ZVIJER’s “Pod Balkanskim Noćnim Nebom” is a straightforward Black Metal affair. Originally hailing from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the band labels their sound as “Balkanian Barbaric Black Metal” and I’ve got to say, it does reflect pretty well. The title “Pod Balkanskim Noćnim Nebom” translates to “Under the Balkan Sky” and the sound of the album kinda reflects that. The sound represents a sense of conflict, I’m not sure if I’m able to express it appropriately but the sound captures a sense of turmoil and I don’t even know why I feel that. The sound just feels like a soundtrack to a conflict. I don’t know if it’s inner, political or external but the band seems to have captured it pretty well. This is your regular Black Metal at heart, but it sounds so captivating for reasons unknown. The riffing is relentless, the drumming is never ending and the vocals are just evil in their nature. I also have to flag that there are incredible sections from time to time that simply take your breath away, I’d really like to give this release more spins just so I can hear some sections back to back. I had actually looked up the East European Folklife Centre just to read about instruments used in the Balkan folk music and I believe either the Tambura or the Gudulka was used in a place or two on this album (can someone confirm?). I can see how a lot of Black Metal fans can get immediately attracted to this sound, it feels very inviting and manages to communicate at a personal level. There’s a rich layer of synth that keeps building up and dying, the drums are always at a constant volume, the guitars just keep at their thing and sometimes jump into the spotlight with a short and quick solo that just adds to the further charm of the song. Iron, Blood And Death Corporation have re-released this in a brilliantly packaged limited edition CD that I’ll recommend without hesitation. A melodic affair with a flair for the dramatic resting on the shoulders of an incredibly strong rhythm section, ZVIJER surely is worth checking out for all you fans out there! For more information, please visit: www.facebook.com/zvijer.316, www.facebook.com/ibdc666