Band:	Re1ikt
Album:	Рэкі прабілі лёд
Style:	Post-metal
Release date:	November 15, 2011
A review by:	R'Vannith

01. Рэкі Пад Ільдом
02. Канцінуум
03. Прыкметы
04. Снег, Пясок Ды Соль
05. Час Вырашыць
06. Рана На Івана
07. Тры Хвіліны

Post metal is a subgenre well known for its ambiguity, its tendency to mix in a variety of seemingly foreign elements to craft a unique experience like no other. You can usually witness a 'follow the leader' trend within the genre, with the pioneering acts such as atmospheric sludge titans Isis inspiring numerous bands which attempt to emulate that same ingenuity. Re1ikt is such a band, a Belarusian outfit with a unique feature, lyrics written entirely in their native tongue.

For their latest release Рэкі прабілі лёд, or "Rivers Broke Through The Ice", (made freely available to you, along with their other releases on their website) picture a softer and more natural sounding cousin of the aforementioned Isis, less inclined to the sludgey riffs, more inclined to an experimental/progressive vibe. There is a folk touch about this album as well, strengthening the natural feeling already being brought to the table in the vocals.

If I'm honest, this album seemed at first like a garbled mass of post-metal riffs accompanying the wonderfully evocative yet seemingly disconnected vocals. Yet the album title certainly fits the music, your unfamiliarity with it is the ice which holds back the ebb and flow of the river. The more you listen, the more ice breaks away to allow the river of natural sounding and folk embracing post-metal to flow freely and awash you in a refreshing torrent. The tracks develop upon further listens and the vocals eventually begin to follow the currents more effectively than initial impressions may have you believe.

A considerable drawback is the difficulty some tracks have in sticking in your head. While moments such as hard hitting "Снег, пясок ды соль" manage this quite well, some of this river of an album passes you by without making a continuous and lasting impression. Where the band really shines, however, is on the second half of this album, most especially in the final two tracks. The over twelve minute drowning atmosphere of "Рана на Івана", with its ambient introduction and slight doom/sludge undertones, is apparently based on a Belarusian folk tune. The final track, "Тры хвіліны," is the true standout which really shows what the band is trying to achieve in their take on the post metal genre. The folk vibe is made possible by those vocals again connected beautifully with the plodding guitar and drum work and the whistling as the album closes is an excellent touch.

Overall this is an album that should satisfy many post-metal fans, and perhaps interest some of those who enjoy folk infused metal. While the band draws much from their inspirations they by no means fail to produce something which offers a unique listening experience, successfully crafting a very interesting blend of folk and post-metal.