Ghost Empty -Cold Soul in the Dark
Cephalopagus Records is a new net-label in Bandcamp town which has been active since (early) 2017. Started by Gregg Stockdale (Hag of the Tattered Vestments) and dark-ambient musician Araphel. Haven´t given it too much attention, I stalked and tasted some of their digital releases and came upon this little scary treat.
Ghost Empty is a horror-inspired dark-ambient act from Ukraine. Behind this act, we have Vladislav Maltsev, who have made several releases as Ghost Empty (See Discogs and Bandcamp link below). This mini-album/EP was released July 15 2017, so it´s one of his latest achievements.
It´s one of those post-CMI creations. Fans of Desiderii Marginis, New Risen Throne, and Atrium Carceri will dig it. Slowed-down and drone´ish dark-ambient with a hint or two to modern horror movies. Good sound quality and nicely done atmospheres. BUT... I am in need to be scared and disturbed!. I´m not finding any edge in it (apart from the Bandcamp artist picture).
The album starts really good with some good samples/recordings, best track are the first track Cold Architecture which pleased my ears mostly. Blood dripping (and slowed down) acoustics, drone´ish synth strings, stretched wind sounds, slowed down (maybe) human monstrous voices and crows chirping to give you that horror intro.
Next track Bloody Hunter has been made in the same fashion, just with less drama. And the last Dark Age is a slowed down drone-track being 17:26 minutes long.
I hate being harsh, but this release really bored me. Sounded like sumthing being made (first), and then lastly the whole recording was just slowed down... just to make it sound like dark-ambient. I know It´s just a matter of taste, and I must be honest in this... I Just don´t like this polished kind of slowed down drone stuff, but again... If you do like your fix from labels like Cryo Chamber and Cyclic Law, then it will please you. An old (nearly 40) fan of the early Brighter Death Now, MZ.412 or Ain Soph is in dire need of that extra coldness and edge in sound.
Making the sounds, recordings or samples scary by slowing them down isn´t always the trick. It´s good to use it sometimes, just don´t use them through an entire album. End of story.
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