: This is a new Dark-Cinematographic experience perfectly illustrating the sound and approach of Cryo Chamber.

Best songs: “Forbidden Symmetry feat. Phelios”, “Xanthe Terra feat. Tineidae”.

Rate: 7.

Artists: www.facebook.com/dronnydarko / www.facebook.com/Johandereybekill

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, dark-soundscape.

Background/Info: Pavel Malyshkin is an artist hailing from Belarus and who next to Ugasanie –which can be seen as his main project, is also involved with side-projects such as Polterngeist and Silent Universe. This is Pavel’s fifth full length released on Cryo Chamber, but he also released multiple other productions on other labels.

Content: Antarctica definitely is a continent inspiring much artists involved in the ambient scene. It’s not always that easy for listeners to feel the transposition of the concept into music. However Ugasanie has accomplished a dark and buzzing soundscape featuring crushing sound blasts. It’s an album you’ve to (re)discover by using headphones so you can discover the multiple little details like crispy noises, sound waves reminding me of a swarm of bees, aquatic field recordings and other noises.

+ + + : “Ice Breath Of Antarctica” stands for an overwhelming darkness in sound. Carried by deep, vibrating sound waves and accomplished by an impressive sound- and noise canvas this album is a fascinating experience. Just like any other successful ambient production it also has this visual appeal leading the listener to explore his deepest inner thoughts and secret images. It’s a well-crafted composition confirming the talent of this musician.

– – – : Some passages are a little less monotonous revealing the similar sound formula this album has been made of. But you don’t hear me to complain, but it’s just that a few passages are a little less too long creating this monotonous effect.

Conclusion: Ugasanie hasn’t surpassed itself, but accomplished a well-crafted album with some real great and overwhelming sound treatments.

Best songs: “Shores Of Antarctica”, “The Boundless Snows”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/uga5anie

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 Belarus project driven by Pavel Malyshkin (still involved in other projects such as Ugasanie, Polterngeist ao) joined hands with Cryo Chamber to unleash the third full length album of Silent Universe.

Content: The work features familiar dark-ambient ingredients, which are carried by long, dark sound waves. The tracks have been progressively built up revealing low, sound treatments and resonating, humming noises. The album features 5 cuts and the final song ends with an overwhelming apotheosis.

+ + + : The sound universe of “The Infinity Coordinates” makes me think to a spider web that has been patiently constructed. The progression of the composition is slowly evolving reaching a first climax at “Fractal Essence Of The Universe” and an absolute sonic orgasm at “In Cosmic Microwave Background”. The deep tones feel like announcing a nearby disaster while other passages reveal the obscure space-ambient approach of Silent Universe. There where Raison D’Être accomplished his composition with the famous monk chants and other sacred noises, Silent Universe deals with an astral dimension of dark-ambient music.

– – – : The tracks are pretty similar so I would have liked to get a bit more diversity.

Conclusion: Silent Universe has accomplished a misty and somewhat inhibited opus where you get the impression to get lost in a dark whole.

Best songs: “In Cosmic Microwave Background”, “Fractal Essence Of The Universe”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/silentuniverse.by

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