Album Review: Простор by Yarek Ovich, Wisdom Of Shadows, Voice Of The Wanderer
Alright, buckle up, because this one’s a wild ride through the frosty forests of Belarusian atmospheric black metal. Released in 2015 under MDCXIII Prods., Простор (which roughly translates to "expanse" or "space") is an album that feels like wandering into a shadowy woodland at dusk—equal parts eerie, hauntingly beautiful, and kinda hard to explain without flailing your arms around.
Let’s cut to the chase: this ain’t your run-of-the-mill rock record. It’s got layers, dude. Layers you can practically wear as a scarf during winter. Tracks like Обступи Мене Лiс, Як В Легендi... (“Surround Me Forest, Like In A Legend…”) hit you with waves of raw emotion wrapped in icy riffs and drums that sound like they were recorded inside a haunted cave. You know those moments when life gets overwhelming and all you wanna do is scream into the void? This song is that scream—but way more poetic. The vocals are guttural yet melodic, like Yarek Ovich is channeling some ancient forest spirit who just discovered coffee but doesn’t quite understand how it works yet. Genius chaos.
Then there’s Гонар Вятроў (“Honor of the Winds”), which stands out for its sheer cinematic vibe. Picture this: you’re standing on top of a hill, wind whipping your hair back, pretending you're starring in a Viking epic even though you’ve never held a sword in your life. That’s what this track feels like. The guitars weave intricate patterns that feel both chaotic and meticulously planned, kinda like trying to fold a fitted sheet while drunk. By the time the crescendo hits, you’ll swear you’re being carried away by storm clouds—or maybe it’s just your cat jumping off the couch again. Either way, it’s powerful stuff.
The other two tracks, Всполохи Дальних Зарниц and whatever the opening number was (my Cyrillic keyboard skills are trash), round out the experience nicely. They keep the mood dark and brooding without ever feeling repetitive. Seriously, if you’re into music that sounds like it was crafted by someone sitting alone in a cabin surrounded by snow and existential dread, this album’s gonna be your new best friend.
So, what’s the takeaway here? Well, Простор isn’t just another atmospheric black metal release—it’s a journey. A messy, beautiful, slightly confusing journey that leaves you wondering whether you should start learning Russian or just adopt a wolf as a pet. And honestly, any album that makes me question my life choices deserves respect.
Final thought: If this album could talk, I bet it would have a deep Slavic accent and smell faintly of pine trees. Listen to it once; then listen to it again while staring out a rainy window. Trust me, it pairs better with melancholy than wine does.
