Zaporozhian Mockery

There's something about Zaporozhian Mockery that almost feels sentimental to me. There's something about its incredibly raw, loose, and yet competent songwriting and guitar playing that makes it sound as if this is some alternate universe's one-off version of Mocking the Philanthropist. It's an album that has managed to stay firmly hidden beneath the eyes and ears of the underground metal scene at large, despite its all-around enjoyable songs. To me, in a way, finding this album was like discovering my own personal classic.

To be fair to some, if you aren't interested in heavy melodic riffs, folky harmonies, and wobbly noodling, this album is not going to be your cup of tea. As all of the songs on this album are purely instrumental, the bass is mostly just following along with the guitars, and the drums spend most of the album playing Burzum-esque beats while serving its job just to keep the song treading along. That being said, the guitar playing itself is nothing if not intriguing. There's an unusual looseness to everything. Many of the more melodic sections flow almost like a thin silk curtain in a strong wind. The more triumphant riffs sound almost like a bunch of drunk soldiers merrily singing with the rest of their squadron. This is a positive of course, as it fits nicely with the album's namesake. That being said, the album is not all noodly folk riffs. Novgorod displays an excellent ability to balance melody with heaviness, and the overall production of the album benefits this greatly. The guitars have enough high end to cut through the mix during the more melodic sections, while also being really thick and muddy to add some testosterone to the slower, heavier sections. The bass, when detectable, has a chunky distorted tone which lends well to the more doom-laden riffs. To some the mix of the album may sound unfinished or amateur, but it's actually not bad for a 2010's black metal solo project.

If I'm being completely honest, I don't think this album will ever get the recognition that it deserves, and frankly I don't think it will ever get much attention at all. Not like that matters though, because obviously the strongest aspect of Zaporozhian Mockery is the sheer amount of passion that was put into it. There's something I almost enjoy about it going under the radar so discreetly. This album is like a secret club that only few are privy to experience, and even fewer will understand. I feel grateful to be one of the few in that club.