Year: 2023
Label: Surrogate Rec.
Rating: 7,5 / 10
The wonderful Ukrainian group MERZOTNA POTVORA continues its activities despite the war. Let me remind you that it made its debut in 2019 with the outstanding mini album “Suča maty” - evil, dirty, biting and ultra–fast. On the full-length album "Halas Z pekla" (2021), the degree of rabies has significantly decreased, which is normal for full-length albums, but at the same time the band's music has lost most of its disgusting appeal.
"Mertvyj Ščur" ended up somewhere in the middle. The disgustingness have returned, even if not completely. The music has become rather untidy and club-footed again, which is only good for it. The speeds are mostly average, the designs are more punky than metallic (while there are several obvious parallels with BURZUM). For all the creativity of MERZOTNA POTVORA, a very peculiar rustic flavor is characteristic, which is especially strong on "Mertvyj Ščur". Their trash, in fact, is a badly disguised hopak that makes you want to throw up your knees instead of banging your head. As always, this sound is perfectly combined with horror-themed lyrics where folklore and everyday sketches are generously poured with blood, and sometimes they even call Satan himself for a glass. This, perhaps, is the main meaning and achievement of MERZOTNA POTVORA. To address the folklore sphere from this direction, without descending to the level of silly jokes and bad taste, requires a very refined understanding. I hope the majority of listeners will start noticing this one day as well, and not just that MERZOTNA POTVORA plays cheerful thrash.
By the way, ”Mertvyj Ščur" unexpectedly sums it up with a cover on ISENGARD's "Total Death" performed in Ukrainian and reworked in the style of the band. It sounds "as their own", which, of course, means quite a positive result. Everyone - give it a listen!
English (UK) 
Крыўская