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Reviews

Dirk Serries — Infinite and Unbound
(Projekt 617026236520, 2026, DL)

Dirk Serries — Zonal Disturbances III
(Zoharium no #, 2026, CD / DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2026-01-19

Infinite and Unbound Cover artZonal Disturbances III Cover art

Here we have two very different sides of Dirk Serries’ work (and there are other sides as well), and it’s a stunning revelation what can be done with a guitar a collection of effects, but Infinite and Unbound certainly illustrates the dreamy, floating side of his ambient work, where vivid sheets of shadows, light, and all shades of color mingle in free space in the far reaches of the infinite, layering over one another in a free exchange of sonic bliss, unbound by any structures or cadences. Each of the five long tracks here clocks in at ten minutes or more, the two parts of “Everything Is Known” together comb the far reaches of the universe for 26 minutes — though they are separated by the title track and “Ocean Became Light” — and the set is concluded with the stunning “Cleansed from Dust.” The mysterious atmospherics and slow-evolving melancholic washes breathe unique energies and warmth as each piece unfolds in real time, yet each of the pieces stands on its own without the far too common practice of crossfading; each piece glistens with its own introspective beauty and shades of dark, light, color, and shimmer. The title track, above all in particular, breathes in and out with its own special powers, meandering harmonics and stunning vistas. The soundtrack is here, all the listener needs to do is supply the imagination. At this point, Infinite and Unbound is available only as a digital download.

On the opposite side of the coin is the equally engaging Zonal Disturbances III, a window into a dark industrial world where just about anything can happen, and the events aren’t always smooth and beautiful, but reside in an undercurrent of chaos and mystery. Again, this soundworld of four discrete long-form tracks was created entirely with electric guitar and a battery of effects, though some different effects this time. Unexpected changes will greet the listener around every dark corner, so be prepared for that eventuality in this third installment of the Zonal Disturbances quintrilogy (we covered Zonal Disturbances II earlier in 2025). The opener “41PMX9SQ” sets the stage for all that follows, and the listener will realize that no sound is off limits, and while there are no cadences, there are percussive sounds, crashes, and distortions rolled into the mix along with all of the other dark undercurrents, some of which sound oddly like a confusing chaos of the lowest keys on a piano, but we know that’s not correct, because everything here was done with a guitar. “TYJ45MP9” begins with some shifting ambient chords, though quickly finds elements of distortion and snarly aggressive chaos as it slowly drifts toward its fifteen-minute conclusion. Like a chain saw cutting through the base of a redwood tree, “YFZ87PRN” sports some pretty harsh distorted sounds, howling, buzzing, and scraping as it goes, while “KLQ89VX6” finds the edgy sound hidden in a dark cavern, bleak and mysterious, with strange sonic events coming in from all directions. An interesting web of sounds, Zonal Disturbances III can be had either on a compact disc or a download.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Dirk Serries / Vidna Obmana / Fear Falls Burning

More info
http://projektrecords.bandcamp.com/album/infinite-and-unbound
http://dirkserries.bandcamp.com/album/zonal-disturbances-iii

 

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