Atmos-fear
Atmospheric, slow-burning, intense music
Sometimes, it’s not about producing the most full-on, relentless sound, with countless riffs and non-stop heaviness. There are times when it feels right to start off slowly, build up an atmosphere, build up the layers and then head into an eventual cavalcade of riffs and heaviness. There are other times when an overload isn’t even required; an alternate intensity can be found in a steady grind, an almost hypnotic groove and pulse or a gothic sense of darkness.
Here are just the examples that spring to mind for a suitable playlist.
Sikth – Tupelo
Their cover of the Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds classic – taking that sense of impending doom up a few notches. Check out the original here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSl4KX7zBTQ
Slipknot – Gently (Iowa version)
The version found on second album ‘Iowa’, a reworking of the track originally found on their underground debut, released before signing to Roadrunner Records.
Swans – Like A Drug
I was addicted to this at one point. A dark, heavy grind with a hypnotic feel.
Steak Number Eight – Falling Out Of A Dream
Awesome build-up intro. Sludgy, grungy.
Tool – Eulogy
A slow, steady build from the masters of dyamnic. Hypnotic.
The Dillinger Escape Plan – *#..
Instrumental – sounds like it’d make a great intro, but is actually track 4 on their first full-length album.
Panic DHH – Simplex
A calmer, more restrained moment from this band; fragility in noise. Frontman Robbie Furze went on to form The Big Pink.
Gary Numan – RIP
Steady build-up into a wall of sound chorus from a pioneer of dark music.
Bauhaus – Bela Lugosi’s Dead
The goth classic; essential listening for every Halloween.
Triptykon – Shatter
The current band from metal legend Thomas Gabriel Fischer. Only recently got round to listening after a suggestion from a friend.
Wardruna – Kauna
Gaahl’s dark folk project.
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