Band:	Empire Auriga
Album:	Auriga Dying
Style:	Ambient, Industrial black metal
Release date:	June 2008

01. Time Expanding
02. Sorrowsong
03. Dreaming Of Breath And Stars
04. The Lurker
05. Waiting For The Fall
06. Soul Interrupt
07. Dust And Ether

Empire Auriga. Band members: "BOETHIUS" - Communications and "90000065b" – Transmissions. Great, now that really got us further, didn't it? Their website claims they are a mind-altering Black metal band, a claim that usually leaves me rather skeptical. However, they do have their debut album release on Moribund, a label which has offered us quite a few awesome albums already. So let’s get to it.

Opener "Time Expanding" starts with an air raid alarm, accompanied with militaristic, simplistic drums of war. A cold, clean voice speaks of the universe and galaxies and nebulae far beyond, the void, the emptiness, hollow... loneliness... death. And in the meantime, the air raid alarms have ceased their wailing and have given in to majestic sweeps of an instrument I do not know the name of. Information about this band is hard to find, but let me tell you that whatever they used, it sounds absolutely awesome and eerie.

Usually when I describe a song in such detail, I'll continue with stating "and that goes for the rest of the album too". But with this album, that would be a big lie. However, I do not want this review to become a song-by-song review, as you should really experience this album yourself. Basically the "Black Metal" on this album is limited to a few very distorted vocals and an overall very, very dark atmosphere. I'll say no more than that this album has influences varying from Xasthur to My Bloody Valentine, but is also influenced by "2001: A Space Odyssey" and Swans, and many more. Furthermore this sounds like a hybrid of Burzum and Godflesh, or Lurker Of Chalice, is eerie, transcending, emotive, moving, contains weeping guitars, grand melodies, vocals distorted beyond recognition, has songs that are sometimes completely without drums or vocals, suits perfect as both background music and music to completely drown in and take drugs too, is a spaced out hymn to the void, and also a must check for those that are into eerie music and some or all of the aforementioned bands.

Yet they can do better. I know it. With "Auriga Dying" they have created a post-apocalyptic view of the world, a view of absolute annihilating, but they can do better. For example, they should try to achieve a more uniform and coherent overall sound (without becoming monotone). Don't get me wrong, the Burzumic (Filosofem era) "Waiting For The Fall" is a great track, but it is too much separated in sound from the other songs. Sure, all songs are eerie and haunting, but if they are not in the same style, it still sounds awkward.

Anyway, that is coming from someone who wishes he could create something like this himself. Even though I do stand by my criticism, that does not mean that this album is bad. Ok, it isn't really mind-altering, but who really expects that these days? All in all, this is a great album for a band that is a real promise for the future.