OBŠAR Počornily Horŷ, Počornily Lisŷ CD

The 2022 album Počornily Horŷ, Počornily Lisŷ by the Slovakian band Obšar, released through a co-edition by the Dutch label Void Wanderer Productions and the Portuguese label War Productions, is a distinctive and atmospheric work of Progressive Folk Black Metal. Hailing from the town of Svidník, the band is noted for its deep cultural identity, performing lyrics exclusively in Rusyn, a regional East Slavic language. This second full-length effort marked an evolution in their sound, incorporating more intricate melodies, experimental structures, and a polished yet organic production that elevates their blend of pagan atmosphere and extreme metal. The album consists of ten tracks that navigate through various moods, from aggressive black metal sections to epic, folk-influenced passages and even progressive rock elements. The tracklist begins with the fast-paced Album, followed by the expansive title track Počornily horŷ, počornily lisŷ. The journey continues with compositions like E-nhet, the rhythmic Bilyj bŷk, and the melancholic Červene sonce, leading into Porožni vik and Anti, which features prominent male vocals. The latter part of the record includes the atmospheric interlude Pid javorinou, the crescendo-driven Dirava studňa, and the epic finale Dovhŷ tŷni. Released in a professional six-panel digipak CD, the album has been praised for its authenticity and its ability to weave the folklore and natural atmosphere of the northeastern Carpathian forests into a modern, forward-thinking extreme metal context.