Belle Morte – Pearl Hunting

Belle Morte
Pearl Hunting
Label: Wormholedeath
Out: January 24^th, 2025
Playing time: 58:00

The Symphonic Metal band Belle Morte from Minsk (Belarus) was founded in 2015. After a few singles, the first EP ‘Game On’ was released in 2018 and the debut album ‘Crime Of Passion’ was released in 2021 alongside countless other singles. It took almost four years for the follow-up album ‘Pearl Hunting’ to see the light of day in January 2025. A large number of guest musicians were invited to record the eleven songs. Various traditional instruments can be heard on the album, including the Celtic bouzouki, the Germanic lyre, the Belarusian duda and the Ukrainian sopilka. And many many more. In addition to the combination of Symphonic Metal and folk, you can also hear Asian, Nordic and Celtic influences. That sounds very exciting, at least on paper.

The title track ‘Pearl Hunt’ is actually more of an intro. But one of the better ones. The elf-like vocals are accompanied by various folk instruments. ‘Falling Idol’ is also dominated by traditional instruments. The rhythm section soon kicks in powerfully. A very melodic Metal song. The vocals are much more powerful than before. Sergey Butovsky can be heard as Anastasia Schebrova’s duet partner. Of course, there is also a guitar solo. ‘Exorcism’ sounds like folklore from the Far East. At least at the beginning and in places later too. Although there are also many rocking passages to be heard. ‘Blame Me’ starts as a beautiful ballad, the singer is accompanied by piano and strings. But here, too, they rock out again, sometimes at high speed, so that fast and balladlike parts alternate. ‘Wintersleep’ lives up to its name. This ballad could easily pass for a lullaby. That is not meant in a derogatory way. Beautiful, contemplative melodies can be heard along with Belle Morte’s enchanting voice. ‘Losing Faith’ starts with flutes and whistles and strings. But then the guitars and drums create a Melodic Metal atmosphere. On the contemplative ballad ‘Black Waters’, you can once again enjoy the Schebrova/Butovsky duet. The fragile-sounding voices are accompanied by strings and various traditional instruments. Another folk-influenced power ballad follows with ‘Willow’. ‘September’ gets off to a powerful start. A chorus can be heard briefly. This is followed by an alternation of calm, folky and rocking passages. ‘Jorōgumo’ has a Far Eastern touch. In addition to the well harmonising vocal duo, evil growls can also be heard. Is this also Anastasia? Unfortunately, the press information is silent on this. The weird and distorted-sounding guitar solo also fits in with this. The lyrics to ‘Krew’ (‘Blood’ in German) are in Belarusian, Polish and Ukrainian. The song is sometimes a ballad, sometimes a Rock anthem. Now and again, there are evil screams to be heard. This concludes the regular part of the album. It is followed by the acoustic version of ‘Exorcism’. A contemplative conclusion.

‘Pearl Hunting’ is characterised by variety. Throughout the entire playing time, there are many folkloristic sounds, some from the Far East but also from the Celtic area. The Russian expanse also pervades again and again. There is also Rock and hard Metal. And a lot of ballad-like melodic leads. This is music that you simply have to enjoy.

Belle Morte – Pearl Hunting: https://youtu.be/iNFB00nKQSQ?si=OUcKCIndiHp7cUJB

Lineup:

Belle Morte aka Anastasia Schebrova – Vocals, Lyric/Music Author
Sergey Butovsky – Bass, Arrangements, Sound Producing, Backing Vocals, Vocals (2, 7, 10, 11), Music Author (11)
Maria Shumanskaya – Keyboards, Violin (5)
Ilya Rogovoy – Guitars
Ilya Petrashkevich – Guitars
Rostislav Golubnichiy – Drums

Track list:

• Pearl hunting
• Fallen idol
• Exorcism
• Blame me
• Wintersleep
• Losing faith
• Black waters
• Willow
• September
• Jorōgumo
• Krew
• Exorcism (Piano Version)