The Stone have a long history into the world of Black Metal. Founded in 1996 in Belgrade, Serbia, The Stone have never ceased to embrace the darkness, as they say in their promo sheet and I think that they are even modest about that. Although their lyrics are in Serbian, even the person who does not understand it can feel its power and darkness. Amazing riffs and a powerful voice can't be unnoticed.
On December 9th 2017 The Stone released their ninth full length album titled Teatar apsurda. They showed once again that their work and energy through the years not only haven't went down but is going on the uprising scale, with their powerful lyrics and catchy riffs they are on the very top of my personal list and to prove my point there are countless festivals and collaborations with many bands through the years.
But now I will leave history for some other time and focus on this new masterpiece called Teatar apsurda; as the name itself says, the lyrics as I expected are dark and also include well known philosophy of the authors and godlessness, suffering and tragedies connected with human nature, death as the ultimate and inevitable fate.
The opening song is “Gavranovo” (Ravens), and from the very start, dark energy can be experienced, with a fast and yet gloomy sound, combined with deep voice and dark lyrics is the song that can easy drag any fan of the black metal music to it. The song, that tells a story in its entirety, is also a song in which all of us can find parts of ourselves.
“Mrtvog negative” (Negative of the Dead Man) is the shortest song on the album. Gloomy and slow at the very beginning, follows then a very fast rhythm. Lyrics are the way I see it about struggles that we have inside, the fight against ourselves, should we think before acting?
“Moj grob” (My Grave) is an energetic song whose lyrics are actually a song by Croatian/ Yugoslavian poet Ivan Goran Kovacic (1913-1943). Presented in a unique way, the song is about death and it perfectly follows the way of the band’s philosophy. Amazing riffs and voice that follow the story of hopelessness of death.
“Nuklearan” (Nuclear) is also fast and energetic and tells a story about killings, bombs, guns and destruction caused by people. Sense of power that people who are holding weapons have over their victims and destruction and devastation they leave behind. The story that many countries are going through: senseless deaths and hopelessness, where people with guns are described as animals and Antichrists.
“Ja, car i bog” (Me, Tsar and the God), maybe one of my favorite songs from the album, is about will to power and self-importance when a person has a God syndrome that combined with power leads to bloodshed. Evil seed and tyranny that strokes the fear into the hearts of the people along with the amazing music and very well known deep voice close to the perfect circle of madness and self worship.
“Harmonija u haosu” (Harmony in Chaos) in my opinion is musically a bit different and little more melodic than the others, with very interesting lyrics and I will only describe them with one quote : “With my own bare hands I am hunting with chaos runaway harmony”. Its meaning left a positive impression on me.
“Teatar apsurda” (Theater of Absurdity): the title song the last one and longest on the album. It starts quietly and then louder and faster. With its quality, it certainly deserves to carry the title of the album. It completes the experience of the journey: as the name of the song says, absurdity of situations, irony, sarcasm, mass panic that resemble a show in theater.
All in all this is an album that I really enjoyed, it has absolutely everything that can be expected from The Stone and this is greatness. An album that I started listening and could not stop. Dark and powerful experience and as such I would like to recommend it to everyone, I promise you will not regret it. What amazed me the most as I said at the beginning is that the band with each album is becoming more powerful and deeper, I know that, but they still surprise me every time.
Notes:
Teatar Apsurda was released on December 9 2017 through Mizantropeon Records. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Hellsound Studio in Czech Republic, with producer and drummer Honza Kapák.
Personnel:
Nefas: Vocals
Kozeljnik: Guitars
Vrag: Bass guitar
Honza Kapák: Drums and Acoustic guitars
Text by Dragana
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