[BEGIN TRANSMISSION] What’s colder and bleaker than the darkest winter night in a snow-clad Scandinavian forest? The endless vacuum of space, of course. For 25 years no band has better exemplified this notion than Darkspace, and the titans of cosmic black metal have finally sent us their first signal in nearly 10 years — a single 47-minute track that is an exercise in atmosphere, ambience, and patience, yet proves that these masters of the void haven’t lost their signature touch. Venture into the deep unknown with Dark Space -II.

Since their first demo Dark Space -I dropped in 2002 (and on the four full-lengths between 2003 and 2014) Darkspace have banked their music on one general ethos: what is the ideal soundtrack for being pulled into a black hole? If repetitive 10 to 20-minute songs with intensely distorted vocals, chords as massive as a red giant, and chugging riffs so heavy that they might as well act as gravity wells sound fitting, then Darkspace have done their job (and much much more). These traits have typically been accompanied by numerous other sounds including keyboards, ambient noise, and samples from sci-fi films to complete the entire package. So what does the Swiss trio have to offer on Dark Space -II’s single track “Dark -2.-2”? A lot less intensity and grandeur, and a lot more ambience.

“Dark -2.-2” retains a lot of the traits that have characterized the Darkspace sound and presents them in a slower and more subdued manner, taking time to grow and develop ideas. Gone are the walls of chords and lightspeed blast beats courtesy of their programmed drums; instead the band has opted for electronic industrial beats and guitars that take a much more ambient role. Soft spoken word is a constant throughout the album, as well as a plethora of jarring, eerie noises. The powerful Chugging Riffs™ that have been a highlight of Darkspace’s music since their first appearance on Dark Space III do make a return here, but are used more sparingly — when they do surface however, you can bet that they are some of the best moments on the album. The first eight minutes of the track are dedicated to a slow setup (aided largely by the aforementioned chugging riff), and it’s nearly 11 minutes before any of the harsh vocals even start.

As the track continues more and more atmospheric guitar leads are introduced, slowly but surely feeling like it’s building up to something greater — one is easily reminded of an incoming spaceship or celestial body that appears more and more massive as it begins to take up the entirety of your vision. By and past the 30-minute mark things have kicked up into higher gear; the cacophony of keys, guitar leads, chugging riffs, and more-consistent beats are threatening to swallow the listener whole. This is Darkspace at their best, as just a few relatively simple elements masterfully combine to create an ominous, foreboding atmosphere that could suit any number of thematically appropriate moments in science fiction — not anything hopeful about the future of the human race or the majesty of the cosmos, but something more akin to boarding a seemingly abandoned vessel adrift in space, descending into the lair of an alien queen, or facing off with a dark lord in the bowels of an unfamiliar city.

While those expecting a blistering trem picked and blast-driven assault on the ears may be disappointed with the more ambient direction of Dark Space -II, given the naming convention of the album it would seem that this is but a smaller blip in the satellite feed before the inevitable release of Dark Space V (or perhaps III II?). I believe that this album is just be a primer for what is yet to come, but I hope that signal reaches us here on Earth sooner rather than later. In the meantime, this journey back into the abyss is one absolutely worth taking.

— Colin [END TRANSMISSION]

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Dark Space -II will be available February 16 on Season of Mist. For more information on Darkspace, check out their official website.