Two years after their debut, the Chicago and Washington-based duo of Barnett & Coloccia have finally seen fit to unleash Weld, their second full-length collaboration on Blackest Ever Black, on an unsuspecting world. Continuing in the vein of its predecessor, their new release features 9 tracks of their deeply gothic, darkly metaphysical take on minimalist ambient soundscaping.

The new album was recorded live in LA, with overdubs and additional processing added later in Washington state. The combination of various synths, drum machines, tape manipulation and vocals strikes the difficult balance of being simultaneously lulling and unsettling, as well as hitting all the right 80s sci-fi/horror soundtrack notes to ensure maximum spookiness.

Aside from the trappings of goth and gloom, one thing that sets Weld apart from a lot of ambient work is its heaviness. This should come as no surprise. Alex Barnett plays in Oakeater, and producer Randall Dunn is best-known for his work with acts like Earth and Sunn O)))). Faith Coloccia also performs in Mammifer with her husband Aaron Turner (he of Isis, Old Man Gloom, etc), and Turner had a hand in recording the overdubs on this record. The record was mastered by ex-Khanate member James Plotkin. With such a pedigree, it’s easy to see why music which in lesser hands would fade into the background remains upfront and insistent. Weld demands your attention, so you’d better give it.

Weld is available now from Blackest Ever Black.