Cist – The Frozen Casket [Russia, Death / Thrash] (2018)

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Camo Pants Records | 3-16-18

I do not think I have so thoroughly entertained with music while being baffled by the name of the record label. Camo Pants Records is either a goofy name with no meaning or some hidden tongue and cheek reference to death metal fashion. I think I spend so much time discussing this aspect as Cist’ Frozen Casket is the inaugural release for the UK label and if subsequent records are going to be as good, then we need to get this name thing worked out.

Cist is a Russian outfit with an unabashed infatuation with 90’s US death metal and 80’s European thrash. I know this because their Bandcamp page states they are “high speed, manic, death thrash, forged through an uncompromising meld of eighties era Tampa death metal and aggressive European style thrash.” Cool, we know where to start. Pestilence, Death, Solstice, and Obituary are all ghosts which hang around this newcomer and by the sounds of their first EP, this band nails everything about the sound. Though I usually applaud bands for not becoming too absorbed in costume, my love for old school death eclipses everything else and songs like “Antisceptic” are sugary and sewery in its enjoyment.

I still have no idea what the record label name means but I am willing to waive them through as long as things like The Frozen Casket keep getting produced. Camo Pants and Cist make a strong declaration for the beginning of the year and provides a wonderful soundtrack for Valentines Day. This holiday, spend it in the arms of 90’s era death / thrash and die a thousand times.

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Skrik – I [Russia, Black / Hardcore] (2017)

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Self Released | 9-14-17

No Metal Archives Page. No Facebook page. No additional information about this project. Fuck it, I can call this whatever I want since no one seems to be correcting me. With the additional picture of two figures in non metal looking raincoats, the first (?) demo (?) from Skrik poses a lot of questions which are answered in counterattacks.

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Katepheia – Tsalal I [Russia, Black] (2017)

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Self Released | 12-1-17

I have had a problem with a lot of depressive and atmospheric black only in that there is always a lot to choose from. With this comes the dulling of what is suppose to be the linchpin of the music which is emotional resonance. When you can 50 bands doing the same thing all releasing records at the same time, the impact can be muted. This of course is true for most genres of metal but sort of ruins the aesthetic for certain types. This is why it is interesting when an album art can grab your attention and the music can hold it in place.

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Phantasmagorum – Glare [Russia, Black / Doom] (2017)

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Self Released | 11-29-17

Album art is important not only as an initial invitation but also as a showcase for music. Though I can not find any information on the artist “P. Seliverstov” since the band itself has no information, it is going to remain a mystery. The cover for Glance however is entrancing and artfully skilled at pulling the listener into a world of gloomy mastery.

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W – Winterwomb [Russia, Black] (2017)

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Self Released  | 1-17-17

Self Released | 1-17-17

No matter how hard I try, there is always something I miss. 2016 was a great time for heavy metal as well as the year that W released three albums and 1 EP. I do not know why I am just learning about this but let us use the dawn of 2017 to get acquainted with a great black metal project that is buried under six feet of snow.

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Burial Ground – End of the World [Russia, Black / Speed] (2016)

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Self Released | 11-13-15

Self Released | 11-13-15

So even though this particular demo only runs three tracks, I would like to talk about Burial Ground’s body of work as we start to wind down in 2016. Burial Ground is interesting for the sheer volume of work that is put out. Looking at all of the demos which are available for 2016, an entire full length of black / speed could be available for people. Right now it is just spread out across multiple releases each with their own grim artwork.

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Sivyi Yar – From the Dead Villages’ Darkness [Russia, Black] (2014)

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9-20-14 | Avantgarde Music

9-20-14 | Avantgarde Music

You know what? I feel Russia is a wonderful country for the mining of out of the way dark and bleak black metal. I say this now while listening to From the Dead Villages’ Darkness, the fourth full length from a one man outfit by the name of Сивый Яр (Sivyi Yar). Eastern Europe and Russia is a minefield of black metal which sometimes ranges from the heathenish, to the nationalistic, to downright national socialist. Finding an amazing record with decent studio production is a treat. Finding that amazing record without political or cultural undertones (or at least ones that do not take center stage) is a gem.

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Warlock 666 – Pactum Satanicum [Russia, Black] (2014)

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From the Dark Past | 3-7-14

From the Dark Past | 3-7-14

There are sometimes when a complete jump into the abyss is the only thing which makes sense. When style and themes can guide entire projects it becomes easy to slip into a bottomless well of image. Warlock 666 is a Russian band who has made it their goal in life to sound otherworldly and make music from below Earth’s surface. With the starting point of high Satanism and a general finish line of abject terror, Pactum Satanicum aims for the starless abyss and whatever is being heard, at this moment, are just gurgling screams from the void.

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