PSILOCYBE LARVAE „Where Silence Dwells”

Red Rivet Records & Fono Ltd., 2021

Music: Dark Metal / Gothic Doom Metal / Melodic Doom Death Metal
Website:
http://psilocybe-larvae.ru/
https://www.facebook.com/psilocybelarvae/
https://psilocybelarvae.bandcamp.com/
Duration: (10 tracks)
Country: Russia

The history of the band dates back to 1996. And it started in the Russian city of Vyborg. After thath time, the band released several materials, and also shared the stage many times with large-format bands, such as ANATHEMA, SADIST or VESANIA at various festivals. Unfortunately, the news about this band reached me only after this album, and this masterpiece moved me very positively…

Their latest album “Where Silence Dwells” was released on a disc hidden in a digipack decorated in a dark and minimalist style. It is very innocent. But that doesn’t mean the musicians are guiltless. They are guilty! They were guilty of touching me very emotionally with their music, using extreme emotions, such as anger and wrath, as well as despair or melancholy.
I didn’t have time to get know with the previous PSILOCYBE LARVAE releases (but I promised myself that I would catch up). But it seems that the music of the album “Where Silence Dwells” is strongly inspired by the bands that were already at the top in the years when this Russian band was formed, namely MOONSPELL, PARADISE LOST, ANATHEMA, and MY DYING BRIDE. Back then, very dark and predatory, but at the same time emotional, Doom Death Metal (with all its mutations like Gothic Doom Metal, Black Doom Metal, or just Dark Metal) gathered hundreds of thousands of fans around the world, including of me. That’s why I must admit that the music presented by PSILOCYBE LARVAE is very close to me.

And the most important thing is that on this album we have a combination of the influences of each of the bands mentioned above. Although the shadow of MOONSPELL is probably the most audible, especially those aggressive and at the same time melodic guitar-vocal moments (sometimes close even to Iberian Black Metal) kept in a predatory-melancholic atmosphere. And also dark melorecitations and percussion passages.

In turn, these very climatic, heavy slowdowns and depressive melodies evoke associations with MY DYING BRIDE, or with ANATHEMA from later period (especially the passages of clean guitars and delicate singings). And for this a pinch of PARADISE LOST guitar patents and a really excellent album was created.

In addition, electronic samples, which have been used delicately and thoughtfully, only complement the whole, giving the music a modern breath.

The pieces are characterized by a rich arrangement, both in terms of instrumental and vocal. The aggressive licks, crushing accents and faster tempo intertwine with atmospheric solos, gentle and slower guitar sounds. On the other hand, the vocals extend just as wide, from brutal growling and screaming parts, through lofty singing or calm, melancholic clean vocals, to sad melorecitations and mysterious whispers.

As I mentioned at the beginning, the album “Where Silence Dwells” is very emotional. Musicians even juggle these emotions. And sometimes anger and aggression dominate, other times despair or sadness, and when they start to overlap, a really strong emotion or emotional turmoil arises.

Of course, their work is not a thoughtless copying of well-known themes, but a refined combination of the best ingredients. There are no worse or better songs here. Everyone is perfect! Everyone gives something special!

Tracklist:
1. The Flame of Dying Life
2. Run to Nowhere
3. Ghost in the Room
4. Inner Darkness
5. Dead Dreams
6. Sorvali Cemetery
7. Silent Sphinx
8. The Fall of Icarus
9. Encounter with Nothingness
10. Where Silence Dwells

Line-up:
Vit “Larv” Belobritsky – vocals, guitar & samples
Alex “Liga” Legotin – bass
Iliya „Alan” Piyaev – drums

Guest Musicians:
Lexx (ZERO COLD, Ex-VERGELTUNG) – samples, tracks 5, 9
Anastasiya Skvortsova (NEBULAE COME SWEET) – cello, tracks 3, 6
Mariya Lebedeva (TROLL BENDS FIR) – viola, track 3
Alexey Kurasov (THEODOR BASTARD) – percussion, track 8

Rate:10/10