Time can be an exceedingly tricky thing. It can be just as harmful to the soul and body just as it can be a boon to our skills and our growth in all things. It’s often enough that we see names throughout the underground rise up over time to show us what they’ve acquired in the course of honing their craft for it to become the best that they can make it, but it’s on the rare occasion that we see a band go through such a profound metamorphosis that one cannot help but be enthralled by the end result. Рожь, or Rye as it’s sometimes credited, is no stranger to such change given the dynamic musical nature of its mastermind and the previous works of the act showcasing tremendous growth and undeniable splendor. Yet, it’s with its most recent creation that Rye has undergone what’s almost assuredly the name most gorgeous transformation to date.

Given the vast scope of what Rye has become known for, a ferociously enthralling blend of black metal and doom with loads of atmosphere working in tandem with more than a few cues from the worlds of folk and ambient, it’s obvious that Rye has a lot going on throughout every creation it puts out. It was just two years ago with “Bcë” that Rye really impressed and delivered a standout album in a discography that was already standout to begin with. However, it’s clear more so than ever before that Rye is nothing if not ever moving forward. But then the question remains: where do you go next? With Rye, the answer is simple: deeper in. Tearing apart the barriers of the flesh and fully exploring the solemn depths of the soul through the lens of a truly transformative experience, the likes of which I am not properly equipped to unpack and put into words. Yet, it’s throughout the whole of “Знание” (translated to “Knowledge”) that you do not need to see. Rather, you must simply take the hand of Rye and allow the creation to take you wherever it may.

Simply gorgeous in its themes while simultaneously straightforward such that the work in immensely approachable, Rye truly dug deep to bring this effort to life. Throughout this massive record, we’re given a performance that’s equally capable of being gentle as well as primal wrath of a dynamic sort that can only be compared to a cyclonic storm, ready to decimate through immense strength and then offer a chance for replenishment in its wake. There are only three tracks that adorn “Знание” yet it’s across the expansive 40-minute runtime that Rye showcases a deep understanding of its more atmospheric and ambient side to great effect while ensuring the metal aspects are preserved well to serve their purpose equally well. Effortlessly does it give “Знание” a captivatingly contrasting blend that holds nothing back and constantly delivers on an exceedingly high level. The very warmth of the sun plays a big part in this effort, as well as petrichor, to make this deeply evocative and irrefutably compelling as the metal and ambient cores of “Знание” work beautifully to allow this experience to be intense in multiple forms.

Meditative and liberating in many instances, Rye has tapped into something deeper with this record to make it not just another addition to an impressive discography that’s growing in every form, but one that offers us one of the most unorthodox and compelling works of metal that 2025 will have received when the year comes to an end. Rye has always been many things, and it all comes to a head throughout “Знание”. Time has been exceedingly kind to Rye with the band’s legacy surely something to attain cult status before long if it hasn’t already with “Знание” destined to leave an impression that will linger for years on end.

LISTEN to “Знание” on Bandcamp here.

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