Stellar Void – Chrysalis

Stellar Void
Chrysalis
Inverse Records
November 26^th, 2021
Playing time: 18:37

Extreme Symphonic Metal. That is the genre description of Stellar Void’s music. You can read about it in the press release. Apparently, this is a side project of the Russian Gothic Metal Duo Inner Missing. Behind the stage names Melaer and Sigmund are bassist and singer Alexandra Krasnova and guitarist and singer Pavel Krasnov (source Encyclopaedia Metallum). They have been on the road under the name Inner Missing since 2008. Stellar Void, on the other hand, is a very young project, launched at the beginning of 2021. Now they have their first sign of life, the EP “Chrysalis”.

It gets extreme. Already clearly to be heard in “Shifting Sands”. Heavy riffs. Mercilessly forward driving double bass, harsh, even vicious growls. Fairy-like opera vocals (from mezzo-soprano to colloratura soprano). Everything really comes together here. The whole thing sounds, despite all the symphonic elements, often dissonant. I heard something similar live a few years ago. From the Moldavian band Esperoza. With the difference, however, that singer Zoya Belous presented both the growls and the clear vocals. With Stellar Void, however, there is a clear sharing of work in this respect, he growls, she sings with a clear voice. And this continues over the entire length of the EP. Whereas the title track “Chrysalis” seems less unwieldy over long stretches. But that’s already history with “The Oath” and “The Seer”.

The sound description Extreme Symphonic Metal could be extended by “Progressive”. So many melody and rhythm changes can be heard here. The musicians force the listener to pay permanent attention for eighteen and a half minutes. Heavy stuff, then. But musically quite convincing. Obviously, the duo celebrates exactly the kind of music they personally like. The fans have to adapt to the music and not vice versa.

Stellar Void – Shifting Sands: https://youtu.be/1_gaK6-6BuU

Lineup:

Melaer – Vocals, Bass, Music
Sigmund – Vocals, Guitar, Lyrics

Trak list:

• Shifting Sands
• Chrysalis
• The Oath
• The Seer