Make no mistake, this kind of thing is not for everyone, but if it clicks with you as it did with me then you're in for an epic voyage. This band is frankly fantastic, and if you've not heard them then I firmly suggest that you give them a shot. Simply, this masterpiece boggles the mind, and it is not the only album by Darkspace to do so. Although the production obscures the actual musicianship this does not detract, and if anything adds more of a feeling of helplessness and unease to the overall product.
It goes through periods of tension and relaxation, always keeping the listener on their toes, and despite being theoretically simple Dark Space III manages to be one of the most intricate albums I think I will ever hear. Darkspace create atmosphere like no other band I've come across, and every song is a journey despite the start and the end not being wildly far apart. I don't think I've ever heard music that channels an idea so vividly before, and that's what makes this thing so wonderful. Coupled with the furious blast-beats that come from the drum for almost the duration of Dark Space III (surely done by a machine, or else the guy's legs must have fallen off due to the effort he put in) there's something very nerve-wracking about listening to this. While the ambient sections leave the listener almost feeling happy, when the guitar comes in there's a sense of dread and fear, and it portrays space in an entirely different manner from the keyboard, as a bleak emptiness rather than a beautiful, tranquil haven. Honestly they're not much more than noise half the time, but somehow their utilisation in conjunction with the keys is superb. However, in contrast to the calming nature of the keys, the guitars are always either ominously chugging away or looming large through thundering tremolo riffs. They tend to lead the way in terms of innovation too by changing their style and tone frequently and guiding the other elements with it, but they never make anything feel forced or rushed, it's just a natural progression from one passage to another. They're not quite uplifting, but there's still something soothing about the melodies that they produce. It gives the listener the feeling of floating peacefully in space, which at first thought is quite pleasant. The reason that I love this so much is undoubtedly to do with the keyboard. Something about this band's work just clicks with me, and it resonates with me in a way that I couldn't possibly have expected. But as with space itself, despite the simplicity of the concept the actuality is infinitely more complex and fascinating.
On paper this is everything I ought to despise: long and fairly repetitive songs, somewhat sketchy and murky production and of course furious playing, particularly when it comes to the drums. I'm not overly familiar with ambient music outwith brief interludes, and black metal is generally something I avoid where possible. Not many bands make as good a first impression on me as Darkspace did.
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