Krothor - Czern

Poland's "No Angels" label is back with another ultra limited release. This one is the insight into a dark, turbulent hell of it's creator, Keldon Krothor.

Czern is a symphonic, dark ambient nightmare. Like so many albums do, it's preceded by a short introduction track. "Przebudzenie" is a dark orchestral track, not unlike walking through a marble catacomb, before hearing footsteps and realising you're not alone. A perfect mood setter.

"Droga" is classic, primitive dark ambient. It's eerie, carried by drastically intimidating backing loops, and a very slow, steady and unnerving drum beat. On top of all this, there's dark violin sounds, and very dark vocals. When the bass suddenly kicks in later, you're left with a feeling of utter joy (or disgust) that so few artists can invoke. Breathtaking.

"Strach". Introduced with a quiet glockenspiel melody, and a beautiful choir-like orchestral sample. What else can you say when this is followed by quiet whispers, then an equally eerie high pitched drone? This genuinelly sends the listener to a paranoid state. This track is incredible.

"Glebia" is another keyboard driven track, it's multilayered, and carries no less of an undertone than anything before it. If anything, it's slower. A standard that all dark ambient artists should follow.

Before you get time to relax, "Glod" kicks in, with extremely heavy drone bass, not unlike a Sunn0))) performance. This is short lived as it turns into a quieter, blissful piece. It picks up to introduce pulsating drums, before the track turns around and becomes a twisted sinister piece, with organ loops, and sick vocals. Like listening to a mental home riot. Except with violins.

"Trumna" is a totally different track to anything else on this album. It's very melancholic, and very endearing. It could almost represent the death of the poisonous tumours corrupting the brain of the victim. Its remorseful vocal parts and slow bass passages leave a wonderfully positive feeling.

Don't allow the sense of security elude you. The ten minute closing track, entitled "Potepienie" is perhaps the most orchestral number on the album. It's also one of the only tracks to prove that no matter how many choir synths, violins and keyboards you can put together, it's still possible to scare the hell out of the listener. This is beautifully eerie and twisted. Vomiting, and then eating the demons that possess you.

In Conclusion, with Czern, Poland has just made itself an essential name on the map of Dark Ambience. Making this album available in only 100 copies is equally as wise. Sadly, it is now sold out completely.

Buy this second hand. Trade with a contact, do anything you have to to get this release. In seriousness, if you are a lover of dark ambient in the very darkest sense, or just appreciate good music, you have to hear this. It's limited status will guarantee this a place in the cult classics. It's worthy of so so much.

Unbeatable. Aug 12 2006