A sulphureous magma of desolate dark ambient and ear-piercing industrial frequencies for this relatively young Italian project. This cd-r, co-released by AS's own Eye of Kephra together with Butcher's House (run by Adriano of Macelleria Mobile di Mezzanotte/Cronaca Nera fame) and Bunker, collects 2 brand new tracks, two from "Enter the Kingdom Pupas Fell" (2000), one from "Secrets Revealed Darkness Shall Be" (2001), and one from "Xenomorph" (2002) - six tracks, 44 minutes. Acherontia Styx skillfully blends cold ambiences with sudden bursts of white noise, building monstrous tracks which could be suitable soundtracks for Lovecraftian nightmares, obscure S/M mating rituals or nihilistic meditations (or for all of them in one, of course). I really dug the first and last track, totally bleak death ambient evoking pitch-black environments and ghost presences. But also the more physical incursions are well-balanced between hypnotic drones and all-out bruitisme. Particularly well-done packaging, with A5 cardboard sleeve and elegant bio-cosmic imagery.