Wall of the Eyeless: "Wimfolsfestta"

Consistent but effortless

Crossing country borders, Simon from Sweden and SL from Russia created their collaboration Wall of the Eyeless in 2011. That same year their debut demo Through Emptiness garnered a few positive reviews, to be followed in 2013 by the Wimfolsfestta demo.

Trou Noir: "Echoes in Black Holes"

Uninspired voyage into deep space

With members from Russia and France, Trou Noir is a project made possible by the great invention of the internet. In mid 2011 the international collaboration released their debut, the demo tape Echoes in Black Holes through Eerie Torture. Between them, the three members have released dozens of demos, EPs, splits and albums through different outlets, so in that regard these fellows are seasoned in the dark arts of black metal.

Inferius Torment: "Ceremony of Godslaying"

Holding the torch of Scandinavia in Russia, burning with brighter embers

First impressions are always hugely important. Like it or not, the cover in itself may put you off for the coming listening experience. With a band name like Inferius Torment, and an album title like Ceremony of Godslaying, you'd be inclined to think that this is going to be another bottom-feeding text book black metal record. While the Russian band doesn't exactly break the mold of genre songwriting, the group's second album is among the best blastbeat-based black metal I've heard in recent years.

Grenouer: "Computer Crime"

Is it rock or is it metal?

With the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has become a bigger and bigger part of the international music scene. In heavy metal, Russia has fathered several prominent slamming brutal death metal bands like Abominable Putridity, Katalepsy and Abnormity, but the band in question - Grenouer - doesn't quite fall under that classification.