Kauan - 'Lumikuuro' (2007)

Kauan - 'Lumikuuro' (2007)

1) Alku

2) Aamu ja Kaste

3) Lumikuuro

4) Savu

5) Koivun Elämä

6) Syleilyn Sumu

7) Villiruusu

8) Syleilyn Sumu (Akkustika)

Kauan are a folk black metal band from Russia. Well, you could say there were a folk black metal band. Nah, they didn't break up, but their last album was most atmospheric folk/post-rock. I have yet to listen to it, but right now I'm very satisfied with this debut full-length.

It has the black metal elements mostly in the vocals. But don't take that as if they don't fit, because they do fit very well with the music. It's more towards atmospheric black metal, where the drums are much more laid back (almost like doom metal drumming) but with heavy distorted guitars with interludes of clean guitars, synthesizers, and other atmospheric sounds.

There's a ton of piano on this album which gives it a neat feel. You can just hear the heavy emotions in the song. It's really cool how they attain that with such little layering of music and sounds.

If you like post-metal like Agalloch that's melancholy, but also really heavy at times, check this album out. I might go so far as to say that it's the most unique black metal album I've ever heard. Of course I'm not too well-versed in black metal, but this still warrants a listen.

RIYL: Enslaved, Amesoeurs, Alcest