Here's a bit of an oddity for you, an underground black metal outfit that actually sounds like a band, primarily because they are one. While the majority of today's black metal entities are primarily a one man show, Hungary's Vorkuta is actually a trio. Originally formed back in 2002 the group has kept busy by issuing numerous split releases until Paragon Records snagged them up to issue their debut CD Into The Chasms Of Lunacy.
The band successfully mixes their abrasive, full frontal attack with some expansive keyboard passages which adds to the overall atmosphere nicely. This is most evident on the instrumental tracks "Warriors of Past", "Stardust" and the epic closing track "Within The Fortress of Melancholia"; in fact half of the albums six songs are instrumentals. While the production is somewhat limited at times and the thin sounding guitars could certainly have been beefed up in places the black metal influence of bands like Burzum and Bathory can definitely be heard here and that is a good thing. If Vorkuta is capable of putting a full disc's worth of material together in the same vein as Into The Chasms Of Lunacy, and focus on improving their overall production quality then I think their future is going to look even brighter or more appropriately, darker.
Track Listing
1) Warriors of Past
2) Gargoyle
3) My Flaming Soul
4) Stardust
5) Vorkuta
6) Within The Fortress of Melancholia