raison d'être blog

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In a long-awaited unveiling, celebrating it’s 25th anniversary, raison d’être’s critically acclaimed dark ambient opus The Empty Hollow Unfolds will be available for the first time ever on vinyl, released as a deluxe Double LP edition on Marbled vinyl and standard Black. Originally issued in 2000 this reissue marks a significant milestone in the legacy of Swedish composer Peter Andersson, whose immersive soundscapes helped define an era of industrial ambient music.

The Empty Hollow Unfolds is not merely an album, it is a descent into the void. Widely hailed as one of the most haunting and emotionally resonant works in the dark ambient genre, it transforms isolation into an art form. Andersson constructs a sonic environment of desolate beauty, where metallic echoes, subterranean drones, and Gregorian-like chants collide in a ritual of decay and transcendence.

From the slow, meditative swell of “The Slow Ascent” to the sprawling, twenty-minute dirge The Eternal Return and the Infinity Horizon, this record remains a singular achievement, a sound world of spectral ruins and elegant desolation. This new Double LP edition has been remastered specifically for vinyl, restoring the album’s cavernous depth and atmospheric range in unprecedented detail and includes 3 bonus tracks not available on the original release.

Critics have long praised The Empty Hollow Unfolds as a milestone in the genre, once voted the greatest release in Cold Meat Industry’s storied history. Described as “elegantly crafted ruin” and “a travelogue from a land where the sun never rises,” the album continues to evoke awe and unease in equal measure. Its sound, monumental yet intimate, cold yet achingly human, remains as relevant and unsettling today as it was 25 years ago.

Limited Edition 2LP of 400 copies. 200 copies on Marbled vinyl and 200 on Black vinyl. Gatefold Sleeve, matte varnish and black paper inner sleeves. 8 Tracks. Running Time 73:13 minutes.

Pre-order at The Circle Music distributor

For the first time ever on vinyl, the original 1995 recording of Within The Depths Of Silence And Phormations comes in two stunning vinyl editions

Rune Serpent Europa, in collaboration with The Circle Music for worldwide distribution, will release the 30th-anniversary edition of raison d’être’s groundbreaking album, “Within The Depths Of Silence And Phormations”. Originally recorded in 1995 and a cornerstone of the dark ambient genre, this sonic masterpiece will be available for the first time ever on vinyl, alongside a special triple CD edition, on 21 May 2025, and is available now to pre-order.

raison d’être is the esteemed dark ambient project of Swedish sound artist Peter Andersson, formed in 1991 as a tool for self-expression. With a career spanning nearly three decades and numerous influential releases, raison d’être has become a pinnacle of the genre, renowned for its overwhelming dark ambient drone industrial soundscapes. Andersson’s work often incorporates field recordings and manipulated acoustic instruments, creating a unique and perfected sonic experience that invites listeners to explore the obscure realms of their inner selves.

“Within The Depths Of Silence And Phormations” is a defining work of sonic mysticism, originally released by the legendary record label Cold Meat Industry. Created by the visionary Peter Andersson, this album remains an unparalleled journey through shadowy cathedrals, industrial ruins and the vast chasms of the subconscious. Andersson conjures an atmosphere thick with sacred reverence and existential dread, where distant choirs echo like ghostly remnants, deep drones stretch into eternity, and mechanical whispers weave an intricate and otherworldly soundscape.

This re-release celebrates the enduring legacy of this essential album, offering fans and newcomers alike the opportunity to experience its haunting beauty in stunning new formats:

Limited Double Black Vinyl Edition: Presented in a lavish gatefold sleeve, this numbered edition is limited to 300 copies.

Limited Double Marbled Gold & Black Vinyl Edition: Also housed in a gatefold sleeve and limited to 300 numbered copies, this edition offers a visually striking complement to the album’s sombre elegance.

Limited Triple CD “Sublime Edition”: This edition is limited to 500 numbered copies and features an updated mix of the complete album, additional tracks and a second mastering of the original 1995 recording, providing a comprehensive exploration of this influential work.

“Few albums capture the very essence of dark ambient as completely as Within The Depths Of Silence And Phormations,” Rune Serpent Europa states. “It’s a work that demands full immersion, headphones, darkness, and an open mind. This re-release is an essential addition to any serious collection. With only 1100 numbered copies available across all formats, this is a unique opportunity for true collectors and fans of dark ambient and industrial music to own a piece of history.”

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Soundtrack for the artbook Ascend by the French photographer and multidisciplinary artist Nihil.
credits
released January 24, 2025

All music by Peter Andersson.
Recorded live on the 30th of November 2019, at the KONTAKT-festival/Dynamo/Norrköping/Sweden.

Artwork by Nihil.

CD+Book (by Nihil) release by Cyclic Law, 194th Cycle.
Digital release by Yantra Atmospheres, YA-2025-112.
Digital files are available in 24-bit quality.

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Unveiled, the verge of the silence, the voice of the shadow; the cynosure of the psyche is trembling for the essential breath. A subliminal reborn of invisible light strikes the eyes as the underpass appears in the essence and escarps into the esoteric realm of the source of life. A subliminal summon from disappearing heart enthralls the wind of loneliness. Lost spirit leaves deep traces behind as the path is revealing. Circle within circle the lingering path transubstantiates ostensibly, into a revolving contemplation.

‘Enthralled by the Wind of Loneliness’, the second CD album by raison d’être, was originally released in 1994 by Cold Meat Industry. It is now available in an exclusive Sublime edition, to celebrate its 30 year anniversary.

Track 1-11 (Disc 1) has been carefully re-recorded and mixed (redux 2023) to meet the contemporary standards for high quality audio.
Track 12-27 /(Disc 2 & 3) are the original recordings, remastered 2023.

Track 12-17 are taken from the demo cassette ‘Spiraal’ from 1994.
Track 20-26 are the taken from the original CD ‘Enthraled By The Wind Of Lonelienes’ from 1994.
Track 18, 19 & 27 are previously unreleased on CD.

Composed by Peter Andersson in 1993-1994.
Material on disc I are re-recorded, mixed and mastered (k-14) in 2023.
Material on disc II and III appear in their original format. Remastered (k-14) in 2023.

Release by Yantra Atmospheres, YA-2024-107.

Original recordings from 1991-1992 now available on LP from my Bandcamp store.

https://raisondetre.bandcamp.com/album/apr-s-nous-le-d-luge

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30 year anniversary boxset of this contemporary classic of Dark Ambient soundscapes. Originally released in 1993 on the now defunct Cold Meat Industry label, the album soon became a staple of the CMI sound and raison d’être subsequently became a household name in the genre and an inspiration to many. Offered in this massive 4 CD boxset is a completely new re-recording of the original album, made in 2022, in order to obtain the highest sound quality and mix of this 30 year old opus. Disc II contains additional unreleased session tracks, also re-recorded in 2022. Disc III gives us the original album in a remastered version and finally Disc IV offers additional session tracks from the period in their original versions.

“Prospectus I” is a stunning blend of modern ethereal gothic sonorities and the timeless chants of monastic rituals. A refined blend of melancholy touching higher realms. Archaic layers of string instruments, bells and choirs are intertwined with percussive elements and industrial loops creating an unsettling background atmosphere whilst spleen and bittersweetness form in the foreground.

Edition of 300 copies. 4 CDs in sleeves, housed in rigid box with lid, matt lamination. Includes a fold out 12 page booklet. 43 Tracks. Running Time; CD I 55:01, CD II 73:13, CD III 54:07, CD IV 71:12 EAN: 0679628554365.

Releases August 4, 2023

Composed by Peter Andersson in 1992-1993.
Disc I and II re-recorded, mixed and mastered (k-14) in 2022.
Disc III and IV appear in original format. Remastered (k-14) in 2022.

4CD-box is a co-release between Yantra Atmospheres (YA-2023-105) and Cyclic Law (229th cycle) 2023.

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Rumoured said there will be no more albums and the project is dead. But no, that would have been too easy. Stratvm Terror had just gone underground, hiding for their next terrorising attack. Now they are back after 15 years with their new assault: ‘Love me tender, or I will cause Pain’.

This album is filled with seven oppressive and depressive weird obscurities to ease or cause you pain, depending on your inclinations. Massive layers of corrosive darkness with occasional injections of ominous noise sounds and claustrophobic vocals makes this an utterly end-of-life experience.

The Swedish doom ambient industrial noise project Stratvm Terror consists of doom metal guru Tobias Larsson (Ocean Chief) and dark ambient master Peter Andersson (raison d’être). They started the band in 1993 and released a great number of albums in the late 90’s and early 00’s, on Old Europa Cafe, to finally take a longer break around 2008. With ‘Love me tender, or I will cause Pain’ the project celebrates their 30 years anniversary with no happiness, only sweet pain.

Releases July 1, 2023

All music by Peter Andersson & Tobias Larsson.
Recorded during drunk sessions 2016 – 2022.
Mastering and layout by Peter Andersson 2023.

Dark Winter Industrial tour with raison d’être and Brighter Death Now.