Year: 2025
Label: Skon
Rating: 6,7 / 10
Now a little bit about the first (at least by catalogue number) release of Skon. NIABOŽČYK is a new project of the DREKAEVATZ and КОНЦЛАГЕРЬ members. I listened to the first one a little bit (but there's not much material to listen to), and I didn't touch the second one at all, because it looks cancerous. But as far as I know, 2/3 of the line-up of these bands are still very young guys, and we treat the mistakes of youth with leniency.
As for NIABOŽČYK itself, this is a big step in the right direction. Harsh Krywian black metal of death for fans of ARCHGOAT, as press release claims. I agree with that. Indeed, the main source of inspiration here is obvious. NIABOŽČYK wrote three good tracks that correspond to all the canons of the style and have a very familiar dynamic. The main specific trait of their material is sound. In my life, I've listened to all sorts of ultra-underground bands created in the name of a goat, and almost all of them tried to hide their lack of skill, intelligence, and good taste behind loud noise and rumble. More often than not, this artificial apocalypticism only made the situation worse. NIABOŽČYK did not go in that direction. Their sound is clear, smooth, devoided of any amplifying effects. Except that the vocals were either "tweaked" a little, or mixed as double track. Otherwise, it's almost like "live in studio" with properly tuned instruments and well-chosen tones. Despite the minimal processing, or maybe because of this fact, NIABOŽČYK's recording sounds very, very “metallic" and reeks of toxic masculinity. This is not an example of GOATFLESH, where the unwillingness to make some noise gave birth to dead material with an unbearably plastic sound. In addition, NIABOŽČYK play fast, but not very fast, and this adds emphasis to the compositions. Each piece of music is placed into the song in a measured and confident manner, like a brick under the hand of an experienced builder.
For the debut EP, "Niabožčyk" turned out to be a good start. There is still a long way to go: they need to form a more distinctive style of their own, learn how to write the best songs and arrangements for them, and grow up in every sense. But what I've heard gives me the give certain advances to the band. I think it makes sense for the guys to focus on it now and finally close КОНЦЛАГЕРЬ for good of all of us.
A cassette edition from SKON is a pro-tape with a modest dark inlay, which contains the lyrics of all three tracks (hooray!). Details on a video.
