The ambient drone project of Daryl Shepard, Blackwolfgoat's sophomore album, Dronolith, picks up where the debut Dragonwizardsleeve left off and progresses further into shifting landscapes. Hypnotic, each sonic structure has a distinctly modern and minimalistic texture established on firm but simple foundations, soon evolving, almost organically, into towering edifices and labyrinthine complexity. "Building Buildings" percussive introduction soon expands outward into a multi-layered and rhythmic track with a magnificent guitar melody flowing freely through the horizons. "Ruane" builds slowly from a percussive line, overlayed with a simple guitar line, the harmonies and countermelodies being subtly introduced as the piece moves gently onward. "Tyche"'s heavy and mildly distorted bass drone majestically drags its feet like the Iron Man lumbering across moonlit panoramas towards the coastline. "Fear of Stars" skyward pulse is interspersed with heavenly melodies falling out of the silver-stringed guitar sound. "Event Radius" is in the vein of "Tyche", a heavy bass drone portending some immensely ill occasion as depicted in countless sci-fi movies. And at just under sixteen minutes, the title track lives up to the implications of its portmanteau name, layer after layer emerging and creating something new, imposing, and ultimately threatening. Beautifully crafted, each track growing until they stand tall by themselves and even mightier as part of the overall assembly, Dronolith is an impressive work that with repeat listens reveals ever greater depths. Recommended.
Track Listing
1) Building Buildings
2) Ruane
3) Tyche
4) Fear of Stars
5) Event Radius
6) Dronolith