Minimalism is something that people take too often for granted as easy to pull off. The truth is that simplicity and minimalism don’t work for everyone, but those who can execute it effectively can conjure atmospheres even the most bombastic, frenetic bands could never dream of reaching: this is particularly true of Sweden’s Hypothermia, and their 2015 album, “Skogens Hjärta” exemplified the finer elements of ritualistic minimalism, as well as a cleaner and colder chapter of music for the band themselves.
While their early recordings fall more in line with depressive-suicidal black metal blueprints, Skogens Hjärta was slower and more melodic, and exchanges the more piercing elements of DSBM for a down-tempo post-rock sound that, while different, is no less mournful than preceding releases. Skogens Hjärta consists of two tracks, each of which exceeding thirty minutes in length, and is best listened to in solitude. The music is haunting and isolated, and paints vivid scenes of desolate boreal woods and freezing winds, robed figures gliding across the snow like screech owls in the evening mist under the dim light of a fading moon as all the hopeless, calamitous moments of your life playing before your eyes while death approaches with ice-cold fingers to drag you into eternal, freezing darkness alone.
This is a prime example of the lofi minimalistic misery this site aims to purvey. Support Hypothermia and listen to Skogens Hjärta below:
Towers of Rust 