Epic black metal from Kzyrgistan here of all places (though now based in Germany), Darkestrah present an intriguing mix of grandiose atmospherics and folk inspiration on their fourth full-length ‘Manas’. Coming across as a mix of a more straightforward Negura Bunget and Sweden’s Shining (minus the embarrassing adolescent posturing), Darkestrah demonstrate a real ability to weave a spell over these five lengthy tracks.
The key to what makes ‘Manas’ so compelling is a minimal, unfussy approach that is deceptively in it’s apparent simplicity. The opening few minutes of tribal muttering are something of a misnomer as folkishness isn’t really to the forefront here – rather, sweeping hymns of slow-paced, ponderous black metal with ‘big chord’ sawing guitars and washing synth accompaniment are very much the order of the day.
This is the general formula throughout ‘Manas’ and it’s a very effective one. By and large, their chord progressions are unusual – melodic for sure, not trite or obvious in any way. ‘Victory’ commences with a wonderfully extended passage of morose chords, some rare galloping giving way to a near-funereal pace, accompanied by effective synth-string accompaniment.
‘Memory’ meanwhile features a central refrain that is not only deeply catchy but also brings the most heightened sense of Darkestrah’s folk elements to the fore. Vocalist Kriegtalith launches into some warbling, semi-tribal clean vocals whilst exotic wind instruments close out the track.
Simplistic though the keys may be, they only serve to heighten and emphasise the ambience of melancholy, reflection and suppressed rage that simmers throughout the record. So-called ‘symphonic’ bands take note – very often less is more and an effective melody played in a single voice is often far more effective than chucking the whole soundbank of a Korg Triton at each song.
Manas closes out with the epic ‘Manas Batyr’ which brings all of the elements demonstrated thus far together to weave a suitably climatic piece – slow-burn chord strums, desolate drums and a convincing grasp of windswept melody all underlining the compositional quality of the band. Awards for originality or dynamics are unlikely to be cluttering Darkestrah’s mantelpiece any time soon but for a rousing journey of melancholic, Eastern European-tinged black metal, you could do a lot worse than this album.
(7.5/10 Frank Allain)
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