Review by J.C. on June 10, 2026.

Russian doom metal band Shallow Rivers released a new album a few days ago. I have always been fond of this band and have listened to their previous albums countless times, so naturally I was eager to hear their latest work. Their previous album, The Tales Told Under The Willow, left me somewhat disappointed, as the band's characteristic style did not fully emerge, and several passages felt unnecessarily drawn out. This new album, however, is a different story altogether. It is truly excellent.

Shallow Rivers have never been a typical doom/death metal band. Their music incorporates a considerable amount of progressive metal and technical death metal, particularly on their second album, The Leaden Ghost, where the band constructed a labyrinth of intricate riffs as dense and bewildering as Kowloon Walled City itself. That album, however, was also the least melodic release in their catalog. Their debut, while equally complex, featured far more memorable melodies. Those melodic passages emerged from seas of dissonance, suddenly slowing into moments of sorrow and crushing heaviness, like a cursed giant dutifully carrying out its eternal task. In short, Shallow Rivers are not always slow and mournful, but whenever the doom elements surface, the atmosphere and emotion of their music become impossible to ignore.

Most of the songs on this album are of moderate length, with none exceeding ten minutes, though the record still stretches to roughly an hour in total. The compositions are filled with shifting sections, ranging from delicate acoustic guitar passages to heavy yet beautiful melodies, alongside harsher and more unconventional moments. The riffs in the faster sections are aggressive and melodically unusual, occasionally displaying a progressive edge. When the music slows down, the guitars become heavier, reinforcing the emotional weight of the melodies.

Vocally, the album is dominated by extreme metal techniques, alternating between beastly growls and a higher vocal style reminiscent of Norther. Outside of the harsher moments, whispers and spoken-word passages appear throughout the softer sections. The drum sound is exceptionally clear and powerful, even though outright fast passages are relatively rare. The bass is equally clear and weighty, though wisely mixed as part of the overall sound rather than being pushed to the forefront. The keyboards deserve special mention, as they are more effectively integrated than ever before. Rather than merely adding atmosphere, they function like connective tissue, binding the album together and strengthening its overall identity.

The opening track, 'В путь', serves as a two-minute introduction and is perfectly paced. The second track, 'Сквозь заснеженные берега', begins with a string-driven introduction before erupting into a brutal riff. Its unusual atmosphere may discourage impatient listeners unfamiliar with the band, preventing them from reaching the melodic passages that best represent Shallow Rivers' strengths.

The third track, 'На гордом корабле', and the fourth, 'Царь морей', are arguably the most melodically striking pieces on the album. The former is elevated by beautiful keyboard arrangements during its second half, while the latter uses a multi-part structure to great effect, allowing a deceptively simple central melody to leave a lasting impression.

The fifth track introduces piano passages that add a sinister elegance to the music. Its opening notes seem inspired by the piano melody from 'Утонувшие' on Mental Home's 2012 album, though the songwriter expands upon the idea in a far more elaborate and engaging manner.

As for the seventh track, 'Чёрное сердце', its combination of piano, spoken-word sections, and heavy melodic passages evokes memories of Saturnus' debut album while still retaining the band's distinctive identity. The eighth track, 'Зов тёмных вод', stands apart from the rest of the album almost immediately. From its introduction onward, it projects a unique character. As the longest composition here, it contains a wealth of ideas: tranquil passages emerging after moments of intensity, beautiful keyboard arrangements, spoken-word sections, and riffs built around unusual scales and rhythms that recall the work of elite progressive metal bands.

Although I still prefer their debut album, Nihil Euphoria—a deeply sad and philosophical work—this new release nonetheless resonates with me on an emotional level. Its atmosphere is captivating, its songwriting is consistently strong, and it is undoubtedly an album that I will return to again and again in the years to come.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10