Varkâna - Ahrimanic Chambers
I have NEVER heard anything from Iran. Been listening to obscure music since... 1997 I think, but never anything from Iran. Incredible thing how a dungeon synth act would come from those parts, I don´t wanna point my finger at anyone BUT! I do think that (probably) there would be some people in Iran who would (maybe) be kind of upset with this kind of music? I don´t know, I have never been there. But then again, maybe Iran is not such a bad place after all. Nevertheless, the latest Varkâna actually prooves that point!
The title for the album being Ahrimanic Chambers, so what does that mean?. What I can tell you is that it simply means evil mind, evil spirit and that the term hails from the ancient Iranian spiritual leader Zoroaster, who laid foundations of an esoteric religion known as Zoroastrianism. This mystical religion would influence anything from Islamism to esoteric thinkers like Rudolph Steiner and Alister Crowley´s Thelema. Ahrimanic Chambers simply means, being in the chamber of evil spirits... in other words, demons. Not very pleasant! The cover-artwork should clearly illustrate the unpleasantness in all its gloomy glory.
Varkâna makes dungeon synth with a folksy vibe, at times almost sounding like doomy instrumental-synth ambient with sad-core elements. It´s pretty good if you ask me! There are martial elements here as well which works up an apocalyptic mood. Esoteric neo-folk´ish mysticism shows itself through the albums ritualistic atmospheres. Most of it, it sounds like living in a society completely devout of human spirituality. Something has been lost and has been left (for forgotten) in that chamber of ahrimanic demons.
First track A Graveyard Under Snow sits the atmospheric mood right, and is a true evocative treat for any dungeon synth fan!. Ahrimanic Enlightenment, fucking good!. Love how the synth sounds like a heavy guitar string here, gives it a certain... John Carpenter horror vibe?. The track Lugobrious Ruins is just heart-breaking!. The track simply called The Mist And Rapture sounds a-bit like Raison D´être in his great early days. Spirituality Deformed might just be the thing between ambient pop and dungeon synth, the first time I have heard this sort of fusion (and it is well made, believe me!). Night of the Hunter is just damn unique and good!.
So yes! A great masterpiece from sand-filled Iran, sounding VERY esoteric in a European kind of way. Arabic influences would have been interesting... BUT... They/He have done a magnificent work 2 create an album, which u can enjoy from the very start and to the very end. I know that I have said it before, but this one requires a physical release damn you!.
Bandcamp (band):
Facebook (band):