DARKESTRAH

Release Year: 2016
Artist Origin: GER
Style: intense atmospheric epic black metal

it must be admitted that specific touches of long term female vocalist Kriegtalith will be missed, and while new frontman Merkith is still under process of adopting to their peculiar Eastern vibe, essential vectors of this sixth opus fall on instrumental sections, and it is of great pleasure to realize that never disappointing ensemble expands the genre's limits, masterfully combining ethnic influences with characteristic grim black metal stream, confirming once again an exceptional ability to create - across six lengthy compositions, hypnotic, intense riffs intertwine with melancholic string arrangements, cello flourishes, mandolin passages and traditional sound of temir-komuz, while ritualistic rhythmic pulse repeatedly builds towards cinematic climaxes, whereas disk title is a poetic term for Turkic peoples, encompassing world of legends and spiritual traditions, where ancient tales take on ritualistic musical form; French gatefold sleeve black 180g vinyl edition is limited to 250 units