Merchants Of Air
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Albums
    • Concerts
  • Premieres
  • Interviews
  • Giveaways
  • Playlists
  • Shop
    • Merchants Of Air releases
  • About us
    • About Us
    • Writers Wanted
    • Logos and banner
    • Advertise
    • Mailinglist

Ashtoreth & Grey Malkin - Hermit

26/4/2019

Comments

 
dark ambient / experimental
Reverb Worship
bandcamp
facebook
Picture
Almost a years ago, the cooperation album 'Pilgrim' was released. On this album, Ashtoreth and Grey Malkin (The Hare And The Moon) opened a new sonic journey, one that was a lot more than the sum of both solo acts. 'Pilgrim' was brilliant, and when I heard about a follow-up, my heart jumped for joy, so to speak.
Now that follow-up is coming closer. Its title is 'Hermit' and it seems to dig deeper into combined talents of these two artists. This is not just a dark ambient cooperation, this is dark, haunting and cinematic music, something that can put its foot next to the greatest in the dark and cinematic regions. 

Opener 'The God in the Fields' (with additional throat singing and violin  by Orryelle Defenestrate) is already a surprising tune. In stead of slowly fading in, this track begins with drums and hints of chaos. Gradually however, the whole things blooms open into an immersive an narrative adventure, driving on voices, drones and violins. 'The Anchorite Dreams in Silver' is a baffling piece of work, bringing even Godspeed! You Black Emperor to mind. Those violins again, I guess. Yet, the entire track is a beautiful exploration of ritual sounds. Most of the tracks are. I'm getting more and more impressed by the minute, to be absolutely honest.

The thing is, I know Ashtoreth and I'm very acquainted with his music. There was a time when he was simply unable to surprise me. 'Pilgrim' was a step into a different direction and 'Hermit' completely shatters my expectation. These are not songs. These are shortfilms without images, every single one of them. Where the previous album was a great coop, this new one is a statement. Hell, I'm even wondering if I should use the term "masterpiece".

'The Veil' is perhaps the most minimalist on the album. It's a soothing yet gloomy droner that floats freely through my speakers. 'The Covenant of Branch and Stone' is harsher, with a grim atmosphere and eerie spoken word samples. Speaking of grim, the bells at the beginning of closer 'Hermit' are downright sinister. Yet, in all, this is an excellent follow-up to 'Pilgrim', one that every fan of dark and ominous music should check out.


​Serge

Comments
    Picture
    Support Merchants Of Air, check our our shirts

    Categories

    All
    Acoustic
    Alternative
    Ambient
    Americana
    Avant Garde
    Blackgaze
    Black Metal
    Blues
    Breakcore
    Classical
    Crust
    Dark Ambient
    Dark Jazz
    Darkwave
    Death Metal
    Doom
    Downtempo
    Dreampop
    Drone
    Drum & Bass
    Dungeon Synth
    EBM
    Edm
    Electronic
    Experimental
    Folk
    Folk Metal
    Funk
    Glitch
    Gothic
    Grindcore
    Grunge
    Hardcore
    Hard Rcok
    Hard Rock
    Heavy Metal
    Hip Hop
    House
    Idm
    Indie
    Industrial
    Jazz
    Krautrock
    Lo Fi
    Lo-fi
    Martial Industrial
    Math Rock
    Metal
    Metalcore
    Musique Concrète
    Neofolk
    New Wave
    Noise
    Noise Rock
    Nu Metal
    Pop
    Post Hardcore
    Post Metal
    Post Punk
    Post Rock
    Power Electronics
    Power Metal
    Progressive
    Psychedelic
    Psytrance
    Punk
    Rock
    Shoegaze
    Sludge
    Soul
    Soundtrack
    Southern Rock
    Space Rock
    Stoner Rock
    Symphonic Metal
    Synthpop
    Techno
    Thrash Metal
    Trance
    Trip Hop
    Vaporwave

Find us on

facebook
google+
twitter
tumblr
​
minds

About Us

Contact
FAQ
Logos and banners
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.