In dark ambient there are some nice releases lately, and it is obviously logical that the Swedish Cold Meat Industry-label is highly involved in this. Last weeks, the stunning CD by Medusa's Spell was released, and now it's time for "Broken", the second album by fellow Swedish Letum.

Letum is - except for a computervirus and the Latin word for 'death' (although there should be an ~ on the E)) - a project by Mathias Henriksson, who previously released the album "The Entrance To Salvation". I'm not familiar with that piece of music, but I've been told that "Broken" is a logical step afterwards. Henriksson continues in combining samples with cold industrial, but covers this with layers of dark ambient sounds which we can also hear on musical offerings by Atrium Carceri, Sephiroth and masters in the genre Raison d'être. The sphere that is present on "Broken" is very tragic, but distinguishes itself from named acts by using vocals and keys to bring a certain other feeling to the music. The dark sounds on the title track for example, are combined with cold, but very present melody lines which give it a really good atmosphere. Also, on "Betrayed" it's vocals being preached and shouted to create a dark sphere.

The identity of Letum is mostly found in the emotion that Henriksson tries to adress in the songs. In an interview on the website of this band is stated that several forms of emotion are the foundation for his musical work. By combining samples with spoken voices and whispering this emotion is pointed out, and what makes this a rather interesting album. By the end of the album are the best songs however; "Communion" and "Dissolving" are very dark and nearly threatening, whilst alum closer "Tears" is a very tragic composition.

It took three years to write and compose this album, because Letum demands high-quality work. With "Broken", I can guarantee this high level of quality is met. Very recommendable.