E T H N I X

Eastern European music remained a mystery until recently. A way of solving the mystery is to incorporate it into the metal sound like Sventoyar are doing. Their album E T H N I X showcases a complex sound that combines ethnic instruments, atypical rhythmic structures, and unique vocals to create a very sophisticated atmosphere.

The vocals of Yulia are better than most other bands from the genre. She also sounds as if she is more comfortable with the music than on the band's previous works. The guitar parts are very interesting. The playing includes irregular starts and stops that slightly reminds of math rock, a thing I have never heard in folk metal before. The songwriting has matured since Єдність and has a more progressive approach. Regarding the album's production, the guitar sounds a bit unnatural at moments, but the album is very well balanced.

The highlights of the album are the dark "Сама иду по каменю" (translated as "She Walks Alone on the Stones") and the epic "Жинка" (translated as "The Wife"). This is where the band really shines with its mature, beautiful, breathtaking, and gripping sound. The harmonies on these songs are particularly stunning and the ethnic instruments, such as balalaikas, sound very orchestral.

E T H N I X is not your typical party-like folk metal album. It is a more serious release that pushes the boundaries of the genre by incorporating a whole new dimension to it. At the same time, the tradition of the Ukrainian music is well respected by the band, especially in the extremely complex harmonies. The main difference between Sventoyar's E T H N I X album and the folk music from their country is the rhythm section. The band creates a music that distinguishes from the rest of Ukrainian folk by adding very complex rhythms to it.

I highly recommend the album to everyone that digs the Eastern European metal scene and that wants to hear something really special and creative at the same time. Definitely one of the most interesting albums of its genre.