Russia's Sivyj Yar have consistently put out some of the best atmospheric black metal albums of recent vintage, releasing beauties annually for the past three years. The band paints a weary pastoral picture -- cold gray days after the harvest with a long winter ahead.
Sivyj Yar's PR rep only brought it to my attention recently, but it turns out that the albums linked above were actually conceived of as a series called "The Peasant Trilogy," which consists of three LPs bookended by two EPs. Now, the saga of the oft-forgotten poor who work the land is coming to an end on The Unmourned Past, with the title track closing the book on the series as a whole. "The Unmourned Past" is sorrowful but bright, a mid-tempo track that features the bowed instruments and organic-sounding bass that have largely characterized "The Peasant Trilogy," which has featured numerous heart-swelling masterpieces that play as much to the soul as the ears. Sivyj Yar's architect, Vladimir, kicks off the song with a wild-eyed solo, and his howls are as pained and earnest as ever. But when it all comes to an end there's a sense of peace to it, as if after so much toil there's a reward of well-earned rest. Listen.
The Unmourned Past is out 6/21 via Avantgarde Music.
