From their Facebook page, "SECOND TO SUN is a metal band from Saint Petersburg, Russia. The most important musical inspiration source of the band is Scandinavian black metal. Their songs are performed in Russian language or in instrumental versions, and the main lyrical themes for the songs are mystic, mythology and occultism."

"Eerie" leads off the album, first with some atmosphere, and then with a full charge of instrumentation. At over nine-minutes in length, it's also the longest on the album. Raging, screams elevate the landscape. Some eerie tones then come into play, making the hair stand up on the back of your neck. The riff shifts several times throughout the song. At its core, it's Black Metal, but there is so much more going on here. "Marsch der Wolfe" opens with a slow, harrowing riff and some vocal screams. They reach in a magic bag and pull out many riffs that just work in their music. "The Emperor in Hell" opens with some eerie bell strikes and then the main riff is in your face, complete with varied drumming approaches. Suddenly, some melody seeps out. They are absolute masters at shifting riffs. It builds to a crescendo at the end.

"I Psychoanalyze my Ghosts" opens with a mid-tempo swing and some more atmospheric elements that keep it fresh and modern. The main riff is absolutely dominating. For a Black Metal band, they are sure not scared to take some chances. Not willing to rest on their laurels, they add layers of intensity to the song. The melodies might be subtle, but they take root. "Shaitan" comes at you with full speed and a pulverizing sound. The evil they invoke from each note is like squeezing the juice from a grape until all that you are left with is a lifeless shell. Reaching back into that magic bag, the shift to two more different riffs, one with great melodies. Heading for that big ending with layers, it ends and you feel totally satisfied.

"The Engraving of Gustave Dore" is a short, three-and-a-half-minute song, opening with tortured screams that echo in the pit of Hades. It morphs from there, sounding like you are traveling to outer space. "Leviathan" opens with heavy and aggressive guitar, bass, and drum thuds. From there, layers of sound are added to really thicken the song. An ever-shifting meter make me wonder how the band can come up with all of this material for one album. It's quite a feat. The final two minutes drop to nearly nothing. "Black Death, Spirits, and Werewolves" is a quick one-minute pause of the sounds you would hear at night, when the spirits arise. Some eerie bell notes come in at the end. Closing the album is the song "November." It has some elements of traditional Black Metal but again with that not being afraid to experiment elements as well. As it presses forward, you get the feeling it is closing in on you and going for the kill.

SECOND TO SUN have done it again. They are rooted in the steep traditions of Black Metal but bring so much more to the table. They are creative, unique, and such sound musicians that they can stop and start on a dime without missing a note. The music here is harrowing, intense, and even melodic at times. The twists and turns are always a surprise, but always make sense as well. Five albums in four years is quite prolific. But they somehow always manage to pull it off. This is a Black Metal album that all fans of the genre should hear and purchase.