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Coming in from the cold in the Orphans' Corner of the Metal Archives is this Siberian band whose name translates into English as "Smoking Culture". The quartet's debut release originally came out on tape in a limited edition of 100 copies in 2011 and was later repackaged with the band's first single in a CD compilation (limited edition) in 2012. I preferred though to hear the original EP release just to find out what the group was like when it was just starting out, without any interference from later songs that might influence any initial opinion formed while listening to the original EP songs.

культура курения have a very pleasant and quite mellow post-rock sound of clear bluesy raindrop guitar tones made grittier by churning chainsaw rhythm guitars and a bitter spidery BM vocal. The drumming has an easy jazzy style that complements the music whether it's sweet and mellow post-rock or tougher, edgier black metal riff textures. Opening track "Мухи" does a good job showcasing the band's ability to switch between a clean melodic style and more traditional black metal with bursts of blast-beat fury. "Растерянность" is a darker, more depressive track of anguished (if theatrical) singing, caustic acid-guitar simmer and plaintive lead guitar licks. The instrumental section in the middle of the track is very good although the change in mood from depressed to moody and enraged is very abrupt and not all that convincing - I get the impression the band is trying too hard to pack in all they're capable of doing and missing sight of the fact that their technical abilities, good as they are, should always be at the service of what the song itself needs.

The title track has a different sound from the rest of the set: much clearer (in production) and cleaner with a brighter energy, and the whole song sounds much more solid and dramatic (and blackened as well). There's a more epic feel thanks in part to booming percussion and the whole song sounding much more unified with all instruments blending in together. The singing is all but drowned out by the surging music and more consideration should have been given to bringing the vocals forward in the mix as they really are very hard to hear.

On the whole this is a good if not great introduction to культура курения: their sound might not exactly be smoking and only on the last track do I detect that these guys have the potential to set the world on fire with emotional and energetic music. They need to give some thought to improving and extending their vocal style as it's limited in range and expression. Their drumming is definitely a major asset and while they lose the raindrop guitar on the title track, it's something they should preserve as part of their style.