Hailing from the cold frosty landscapes of Siberia, Grima returns with its fourth offering “Rotten Garden”. The Russian duo Morbius (guitar, bass) and Vilhelm (vocals, guitars, bass, and keyboards) take a distinctive approach to atmospheric black metal. In the span of seven years, the band has released four albums under the banner of Naturmacht Productions. Mainly inspired by nature and paganism, Grima’s music is highly textured with a luminous synth that creates many melancholic moments. The most majestic element here is the proficiency of the riffs and the flowing rhythm guitar. Through the latest musical presentation, the songs provide a stimulating and engrossing piece of aural bliss.

“Rotten Garden” journeys through the cold and grim nature of the Siberian landscapes, where the frozen rivers and the jagged mountain peaks are covered in glistening snow. Its wonderful instrumental setting is shaped by spectacular lead guitars, raspy vocals, striking drums, and driving riffs. The entire album creates a dramatic experience in the spectrum of atmospheric black metal. Grima draws all your senses with the steady pace of the drums on the opening track “Cedar and Owls”. The soaring lead guitars and the shimmering synth show the majesty of the icy melodic themes. Brimming with rapturous tempos, the drums like thundercloud fully charged by a blistering pace and double bass.

Grima has a modern perspective of writing catchy black metal songs and the frequent use of the keyboards on “Mourning Comes at Sunset” is captivating. There is a brooding sense of awe that makes each track full of hooks, as you will hear many nuances to symphonic black metal. The duo has been mastering their craft for quite some time, in its rich textures the songs are saturated with tremolo-picked riffs. The track “At the Foot of the Red Mountains” draws in influences of Russian folk music. The harsh riffs come hand in hand with the tremolos where the majority of the track is focused on producing powerful melodies.  

“Rotten Garden” emphasizes different nuances to classical music, bringing melancholic moments to the album title track that sweep through the song texture. The melodies are chilly and balanced with homogeneous elements of the folk instruments. Grima exhibits various shades of their musical palette. There are many slow moments that add a wistful melody. With every song, the duo alters the mood where the element of folk music has its own role. Yet there’s one small issue I personally have in implementing the folk melodies. I would have preferred it if the band would have focused on the synth instead of the folk melodies, but anyhow this is my personal opinion.

This very component has been emphasized by the band on previous albums such as “Tales of the Enchanted Woods”. As a result of this modern take on black metal, the Russian duo has certainly proven to be adepts. The guitar work is brilliantly performed along with blustering drums that fluctuate from a slower tempo to lightning speed. “Grom” is characterized by the refined qualities of the composition, the flowing synth along with high pitched vocals, and the sharp-edged riffs are beautifully integrated.  

The album also features a recorded song that was previously released on the band’s debut album “Devotion to the Lord”, also released as a single last year. “Rotten Garden” proceeds carefully in the same direction as the previous outputs. But perhaps time would tell where the band will take their musical style when they return again to claim their Siberian realm. 

Release Date: January 21st, 2021
Label: Naturmacht Productions
Track list:

1. Cedar and Owls
2. Mourning Comes at Sunset
3. At The Foot of The Red Mountains
4. Old Oak
5. Rotten Garden
6. Grom
7. Devotion to Lord 2020