Dymna Lotva - Vyraj (2026)

Creating one of the most harrowing and eerie releases of 2026, today we have Dymna Lotva and their fourth full-length release “Vyraj”. Combining elements of Post-Black Metal with Doom influences, this release creates its own category as it is quite unique and engaging. Far from linear or normal, these guys know how to craft haunting music filled with crafty elements and some of the most intense vocals you’ll ever hear.

Opening with the pummeling “Zory”, the band creates a very chaotic and yet magical atmosphere with hellish harsh vocals perfectly flanked by clean vocal arrangements. This weird vibe nicely continues to the equally chaotic and weird “Veha”. Which features even more dreamy vocals that contrast the overall madness of the band’s style. The guitars are quite sinister and well crafted, but it's the atmospherics that further elevate the band’s sound, like on the brilliant “The Boat of Despair”, a track that features none other than Aaron Stainthorpe and its oozing of magical melancholy.

Keeping up the intensity, this release never slows down as pieces like “Viedmieragina”, “Niama Darohi”, and “Bu Samoje” further cement the band’s punishing and yet very refined style. The mixture between chaos and beauty works wonders, alongside crafty instrumentation and tons of melancholy, make this release truly engaging. A perfect example of this is the lush and mysterious “Return My Coffin Home”, which slowly builds up the momentum, filled with melody up until its catharsis.

As a whole, Dymna Lotva has come a long way from their early days and manages to deliver their finest offering, to date, with “Vyraj”. There is just something magical as to how this outfit combines melancholy, atmosphere, and straight up hellishness in a very cohesive and unique way. If you like bands ranging in styles from Psychonaut 4, Heretoir, Alcest to the classics like My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost, this release will certainly blow you away. We can only hope these guys keep getting better (and weirder) with time.

Rating: 98/100