Descendants of the Moon by Dahlia's Tear Unfurls the Epic of Gilgamesh in Dark Ambient Grandeur

Sweden’s ethereal Dark Ambient weaver returns, bestowing another epic ambient offering of mystery and grandeur, and this time, Dahlia’s Tear is using perhaps the oldest epic in written form. “Descendants of the Moon” is the latest album from Dahlia’s Tear, and third offering on the inimitable Cryo Chamber label, and much like his brethren in the Cryo Chamber stable, this album is based on a story narrative, however, this story is that of the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of - if not the - oldest known written work in human history, written some 4000 years ago. 

Dahlia’s Tear shows a penchant for enjoying the dream realms of imagination, of sparse narratives built with flourishes of historical theory and even macrocosmic subtleties. The previous album, “Across the Shifting Abyss” was a brilliant offering of introspective ancient history hypothesis, while being formed of a unique narrative and story concept. “Descendants of the Moon” is much the same, however, most of the story elements are left to the conceptualization of the listener, much like the epic from whence the story is taken.

The first track is a facade of melancholy and mysticism and as the songs unfold, the listener is treated to the grandeur of the dreamlike world; a story that has neither beginning nor end, and we are privy to only partial glimpses of the true scope of the epic tale.

The aural aspects in this album always feel barely out of reach; I write particularly of the final track, as we are ushered along this grand tale by the melodious voice of some ethereal guide, and in this particular instance, taking the persona of a woman. She speaks to us, and we know that her words are the underscore of the Ancients, the knowledge of eternities past, and yet, we cannot quite decipher what is being told to us, as we are led along the streams of the aether - the words of the song, like the words of the epic poem from which they are derived, are lost. 

I mentioned before, this album is mysticism tinged with slight flourishes of melancholy and a macrocosmic introspection; a curiosity resides in the music that compels the listener along the journey of this great, and ultimately lost tale. 

“Descendants of the Moon” by Dahlia’s Tear is available in CD Digipak and digital formats October 6 on the Cryo Chamber bandcamp page.

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