Dark Music Review – Visitors
Review Written By Casey Douglass
Aliens are a funny
bunch. If they aren’t lubing up the old anal probes, they are
starring in our films and taking out their aggression on our national
monuments. Still, the cinematic treatment they get is often a
majestic thing to see, especially if they’re here to exterminate us
all. Hey, I’m a horror writer, you shouldn’t be surprised that I
like my aliens aggressive. Visitors is a dark ambient album
from Eximia, and, judging by the description below, it should be the
perfect accompaniment to some dark fantasising:
EXIMIA presents us with a sound design and field recording heavy album about an alien invasion. You won't find many harmonic elements on this album. It instead serves as a backdrop where Dominik has crafted a soundscape that sucks you into it's atmosphere. "For centuries people have been looking at the stars, wondering if we are alone in this infinite universe, or if there is someone else out there. Would they be friendly and if not, would we be ready for them? They came without warning. Our weapons pointless against these behemoths covered by storm. When I lay my eyes at their divine beauty in all it's power and destruction, I feel no anger nor sorrow, I feel awe. Our new gods have arrived." Highly recommended for fans of field recording and closed eyes listening.
I really really enjoyed
the time I spent listening to Visitors. The soundscapes were
hushed, dark, windy things to begin with, but the bass pulses and
ululations of the strange alien invaders soon add extra elements to
draw the listener's fascination and awe. Fantastical cries and calls
sound across large soundscapes, the leviathan spaceships hanging
still in the sky as if they had always been there. It’s cinematic
and very well done indeed.
The aliens themselves put me in mind of the kinds seen in films like Monsters, and even the fog-horn like blaring of those seen in things like Skyline and Cloverfield Lane. The tracks give the impression of dark landscapes being buzzed by glistening craft, strange lights and sirens signalling both communication and threat at the same time. Moments of peace merge with moments of activity as vast forces are afoot.
Visitors joins
the rare collection of dark ambient albums that I’ve listened to
twice in one sitting. There is something relaxing and tranquil about
impending alien-fuelled catastrophe, about creatures overseeing the
Earth and not caring one jot about the strange monkey-like beings
screaming and panicking below as their end approaches. One track even
features said screaming (Extinction). Others feature air-raid sirens
(First Contact), crackling lightning and the rumbling of monstrous
footsteps hitting the ground (World Without Man). What every track
certainly contains however, is a deft touch, the low-key vibrations
of threat bumping up nicely against surprising sounds and calls from
aliens and their technology.
It was a pleasure to
listen to Visitors, and if you are a dark ambient fan, I
definitely recommend adding it to your collection.
Check out the Visitors
page on Bandcamp here for more information, and be sure to check
out Day One below:
I was given a free
copy of this album to review.
Album Title:
Visitors
Artist: Eximia
Label: Cryo
Chamber
Released:
Apr 03, 2018
