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ATRIUM CARCERI - Void

Format: CD
Label & Cat.Number: Cryo Chamber CRYO 001
Release Year: 2013
Note: first release on ATRIUM CARCERI's own label, after many albums on COLD MEAT INDUSTRY, more melancholic & soundtrackish as before with a great outworking of almost story-telling details... "The menace here is that of madness, of the mind’s structure slowly melting away, of not being able to cope with the impending darkness of non-existence... [Santa Sangre]
Price (incl. 19% VAT): €13.00
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More Info

"On Cryo Mind, a new label run by Simon Heath of Atrium Carceri.
The cowled seers from beyond the frigid void incessantly observe us moving through our daily lives. Manipulating the orders of chance and whimsy they collect our thoughts and steer us through the Illusion. Their goal to collect the few for an expedition deep down into the abyss where the lost god once sought refuge. The weave of "reality" grows thin with this release as it explores what lies beyond even the manifold spires of the ancient city as well as the fractured memories of every swayed traveller. Atrium Carceri returns with a stunningly detailed album and yet again propels the genre forward into uncharted territory. Comes in nice designed ekopak." [label info]

www.cryochamberlabel.com




"2012 has certainly been a productive year for Simon Heath, the wizard behind the ever-transforming curtain that is Atrium Carceri. First there was “Reliquae”, probably one of Cold Meat Industry’s last releases, then “Sacrosanct” in collaboration with Eldar, and now “Void” in Simon’s own digital label, Cryo Chamber. Not including Simon’s work with his other project, Sabled Sun, already counting four digital releases. This release is also available as a physical CD, distributed by Tesco Organization – and I should say from the get-go, that you simply must have it in your collection.

Every release by Atrium Carceri is a big deal in my book; this is one of the most consistently conceptual projects in the genre, and immersing myself in one of its installments is always a a source of joy. Atrium Carceri’s music aims to challenge one’s perception of reality, even time and space, and entering its realm resembles the proverbial Alice, tunneling through the rabbit hole – seemingly despite her will, but didn’t she really induce all this mess herself? Wasn’t she in dire need of discovering what lies behind the mirror? Writing about this album while attacked by yet another bout of insomnia, in the small hours of the night in semi-darkness, seems like an appropriate way to pay tribute.

In comparison to the previous albums “Void” seems – at least on the surface – to be more relaxed, more mellow and not as menacing or pessimistic. Clear, meditative ambient sequences and faintly organic and mechanical sounds dominate the atmosphere. A melody shines through here and there, echoing from the safe distance of memory. This time we aren’t trapped in a recurring nightmare, or trying to find our way towards salvation in a post-nuclear landscape. Obscure beings aren’t clouding our judgment, nor are we being tortured or misled. The menace here is that of madness, of the mind’s structure slowly melting away, of not being able to cope with the impending darkness of non-existence.

It seems to be the narration of a now perished explorer, or leader – through his eyes we are led to understand the events that preceded the current state of things. In the opening track, “Dear Diary”, his distorted and melancholic voice is accompanied by slight pulsating sounds like heartbeats and ethereal synths. “We made a rip through the illusion, and went down, deep down”… he explains, “we navigated through the darkness with our minds, a voyage through mentality” – a major evolutionary step for this race. They were in search of the god “who was cast down”, the Fallen One – call him Lucifer, or what you will. And yet again this welcome feeling, of having started to watch a really good science fiction film. I’m not talking Alien or The Matrix (don’t get me wrong, these are also great films), but Bladerunner and 2001: Space Odyssey level. Reading Philip Dick and listening to Atrium Carceri could easily go hand in hand.

In “Humanity’s Cradle” all we can hear are footsteps and the murmurings of forgotten machines; someone is attempting to explore the landscape. Doors creaking, the footsteps come nearer – an opening, and the sounds of distant vehicles and city life. The next track, “A Curved Blade” is without a doubt my favourite in the album. It has this sort of trademark melody piercing through the ambience, like an old heartache that refuses to leave the back of your head. These beautifully composed melodies are what gives Atrium Carceri’s soundscapes the emotional background that makes them so memorable to the listener. “Reselected” contains some melodic residues, but is more ominous and dark, a foreboding of something unpleasant. “Victorian Meltdown” is very difficult to categorize, as it keeps shifting from one direction to the other, and even carries many directions at the same time. A portal in the time machine perhaps, where images of past, present and future collapse into one great void…

The exploration continues in the next few tracks, passing through underground structures and water – “Endless Deep” is surprisingly serene and uplifting in relation to what we’re normally used to from Atrium Carceri – and particularly in “Debt” the album becomes more subtle, even esoteric. A connection between our hero and the discoveries that he makes is implied; he is here because he owes something to the past. “Trembling” is another one of those mainly organic tracks so characteristic of the project. Movement, water flowing, metallic sounds and the music effortlessly swimming through the aural debris.

You must be wondering by now, how our protagonist’s journey ends. In the final two tracks, “Ancient Past” and “Reap” we might draw whatever conclusion we can about his fate. “Ancient Past” begins with some noise sequences, glitches and drones, but around the middle it breaks into a repetitive, monotonous rhythmic pattern. Which in its turn fades out, to give its place to a sharp melody. The closing track, “Reap” returns to the emotional intensity of the opening tracks and especially “Curved Blade”. What are we to make of this? Has our hero found absolution, become one with the Fallen God, or has he been swallowed by this deceptively dormant environment? Whatever the case, nicely done Mr. Heath, and many thanks for yet another fascinating adventure!" [Vitriol / Santa Sangre]