Kosturnice

The Serbian black metal scene might not have dozens of well-known acts, but some really interesting ones. There are some projects from this corner of the world (Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia) whose atmosphere simply cannot be mistaken and whose traditional black metal sound, contributions and dedication to the genre are simply undeniable. One of these worthy representatives is undoubtedly The Stone. Formed back in 1996 under the moniker Stone to Flesh they switched later in 2001 to their actual band name and have been going strong since then. Inspired by Slavic paganism, nihilism, death, misanthropy, and existentialism, The Stone have racked up eight albums over the years, with "Kosturnice" being the ninth full-length from the fierce Serbs, and it's also the band's first album in partnership with Belgian label Immortal Frost Productions.

The Stone were among the first black metal bands to ever appear on the territory of Serbia as far as I am informed. Right in the post-war period they picked up the challenge to start this journey, something which might not have been that easy to do, considering the state of the country and all the other factors. The band, in one way or another, became part of a pivotal moment that turned a new page for the extreme metal scene, signaling the rebirth of a culture that had fallen silent. While the war didn't quite have a direct influence on the band's work and the lyrical themes and concepts differ, it might be reflected in the undertone of the music. Black metal is of course always sinister, but despite working with fine melodies the basic mood present in the music of The Stone is somewhat even darker compared to similar bands.

A pleasant chill washes over the listener with the opening song "Pramaglina". A thrilling prelude to the fury of all the power which is to come, which captivates in a deeper way with each song that follows. One could argue that it's all done in your typical black metal textbook approach, but this something which is widely expected these days. While The Stone use a lot of the trademarks black metal is known for they manage to carve their own niche and create a somewhat unique sound. Apart from a high level of professionalism in terms of songwriting and execution, The Stone rely strongly on atmosphere in their recording, aggression, pure and unadulterated emotion in the style of the vocals and cutting speed and rhythm on the guitars and drums. Song after song the tension grows, the atmosphere becomes more and more captivating and at some point you are transported to the ossuary, whether you want to be or not, among the bones of long forgotten souls and the smell of death.

Not only is the production on a much higher level compared to their previous work, but the style of musicianship itself is somewhat heavier, and while the more melodic elements traditional to the band's trademark style are present to some extent, they are subtly implemented, creating an unholy atmosphere which sends shivers down the spine. The lyrical themes here are more existential than related to The Stone's Luciferian attachment, strongly evident in other titles. The lead and rhythm guitars are the stars of the show here, as the instrumentation on each song is top notch, presenting different atmospheres and effects to avoid any moment of boredom. Lo-fi elements, synth effects and the traditional fast-paced and razor-sharp guitars and drums, work together with the eerie and erupting vocals to recreate the traditional 90s black metal sound throughout the album, which lasts around 45 minutes, striking with a primal and technical fury by a band acting in their prime years. “Kosturnice” is definitely worth a few listens.