You know the drill! Raw and unpolished bands from the abyss. So, just get in or join the cat cult.
Seagull Cry – Toreador
Russia has given us some great things from its deep underground scene. You can think of The Morningside and Scald. There’s always that feeling of budget struggle in their Metal. I don’t mean this as mockery; it’s part of its charm and appeal. So today, we’re reviewing something sent by one of our followers: Seagull Cry – Toreador. Does it represent its bloodline? Let’s see!
I was rather surprised by this album. It’s Prog, but it has tons of Death and Doom elements to appreciate too. Of course, some things sound a bit uncooked, as they’re supposed to in True kvlt, but it reminded me of Venenum without all the mystical and occult elements. So, in a way, its aesthetics are more accessible for the average Metalhead.
Toreador is a guitar-driven album. They carry the weight of everything, constantly coming up with melodies that vary in style. If I had to compare it, Be’lakor is a more mainstream act. In fact, calling this the Russian Be’lakor wouldn’t be offensive (or at least I hope you don’t get offended!). The vocals are quite high in the mix. They come from a totally different place, reminding me of Abbath. This mix of influences sounds like the last time you mixed anxiolytics with alcohol, right? Oh, you haven’t? Please keep it that way; we love you at MER, or so advises me to say our PR team.
What should you dislike? Well, the drums are quite particular here; they sound a bit too muddy in the fast sections. I also can’t hear the bass, which is a shame because the album sounds a bit thin as it is. It’d benefit from something thick! (I know what you’re thinking, dirty nerd!). Additionally, you must be ready for a long album, maybe too long. Click here now!
But maybe you want to sink deep into the horror and forget about all this fluff; you want edgy darkness, well then:
Nyrak – Devourer of All
You know that with that name, this band means business. In the sense that it doesn’t exactly play Power Metal. No, Nyrak has an eclectic approach to Black, Death, and even Symphonic Metal that reminds me of Summoner’s Circle somehow, but is Devourer of All as dreadful and daunting as its epic title and cover art make it look? Let’s jump right in!
There are so many interesting ideas explored in this album. I don’t believe it’s something you can just listen to once and say, “Yes, I’ve got it all figured out.” It demands some work from you; despite a first listen not creating that impression, deep down, there are diverse influences here: Dimmu Borgir, The Black Dahlia Murder, Carach Angren, and even Emperor. Its sound is so diverse that I have a hard time giving you a good example. However, Nyrak has its own approach to being Prog. You’ll find tracks that are well-crafted instead of just musical or technical displays of physicality (no showboating here!).
I’d like to highlight how there are Symphonic elements in this album, but they’re not used in the typical way you’d find in Black Metal. It’s not melodramatic or gothic. The synth work mixes naturally with the blasting and the intense riffs. Nyrak doesn’t compromise its heavy side to adjust to the “soft” textures; it melds them together in a way not many can. Okay, but how about the issues?
Well, this is True kvlt for a reason, and it hurts me to say that Nyrak can be a top-tier act if it gets better production. There’s something odd going on here. It’s not that it gets muddy in the fast parts as usual; it’s not too loud. If anything, the sound has too much opacity, as if the track files’ details have been lost in some part of the mixing process, which is a shame because a little bit more shine would make Devourer of All a 4.0/5.0 in my meaningless scale.
Either way, Nyrak is a band to keep on your radar. Once these people get slightly better production, they’ll be ready to take over the Prog/Black Metal scene. We know many great projects had humble beginnings, and I think that’s the case here too. It’s a little step toward a huge prize. Click here now!
There you have it, my corpse-painted children. Two of your submissions are out. Soon there’ll be more, so don’t panic! Leave a comment somewhere and support the artists!
Metal Eclipse Reviews 