mementomori

 "Operation Hummingbird is actually the formal masterpiece of Julius, at the peak of his inspiration as a manipulator and assembler of sounds."

 "Let us bow once more (the last time?) before the King of Apocalyptic Folk!"

Operation Hummingbird, a 2000 mini-album by Death In June, refines the band's apocalyptic folk style with post-industrial influences and masterful production. The collaboration with Albin Julius brings intense and dynamic soundscapes, creating a powerful and innovative work. Its themes of political disillusionment and emotional decay are expressed through meticulously crafted compositions. Far from a secondary effort, the album is a critical highlight in Death In June’s career. Dive into the intense world of Death In June’s Operation Hummingbird—experience its haunting sounds and apocalyptic vision today!

 Ottobre constitutes the natural conceptual continuation of Aurora, delving into the most virulent manifestation of the forces of Anti-tradition, namely communism.

 We will always respect anyone who believes, fights, and dies for an ideal, but when the ideal proves wrong...one must have the moral courage to come to terms with oneself.

Ain Soph's 'Oktober' is a conceptual follow-up to their 1992 album 'Aurora', addressing the collapse of communism through evocative rock music. The album explores political ideology with a strong anti-communist stance, framed by Julius Evola’s philosophy. Despite ambitious themes and atmospheric soundscapes, the execution suffers from uneven composition and technical flaws. Fans of the band will appreciate the continuation but may find it less inspired than its predecessor. Dive into Ain Soph’s provocative 'Oktober' to experience a bold blend of rock and political reflection—listen now and explore its complex themes!

 "From noise to music, from magic to ethics,"

 "If Magic is the supremacy of the spirit, the enemies are the doctrines of Matter."

Aurora marks a pivotal and courageous transformation in Ain Soph’s artistic journey. Moving away from abstract ritual noise towards a passionate, musically simple, yet conceptually rich approach, the album explores themes of lost ideals, magic versus materialism, and the harsh realities of political and social change. Despite its raw and technically imperfect sound, the album delivers sincere, ironic, and heartfelt storytelling, standing as a timeless piece in Italy's underground scene. It blends multilingual lyrics and a cabaret style with a neo-folk singer-songwriter vibe that surprises given the band's esoteric roots. Explore Ain Soph's Aurora to experience an evocative journey from experimental noise to passionate, heartfelt songs steeped in magic and history.

 You’ll encounter good work wherever you turn your ears, and you need an Ozric Tentacles album at home, regardless of your personal tastes.

 Ozric Tentacles are like Weather Report flirting with Popol Vuh, Hawkwind, Pink Floyd, Gong, Orb — crafting a swirling, hypnotic, hallucinogenic, lysergic atmosphere.

Ozric Tentacles' 1990 album Erpland is a richly crafted blend of space-rock, psychedelia, and world music. The album offers a hypnotic and immersive sonic experience driven by skilled musicianship, especially Ed Wynne's guitar and keyboard work. Highly recommended for fans of progressive and psychedelic music, Erpland represents a pinnacle of the band's expansive career. Its unique soundscape evokes vivid imagery and transports listeners on a mesmerizing journey. Dive into Erpland and experience the legendary psychedelic journey of Ozric Tentacles today!

 The Roof captures the joy of sharing and the funny sonic effluence of four artists who impose no other rule but to subvert them all.

 Avant-garde born as a game and becomes art.

Roof's 'The Untraceable Cigar' is a unique avant-garde jazz album featuring an acclaimed quartet blending improvisation, humor, and experimental soundscapes. The review highlights the diverse backgrounds of the members and their shared passion for deconstructive, playful music. Despite the group's brief existence, the album remains a spirited snapshot of avant-garde innovation. It's recommended for fans of adventurous, boundary-pushing music. Dive into Roof's avant-garde world and experience the playful spontaneity of 'The Untraceable Cigar' today!

 Heaven Sent is a bizarre journey into Boyd Rice’s visionary mind: a sort of misanthropic aperitif.

 The true pinnacle of the album is 'Never Forget,' 14 minutes of dreamlike ecstasy resembling The Cure's Disintegration.

Heaven Sent by Scorpion Wind is an experimental album marked by Boyd Rice's spoken word and a dark apocalyptic atmosphere. The work mixes hypnotic music with provocations, but its length and monotony may test listeners’ patience. Standout tracks like 'The Path of the Cross' and 'Never Forget' offer emotional and musical peaks. Fans of the apocalyptic folk scene will find depth here, yet the album feels like a niche side project rather than a definitive work. Dive into Scorpion Wind’s 'Heaven Sent' and experience Boyd Rice's immersive apocalyptic soundscape today!

 "This music appears black. Blacker than black can be: a darkness only slightly illuminated by the faint fire of a fragile candle."

 "Ian Read is among the exponents of apocalyptic folk the one who least needs to amaze: an artist of integrity and rigor truly out of the ordinary."

Fire + Ice's Midwinter Fires is a dark, intimate, and enigmatic folk album from 1995, reflecting Ian Read's exploration of mystical and pagan themes. The music is characterized by delicate instrumentation and a haunting atmosphere, requiring patience to appreciate fully. While not as polished or accessible as later works, it foreshadows the artist's conceptual masterpiece Rûna. Fans of deep, introspective folk will find value here despite some uneven moments. Dive into the haunting world of Fire + Ice and experience the mysterious depths of Midwinter Fires today.

 A corridor in Time that aims to take us far away, to places devoid of hope, where perhaps we will not meet Death, but we will certainly feel its suffocating and threatening looming.

 Twelve torments inflicted on us with the methodicity of torture.

Arcana's 1997 album Cantar De Procella delivers a dark, gothic, and hypnotic soundscape reminiscent of Dead Can Dance but with a deeper medieval and inquisition-inspired atmosphere. The work features layered synthesizers, haunting vocals, and ritualistic percussion creating a suffocating yet captivating journey. Though sometimes repetitive, the album successfully immerses the listener in a solemn corridor of time, evoking themes of fate, imprisonment, and torment. This album marks an important step in Arcana's evolving mastery of gothic ambient music. Dive into the haunting world of Arcana's Cantar De Procella and experience a mesmerizing gothic journey today!

 Orplid aspires to much more, namely to float and dematerialize in the vapors and effluents of the vast and infinite spirit of Man.

 In this 'Nächltiche Jünger' you will not struggle to recognize that mix of moods and feelings that have always permeated German literature, thought, and art.

Orplid’s album Nächltiche Jünger is a standout work in German neo-folk, deeply rooted in cultural identity and artistic rigor. Combining acoustic and electric instrumentation with powerful orchestration, it delivers an epic, emotional experience. The album’s German lyrics and poetic references add a layer of authenticity and philosophical depth. The reviewer praises its richness, professionalism, and passionate execution, marking it as a masterpiece within the apocalyptic folk genre. Dive into Orplid’s Nächltiche Jünger and experience the epic depths of German neo-folk mastery today.

 "Emptiness, in its 61 minutes, manages to outline the contours of that existential emptiness that was probably the author’s intention."

 "Larsen's proposal seems excessively tied to the music of Death in June, particularly the atmospheres of 'Rose Clouds of Holocaust'."

This review discusses Kim Larsen's album Emptiness as a deeply atmospheric but stylistically derivative work in the dark folk genre. While it skillfully evokes existential emptiness and hypnotic moods, it suffers from heavy influence by Death in June and a lack of originality. The album's long, minimalistic tracks create a compact but repetitive experience best appreciated by dedicated fans of apocalyptic folk. Explore the haunting world of Of the Wand & the Moon's Emptiness and decide if its dark folk depths speak to you.