A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Grade Scale adopted at MetalKings.com (starting from the lowest)

1 - Shite
2 - Could be worse
3 - Could be better
4 - Damn good
5 - Killer

4+/5
CRYSTAL ABYSS
Word of the Darkest Ages
2007
Paimon Records
black metal
For now Crystal Abyss is undoubtedly one of the oldest and leading black metal bands in Russia. However, as fate willed, the musicians didn't have an opportunity to have many releases yet. But the last two years seem to be the time of changes as miseries were overcome and Crystal Abyss creations were finally immortalized on a CD. As the result we have one of the most long awaited (in the direct meaning of the word "long") albums in the underground music called "Word of the Darkest Ages". This title is really to the point because the album includes some songs dated before 2001 representing the "darkest ages" of the band's youth. All of these songs were once released on "Sageness Fallen" EP in 2001 having demo quality that time. The musicians, however, didn't remain in the past and also had enough consideration to give to the material of a later period. So, what does the listener have on the CD? For me, as a person aware of the band's history, the first impression was that the years of working on the album were not wasted at all and the result is a frist-class symphonic black metal even on a world's scale. It should be noticed that Crystal Abyss have managed to tremendously succeed in combining many different parts as here we have indescribable atmosphere together with respectable musicians' work, sweeping away aggression together with melancholic and even lyrical fragments, bright individual feeling of the genre together with tribute to its traditions and finally brilliant production togeter with very impressive artwork. Only a few bands manage to achieve such a combination so I wish this one good luck in finding a serious international publisher as their album is really worth it. (NonExist)

5/5
CRYSTAL ABYSS
Darkness Awakes
2007
Self Prod.
black metal
It looks like after succeeding in recording a valuable album the musicians can't hold the desire to embody everything they did during the years of silence. It looks so because "Darkness Awakes" single was recorded only 2 months after the musicians had finished their work on the album. As you listen to this single it becomes obvious that Crystal Abyss definitely do not intend to make no headway as they make considerable attempts in further development. The material itself is a bit defferent in comparison with what they have on the album - it is more mature and well-considered, aggressive parts here are more aggressive and the solemn ones are more solemn. It should also be noticed that the song is bright enough to pretend to being a hit. For me it's a very laudable attitude to attempt creating new hits rather than live with the old ones. The thing worthy special emphasis here is the pruduction. It looks like the producers have taken into consideration the experience of working on "Word of the Darkest Ages" album and have surpassed themselves as the sound of this single doesn't yield to post 2001 Dimmu Borgir which is considered one of the canons in modern symphonic black metal. Nevertheless, if to speak about the material itself the mentioned Norwegians won't be the best candidate to be put on the top of the influences list. More of that, Crystal Abyss have remained true to themselves here still demonstrating the combination of traditional and their own feeling of the genre. It remains only to hope that everything will turn out well and the band will loose neither perfectionism nor efficiency before the next album as they are likely on the right way towards the Olympus of the world's black metal. (NonExist)