Delve into Ancient Sumerian Tombs and Myth with Cryo Chamber

The next installment of the Cryo Chamber Tomb series adds some new artists to the stellar alumni of the iconic label, as well as some familiar faces. Dahlia’s Tear and Skadi, both incredible acts with the label, are joined by the likes of Desderii Marginis, Svartsinn, and even Mortiis, himself, has emerged from his dark dungeon and joined with New Risen Throne to provide a track for this collection of songs, hymns, chants, and textures devoted to the themes of the Sumerian mythos, the gods and the places they inhabit.

Never is a Cryo Chamber album predictable, nor derivative, and the Tomb Series are excellent showcases of varied talents among the roster that can adhere to themes and evoke strong imagery within the (limitless) confines sound design and aural showcase. One of the strengths of Tomb of Primordials is that the album does not immediately resort to a “horror” fugue, but rather stays mystical and inquisitive throughout the entire presentation. Dahlia’s Tear opens the album with woodwind drones that dissipate into woven texture pads and darker drones, and this imagery is carried throughout the remainder of the tracks. The Artist Skadi sows the seeds of Pestilence with a song channeling Namtaru, delivering eerie percussions underlying dreaded pads, New Risen Throne, joined by Mortiis, invoke a subtle percussive battery of doom laden miasma as they offer their Chants for Isimud, the two-faced Messenger. Six demigods of old are represented in this collection, with some familiar names, and some unknown, but the names of the composers on this album should not be unfamiliar, and for those who may be new to the dark ambient scene, or who have not heard the artists involved in this collection, this is definitely an excellent starting point. 

Dark ambient, especially the evocative, cinematic style, is the music of the imagination, and the song titles, and narrative précis help to create the thematic mood to this Sumerian opus. An excellent addition to the Tomb series, you can pick up Tomb of Primordials in CD Digipak and digital formats on the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page.