First great band out of Russia? Possibly, as they create a hypnotic sound that doesn’t rely on brute force (yet aren’t afraid to use it either), but rather intricacies and artistry. The opening 2:21 intro is awash in orchestral strings, then it’s on to an intriguing mix of early Opeth (death/clean vocals interplay with acoustic guitar and death metal), Tiamat (ethereal “Wildhoney” era), masters of the esoteric Tenhi and the melancholic My Dying Bride (‘The Beautiful Nature’, complete with piano and spoken voiceover). Articulate, with a high degree of craftsmanship (four of the six proper tunes exceed nine minutes).

Moments of harp and acoustics can be found amongst the lengthy instrumental passages of the title cut. ‘Mired’ begins with pastoral, almost whispered voices, then sudden burst of gruff throats, never loosing sight of the multi-layered, infectious soundscape behind it. It ends in synthesizer spaceyness. ‘The Seventh Symphony Of Satan’ (why couldn’t it be #7 in the running order?) opens with imposing crescendo and a terrified female scream for the album’s most black metal-ish number. However, the mid-section is as light and airy as anything else found on “The Crown Of Winter”, before getting nasty once more, for its finale. A remarkable find!