Five substantial tracks of blackened death metal is the offer here from Belarus’s Ljosazabojstwa. I know the band by virtue of their previous EP’s Sychodžańnie (2016) and Staražytnaje licha (2017), both of which are impressively grim and black. This latest piece of Belarussian cultural enrichment is the band’s first full album release.

It’s not long before “Pachawalnyja śpiewy” drags us into the mire. Surprisingly it heads off at a pace but the odour of death is there, both in the contemptuous riff line and the vocals. This harsh and unerringly heavy ode to death sways between hints of melody and the pain of funerals. The pace steps up gradually and the track closes in a burst of flames. The second track “Zorka pałyn” (The Star is Burning) starts as mercilessly as the first, then we have to hold on for our lives as Ljosazabojstwa ramp up the pace. Withering death alone does not make for great entertainment, but this is where Ljosazabojstwa have it right. Each track is full of twists and turns, and tempo changes. It’s constantly captivating. “Imia mnie – Liehijon” continues the trend of interesting structures. Parts of it remind me of classic death metal from their Polish neighbours, but far from being uniform, each of these weighty and lengthy slabs takes its own path. There’s even a short mysterious organ enhancement and laughter – evil, of course, as this is no laughing matter. But above all it’s a pounding, thundering and forceful expose of blackened death metal with dark riffs and speckles of colour in the structures. Not knowing a word of Belarussian, and having very little information about this band in spite of it being the third work I’ve heard by them, I haven’t a clue what it’s about. It would be easy to say it’s about destruction but paradoxically it’s the variety of constructions which makes this so interesting. “Źniščany boh” (Destroyed God) starts with a quiet, sad start but as ever this develops into a mean driving force of a machine, and once again a nine-minute juggernaut which stands out and distinguishes itself. Another sad opening sees in “Idzi i hliadzi” but soon we’re out in the open and thrashing along before being pegged back and dragged through the mud. Again, there’s a paradox here and throughout this album. On the one hand the scene is rancid and the image that Ljosazabojstwa depict is not of a place where we’d ever want to be with its visions of grey tombstones, but musically this is fresh. It’s complex but as an instrumental and vocal collective, the band fill the air with harsh and subtle layers of darkness. It’s a great ride and at no time did I want to be anywhere else.

Obscurity may be their middle name but what is most striking about this band is their clarity of ideas. Here on “Głoryja Śmierci” there is a clever overlay of death-orientated sounds, resulting in awesome power, sophistication, intrigue and excitement. If I was introducing blackened death metal to my friends, the music of Ljosazabojstwa would be a good place to start.

(9/10 Andrew Doherty)

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/g-oryja-mierci