Since the end of the socialism/communism on Russia, when the beautiful fairytale of a more equalitarian politic of govern gave space to the truth of the disrespect for individual rights of the people, many Metal bands are coming from the vast fields of that giant country. A greater part of them is focusing their energies in creating something to speak about their cultural roots, besides the communist dictators tried hard to destroy every single source of their cultural roots (maybe this is that cheap talk about "multiculturalism"). And we can feel the same energy and call for the Alma Mater here on "Burial Shrouds", the new album from the one man band "Sivyj Yar".

Playing a form of Black Metal that some call Post-Black Metal, fusing it with atmospheric and Folk/Pagan Metal influences, and using very long songs, the band uses some variations to evade a boring feeling. And Vladimir's work really is very good, contrasting some aggressive and harsh moments with some introspective ones, sometimes clean guitars contrasting with distorted ones. Yes, the band's music is very, very fine, indeed.

The sound quality is a bit harsher than the needed, and sometimes, we miss the comprehension of what the instruments are playing. Of course we can have a clear idea of the whole picture of each song, but those precious details aren't so evident. Hope the next time, a better production can be done.

The band has some pretty good songs, indeed. "Famine" works as an introduction from the album, followed by "Burial Shrouds", a song with very good work on guitars and full of rich rhythmic changes. "The Earth Breathes Sorrow" has again some very good and abrasive riffs, along with clean guitars in some moments, and vocals in the same vein we used to hear on earlier BURZUM albums, again full of some very good rhythmic changes. On "Like A Spark We Will Vanish Into The Darkness", we have a more melodic and depressive insight, with a melodic sense flowing into our ears in a very good shape, and bass guitar and drums are doing fine here. Once more deeper song, "In Gray Izbas Ancient Rus' Endures" works as another intro to the giant called "The Snow Shall Fall A Long While", a bit more aggressive, but keeping the depressive and melodic sense, again using wisely the guitars and these vocals in high shrieked screams, as the tempos changes a bit.

It's very good, but with a better sound quality Vladimir can go further.