June has been our death metal month here at Abysmal Hymns so this album was a breath of fresh air I needed after having been on a steady diet of single single minded aggression. The first song focuses more on the darker and more mood setting atmosphere of what this trio from Russia does, while the second song, packs more of a metallic punch and finds frontwoman Margarita Dunwich, really proving herself in terms of dynamics with a convncing snarl. Blackend Doom might be the closest genre to describe them as , but heavy in the metallic sense is only one side of what they do. "Wooden Heart" has a more western folk rock feel, the emphasis being on the rock part as the song builds with an almost 60s occult rock feel.
The organ going into "Mouth of Darkness" colors this song with more goth overtones. It is cool that they do not default to wanting to be Siouxsie and the Banshees to express this and there is more of a Deep Purple vibe until it breaks down on the verse. It is however the vocal melodies that make this and the dynamic shift with her growl punching the point home. I do not have an expectations of what music like this coming out of Russia should sound like. I think the only Russian bands I listen to are black metal. "Fall"sounds like something you might find on the soundtrack to a David Lynch movie, This album has a wide range of sonic colors thanks to all the places they chose to pull from . The fact her voice is capable at both ends of her spectrum also helps things. You could hear this song and just take it at face value that this is how she sings based on first impressions.
The thickly reverbed guitars give "Sanctuary" more of a 60s psyche rock feel. It is brooding rather than basking in acid glazed wonderment. It does build witha heavier intensity and finds her digging into the guts of her growl. They close the album with stunning ambiance of "the Sea" . It is cinematic in the feeling it evokes conjuring the images of the vast waters with the spacious melody the guitars offer. Her voice on this makes me think of the eerie feel conveyed by the theme song to "Rosemary's Baby". The songs flows like waves rocking a sleep to slumber as a storm looms. I will give this album a 10 it is flaw less and a must for fans of dark rock / metal. This album comes out August 21st on Caligari Records. It will be well worth the wait and here in time for Halloween. I start getting ready for Halloween in July, but August should be more than enough time the way things are now.
