Field Recordings: Under the Yggdrasil - Frozen Corpse of the Forest (2023)

71 / 100

Not an essential, but worth a try if you enjoy dark, wintry ambient as a sleep companion.

Under the Yggdrasil is a side project from the member of one-man black/doom metal band from Colorado, End., Joshua Tait, with dark ambient as the main focus. Frozen Corpse of the Forest became the first EP released in March 2023 after five singles, with three parts under the same title, only added with label I–III.

The main elements used are field recordings, noise/ambient, and some dungeon synth sound to make the cold, silent, and magical winter forest atmosphere stronger. From the first track we get natural sounds that continue with synth melody. The blowing wind also seems natural, not synthetic, so this winter feels more real than what I got from December – December.

The melody wrapped in the winter noise changes at the end of the first track, then continues into the second and third, but still sounds repetitive and a bit boring if listened carefully because the dynamics don’t mean much.

So maybe it would be better if this EP became one full track of 25 minutes, or shorter, or added with more variation to make it more interesting. Still, the monotone of this winter is worth trying as your sleeping companion—just make sure you are warm and comfortable.

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