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Ciemra - The Tread of Darkness - Reviewed By metalopenmind! Tuesday April 4 2023, 6:20 PM

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Ciemra - The Tread of Darkness - Reviewed By metalopenmind ! Check it out here at this link: https://metalopenmind.blogspot.com/2023/03/ciemra-tread-of-darkness-2023.html

CIEMRA is a Black Metal quintet formed in 2019, from the city of Minsk, capital of Belarus. The group had released the EP Agony Blasphemy last year, and now returns with The Tread of Darkness, their first full-length album. Although I rarely review bands of this genre, I decided to make an exception because the work surprised me a lot, and even deserved to be included among the top 20 promos I received in February. But after all, what does Ciemra do differently to deserve your attention? The album has 9 songs, the opening track being the longest, with about 7 minutes. Ciemra is the title of the song in question, and means Darkness (Darkness) in Belarusian. It is not by chance that it gives the group its name, and it is one of the best songs on the album. The theme begins with the crackle of a burning torch, anticipating the crystal clear strum of the acoustic guitar. Then comes the half-tempo rhythmic section, followed by powerful loose chords in distortion over the fingerings (now already amplified), creating the climate for the triumphal entrance of vocalist Malvain, who with her imposing and diabolical voice (her punctual howls they are animals too), howls the vengeance of the king of darkness. The guitar riffs gain weight, and before the first rhythmic change, a short and melodious guitar solo appears, which introduces a more disordered and chaotic climate of infernal chords, as if absorbed in a bloodthirsty chase. The search for the souls of unscrupulous beings, who judge and lie in the carnal world, continues with the drums imposing speed, in what is the first blink of an eye to the most classic sonic territory of the second wave of Black Metal (via Norway), and brings at its peak the indispensable blast-beats. Before that, however, the music gains weight and intensity, although maintaining the same melodic progression, with some breaks in the middle, and cleaner and more serious vocal registers (Marilyn Manson type). The final part of the song begins in reverse progression, that is, first with the return of the melodious guitar solo (extended), then the loose chords, the acoustic guitar, and finally the crackle of the torch that goes out with the revenge achieved through the darkness.

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CIEMRA, Belarusian Black Metal.
Other highlights of the album are Four Riders (in allusion to the horsemen of the Apocalypse that illustrate the cover of the album) and its catchy chorus "White, Red, Black, Pale, Four Riders!", Vomiting Void (in the middle with clean vocals reminiscent of Opeth ), Serpent's which, like the first track, mixes well the more 'modern' cadenced parts and the unbridled speed characteristic of root Black Metal, and finally the cadenced War, with its powerful riffs and perfect guitar timbres. It is worth remembering that Belarus is located between Russia and Ukraine, countries whose recent war conflict extends into Eurasia, and could turn into a war of greater proportions. This whole lyrical concept makes sense amid so much unnecessary bloodshed. The remaining songs are more average, and two of them are sung in their native language, despite the English titles: Call of the Ancestors and Where the Eyes Close. In general, the result is more than positive, and makes me hopeful for the evolution of the genre, although I have doubts whether this type of work, with a more crystalline production, will please the most radical fans. Check it out for yourself in the player below. metalopenmind

Release Date: 25.02.2023

FFO: Watain, Behemoth, Mgła

Location: Belarus

Buy album link: https://www.sound-cave.com/en/band/ciemra

Short Bio: Ciemra, Belarusian for “Darkness”, is a Black Metal band from Minsk which came to life in 2019, when five essences emerged from the Abyss to the veils of night on the eve of the end times, in order to reap the living, to satisfy the hunger of Darkness and to nourish the wombs of the Dark Gods.

The Tread Of Darkness is based on the denial of the usual foundations of the world, on the darkest manifestations of human activity, and on energies hidden beyond the Dark Abyss. The nine songs of the album make no mystery of their anti-religiousness, which Ciemra turn into pure black matter.

Nature, in its primordial beauty and originality, also finds a place in The Thread Of Darkness, as there is where Ciemra find themselves at peace.

The Belarusian quintet delivers a fast-paced, cold and pure black metal which is looking at both the classic European sound and its more contemporary interpretations. You will find loads of riffs, as well as the odd solo and melodic hook, which will relentlessly drag you toward the Darkness.

Check out this video!