Artist: Obsidian Kingdom
Release: Torn and Burnt : The Mantiis
Re-Mixes
Label: Free Download
Release Date: 15th November 2013
Even though this album is a
re-mix project based on a previous release. I hazard a guess that it is not one
you would expect us to feature on this blog. However, I’ve have noticed certain
metal tracks which seem to ditch the guitar for atmospheric, operatic, religious
or even satanic chants. It’s only natural that at some point someone would
focus on this area and blend it with ambient electronica and for me that person
was Kostas K whose Subheim “Dark Ambient” (as it’s known) project who brought
this to life. So considering Subheim is one of the artists aboard the project
and bearing in mind I’ve not heard the original I thought I’d give it a go
anyway.
The album opens with a
re-mix by Oktopus one of many that I’m not familiar with on the re-mix duties.
The sound blends techy industrial sounds with dark brooding synths and an
almost eastern sounding bass guitar to be honest I couldn’t decide weather I
liked it or not. Next up, are the afore-mentioned Subheim who joins forces with
Poordream they contrast ambient sounds and chorus against a slo-mo dark and dubby
electro bassline imo not his best work but nice none-the-less. Necro Deathmort begins
with some elongated choral sounds, soon followed by sparse drum kicks and a dark
brooding synths which build a gloomy atmosphere till eventually the growling
vocals build to a crescendo which is surprising followed by a well layered
soothing, atmospheric ambient outro. Jr Morgue is up next and it’s quite a
contrast indie like vocals are strewn over electro beats and dark synths
creating a sound not a million miles away from NIN. This sets the tone of this
album a real mixed bag for instance Drumcorp fuses glitchy broken hip-hop beats
with reverbed bass and guitars while Larvae took me deeper into ambience with a
classic piano vibe with low-frequency bass injections in the latter part of the
track and I have to say I like it. Mothboy (another one I’m actually familiar
with) closes the album with his genre-bending unique approach to down-tempo and
I feel he may just have bagged the gold medal with this little beauty.
To summarise this may not
appeal if you only like a purely ambient vibe. This really is an album of
contrasts taking you from the dark to the light and back using a variety of
sub-genres. However, if you’re a lover of both or fancy something a little
different especially, with those long winter nights drawing in this could well
be worth a listen.
Review by Woodzee
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