Bay Area dark ambient collective AMBER ASYLUM has completed work on it's new album, entitled Bitter River. The record will see a June 30th release date via Profound Lore Records.

Known for its utterly moving music that blends spellbinding passages of introspective dark ambient, shadowy neoclassical dreamscapes and romantic, avant-garde chamber music, Amber Asylum possesses the rare gift of turning deep feelings into gorgeous sound.

Bitter River was produced by frontwoman, multi-instrumentalist and soprano vocalist Kris T. Force at Knobsnob studios in Pacifica, CA. Piano and classical guitar was laid to tape by Shawn Biggs at Studio Paradiso in San Francisco’s Mosser Hotel and the record’s bass was captured by Kevin Kipnis in North Hollywood, CA.

The brand new Amber Asylum song 'Auger of Thrall' has been posted online at this location.

Joining Force on Bitter River is a small ensemble of some of the most accomplished musicians within the underground experimental music world. The team is comprised of Leila Abdul-Rauf (also of SAROS and BASTARD NOISE) on guitar / piano / vocals, long-time conspirator Jackie-Perez Gratz (GIANT SQUID, GRAYCEON) on cello, bass player Eric Wood (Bastard Noise), and drummer Chiyo Nukaga (NOOTHGRUSH, GRAVES AT SEA) with guest appearances by Sigrid Sheie (HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE) on flute, and narration by ex-SWANS chanteuse JARBOE. The result of the cooperation is an album that takes the shape of an introspective journey into lost love and innocence, conjuring cinematic structures and painting powerful sound portraits of vast lonely landscapes, deep dark chambers, encasing fog and inevitable twilight.

Kris Force is no stranger to collaboration; her immense repertoire includes consistent collaborations with such influential acts as NEUROSIS (appearing on all of the band’s albums from 1992’s Souls At Zero through to 2001’s A Sun That Never Sets) and Swans. In addition to raising Amber Asylum to its apex as one of the most influential and respected acts within the neo-classical / dark ambient genre over the course of its thirteen year existence, she has penned music for video games, television, and feature film and released music on respected labels such as Relapse Records and Neurot Recordings.

The final track listing for Bitter River is as follows: 'Twilight', 'Bitter River', 'Bounding Main', 'Winter Winds', 'Auger Of Thrall', 'Fear And Doubt In The Frozen Dawn', 'Thee Apothecary', 'Mountain Haze', 'Nocturne', 'Haze Reprize'.

Bitter River is available for pre-order now by visiting this location.

When asked for comment on Bitter River, Force reflects, "With Bitter River, I feel that Amber Asylum has come full circle. I spent a lot of time investigating new territory with previous work and it felt different than Bitter River now feels. While previously it may have felt like I was trying something on for size, with Bitter River, it feels like I have arrived."

Abdul-Rauf adds, “Bitter River is classic Amber Asylum, referencing earlier work, but with greater maturity and expansion of influences. Straying from the rock feel of [2007’s] Still Point, this is Amber Asylum going back to its roots, with elements of early music, dark ambient, experimental and some 80’s guitar effects for good measure.”

Leila Abdul-Rauf is a multi-instrumentalist who began studying trumpet and music composition at an early age. In her teens, she strayed from the traditional jazz and classical genres to teach herself guitar and piano, eventually participating in a slew of punk, indie, and metal bands throughout her 20’s. More recently, Abdul-Rauf decided to expand beyond her current heavy metal brainchild, Saros, to explore her softer and more atmospheric ideas with Kris Force, culminating in Bitter River, her Amber Asylum debut.