Review by Felix on November 6, 2019.

Do Skonu originate from the Ukraine. I have never been there, but I like the national flag of this country. Two horizontal stripes, blue and yellow, symbolize the clear sky over the Ukrainian core fields. Furthermore, the history of this country does not lack of tragic events. The Holodomor, deliberately organized by Stalin's regime, claimed the lives of millions of people. The Second World War showed its cruelty as well, not only because of the fact that some Ukrainians supported Hitler, while some of their compatriots fought as partisans against the Wehrmacht. Finally, the tactic of scorched earth was used by both the Germans and the Russians during their stay in the Ukraine.

Maybe one must take these things into consideration in order to understand the music of Do Skonu. Великое пробуждение среди великого сна is full of melancholic sequences, but it scores with harsh parts as well. In its rather calm moments, the compositions give you the feeling of hiking alone through billowing corn fields. Additionally, the Ukrainian pioneers Drudkh have left its mark on the sound of Do Skonu, for example at the dreary beginning of the second track. I'm fine with that, because Do Skonu take the best of Drudkh's sometimes ambivalent way of proceeding and combine it with their own compositional approach. Honestly speaking, I think that they are better song-writers than their role models. The leads are always compelling and develop a mesmerizing effect in their best moments, the songs are neither too long nor too short and the fairly depressive aura of the album ensures the typical darkness what black metal maniacs are looking for. Not to mention the creaking, compressed voice and the strange language that fit like a glove. They add an obscure touch in a successful manner.

It is therefore almost logical that the album grows constantly with every new spin. Despite its sometimes-wistful approach, the arrangements have nothing to do with suicidal black metal or any other form of namby-pamby stuff. Instead of whining all the time like a little girl that has lost her doll, the band stands with both feet on the incrusted ground of true black metal. External influences do not show up - and I don't miss them. Misanthropy and bitterness stand shoulder to shoulder and the selective integration of keyboards, for example in the sixth track, has the only function to add an atmospheric touch. Last but not least, the band varies the tempo successfully. Blast beats or other forms of ultra-fast ways of destruction do not occur, but pretty quick rhythms play an important role. The closer is almost a high-speed bullet. Damned, this album is surprisingly strong. I cannot find a single thing that I do not like. All songs, the instrumentation, the rhythmic approach, the voice - everything is solid or (much) better. Guess I get sick.

In view of the grandeur of the musical content, it is a little bit sad that Iron Bonehead chose a rather minimalist design for the vinyl release. No lyrics, no printed inner sleeve, no colored vinyl. That's no drama, because the music stands - as always - in the center of this release. But fans of little additional gimmicks will be disappointed. However, this is an output that I highly recommend. Well, its rather dark production does not score with a wall of sound, but it supports the musical approach in a pretty convincing way. So, open your heart, your mind, your wallet and, last but not least, the door to the Ukrainian underground in order to get in touch with Великое пробуждение среди великого сна. Great songs such as "Abzu" or "Black Soot" will reward your spirit of discovery.

Rating: 8.1 out of 10

Review by Felix on November 6, 2019.

Do Skonu originate from the Ukraine. I have never been there, but I like the national flag of this country. Two horizontal stripes, blue and yellow, symbolize the clear sky over the Ukrainian core fields. Furthermore, the history of this country does not lack of tragic events. The Holodomor, deliberately organized by Stalin's regime, claimed the lives of millions of people. The Second World War showed its cruelty as well, not only because of the fact that some Ukrainians supported Hitler, while some of their compatriots fought as partisans against the Wehrmacht. Finally, the tactic of scorched earth was used by both the Germans and the Russians during their stay in the Ukraine.

Maybe one must take these things into consideration in order to understand the music of Do Skonu. Великое пробуждение среди великого сна is full of melancholic sequences, but it scores with harsh parts as well. In its rather calm moments, the compositions give you the feeling of hiking alone through billowing corn fields. Additionally, the Ukrainian pioneers Drudkh have left its mark on the sound of Do Skonu, for example at the dreary beginning of the second track. I'm fine with that, because Do Skonu take the best of Drudkh's sometimes ambivalent way of proceeding and combine it with their own compositional approach. Honestly speaking, I think that they are better song-writers than their role models. The leads are always compelling and develop a mesmerizing effect in their best moments, the songs are neither too long nor too short and the fairly depressive aura of the album ensures the typical darkness what black metal maniacs are looking for. Not to mention the creaking, compressed voice and the strange language that fit like a glove. They add an obscure touch in a successful manner.

It is therefore almost logical that the album grows constantly with every new spin. Despite its sometimes-wistful approach, the arrangements have nothing to do with suicidal black metal or any other form of namby-pamby stuff. Instead of whining all the time like a little girl that has lost her doll, the band stands with both feet on the incrusted ground of true black metal. External influences do not show up - and I don't miss them. Misanthropy and bitterness stand shoulder to shoulder and the selective integration of keyboards, for example in the sixth track, has the only function to add an atmospheric touch. Last but not least, the band varies the tempo successfully. Blast beats or other forms of ultra-fast ways of destruction do not occur, but pretty quick rhythms play an important role. The closer is almost a high-speed bullet. Damned, this album is surprisingly strong. I cannot find a single thing that I do not like. All songs, the instrumentation, the rhythmic approach, the voice - everything is solid or (much) better. Guess I get sick.

In view of the grandeur of the musical content, it is a little bit sad that Iron Bonehead chose a rather minimalist design for the vinyl release. No lyrics, no printed inner sleeve, no colored vinyl. That's no drama, because the music stands - as always - in the center of this release. But fans of little additional gimmicks will be disappointed. However, this is an output that I highly recommend. Well, its rather dark production does not score with a wall of sound, but it supports the musical approach in a pretty convincing way. So, open your heart, your mind, your wallet and, last but not least, the door to the Ukrainian underground in order to get in touch with Великое пробуждение среди великого сна. Great songs such as "Abzu" or "Black Soot" will reward your spirit of discovery.

Rating: 8.1 out of 10

Review by Felix on November 6, 2019.

Do Skonu originate from the Ukraine. I have never been there, but I like the national flag of this country. Two horizontal stripes, blue and yellow, symbolize the clear sky over the Ukrainian core fields. Furthermore, the history of this country does not lack of tragic events. The Holodomor, deliberately organized by Stalin's regime, claimed the lives of millions of people. The Second World War showed its cruelty as well, not only because of the fact that some Ukrainians supported Hitler, while some of their compatriots fought as partisans against the Wehrmacht. Finally, the tactic of scorched earth was used by both the Germans and the Russians during their stay in the Ukraine.

Maybe one must take these things into consideration in order to understand the music of Do Skonu. Великое пробуждение среди великого сна is full of melancholic sequences, but it scores with harsh parts as well. In its rather calm moments, the compositions give you the feeling of hiking alone through billowing corn fields. Additionally, the Ukrainian pioneers Drudkh have left its mark on the sound of Do Skonu, for example at the dreary beginning of the second track. I'm fine with that, because Do Skonu take the best of Drudkh's sometimes ambivalent way of proceeding and combine it with their own compositional approach. Honestly speaking, I think that they are better song-writers than their role models. The leads are always compelling and develop a mesmerizing effect in their best moments, the songs are neither too long nor too short and the fairly depressive aura of the album ensures the typical darkness what black metal maniacs are looking for. Not to mention the creaking, compressed voice and the strange language that fit like a glove. They add an obscure touch in a successful manner.

It is therefore almost logical that the album grows constantly with every new spin. Despite its sometimes-wistful approach, the arrangements have nothing to do with suicidal black metal or any other form of namby-pamby stuff. Instead of whining all the time like a little girl that has lost her doll, the band stands with both feet on the incrusted ground of true black metal. External influences do not show up - and I don't miss them. Misanthropy and bitterness stand shoulder to shoulder and the selective integration of keyboards, for example in the sixth track, has the only function to add an atmospheric touch. Last but not least, the band varies the tempo successfully. Blast beats or other forms of ultra-fast ways of destruction do not occur, but pretty quick rhythms play an important role. The closer is almost a high-speed bullet. Damned, this album is surprisingly strong. I cannot find a single thing that I do not like. All songs, the instrumentation, the rhythmic approach, the voice - everything is solid or (much) better. Guess I get sick.

In view of the grandeur of the musical content, it is a little bit sad that Iron Bonehead chose a rather minimalist design for the vinyl release. No lyrics, no printed inner sleeve, no colored vinyl. That's no drama, because the music stands - as always - in the center of this release. But fans of little additional gimmicks will be disappointed. However, this is an output that I highly recommend. Well, its rather dark production does not score with a wall of sound, but it supports the musical approach in a pretty convincing way. So, open your heart, your mind, your wallet and, last but not least, the door to the Ukrainian underground in order to get in touch with Великое пробуждение среди великого сна. Great songs such as "Abzu" or "Black Soot" will reward your spirit of discovery.

Rating: 8.1 out of 10

Review by Felix on November 6, 2019.

Do Skonu originate from the Ukraine. I have never been there, but I like the national flag of this country. Two horizontal stripes, blue and yellow, symbolize the clear sky over the Ukrainian core fields. Furthermore, the history of this country does not lack of tragic events. The Holodomor, deliberately organized by Stalin's regime, claimed the lives of millions of people. The Second World War showed its cruelty as well, not only because of the fact that some Ukrainians supported Hitler, while some of their compatriots fought as partisans against the Wehrmacht. Finally, the tactic of scorched earth was used by both the Germans and the Russians during their stay in the Ukraine.

Maybe one must take these things into consideration in order to understand the music of Do Skonu. Великое пробуждение среди великого сна is full of melancholic sequences, but it scores with harsh parts as well. In its rather calm moments, the compositions give you the feeling of hiking alone through billowing corn fields. Additionally, the Ukrainian pioneers Drudkh have left its mark on the sound of Do Skonu, for example at the dreary beginning of the second track. I'm fine with that, because Do Skonu take the best of Drudkh's sometimes ambivalent way of proceeding and combine it with their own compositional approach. Honestly speaking, I think that they are better song-writers than their role models. The leads are always compelling and develop a mesmerizing effect in their best moments, the songs are neither too long nor too short and the fairly depressive aura of the album ensures the typical darkness what black metal maniacs are looking for. Not to mention the creaking, compressed voice and the strange language that fit like a glove. They add an obscure touch in a successful manner.

It is therefore almost logical that the album grows constantly with every new spin. Despite its sometimes-wistful approach, the arrangements have nothing to do with suicidal black metal or any other form of namby-pamby stuff. Instead of whining all the time like a little girl that has lost her doll, the band stands with both feet on the incrusted ground of true black metal. External influences do not show up - and I don't miss them. Misanthropy and bitterness stand shoulder to shoulder and the selective integration of keyboards, for example in the sixth track, has the only function to add an atmospheric touch. Last but not least, the band varies the tempo successfully. Blast beats or other forms of ultra-fast ways of destruction do not occur, but pretty quick rhythms play an important role. The closer is almost a high-speed bullet. Damned, this album is surprisingly strong. I cannot find a single thing that I do not like. All songs, the instrumentation, the rhythmic approach, the voice - everything is solid or (much) better. Guess I get sick.

In view of the grandeur of the musical content, it is a little bit sad that Iron Bonehead chose a rather minimalist design for the vinyl release. No lyrics, no printed inner sleeve, no colored vinyl. That's no drama, because the music stands - as always - in the center of this release. But fans of little additional gimmicks will be disappointed. However, this is an output that I highly recommend. Well, its rather dark production does not score with a wall of sound, but it supports the musical approach in a pretty convincing way. So, open your heart, your mind, your wallet and, last but not least, the door to the Ukrainian underground in order to get in touch with Великое пробуждение среди великого сна. Great songs such as "Abzu" or "Black Soot" will reward your spirit of discovery.

Rating: 8.1 out of 10

Review by Felix on March 23, 2024.

For more than two years now, the Ukraine is under fire. Sometimes I think one cannot win a war against Russia, but in World War I they were defeated by the Central Powers (but among other things due to the October Revolution) and the Afghan rebels were pretty successful as well with their war of attrition back in the eighties of the last century. Either way, Do Skonu’s work sends greetings from the warzone and its musical content creates a warzone as well.

I must acknowledge that I am not familiar with the complete discography of Do Skonu, but as far as I can see, their albums follow different approaches. This is a good thing as long as this mindset results in glorious full-lengths like ...And Darkness Was Over The Surface Of The Deep. The songs are raging over the battlefield like almost unstoppable tanks. A few, but really only a few atmospheric moments show up. Fortunately, they do not dilute the general aggression of the material. Quite the opposite, they give the mostly fast-paced songs an even better aroma. Maxim Rodin, the mastermind behind this album, has found a pretty perfect balance between pitch black frenzy and sinister melancholy. The latter gains the upper hand in the fantastic 'Abyss Calls Upon Abyss, With The Voice Of The Oceans Of Sands'. Frankly, I never thought I would ever listen to a song with such a title, haha. But yes, especially the accusing lines of the instrumental part create a great mood. This part shows a nearly oriental touch, an oppressive foreignness and just like the wild, high velocity ending, it contributes its share to make this track to pure gold.

An outstanding feature of both the songs and the production is their enormous density. ...And Darkness Was Over The Surface Of The Deep does not sound porous or holey in any way. There is a lot of reverb on the voice, the guitars claim a lot of space for themselves and the drums beat the last holes shut. No doubt, the session drummer does a good job, but Maxim (vocals, guitars, music, lyrics, mixing, mastering, cover art and layout, wow!) is responsible for the lion’s share to the surprisingly great success of this album. It is kicked off by 'Inexplicable Obsession' and its fury, its ruthlessness and its storm of steel lends the entire album a very martial touch right from the start. The following title track heads in the same direction. The picture that comes to my mind is the one of a soldier who runs through the trenches while the enemy’s massive artillery makes the earth shake around him. And the fire continues with 'Eschatological Gangrene (Destroyed Katechon)' – the only weak element of this track is its somewhat uninspired end, a quite primitive fade out. Anyway, already the first elastic guitar tones of the next song grab the listener by the collar again.

Do Skonu naturally fail to reinvent the wheel with this work, but they follow a pretty individual course. They do not copy Scandinavian or German role models. Perhaps one can identify some Bathory aesthetics here, maybe this is the album Quorthon (R.I.P.) would record today if he had to explain his evolution from “The Return…...” to “Under The Sign Of The Black Mark”. But perhaps my subconsciousness is just possessed by the idea of finding at least some trace elements of early Bathory in each and every black metal album. Be that as it may, nobody takes care of my subconsciousness, not even myself and so I can only take my hat off to the Ukraine – for delivering such a fantastic album and for more than two years of unbroken resistance.

Rating: 8.8 out of 10