DKHARMAKHAOZ is a mysterious, two-person entity hailing from Belarus. Despite their otherwise-new standing, the Black Metal these Belarusians create is firmly rooted in classic second-wave black metal from the '90s but just as equally working with palatable modern iterations of obsidian. The sound field across "Proclamation ov the Black Suns," the band's first public recording, is robust and muscular yet subtly strange; although by no means aiming for anything qualitatively "industrial," there's nevertheless a certain post-apocalyptic vibe to its clanging 'n' crunchy surge. The album contains seven tracks.

"The Cycle ov Omega" leads us off. Eerie sounds begin to develop, then the Black Metal madness is on full display, with dissonant guitar tones and harsh vocals. It's just a bit off the beaten path of the FWOBM, especially with the scratchy guitar tones, bringing a new level of evil. "The Way with the Serpent Entwined" opens with a little more breathing. The level of intensity is still pretty high, but the song opens up a bit to let you catch your breath. The sound changes a bit after the half-way mark, and goes deeper into the pit of Hell.

"Beyond the Transcendental Luminescence" features a slower groove, to allow the evil to seep into your bones. The guitars and bass are impossibly low here, sounding like Lucifer is gathering his army of the undead to reign hell on earth for a thousand years. The title track features some riff changes to keep you on your toes, but retains that harrowing quality the entire way through. The drums are steady as well, not always going blast beats. It takes a brief pause around the half way mark, then returns with fervor.

"Chthonic Rites ov Fertility" is another grindingly slow song that really allows you to soak up what they are pushing. Frightening doesn't begin to describe the sound here...it is evil incarnate. "Ascension" opens with some dark atmosphere. Then, the riff and drums slam in, obliterating everything around you. There is a lot of chaos, but it is structured. After the half-way mark, it changes skin and offers odd and eerie guitar tones, before the chaos returns with even more intensity, complete with some clean female vocals.

"Reu Nu Pert Em Hru" closes the album, with a big, heavy riff leading off the song. Vocals some in soon thereafter, and the lumbering pace seeps in slowly, and turns you into a skeleton, drawing the life from your soul and body. It ends with some tense tones. Overall, this was a solid release for the band. Some Black Metal can fall into a rut of trying to be the same band as the founding fathers. But, on "Proclamations ov the Black Suns," DKHARMAKHAOZ show that you can retain the quality of the founders while injecting your own stylings into your music. Bravo to the band for daring to take their own path.