Sabled Sun Releases 2149, the 5th Year of Dark Futurism and Exploration from Cryo Chamber
Five years have passed since the man awakened from cryo-sleep hibernation; five years since emerging into a world fallen to ruin, devoid of life - well, human life, that is - and we find ourselves journeying vicariously with the lone wanderer to one of the automated underground cities of Sector 33.
Sabled Sun is a futuristic project of cinematic dark ambience of the highest caliber from sound design mastermind, Simon Heath (of Atrium Carceri). The story of Sabled Sun is one of explorative isolation; introspection and chilling futurism, but this is not necessarily a story with humanity as the main character.. In fact, the Sabled Sun 21xx series tells the story of a lone survivor - one human - who awakens from hibernation and finds himself alone on a desolate planet.
The beauty of this series of albums is the mystery. We are given subtle cues to propel our imaginations, yet not enough information to tell us what exactly is happening. For instance: we do not know the planet upon which this story takes place, nor are we certain during which particular Age/Aeon whence this story unfolds. We are given the title 2149, and a leading narrative that five years have transpired since the first album in the 21xx series… and you can read further into the story on your own.
Suffice to say that this world is a ruined landscape of machinery and autonomous robotics performing their programmed and menial tasks with incessant, neverending efficiency, while our protagonist journeys across the planet, discovering what could have possibly happened to the human inhabitants through voice recordings and data transmissions. This album, however, may just reveal more about our character than we were previously aware...
The soundscapes that unfold before us are a delicate mixture of synths, drones, and field recording, as is Heath’s penchant for his dark ambient tales; sometimes we are treated to wistful pads, drifting lazily upon upon beds of droning winds, and other times we might be led to the next area of exploration by a mysterious voice resonating from a dilapidated computer terminal, its clarity marred by untold years of decay and neglect.
Cadences with seemingly random instruments help produce images and moods in the mind of cold steel, beveled edges, LED readout displays, and a cloudy, overcast sky blanketing empty skyscrapers left as testaments of once mighty technological marvel, now bereft. Arpeggiated pads and synths emerge at times, distorted and hazy, casting the images of a “fallen future” upon our imaginations.
Every Sabled Sun album is a standout achievement in mood and function, and more so when listened consecutively. The brilliance of imaginative sound design and muse-evoking narrative are on display in this fifth installment in the Sabled Sun 21xx series, and you can purchase it in digibook or digital format on the Cryo Chamber bandcamp page.
Read more within the Museum of Macabre Media here: Ugasanie Unfolds a Delicate Miasma of Winter Ambience