However, these are the only recordings of this ritual expression, so there is validity and worth in keeping the collection complete if you’re an avid fan.ħ.5/10 Leave a comment Posted in Aural Hypnox ARKTAU EOS: Mirrorion CD Aural Hypnoxīeing devoid of electric instrumentation gives this album a distinct analogue feel but then a lot of Aural Hypnox’s roster approaches their Dark Ambient in this manner. Unless the listener was in attendance then I rarely see the point in obtaining the recording. I am not a great lover of live albums as a whole, if truth-be-told. Given the drive that this act portray across all their works, it has to be admired that this performance doesn’t feel improvised in any shape or form and that in itself has to be commended, given the nature of the songs they construct. Intensity shifts throughout the proceedings, which ebb and flow nicely and I am sure this would have produced a greater effect on any listener should they have been in attendance that night as they get swept away into the hypnotic flow that permeates the output.
Overall, this feels less restrained than their ‘studio’ work and ultimately feels oiled and relaxed, with a greater degree of actual musicality coming forth no doubt from the live instrumentation factor. Housed in a screen-printed cardboard cover, the CD is accompanied by an eight-page booklet alongside eight postcard inserts in a stamped envelope, ultimately feeling quality and value for money.Ĭomprising of nine previously unreleased movements, presented only once as a live ritual this was the first ever performance of Halo Manash in Finland 2005.
HALO MANASH: Elemental Live Forms MMV-Initiation CD Aural Hypnoxįirst things first, the packaging on this album is splendid. Given the format, this also tells the tale in the length of this release which ultimately assists in the impact (and its main strength) of the album as a whole. It’s this attention to detail that makes this one of the better releases to come out of the Aural Hypnox stable and one, which sits the artist along similar scales of artists from larger labels within the scene.Īs usual the artwork is second to none and the vinyl version comes in two editions (silver or gold print). Where space is required, Aeoga dares to hinge here, on the lightest of touches that prepare the tale to come. Layers of drones are unexaggerated, giving life to key waves of ambience as they gently glue themselves as one. These clatters of sound make a vague appearance along the path this album treads but subtlety is the key to this releases effectiveness and Aeoga plays to its genre hinged strengths. The solo project of Antii Haapapuro has gained great momentum output wise, with a continuous flow of engaging Dark Ambient that grinds into motion with the gripping ‘Initiatory Boil’, teetering on ritualism with its rumbling percussive elements. Overall though, this is a decent slab of DA and should be sought out if you are a follower of the genre as a whole and my misgivings are only highlighted because of previous releases, which I would suggest you also listen to and compare.ĪEOGA Obsidian Outlander LP/CD Aural Hypnox Whilst driving an ultimately different approach to previous work, there is much to become engrossed in here, even if it just falls short of previous output in the variation scheme of things feeling much more akin to traditional Dark Ambient and lacking a touch of imagination because of it.
Sparse and desolate, there is a definitive flow that goes into rise and fall over its duration. ‘Catacomb Resonator’ comes across as one long sonic movement as such and requires the volume turning up a notch to fully appreciate what is at play here. The album itself is one long 37-minute track (broken up for vinyl with extra tracks on the cassette) and is minimalistic in its reverberated approach to the genre, which is for the most part, quietly ominous.
ARKTAU EOS: Catacomb Resonator LP/CD/MC Aural Hypnoxįrom an oversized CD wallet to the LP/MC/CD boxed set, Aural Hypnox really are making waves with their output now and all are gloriously hand printed and customised as well.