Envenomist - "Unsettled Sunless Seas"

Last Sunday, I posted an incredible dark ambient compilation from Cryo Chamber that included many lesser-known artists, entitled Tomb Of Iconoclasts. As I listened to the entire compilation, one track really stood out to me, and that was the second track Threading The Needle by the artist Envenomist (who I had never heard before).

This track had a darker, dystopian and more sinister feel than the rest and it really got my attention. After hearing it, I immediately researched Envenomist and I couldn't believe what I found.

I'm not sure how I hadn't found this artist before now, as this style of dark ambient is right up my alley. I have since added his work to all of my Halloween playlists, and if you're like me, you should too. Really great work here with a truly dark, industrial sci-fi/horror atmosphere.

Out of a wide collection of great releases, I decided to share Unsettled Sunless Seas as the first track, The Smothering Sky, is just so fantastic. A perfect soundtrack to get us to the darkness of Halloween night... Enjoy.

  

Cryo Chamber - Tomb of Iconoclasts

Just a quick post for today, as I'm out in the garage repairing all of the broken props from last year's windstorm. A really great dark ambient compilation from the Cryo Chamber label. Tomb Of Iconoclasts is the latest in their Tombs series and makes a perfect dark soundtrack for a day of toiling in the garage. Enjoy!

From the Cryo Chamber YouTube page:
The Tombs series returns with a special roster curated by Apocryphos featuring new and familiar artists, creating atmospheres of dread and existential horror. The knell of a distant bell fallen can be heard within the decayed houses of the gods. Once standing with grandeur and might, these temples are now their own tombs across a wasteland left by man. Recommended for fans of oppressive dark ambient, brooding atmospheric and layered texturing.

  

Dead Ambient // Dark Ambient Mix by Atrium Carceri

Atrium Carceri, Metatron Omega, ProtoU, Cities Last Broadcast and Kammarheit. A literal who's who of the dark ambient genre and a perfect Monday playlist to focus the dark atmosphere for next week's Halloween celebrations. Cryo Chamber is again bringing the goods.

Enjoy!

    

DOOM [ デス ]

Belated happy new year to all you haunters! I took some much-needed time away from all things Halloween after another successful and fun season, but it's already time to get going again. Things are already moving for 2024, so it's time to dive back in.

Gonna start things off with another insanely great dark ambient mix from the Cryo Chamber label. I was instantly hooked by the incredible cover art on this one, and each track in the mix puts me right back into that dark and creepy Halloween mood. And it's only February.

As always, it's time to get crackin'. Enjoy!

 

Cult of the Black Moon // Retro Tape Mixed Archives by Atrium Carceri & Cities Last Broadcast

A quick post for a Saturday that will be spent working on Halloween projects in my garage...

Here is a new Cryo Chamber dark ambient mix put together by two of the absolute best in the genre: Atrium Carceri and Cities Last Broadcast. The mix features tracks from their collaboration on the Black Series (Black Corner Den and Black Stage of Night), and is full of wonderfully rich, smoky, atmospheric melancholy. And check out the image that was used!

A perfect soundtrack for a cold day here in the Cemetery. Enjoy.

  

Gdanian - "The Darkest Cavern"

Okay, back to the spooky sounds. A short, but incredible new release from German cinematic ambient artist, Gdanian.

From the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page:

Mechanical Gods is a deep subterranean journey ripe with robotic basslines and tech-ritualism within an atmospheric framework.

…When we entered The Below World, we found the human inhabitants divided into subnormal primal groupings of savage and superstitious tribes who collectively worshipped the machines that oppressed them. Sacrificial offerings of living martyrs were made to the Mechanica in order to appease them of their remorseless and emotionless rancour.

The humans had resorted to primeval idolatry behaviours that put them in awe of the undiminishing energy source of the Plasner System—a great churning ball of heat and light that pulsated over them in the upper echelons of the principal chamber. It became clear to us, meanwhile, that they had lost all awareness of the overground world and that, for them, the limits of the universe were confined to the depths of their subterranean enclosure.

Turn this one up and enjoy!

  

Mount Shrine - "Forest Fire"

Beautiful rainy deep sub ambient soundscapes from Mount Shrine

I was deeply saddened when I learned that Cesar Alexandre, the Brazilian artist behind dark ambient act Mount Shrine, had passed away from Covid complications last year. I was a huge fan of his unique take on the dark ambient genre, opting for a warmer, rolling, almost meditative drone as opposed to the standard dark, discordant sound. His 2019 track, Underpass, is still one of my all-time favorites...

Fast forward to today and I was pleasantly surprised with Cryo Chamber's announcement of All Roads Lead Home, a brand new release featuring the final Mount Shrine tracks composed before his death.

I immediately snagged a copy and have had it on a constant rotation here at the Cemetery. More wonderfully warm atmospherics with just enough dark elements to keep things interesting. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen over on the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page. It's a fitting end to a wonderful catalog of unique dark ambient work.

Rest in peace, Cesar.

 

Atrium Carceri & Kammarheit - "Subpulse"

A new collaboration between Atrium Carceri and Kammarheit, two of my absolute favorite dark ambient artists? SAY. NO. MORE.

Colossus, their new collaborative release on the Cryo Chamber label, is a straight masterpiece all the way through. So much rich, atmospheric ambience in each track. Enjoy!

Nuclear Winter Music - A Dronny Darko Mix for Cryo Chamber

A full hour mix of desolate, atmospheric dark ambient audio, perfect for the oncoming cold of winter. Featuring tracks by Beyond The Ghost, Apocryphos, Mount Shrine, protoU, and more. Enjoy.

 

Mount Shrine - "Underpass"

So this evening I was in the garage, working on one of the many projects I decided to try and complete for this year's display. I was playing Underpass, an incredible track from one of my favorite new dark ambient artists, Mount Shrine while I was working.

At this time, one of my son's neighborhood friends rolled up the driveway. He had a confused look on his face, and after a minute he finally spoke up, asking, "What are you making?" I told him the Halloween project I was working on, and he just kinda sat there. After another couple of minutes of silence, he finally spoke up again...

"Uhhh, what is that sound?"

It took me a second to figure out that he was asking about this track that happened to be playing while I was working. He didn't look like he was enjoying the moment, but I sure was! It isn't even Halloween yet, but I'm already getting into their heads. The 31st is going to be awesome!!

Be sure to check out all of Mount Shrine's releases on the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page, as they are all 50% off right now!

Apocryphos, Kammarheit & Atrium Carceri - "All Dreams Mined"

So I'm revisiting some older releases in my ever-expanding dark ambient library while I'm cleaning the house, getting ready for Christmas celebrations. As I shuffle through the songs, I land on "All Dreams Mined," a collaboration between dark ambient heavyweights Apocryphos, Kammarheit and Atrium Carceri. And wow. I literally stop what I'm doing to listen to this track. And then I listen to  it again. It's THAT good.

"All Dreams Mined" is the final track on the collaboration's 2017 release, Echo. Buried at the end, but definitely the most atmospheric track, making an easy bridge from dark ambient into the larger realm of soundtrack scoring. It immediately calls to mind something from Blade Runner 2049 or other dystopian science fiction film.

And it also plays well as a track for our winter season. Cold, bleak and dark, yet somehow warming in its melancholy. Such a perfect track to put on repeat. Enjoy.

"Cold Survival Music" - Dark Ambient Mix By Atrium Carceri

I almost hate to admit it, but it's been lazy days around the old Cemetery. Most of my props and other assorted Halloween doodads are safely stored away, allowing time to get ready for that other holiday coming up in December...

And it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, but we've been hit with an extended, winterlike cold spell. Couple that with the seasonal time change where it gets dark by 5 o'clock, and an early season snowfall and I really don't feel like doing too much.

It's the kind of weather (and season, really) where all you want to do is throw on those trusty comfy clothes, crawl under the warm blankets, and dive deep into a good book.

And luckily, Atrium Carceri has just created a really great dark ambient mix to go along with your winter retreat. Cold Survival Music is a new mix created for the Cryo Chamber label and it really nails the cold, bleak and dark aspects of the upcoming winter season, yet it offers a respite of warmth to get you through it all. The perfect background soundtrack for when you're all curled up under the blankets, snow falling outside the window, deep in a good book.

Enjoy!

Council Of Nine - "Circle Of The Sun"

Feel yourself enveloped by the deepening darkness and despair. I absolutely love, love, love this dark ambient track from Council of Nine!

Cryo Chamber's FREE "Dark Ambient of 2018" Mix

Christmas comes early, thanks to Oregon dark ambient label Cryo Chamber!

They just released a great, one-hour long mix from some of their 2018 releases. And it's FREE!

From the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page:

This is our Christmas gift for 2018 to all who support us and is free for everyone! 

Continuing our yearly tradition, we picked some interesting releases this year. From pure soundscapes to narration heavy space ambient albums to dusty dilapidated cathedrals.

With tracks from Ager Sonus, Atrium Carceri, and Atrium Carceri/Cities Last Broadcast/God Body Disconnect among others, you'll have a great little mix perfect for your dark holiday celebrations!


Go get this mix for free over at the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page!

Dead Melodies - "The Eternal Veil"

The perfect track for a low-key evening, nestled away from the damp, dark cold of late autumn. The warmth and melancholy of piano notes shielding the approaching snows of winter...

Halloween Dark Music Mix 2018

The front porch crypt has been set up, the fog machines have all been filled and tested, and this year's haunt shirts have all been printed. Everything has been safely secured away while the cold rain continues to fall. Three days straight and counting. Time for a quick pause in the hectic pace leading up to Halloween night.

I had a very productive day today, and I feel like I'm in a good place for this year's haunt display. So I've decided to call it a night early, leaving me some much-needed free time for the rest of the evening.

The warm, comfy clothes are on, I've cracked one of my last pumpkin beers from the fridge, and I've grabbed my new Halloween book. I'm ready for a nice quiet night of relaxing, reading, and listening to the new Halloween Dark Music Mix from Cryo Chamber.

A full hour of wonderful dark ambient to cap off an incredibly busy weekend, with tracks from some of Cryo Chamber's biggest artists. It's just the thing I needed to recharge before two more nights of staging and planning for Halloween night...

Dronny Darko - "Numinous"

A killer dark drone track from Dronny Darko's newest release, Black Hive.

From the Dronny Darko Bandcamp page:

On this album Dronny Darko explores what lies beyond time where the lurkers roam. The black hive devours time left behind to fuel the future at the knot of time. 


An incredibly brooding album for lovers of dark drone.

Cryo Chamber's FREE "Dark Ambient of 2017" Mix

One last goodie before 2017 calls it quits, thanks to Oregon dark ambient label, Cryo Chamber!

They just released a great, one-hour long mix from some of their 2017 releases. And it's free!

From the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page:

This is our Christmas gift for 2017 to all who support us and is free for everyone!

Continuing our yearly tradition, we picked some interesting releases this year. Some that fall well within our dark ambient borders, and some that scratch at the surface extending it's inky tendrils all over neighboring genres.

With tracks from Flowers From Bodysnatchers, Apocryphos/Kammarheit/Atrium Carceri, Metatron Omega, Atrium Carceri/Cities Last Broadcast, and Wordclock, you'll have a great little mix perfect for an October haunt soundtrack! I think the dark ambient genre lends itself nicely to a haunt theme and have been using it as background sound in my haunt display for years. And I HIGHLY recommend this mix, as it's full of great tracks.

Go get this mix for free over at the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page!

Cryo Chamber's Halloween Music Mix, 2017

The Halloween season rolls on with this ominous dark ambient Halloween mix, created by ProtoU for the Cryo Chamber label. One full hour of solid atmospheric tracks by artists including Dronny Darko, Alphaxone, Council of Nine, Atrium Carceri & Eldar, Metatron Omega and Flowers For Bodysnatchers.

Creation VI - "Natura Renovatur"

The cold wind howls outside the warm yurt, the shaman inside prepares the pipe. The inhale is deep. With the exhale he starts throat singing. The smoke dances between drums and bells raised by the rest of the tribe. Sweaty face sway and glazed eyes blink in rhythm with the beat.

This album is a journey of us humans moving through the ages in our universe. Trying to figure out our place within it as we forge myths and philosophies. Build megaliths and temples. Send our prayers into space and bide our time waiting for the miracle.

Recorded on old tapes for a fuzzy warmth. This album uses a lot of acoustic instruments like blockflute, chinese flute (hulusi), shruti-box, harmonica, ocarina, kazoo, bells, chimes, seeds & seedpods. Tribal drums make you feel like you are in the middle of a hypnotic ritual. Recommended for you who enjoy Ugasanie and Paleowolf and field recordings.


With a description like that, how could you NOT dive right into this one?? Amazing depth as this ritual ambient track progresses, opening up half way through with a wave of building tension, and then slowly ending with a ritual chanting blanketed by an even drone. 23 minutes of hypnotic tones, indeed.