Only a falcon soaring in the sky can see in a moment the borders of this region, where the source of the quiet Russian river Nezhegol is hidden, which carries its waters to the sunny shores of the Azov region, gaining strength with the arrival of spring, with a stormy flood and summer thunderstorms, when the sun sends from the sky fiery rays filled with magical energy and stops with the onset of cold weather, falling into torpor, preserving its turbulent life only in the hidden deep underground springs and springs. Trees here stretch their roots deep into the fertile soil, to its mysterious juices, raise their branches and crowns towards the heavenly light, stand up a sheer wall, swaying over the water surface, and people here look for answers to fateful questions, finding them in the newly acquired knowledge of ancestors, in the religion of love for their native land and the people who have lived on these lands for centuries.

The conceptual album of Nezhegol group “Istoki” draws its beginnings, its energy in mystical poetry, in the beauty and grandeur of the native land, which was once the front line of the struggle against the nomads. The musical structure of the album is as strong as Irminsul, the world axis, the symbol of which is placed on the cover and combines all the elements characteristic of Nezhegol’s style: hard metal, synthesizer sound inclusions and obvious folkloric intonations, as well as deeply philosophical, patriotic content of the lyrics. This is an album with a significant ambient influence, which continues the canvass of effective fusion of pagan black metal with various ethnic and instrumental variations.

There are seven tracks carved in silver runes that represent the main message of this album and it is worth getting to know each of them more closely. At the beginning follows the atmospheric intro with the same name “Origins”, which brings the listener into a state of trance, helping to focus on those vital principles of loyalty to the Motherland and the ancestral memory, which the vocalist declares. A logical continuation of the melody of “Istokov” is the following metal composition “Spirit North”, which combines melancholy with deep rage and cold aggression, which is characteristic for Alexander’s creativity. Composition number 3, called “In the Ice”, ambient-transcendental, with a noticeable influence of dark wave, partly reminiscent of Stilllife’s creations and meditative in nature, envelops the listener with cold polar glow and the shine of Nordic ice. The fourth track “Blood Defines Faith” urges listeners to get out of the rotten swamp of religions of decay, returning to the noble legacy of spirit worthy of our blood, embedded in our genes.

“Penetrating Life Through and Through” is the emotional heart of the album, going from a pensive string strumming to a fierce vocal that breaks out into a scream accompanied by a metallic roar, and essentially serves as a passionate call to awaken the nation, reminding us of the great accomplishments of our fathers, the glory of which we must prove worthy. “Chase the Beggars with the Spirit” is another song of contempt and challenge to the decaying world, here repeating the riff that is so characteristic of Nezhegol’s work and has become a kind of identification mark; as for the lyrics, you can be sure that they are inspired by Nietzsche’s worldview (in the spirit of “Falling Push”). The final track with the affirmative title “To Be” sums up this short album and calls to part with harmful illusions and, having overcome weakness, to assert oneself in real life in the struggle for the good of one’s people. As a bonus, there is a cover version of Burzum’s “Lost Wisdom” – one of Varg’s most witchy, mysterious and enchanting works.

In conclusion it remains to quote the words of the author of the project, which serve as a brief summary for understanding this music: “Inspiration, which “infects” and carries Our Creation is not available for everyone. Those who are honest before their blood, before their Fathers and Grandfathers, before the Family, for those it will light a fire with a spark and fill their hearts with cold fury. Honor, Loyalty, Pride and Duty – these are the guidelines of life! He who is able to hear and feel the call of the blood coming from the depths of the genotype, he is not afraid of the slag phenotype of others!” Nezhegol’s creations are a true chronicle of the only true religion – loyalty to his family and his people, pure blood.