Ukrainian Black Metal is at the forefront of the genre in many ways. The old masters from Norway have gone in a variety of experimental ways, but the eastern-European hordes are looking to the past rather than the future for inspiration, making music with heart and soul. Of course, for more than a few extreme musicians, extremist politics are what drives them, resulting in the moral dilemma that so many of us Black Metalheads have to face nowadays: by supporting an artist, do you support the artist's views? Assuming that everyone reading buys their music rather than downloading it, and remembering that racist thugs like Combat 18 got much of their funding from music labels they set up, it must be asked: do you ever ask where your money goes?

These questions, and others, were what I was asking whilst listening to the latest album from one-man-band Lutomysl, sole member Pavel Shishkovskiy joined on this recording by session drummer Yuriy Sinitsky, who has also played for Drudkh, Blood Of Kingu and Lucifugum. All three of those bands contain members that have been linked to the National Socialist scene, although those bands do not actually play NSBM. I've read online statements from Shishkovskiy that, whilst not condemning the scene, distances himself from it (Black Metal is for the elite, politics are for the sheep, he seems to be saying - source is Propaganda Records's website) although Lutomysl's first album was released on Ancient Nation Records.

Whatever the case, De Profundis is far from NSBM. If anything, it's a more straightforward, less Folky Drudkh, sticking to Burzumic Black Metal blasting for the most part but having that curiously distinct Ukrainian style. Drums are a constant battery, often sounding programmed in their single-minded brutality, but backing the music up wonderfully and shifting as needed. Bass is audible and nice and twangy, a great foil to the ambient blur of the guitars. Vocals are the usual pained shrieks.

There is some difference between tracks, but not that much. Where, say, Angel With The Sign Of Damnation has catchy riffs and acoustic sections (both used sparingly and very effectively, unlike a lot of bands that seem to think that throwing them in randomly will get them kudos) other tracks aren't afraid to change the order, Autumn Etude In Crimson Tones especially taking a laid-back Drudkhy style. Fortunately, the following track My Way (I hate that I think of Limp Bizkit whenever I see those words!) takes a more violent approach, and finale Proclamation is almost Industrial, the drums truly coming into their own.

De Profundis isn't an instant classic, but it is a good album. Songs such as The Blade Of Reality are meaty and satisfying, portraying the Satanic viewpoint of the author without becoming dull despite the average six-minute length of tracks. This is recommended for anyone that enjoys Ukrainian Black Metal in general and doesn't mind becoming enveloped in an album.