Land Of Eternal Night (More Hate Productions)

 This is the debut album and actually the only work at the time of this Russian Symphonic Black Metal band. I’ve got really few info about this trio so I will go directly to the music. “Land Of Eternal Night” is a quite intense piece of Melodic and Symphonic Black Metal with some gothic ambiances, which immediately make me thought about the early to mid period Cradle Of Filth (but without the awfully hysterical vocalizations of Mr. Danny Filth). The keyboards here drive the music, with its omnipresence and somewhat majestic feeling complimented by a semi rustic guitar work, sometimes pretty strident, hellish but sometimes quite melodic, Heavy Metal sounding and relaxed. The vocals are definitely the crudest and most remarkable element of the entire album, with potent and raw mid toned shrieks. The drumming here really sucks; the use of a drum machine is completely obvious and awfully plastic sounding. The sum of all these elements result in some interesting passages, and some not so interesting ones, where the keyboard driven melodies and atmospheres are the protagonist. I must admit I never liked this mix of Gothic/Symphonic and Black Metal, generally the Gothic elements enshadows the Black Metal characteristical darkness and filthiness with sweetened melodies and weak structures, this case isn’t the exception, although there are some remarkable Black Metal passages worthy of mention like the fourth track “Forest”, “Hospice (Reign Of Pain)”, “Night” (my favourite track) or the incredibly obscure and mysterious “Pactacum Daemonious” although this track isn’t precisely a piece of black metal, it has a remarkable obscure aura created by spoken, distorted Latin words. The production of “Land Of Eternal Night” is very powerful, clear and strong sounding. But there’s something about their music that definitely doesn’t convinces me, this isn’t a bad work, but definitely isn’t a really good one either. It could be probable recommended for those who like the sound of Cradle Of Filth or mid period Dimmu Borgir… “True” Blackmetallers stay away from this release… (AP)