Cryo Chamber's Newest Lovecraftian Label Collaboration is upon Us
Ends of our yearly cycles are steeped in tradition and ritual, old and new; time spent with family, friends, revelry and reflection, and for seven years, the Cryo Chamber label has released a collaborative Lovecraftian concept album near year’s end. This year marks the eighth release, Dagon, a conceptual collaboration highlighting one of the most recognizable figures in the Lovecraft mythos, as well as other, real-world historical cultures. These albums are always a treat, as they are presented in unbroken, hour-long tracks wherein a Who’s Who of Cryo Chamber alumni contribute and collaborate to weave conceptual music soundscapes and ambience in homage to the Lovecraftian theme of the year.
I mentioned a Who’s Who all-star cast of artists, and with contributions from the following artists, you will understand why:
Tineidae
Shrine
Dead Melodies
Darkrad
Northumbria
Dronny Darko
ProtoU
Council of Nine
RNGMNN
Wordclock
Randal Collier-Ford
Neiszvestija
Phonothek
Atrium Carceri
Alphaxone
Apocryphos
Gydja
God Body Disconnect
Flowers for Bodysnatchers
Beyond the Ghost
In Quantum
Even my favorite dark ambient project, Atrium Carceri, has skulked from the shadows to join the ranks of this group of ambient powerhouses! For those who follow the releases from Cryo Chamber, you will recognize many artists whose releases have graced these review articles, and you will also see welcome additions to the roster.
Dagon begins exactly as it should: the subtle roar of ocean waves undulating, lapping at imposing rocks and possible ancient, antediluvian structures obscured by moss and lichen, weather-worn and hewn by the incessant pummeling of the water. Ominous howls of synth horns and drones begin their call from above gaping pits adorned with ceremonial “eyes”, many of which are certainly ringed with worshippers proclaiming their tenets of faith according to their Esoteric Orders. As I referred above, there are no definite breaks or interruptions to the flow of this album. The parts and contributions from the artists weave in and among each other to produce an awe-inspiring, aquatic atmosphere of subdued texture and sound design, and all this being delivered in two tracks, both having a runtime of nearly 60 minutes each. Much the same as its predecessor (and possibly the most popular collaborative release, Cthulhu), Dagon comes packaged in a digibook package with evocative narrative into the Dagon story; oblique and obtuse, as fans would expect.
This is one of my favorites in the Cryo Chamber Lovecraft series, and fans of the mythos, dark ambient, or any of the Cryo Chamber artists involved will certainly want to dive into this album. Dagon is available in CD digibook and digital format on December 28, 2021 on the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page. You can also purchase the 16 CD Lovecraft Bundle, as well. That is nearly 32 hours of sound design evoking and inspired by the Lovecraftian mythos.
Join Justin as he chats with actor and comedian Maggie Roswell about voicing Teegra in FIRE AND ICE, Frank Frazetta, becoming Maude Flanders in THE SIMPSONS, supernatural experiences, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with musician and artist Mina Walkure about the birth of her band Bronze, Sword and Sorcery, songwriting, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor and producer Justin Shenkarow about the legacy of the cult-classic TV series Eerie, Indiana, navigating his childhood as a celebrity, Hey Arnold!, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor Randy Havens about his psychedelic experiences, dangerous stunts, the Stranger Things craze, set etiquette, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor and model Patricia Velásquez about practicing Kabbalah, growing up in Venezuela, landing her role in The Mummy, charity work, her personal encounter with La Llorona, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with musician Jean-Pierre Abboud about the Canadian heavy metal scene, science fiction, writing stories, Traveler, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor Charles Halford about his childhood in Salty Lake City, the Constantine cancellation, punk rock, struggling with ones identify as a performer, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with director and writer Eduardo Sanchez about the birth of The Blair Witch Project, Bigfoot, exploring the unknown, anthology horror, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with director and producer Bill Lustig about the preservation of cult cinema, his uncle Jake “Raging Bull” LaMotta, jump-starting his career behind the scenes in adult films, Maniac, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with paranormal investigator Shanclen about spirits of the Navajo Nation, Skinwalker misconceptions, indigenous rituals, working with the Ghost Adventures crew, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with writer Rob Yescombe about horror, video game writing versus screen writing, hitting the Jackpot with Amazon, script advice, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with musician Riley Pinkerton about ghosts, dark fantasy, the birth of Castle Rat, creativity, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor and writer Ernie Hudson about haunted houses, the tragedy on the set of The Crow, Ghostbusters, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor and writer Thomas Jane about comics, cryptid encounters, UFOs, becoming The Punisher, Stephen King, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor Beth Broderick about the contrast between stage and screen, establishing her company to assist people with AIDs, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, animal spirits, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor and stuntman Jay Tavare about martial arts, Native American rituals, landing the role of Vega in Street Fighter: The Movie, fight scene coordination, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor and magician Steve Valentine about rowdy nights as a DJ, performing magic for Hollywood’s elite, breaking into the business as a character actor, Don’t Look Under the Bed, voicing Alistair, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor and radio personality Jon St. John about the rise of Duke Nukem, the downfall of radio, his annual cruise tour, missing time, UFOs, and more!
Join Just as he chats with actor Dan Green about becoming the Pharaoh, psychedelic experiences, crafting character voices, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor Jenette Goldstein about bad experiences on bad movies, the thrill of performing live, Near Dark, working with James Cameron, her new business, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with prolific actor Chris Sarandon about embracing varied roles, growing up in a Greek household, Broadway, Jerry Dandrige, Andre the Giant, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor Michael Gross about becoming Burt Gummer, life as a TV dad, his early years as a musician, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor and filmmaker Michael Ironside about growing up in poverty, living with impostor syndrome, Scanners, spiritual experiences, Sam Fisher, life after death, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with musician and artist Serj Tankian about composing for film, The Rains of Castamere, his memoir Down with the System, new music, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor Amos Crawley about the acting scene in Toronto in the early 90’s, Goosebumps, The Ghastly Grinner, riding the Magic School Bus, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor Lisa Schrage about her vast book collection, Prom Night II, becoming Mary Lou Maloney, long lost film props, her first horror conventions, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with actor, author, and sculptor Daniel Stern about ghost towns, C.H.U.D. the musical, Marv, his new book Home and Alone, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with New York Times bestseller, Bram Stoker award winner, and editor of Weird Tales Magazine Jonathan Maberry about curating Weird Tales, the myth of writer’s block, Conan, classic horror films, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with singer and songwriter Tyler Lyle about his childhood in the deep south, shedding religion for philosophy, the birth of The Midnight, nostalgia as a double-edged sword, an upcoming graphic novel from the band, new music, and more!
Join Justin as he chats with legendary comics writer Garth Ennis - they dive deep on his history with Hellblazer and the decision to give John Constantine cancer, meeting Alan Moore, the influence of Jamie Delano on his writing, Preacher, The Punisher, and more!