Label: Werewolf Promotion
Date: April 26th, 2025
And now we’ll look at another ensemble from Ukraine and once again we’re dealing with black metal here. However, there are some serious differences between Colotyphus and Hate Forest I reviewed not too long ago – that’s why I can with quite clean soul (however strange it may sound for some of in my opinion “die-hard” fans in the case of just this and not another music, who think like “black metal is about evilness, so we who’re exclusive fans of black metal can’t use any positive words”, I’ll often refer to Hate Forest). It’s not even about the place of origin, Rivne, and current stationing, Lviv, of Colotyphus, or even the fact in their case we can and should talk about full-fledged band. This is all about the music itself. As I’ve already mentioned, it’s of course black metal, but something, sometimes even totally, different to what Roman Saenko creates. I mean, this is also influenced by first of all Norwegian black metal, but even in this, let’s call it, sub-genre of metal’s sub-genre there’s several approach to the matter.
And that’s why I think I need to highlight the matter a little more. So, Colotyphus plays much calmer, but still, of course – because this is the most important thing in black art, dark as hell music. Worshiping sadness, solitude and sorrow, but also nature and mysticism is just like it should be, I think. I mean, the creativity of these four guys hiding under pseudonyms Morvudd, Monolith, Lycane and Dyvozor is in the most in middle tempos and full of feelings I mentioned before. This effect is enhanced by the desperate vocal of Monolith, emanating anger on the one hand and sadness on the other. And as metal and black metal in particular (that’s at least what I feel after all these years) is listened by sensitive people, so I’m more then sure that while listening to “The End…” you’ll be somehow infected with these feelings. At least that’s the case with me. At the same time this music, however, is relaxing and calms me down as well. This is probably the main imperative that forces me to endlessly press “repeat” on screen of my computer. Yes, third studio full-length of Colotyphus is released online on the portal with the word “band” in its name. Well, I actually should use “also” in previous phrase. The reason is the guys also have, I hope so this is still truth, because premiere took place April 26th, limited number of cassettes to offer. And Polish Werewolf Promotion the same day released “The End of Journey” in form of CD digipack.
Anyway, from purely musical, even technical point of view, quite a lot is happening here. Of course, means of expression aren’t, of course, very sublime, but this is somehow required by the framework of musical genre presented by the ensemble. We’re dealing here with not too developed riffs which number is quite modest, they’re also repeating in “eternity”. There are some solos, but they’re also any display for display. As I wrote before, this is based on middle tempos, but from time-to-time guys show they can play much faster. Those parts happen quite rarely and take relatively short time, by the way. Well, if it was otherwise, then it’d surely destroy the whole concept, I think. You know, we wouldn’t feel what musicians want to spread with their music. To make long story short this is what we always used to call atmospheric black metal. Well, there’s no “untypical” instruments at all and keyboards’ participation is minimal. Besides, they’re somehow hidden and you have to listen to it really carefully to notice them. But it doesn’t change anything.
In my opinion everybody who likes black metal, regardless of the fact if listen to it permanently or only sometimes, should own this album. As I wrote before, you can make a choice between physical and digital forms, so everyone will find what suits them best. It isn’t maybe any masterpiece, but surely a very solid piece of black metal.
Contact: colotyphus@gmail.com
