Sidus Atrum – Розірване Небо (Torn Sky​) (Review)

This is the third album from Ukrainian black metal band Sidus Atrum.

2022’s Spiral of Life made a strong impression on me, and I really enjoyed it. This makes Розірване Небо (Torn Sky) one I’ve definitely been looking forward to. On Torn Sky Sidus Atrum have expanded to a duo, bringing us 37 minutes of new music.

Much like the previous album, Torn Sky mixes together a few different styles and influences into a compelling whole. Upgraded this time though is an increased level of execution and a confidence born from skilled experience. It’s a more aggressive record than its predecessor, with less doom elements and more of a focus on grandeur through blackened power. Primarily combining melodic and atmospheric black metal, (but still with touches of doom), these new songs offer a refined and expanded version of Sidus Atrum.

The songwriting has progressed, demonstrating an improving skill at something there was already a proficiency in. All of the six songs are worth spending time with, individually and as a group. They’re well-written and structured to maximise their effect, making use of the same creative framework, yet delivering the final product in well-realised ways.

It’s not just the songwriting and execution of the music that has progressed either, as the singer’s voice has come a long way too. Her screams are more venomous and growls more forceful, but it’s her clean singing voice that has now been fully developed. These cleans are infrequently deployed, but allow expressions of angelic beauty at key moments to compliment the daemonic screams and monstrous growls.

Torn Sky offers a potent journey into emotional waters, and it’s an album that makes a strong impact. Despair and loss saturate this material, driven by anger and rage. Within this can also be felt the first tentative rays of hope, struggling to find purchase upon the damaged and scarred landscape.

After a very well-regarded second album, the third is where Sidus Atrum have truly come into their own. If well-crafted black metal steeped in feeling appeals, then this is a must-listen.