Grima - Rotten Garden

Whispers in the woods. 

(Originally submitted to the Metal Archives on January 27th 2022)  

Earlier this month I put together a review for Ultar’s Pantheon MMXIX, and as I was doing my research for my next subject, I remembered Grima put out a new album last year. And wouldn’t you know it, the Sysoev brothers are behind both projects. The twins have been quite prolific over the past 3 years, having released 3 different albums across an equal number of bands. Out of all these projects though, Grima’s Rotten Garden stands as the best of the bunch.
Unlike their other bands, Grima takes a more atmospheric black metal direction, ticking the genre’s boxes, while still feeling fresh. Cascading tremolo riffs mixing with fast-paced drumming and discreet synths adding ambience. To anyone already acquainted with the style it might seem rather mundane, but what makes Rotten Garden stand out compared to other releases of its kind is the execution. The band’s songwriting is tight, with the entire album clocking in at a lean 37 minutes (barring the rerecording of “Devotion to Lord”), which is rather atypical for atmoblack, a genre known for meandering a lot. This leads to tracks that flow in a rather snappy fashion and don’t spend an excessive amount of time in one place. Atmosphere here is built primarily by the transitions and the quality of the riffs themselves, rather than their repetition. Whether it’s a slow, melodic lead like in “Cedar and Owls”, the accordion in “At the Foot of the Red Mountains”, or the slow build ups of the title track, the band showcases exceptional variety and doesn’t miss a beat. The aforementioned accordion is also far from a gimmick, and like their compatriots Путь they weave it seamlessly into their compositions, resulting in a very unique experience.
As for the rerecording of “Devotion to Lord”, the title track off their 2015 debut, it’s superior in quality, at least from a sonic standpoint. The added clarity granted by the improved production helps add more texture to the song, which was originally covered by a layer of fuzz. As for the song itself, I don’t find it particularly engaging, though I don’t consider it part of the album in an official capacity per se, so it doesn’t bother me as much.
Speaking of the production, it’s this album’s cornerstone, and a big part of why I enjoy it so much. Unlike what we usually see in atmoblack, the recording doesn’t sound cold and “wintery”, but instead has a latent warmth to it, giving a more autumnal feel. Instead of being stuck in the middle of a snowy forest, you are being treated to the end of summer, where life slowly fades before winter comes. All that is achieved through a great mix, through which we can hear all of the band’s intricacies. The sharp guitars use the crisp drums as a rhythmic backbone to build off of, all while the synths and bass add texture through subtle touches.
There really isn’t all that much to complain about with this release, barring the fact that I wish the band had done more with the “Old Oak” interlude, and the fact that I find the rerecording of “Devotion to Lord” to be somewhat unnecessary. The Sysoevs, along with the musicians who helped them record this work, managed to make Rotting Garden one of the best atmospheric black metal albums of last year. A tight and focused package, it’s a welcome change of pace from the slew of faceless atmoblack metal bands that just go for a vibe and forget to write actual songs. Here’s to hoping we’ll be seeing more of the twins in the future, across all their bands.
Highlights: Cedar and Owls, At the Foot of the Red Mountains, Rotten Garden

Rating: 86% 

 

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