VORTEX - "The Witches Sabbath"

 

A hundred years of WITCHCRAFT THROUGH THE AGES: In 1922 Benjamin Christensen’s film HÄXAN was unleashed and left a significant mark in history of film to this day. This psychological portrayal of occultism and inquisition combined a critical perspective on religion and patriarchy with stunning visions of possession, sabbath rituals, torture, and demons.

In celebration of this 100th anniversary, German ritual formation VORTEX has developed a brooding, percussive and complex musical work evoking hidden energies and abyssal spirituality...HÄXAN represents an epic new level for VORTEX's energetic ritual sound, based on drones, gongs, throat singing, percussion, strings, guitars, horns, and processed field recordings.

Caldon Glover - "The World At Large Is A Shrine"

A little moody music for a moody Monday morning...

Fantastic dark ambient from Caldon Glover's brand new release, Labyrintia. So dark and grinding, but so, so good! Envelope yourself within the darkness...

Caldon Glover - "Summoning The Cartographer"

 

Thematically "Labyrintia" was imagined as a structure in space older than humanity that runs sideways to our own universe, connecting physical and temporal spaces in our universe and the ur-universe alike that would otherwise be impossible to reach. Sonically it uses a blend of primitive acoustic folk instruments, as well as organic and electronic sound sources to create an ancient and timeless sound that evokes feelings of the rituals of a cthonic cults lost in other realms, as they worked tirelessly to open a door into this endless maze, to find their way home or to further their journey.

Another fantastic upcoming dark ambient release from Cyclic Law, perfectly setting the tone for another weekend of work in the Cemetery.

Enjoy.

Kammarheit - "Thronal"

So here, finally, is the post that I really wanted to start the year off with! Brand new Kammarheit!!!

I was SUPER excited to hear that after 5 long years, a new Kammarheit dark ambient release entitled Thronal was in the works. And just before the end of 2020, it was released.

From the Kammarheit Bandcamp page:

Kammarheit finally returns with his fourth full-length album. In its 20 years since the formation of the project, Pär Boström has delivered time and time again some of the most compelling and dare we say authentic Dark Ambient music ever to grace our ears. Following up on his previous works (of which a special edition 20th Anniversary 3LP boxset has been released) he now presents Thronal, another profound and spellbinding journey and another meaningful chapter in Kammarheit’s indefinable story, from a true master of his craft. “I took the crown and the throne acted as a magnet, drawing the attention of distant stars…”

I snagged this one immediately (no way I was missing out on the limited colored vinyl version!). I put it on constant rotation here at the Cemetery, and I haven't stopped listening to it yet. Thronal picks up right where Boström's last release, The Nest, ended. Rich with cold, desolate, melancholic ambient perfection. Inspiring and oddly calming. To me, Kammarheit is still at the very top of the dark ambient genre, and on every listen to this release I find something new to enjoy and become completely enveloped by. I absolutely love this one and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the lush atmosphere of dark ambient.

But wait, there's more! Not only is there a brand new release to ingest, but Cyclic Law also dropped Triune, an incredible 3xLP 20th Anniversary box set of the first three Kammarheit releases on gorgeous colored vinyl. Another mandatory purchase for me!

If you want to learn more about Pär Boström, creative mastermind behind Kammarheit, please check out this great interview over at Unsafe But Sound. An in-depth look at his life, influences, and myriad of other projects. A quick, but fantastic read.

Cyclic Law - "Winter Solstice 2020 Dark Ambient Mix"

Celebrate the Winter Solstice with this cold, solitary dark ambient mix from Cyclic Law. An entire collection of the genre's biggest names, it's the perfect soundtrack to lead us into winter darkness...

Black Moon - A Dark Ambient Industrial Mix

Since discovering the dark ambient genre many years ago, I have listened to it to help with falling asleep, while concentrating on projects at work, while working on Halloween props in the garage, and most importantly as the audio component in my yard haunt. I absolutely love it.

And one of the current go-to labels of the dark ambient genre is Cyclic Law, who consistently put out top-notch releases, including many cool mixes on their YouTube channel. Simply press play and get transported to a dark, ethereal place.

Last month they released Black Moon, A Dark Ambient Industrial Mix and I have been listening to it repeatedly. A really cool sampling from their most recent releases, all of which flow together into a nice dark, discordant atmosphere. Perfect for a night in the garage, hammering out this year's Halloween props!

Enjoy!

ASHTORETH - "Rite II-Fire" Video

A wisp of smoke where Spirit hides

wills the fire to refine and cleanse that of old

The new video from Belgian artist, ASHTORETH. A wonderfully dark soundscape for a dreary, cold and wet morning...

Desiderii Marginis - "Vita Arkivet"

From the Cyclic Law Bandcamp page:

Long awaited new material by one of Sweden’s most revered Dark Ambient acts.
“Vita Arkivet” translates from Swedish as “The White Archive” and is an official document detailing ones funeral arrangements. In death our existence is whitewashed, the slate wiped clean. We start all over and we bring nothing with us were we go. We lose the agency of our own memory and leave it for those left behind to attend to, to continue our story, to write our eulogy. Vita is also the latin word for Life, so the meaning could also be “The Life Archive”. White is the colour of the casket lining, the plaster death masks and the walls of the chapel, it is the colour of the first and last pages. What is kept in between the covers of our life archives? This record is a personal reflection and manifestation of that process, the loss and the great detachment from life, from others, and from ourselves.

There isn't one bad track on this new release. REALLY great dark ambient from one of the genre's masters.

And being the vinyl snob that I am, I absolutely couldn't pass up the limited, colored vinyl release for this one. Stunning!!

This one is going to be spinning with great regularity for the next couple of months. I'm really impressed with this new release and I highly recommend it. It's a perfect soundtrack for the late fall and winter seasons...

  

Svartsinn - "Doubt As Sin (Nietzsche's Lament)"

I just picked up Mørkets Variabler, the latest release from Norwegian dark ambient artist Svartsinn. Wonderfully cold, atmospheric dark ambient that hits dead center of what is becoming more and more of my wheelhouse.

The more I explore the works of dark ambient artists like Svartsinn, the more I'm convinced of its effective use in a haunt setting. It really sets an overall, ominous tone that could really punch up the sense of dread and foreboding in a given haunt scene, and I have been using various dark ambient tracks in my haunt display for years now.

The standout track on this release for me is Doubt As Sin (Nietzsche's Lament). This track has a slightly darker tone than the other tracks. I really love the cold, low vibrating tones and harsh, echoing reverb throughout. Add in the slightest hints of vocal whispers and you have an incredibly eerie track.

And being the vinyl snob that I am, I opted for the limited, double-vinyl edition of this release. Gorgeous, minimalist matte black artwork throughout the gatefold sleeve and continued through each of the insert sleeves. Upon opening the package up, I was rewarded with a small extra cool touch on one of the insert sleeves - an autograph from Svartsinn himself, Jan Roger Petterson!

Prosper In Darkness, indeed! I HIGHLY recommend this release to any dark ambient fans or any Halloween fans looking for a different angle to get their creep on!

  

Svartsinn - "Towards The Dark And Cold"

The chill of autumn air, the crackle of fallen leaves and the fiery glow of a jack-o-lantern's candle have now gone away. We sit at the colorless doorstep of winter. The harsh season of ending. Embrace the march towards the dark and cold...

Therradaemon - "Den Mørke Munnens Språk"

I'm a big fan of Hærleif Langas' dark, atmospheric ambient work in Northaunt, but I became very excited when I stumbled upon his 2011 side project, Therradaemon. Much darker and more sinister, and right up my alley during the run up to Halloween. Another great selection that would set a wonderfully creepy and dark tone in a haunt display!

From the Therradaemon Bandcamp page:
"Den mørke munnens språk", translating to "Language of the dark mouth" is a new aural venture from Hærleif Langas (Northaunt), and definitely his most massive and ominous dark ambient project to date. Designed to open beneath you as a trapdoor, the 4 mammoth tracks on this first album are a reflection of a more sinister side of the psyche made from deep ambient structures and constantly evolving drones. Atmospheric and slowly moving it taps into the hidden maelstrom of the mind.

Northaunt - "Moraine"

A killer dark ambient track from Northaunt's 2015 release, Istid I-II.

Kammarheit "The Nest" Promo Video

From Cyclic Law:

10 years after the now cult classic album “The Starwheel”, Kammarheit finally offers us brand new material of his most complex work yet. Pär Boström returns with his typical atmospheres that are both apocalyptic in vision and soothing to the soul, delivering a dense and compelling album of pure, awe-inspiring darkness and meditative ambience. With The Nest, Pär takes us on a subterranean journey through enormous halls of unfathomable depths, and with the new opus he demonstrates once again why he’s become one of the most respected artist in dark ambient.