Dark ambient folk horror fairytale by Italian maestro Heilige!I recently had the pleasure of delving into the enchanting and eerie soundscape of the four songs instrumental tape release "RIVERSIDE" by the dark folk ambient outfit HEILIGE!. Themed around the dark woods and well… riverside, the release is a journey into the depths of the human psyche, as the artist expertly weaves together haunting melodies, atmospheric soundscapes, field recordings and intricate instrumentation.From the opening track, "Secret Garden, Sacred Delights" HEILIGE! conjures up images of a misty, foreboding place outside of time and space with its brooding, ominous drone and chilling sounds of a night forest full of creatures and their mysteries.

"Dark Woods" follows suit, conjuring images of a gloomy and obscure forest that is soon to witness some dark rites of unspeakable cruelty."Riverside" is an intense and ominous track, with its haunting melody and evocative use of field recordings and otherworldly sounds, transporting the listener to the edge of a murky, winding river.The final track, "River of Silence" brings the release to a fittingly atmospheric close, as the hisses, ghostly whispers and atmospheric synths blend seamlessly together to create a soundscape that's both beautiful and haunting.But despite my admiration of this sonic craftmanship I have to point out a few downsides of this release: first one is the length, it's just too short and not enough to fully emerge yourself in those otherworldly realms.

And the second one is the fact that the tape release has been already sold out on bandcamp. What a bummer! Hope Heilige! will continue the production of the physical items along with his musical endeavorsOverall, Heilige! four songs instrumental tape release RIVERSIDE is a stunning example of the outstanding craft of summoning dark folk ambient horror soundscapes. It's a journey into the depths of the unknown that's both captivating and unsettling, and it's a must-listen for fans of the genre.