Monty Adkins is back as Skrika, his experimental ambient alter ego. Here, he combines a number of different types of elements – synth waves and drones, sequenced runs, processed noises, choral elements, percussion, and a bunch of other acoustic features that are surprisingly difficult to describe. Evolving over the course of five tracks, each 8-10 minutes long, Betrayal of Caerimar uses this broad quasi-acousmatic palette to generate dark sci-fi / horror soundscapes.
Case in point, Remnants of the Sixth Cycle employs drones, sequencing, and monk-like chants to evoke a mysterious and haunting atmosphere. In contrast, the synths of Broken Communication are sweeping and accompanied by abstract beats and manipulated static. Eoan Raids is slower and more sinister before morphing into a rhythmic amalgam of sequencing, chords, and aleatoric percussion that is strangely upbeat.
Needless to say, these tracks are cinematic and could serve as accompaniment to movies, televisions series, or video games. But they also stand on their own as active background music.
Adkins’ work on this album is as engaging as ever. Rather than just a composer, he is an architect who carefully selects sonic building blocks to construct massive cathedrals of sound. Betrayal of Caerimar came out on January 28 and gets a strong recommendation.
