Astarium – Wyrm of Melancholy (2012)

Rounding up Astarium’s promo package, today we have “Wyrm of Melancholy”, the band’s 2012 full-length release originally self-released and then released by Metallic Media, which is the version we are reviewing. In this 55-minute epic, we get to hear SiN fully develop a full-length release that is quite cohesive and very effective. Having only reviewed short EP’s from the band, it is quite clear now that Astarium has more than enough depth to keep somebody engaged for almost an hour with this release.

Instead of taking the traditional instrumental intro, “Unrelieved Solitude” opens up with some very creepy whispers and screams accompanied by distorted guitars. The atmospheric synths are again overpowering and very nicely set a creepy vibe. Having more ‘time limit’ freedom, the songs in this release are slower to develop, but always having very interesting and melancholic passages, like on “Kingdom of White Madness” and the minimalistic instrumental “Voices from the Night Sky”.

“Farewell (Last Winter)” is one of our favorite tracks in this release thanks to its very dramatic atmosphere and emotional tempo changes. This track has a very intense Doom/Suicidal BM vibe that is very easily achieved by Astarium’s skills. After the interlude “Velleity About Aeonian Rain” we get another excellent song that starts with eerie wind sounds. The harsh vocals are quite fitting in the band’s sound and they greatly enhance the creepiness of the band’s music.

The album’s original closing track is the cavernous “When Humanity will Die…” a very bleak song that starts with some intense droning sounds. This song evolves very slowly and allows the agony to be extended. This version of the album has a bonus track titled “Permafrost”, which is a very upbeat and enjoyable cover of Krah(?). Overall, “Wyrm of Melancholy” is one hell of a release that will please any fan of this very engaging genre. If you like your music to be highly atmospheric and have some BM-shrieks in it, look no further and get yourself a copy of this album.

Label: Metalic Media

Release: November 2nd, 2012

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal

Country: Russia