Shakhtyor - Shakhtyor ...

I was really shocked when I saw in Doom Metal Front e-zine a review of a demo from German instrumental power trio with Russian name Shakhtyor (that means “miner”)! The name of the band was written in Cyrillic – ШАХТЕР / WAXTEP, and a middle-aged, bearded man, covered in coal dust looked at listeners from the art-work of the album. I’ve got contacts of miners’ guitarist Chris and asked him to get in touch as soon as Shakhtyor prepare full-length album. Chris kept his word, four weeks ago I received a package...The band's logo was transformed and it’s written in Latin now (so it was clear to those who are not trained in the Russian language) but the essence of music remained the same. Chris has a technical specialty and spent about a semester studying in Russia in a middle of 90s. Therefore, when the team thought about the name, “which could be both mysterious and intellectually”, guys have selected a Russian one. Well, the form "intellectual doom" is not new nowadays – for example EndName from Moscow use it to describe their mix of progressive instrumental doom metal with post-elements, so I guess if you was lucky enough and listened their “Antropomachy” then you’ll nearly get that Oldenburg’s miners want to say. But here we have Shakhtyor full-length and it contains four big tracks which duration varies from 7 to 13 minutes.

However, I think that post metal sound leads a main role in compositions of EndName, as German Miners keep ideals of strong, energetic doom metal with an aerial fleur of huge modern monsters like Neurosis. Just listen an opening track “E. Jasper”! The guys show all of their smokin’ aces with first riffs: technically impeccable structures of melodies, impressive heaviness of sound, a bit of sharp sludgy tunes and good middle tempo melodies. But if the first track could be viewed as a first attempt, the second one only confirms seriousness of Shakhtyor ‘cause the band just surely proves their skillfulness and talent to create an atmosphere though I still have a problem with definition of leading mood in sound’s palette. Second number "Handschuhmann" ("The Man in Gloves") is ominously gloomy and full of sinister intentions. Melody is simple, but it has the potential hypnotic effect due to repeating of the lead riff.  The track “Паук Риба” (“Spider Fish”) is dedicated to real small but bloody poisonous fish – at least that’s what Chris said in his interview. Main riff-line of the song is played up in different variations, developing through the track’s length, gradually filling with weight and drive for almost 12 minutes, and each episode of this ichthyological drama has it’s interesting moments.  The album is closing with 11 minutes “KI”, and here I say that the band can play not only modern heavy doom metal but also thoughtful psychedelic improvisations, it’s noticeable in “KI” and it’s a good ending for a hard-working day as this.

"Glory to Miners!" - inscription in Russian in the inlay of the CD’s booklet says, and I'm ready to put my signature under these words. Shakhtyor is unlike our beloved KYPCK (Finland), they do not sing into Russian, they do not sing at all, but I must thank them not only for such reverence in our direction – though it’s pleasant. Meanwhile, Shakhtyor differs from others instrumental bands not only with Russian name but mostly with their instrumental skills and, well, unique conception. Men demonstrate fruits of their hard labor in studio and the ability to clearly translate their ideas in hard riffs with heavy sound. Images embodies in melodies slowly sometimes – but hey! It is doom! It should be slow and heavy!

Words: Aleks Evdokimov

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