Year: 2025
Label: Skon
Rating: 7,5 / 10
The support of young bands by old ones, and even more so by those with a strong reputation, has always been an important thing in the underground. FAUSTBRUHIEL is one of the young hopes of Krywian underground, and in less than three years of existence they have already released three records, including the full-length album “Клёкатам крумкача над ланцугом магіл”, inspired, obviously, by Teutonic musical exercises. In my opinion, they were a bit hasty with the album, as it sounded pretty bad and immature, although it had some noteworthy ideas behind it. The new split, and not with just anyone, but with PESTILENTIA, sounds like a more serious statement.
For "Šlach u zabičcio", each band presented one exclusive track. The mass listener does not like splits and EPs, especially such laconic ones, since most often they are used as outlets for the most useless garbage. But in fact, a small form can produce powerful results if treated with respect. FAUSTBRUHIEL's track “Kroŭ u styłym pavietry” lasts over 8 minutes, PESTILENTIA's track is only 30 seconds shorter, and both are complete, full-blooded works. In FAUSTBRUHIEL, you immediately notice a fundamental change in the sound quality. Most likely, the guys recorded the song at "Jama" studio, with the help of the older comrades, so everything here is lively, expressive and metallic, without any features of amateur digital recording. A sharp, proper Black Metal sound without excessive effects, which in English is referred to by the term "stripped-down". The song itself is also performed in the best Krywian traditions: Teutonism is a thing of the past now. There's an evil mid tempo riff, fast tremolos and blast beats, melancholic leads. Sounds very cool. However, this is still not Black Metal, because the lyrics here are pagan, although written in a style that strongly resembles KRUK. Even on the inlay, it is printed in a ”runic" font. Brings back some memories... and not really pleasant ones. Hopefully, over time, the guys will give up all this Slavishness and turn to a much more obscure, but natural layer of Krywian paganism.
"Shadows Dance" by PESTILENTIA is, if I understood it correctly, the first record in the history of the band, in which (only for logistical reasons) Plague666 did not participate. On the other hand, Jaŭhien Ihnataŭ is drumming again - he did not participate in the previous split. The PESTILENTIA track sounds very "ghostly", as if there is no bass at all. Its form is quite traditional: high speed, blast beats and tremolo riffs, which, in the absence of Plague666, have gained Scandinavian frosty character. The experience with using keyboards on the album "Heralds of Anguish" obviously pleased the band, as ”Shadows Dance“ also has keyboard parts with a high ”cosmic" sound, played by the old friends of our scene - Sergiy of MØRKT TRE and PRAGNAVIT fame. There's even a keyboard interlude with the additional sounds of wind, which PESTILENTIA has never allowed themselves before. The finale of the track turned out to be, I'm not afraid of that word, dramatic. It's a very powerful thing. And, most importantly, it works even better in tandem with FAUSTBRUHIEL's song.
The cover for the split was drawn by Vaiug. It is designed by Greek Design. A large flyer is supplied with the cassette, on which you can see the cover in a larger size, as well as find the contacts of the artist, designer and label. Details on a video. I know that the first print run of the tapes has already sold out, but a second one will arrive in the next few days, so use this opportunity, because they probably will not be reprinted again.
