Grima - Nightside (2025)

Enigmatic Russian outfit Grima are finally back with their ravaging Atmospheric Black Metal with “Nightside”. Featuring a very bombastic and lush sound filled with raw and powerful emotion, this band manages to shine from the rest thanks to their unique atmospheric sound and fierce brutality. Carving their own name and path in a very crowded scene, this outfit delivers nearly 50 minutes of magical ritualistic music that is hypnotic and captivating.

After the folky intro, “Beyond the Dark Horizon” quickly sets a hypnotic pace with crafty melodic guitars, an engaging tempo, and majestic keyboards that create a very immersive atmosphere as Vilhelm’s shrieks and growls keep things dynamic. Far from linear, songs like “Flight of the Silver Storm”, “Impending Death Premonition”, and “Skull Gatherers” explore mysterious atmospheric depths that feel very unique and enchanting, taking the listener into dark paths in the woods.

Our favorite track has to be the slow burning “The Nightside” and melodic nature, creating a very rich and engaging experience from start to end with tons of magical atmospherics and a very doomy vibe. Shifting gears into more ritualistic territories, “Curse of the Void” perfectly augments the band’s core sound with lush clean vocal arrangements alongside the haunting harsh vocals.

With the release closing with “Mist and Fog” and a short outro, the band’s magical release comes full circle with the same magic and wonder that it started. There is a certain atmospheric brilliance to Grima that while it is hard to describe is really easy to identify and get immersed by it. While tons of bands in this genre tend to copy each other, “Nightside” showcases that a band can carve their own path and contribute new ideas to the genre. Make sure to turn off all your lights and enjoy this one in the dark.

Label: Napalm Records

Release: February 28th, 2025

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal

Country: Russia