Tomb of Empires Review
Written By Casey Douglass
I always feel that
reviewing dark ambient albums often reveals more about the psyche of
the reviewer than the actual content of the music. I also find it a
great creative exercise in stretching the vocabulary and conveying
the imagery that often comes unbidden and makes a lasting impression.
This is also the reason why dark ambient music is often in the
background whilst I create my own worlds.
As a consequence, this
review of Tomb of Empires, a 4 split release featuring
different 4 different artists in the dark ambient scene and released
by Cryochamber, is almost a journal of my impressions and feelings as
I encountered each track for the first time. You will almost
certainly have different images appear in your mind and other
sensations and feelings in your body.
“We welcome some new faces to the label with this 4 split release between some of the more mysterious and sacred sounds of the dark ambient scene. With the chaotic sounds of former CMI artist Foundation Hope, the mysterious enlightenment of Alphaxone, the distortion drone heavy Coph`antae Tryr to the fresh and inviting bass rumbles of Council of Nine, this is one dark journey of soundscapes delving deep into humanities history.”
I will look at each
track in turn:
Chimes of the
Unfortunate - Council of Nine :
This track starts with
a deep and foreboding sound that made me prepare for it to get deeper
and deeper. A short while in, it gains some lovely higher pitched
sounds that turn the whole thing around and makes it feel light and
airy with, for me at least, a sense of sadness in the background.
Mysterious –
Alphaxone :
Starting with a deep
resonance that mingles with other lighter melodies and noises,
Mysterious gives the impression of a derelict space, yet not a
hostile one. There are rumblings and muted noises and at one point a
rapid tinkling noise that conjures images of greenery or fauna
struggling to survive in some ruins.
Comprehended -
Coph`antae Tryr :
A rising fanfare looms
nearer with this track, a catchy hook that entwines with other
instruments to peel away the structure of your eardrum and pierce
your mind. It hints at majesty that has faded and vanished into the
past where only a few might still remember it even existed. Think
ancient artwork painted onto walls smothered with ivy and doused in
darkness.
Near to Nothing -
Alphaxone :
Echoing architecture
punctuated with the impression of movement and strange life.
Nothing to Near -
Coph`antae Tryr :
Nothing to Near
features some gentle audio hiccuping that serves to jar you into the
awareness that you might not have been paying full attention. Its
deep beginnings growing and intermingling with other sounds as the
medley builds and peters out.
The Kind - Foundation
Hope :
This is quite a boomy
and jarring track, when compared to the others at least. It seems
full of discord and as it progresses takes on a sound like a swarm of
demonic bees intoning names you can’t fully imagine or comprehend.
The Beacon - Foundation
Hope :
This track seems to be
one of the more simple on the album. By simple, I mean it seems to
have fewer layers of sound than the others, or it is just how it
appears to me. It also features a wonderful whistling segment which
conjured the image of a lone survivor whistling whilst walking
through a decimated city in an attempt to connect with others, or
just to let him or herself know that they are still there, still
human.
Blood Lit Skies -
Council of Nine :
The album ends with the
longest track of the bunch at just over 12 minutes. It has a light
and airy thrumming quality and in one place seems to depict the sound
of wind and rain, to my ears at least. It is a fantastic and gentle
end to the journey through the other soundscapes that this album
conjures, a way to come back to the real world with a soft landing
rather than a full combat roll.
Thoughts :
Tomb of Empires
as a whole is a very smooth ambient album, from my own viewpoint at
least. It doesn't feature the harsher aspects that some other dark
ambient creations contain but is still great at conjuring hefty
mental impressions. It arouses a background feeling of sadness and
gloom but with areas of light and air, much like sunlight shining
into the darkness of a tomb through some aperture in the ceiling.
This leads me on to the
cover image which I have to say is one of the most well-picked I have
seen in some time, even to the extent that it coloured what images
were likely to arise in my mind as I listened to the album.
I give Tomb of Empires
4/5. As I said above, it takes you on a relatively peaceful journey
and evokes periods of oppressiveness and airiness with equal ease,
for which it is to be commended. The reason it didn't get a 5 is just
down to my own personal taste when it comes to my dark ambient
listening. I enjoy more oppressive soundscapes where you feel that
you only come up for air after long intervals. This, compared to the
ones that inculcate that feeling, was a bit tamer in those regards.
Still an excellent listen though, and probably a great starting point
for someone who might be less familiar with the sounds of the dark
ambient genre.
I was given a free
copy for review.
Album
Title : Tomb of Empires
Artists:
Foundation Hope / Council of Nine / Alphaxone / Coph`antae Tryr
Mastering
and Artwork: Simon Heath
Label:
Cryochamber
