It’s too often that people look at doom as something that can really only be properly done in the West or certain sections of Scandinavia, but if there’s anything that the vast underground of metal has taught us it’s that the tenacity of metal manages to find its place in virtually every country around the globe. Belarus is far from a nation that needs to prove its credentials in the world of metal, yet I still think that people look over it far too often. Much like how Gaerea is drawing more attention to what Portugal can do for the style, it’s with their brand new work that Adliga can very well do the same for their country.

Without even hearing a note of what Adliga created in order to bring their second album to life, I could’ve already boasted this album’s credentials solely based on what they brought to the table in their 2019 debut, “Kali Paciače Nieba”, and a solid gut feeling that I had when considering what they could’ve possibly brought forth for a new record. It’s not terribly often that I follow my gut with music I haven’t even heard yet, but I couldn’t help but feel extremely confident in Adliga and I couldn’t be any happier to say my faith was well-rewarded with the very whole of “Vobrazy” being the definition of everything I could’ve asked for. The natural progression that is no less than striking considering what this band pulled off on their debut, it’s with these six new tracks that we get an effort that feels heavier and far more in tune with Adliga does their best to put forth in every ounce of their performance, and it’s downright palpable when you properly immerse yourself in this dense record. Apart from being beautiful on a gloriously macabre scale, this is easily one of those most evocative works to come out of the criminally underrated world of post-doom metal that I’ve heard in far too long with every inch of “Vobrazy” using a truly captivating amount of emotion in every minute of this 41-minute album to not only grab the listener by the throat with its intensity, but seduce them into a unique state of euphoria that only an exquisite piece of post-doom could hope to achieve in such magnificent detail, and I find it only fitting that Adliga would be able to provide us such an experience with only their second album.

Many bands would have to take years in order to curate their sound in order to craft something that could hold a candle to the sort of material that we’re treated to here with Adliga not only defying expectations for the second time in my experience, but they also manage to raise the bar so high that it’s downright bewildering. The very soul of “Vobrazy” is something to behold as this band is becoming a name that demands to be heard, and could very well become an act that helps signify that Belarus has some extremely solid metal to throw around even if we’re not looking for it.

“Vobrazy” releases on November 5th!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Vobrazy” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Adliga on Facebook here.