I had previously reviewed “Event Horizon” by this Russian artist, and quite enjoyed it, so I was interested to hear what the noise hangover sounded like this time (and I still find the name to be incredibly amusing). I am also a big H.P. Lovecraft fan, so I went into this with some high hopes.

This disc has one 20 minute track, titled “Azathoth.” For those who are not familiar with Lovecraft’s Mythos, Azathoth is described thus in his story “The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath”: “Outside the ordered universe that amorphous blight of nethermost confusion which blasphemes and bubbles at the center of all infinity—the boundless daemon sultan Azathoth, whose name no lips dare speak aloud, and who gnaws hungrily in inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond time and space amidst the muffled, maddening beating of vile drums and the thin monotonous whine of accursed flutes.”

If you saw the band name and are looking for noise, this is not what we have here. What we have is far better. This is heavy, noisy dark ambient. The closest comparison I have is Inade. “Azathoth” is constantly shifting and evolving, but still grounded with a layer of sawtooth synth line as spectral sounds howl over the bass drone. Over time it becomes increasingly unhinged and chaotic. This is stunningly beautiful and very well put together.

In short, this is another solid entry from Noise Hangover and well worth picking up if you like your dark ambient with extra darkness and a bit of an edge to it. Highly recommended.