In Ukraine, it seems that Black Metal is growing stronger day by day, because those lands were devastated in the past by the hard grip of communism/socialism, and as a consequence, there are bands coming with insights that are different from we are used to hear. Obviously, RAVENTALE is another fine band from Ukraine (from the city of Kyyiv), with a new work, "Dark Substance of Dharma".

It's an atmospheric, harsh and intense album, with a darkened and morbid feeling that is present on all tracks. The speed in tempos is slow, or in more traditional ways, like BURZUM did on "Dat Som Engang Var" era, with very good use of funeral keyboards filling the spaces on each song, along with very good guitar riffs, simple (but heavy) playing on bass guitar and drums, and a shrieked and traditional way of vocals (besides some really morbid tunes can be heard in many moments, as in some parts of "Destroying the Seeds of Karma"). Yes, I must confess that many bands used this same way before, but here, this one-man band has a strong and bold personality pulsing in each song.

When we pay some attention to the sound quality, we can hear that Astaroth Merc (the mind behind RAVENTALE and its only member) got a sonority that can fit to his visions of something more traditional and raw. But this doesn't means that the quality of sound was done in the sense that we all must understand what he is doing on the musical instruments. It's darkened, raw and dirty, but comprehensible.

The band has very good and atmospheric songs, that sometimes can sound as an approach to Depressive Black Metal, as you can hear on "Destroying the Seeds of Karma" and "Dark Substance of Dharma" (both excellent songs with very good work done by guitars and vocals. But even sharing the same musical elements, they are completely different one from the other), others more violent and aggressive as "Kali's Hunger" (with a simple, but good, work on the rhythmic session), and some that combine both sides, as "I Am the Black Tara" and "Last Moon Fermata". And they still have a version for "Red Laugh's Walking", a song from Инструкция по выживанию (don't ask me how to write/say this on Latin language), that gained a more aggressive way. And the album's lyrics are speaking about Indian and Tibetan mythology, what can be of extreme interest of some curious about ancient religions from the East.

The band is really excellent, and this album will conquer the Black Metal fans used to morbid and darkened songs.<