Concept:
On the route to another world, a settler ship with hundreds of people on board encounters critical errors in trajectory calculation and ends up in the void between galaxies. With limited fuel reserves there is only the hope of someone answering the distress call. Days pass and the faint hope of survival diminishes together with on-board food and air reserves until only the distress beacon is left to transmit the long gone need for help for many eons to come.

Artist’s comments:
"Standstill" explores audial bleakness, hopelessness and fear in the form of slow, minimalistic and beatless dark ambient while maintaining rhythmic elements and repetition patterns. Some minor elements from funeral doom metal are also embedded into the mix in a subtle way by brooding drones of distorted string instruments. All instruments, except the vocal effects, are electronic which generally presents it as a less organic approach compared to "Downstream."

Credits:
Matti Tolkki - All compositions, arrangements and cover art

Additional notes:
- Composed and recorded during November 2008.
- Release date: November 26, 2008.
- Influenced by Mark Morgan, SleepResearch_Facility, Phil Thornton, Jääportit, Darkspace and many other great artists. Additionally influenced by funeral doom metal & drone doom metal styles.