This is the second album from one-man US black metal band Białywilk.
Zmora contains 30 minutes of atmospheric black metal, brought to us by an ex-member of Vukari. On Zmora the artist provides us with a rich expression of atmospheric music. Documenting the struggles of sleep deprivation and insomnia, it’s a journey into Białywilk’s passionate style.
Bookended by NDE and NDE II, both of which are spacious ambient pieces, the real meat of Zmora is the four tracks between these expansive crusts. These songs continue the sweeping cosmic feel of the ambient tracks, but create this via the sort of atmospheric black metal that’s tailor-made for fans of blackened feeling and expressive darkness.
Speaking of darkness; while Zmora is undoubtedly a work with a suitably dark heart for a black metal release, it also boasts a keen uplifting quality that’s lesser seen in the style. This is partially down to a blackgaze influence that can be felt, along with the use of bright, resplendent melodies. Symphonic elements can occasionally be heard too, adding a majestic side that contributes to an aspect of Białywilk that’s rousing and stirring in nature.
Zmora gradually unfolds with unhurried grace, (despite its speed in places), building and sustaining mood-focused soundscapes that rise and fall in texture, depth, and scale as the album progresses. The music’s emotive delivery and introspective wanderings make this an album of atmosphere and mood more than anything that resembles the strains of black metal that are more focused on aggression. Although this release certainly has its aggressive side, it’s just a means to an end.
Zmora is a work that’s worth to exploring, and rewards those that do so with a satisfying slice of underground extreme music. If you’re looking for an exploration of atmospheric black metal that’s raw and vast, yet also personal, then make sure that you spend some time with Białywilk’s material.
Wonderbox Metal 