Band: Maria of the Copper Mountain
Album: Into the Black Whirlpools
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: Russia
Label: Satanath Records
Released: April 16, 2026
Introduction
Maria of the Copper Mountain is a one woman atmospheric black/folk metal/ambient band from Chelyabinsk, Russia, since 2022. Maria Azanova, the single member, is responsible for everything in all five singles, the demo, and now for the full album, В чёрны омуты (Into the Black Whirlpools), she had the guest musician Nikita Sapogov contribute vocals and songwriting.
Into the Black Whirlpools
Track Listing:
- Ой, не кукушечка (Oh, Not a Cuckoo)
- Святки (Sviatki)
- Белой пташечкой (White Birdie)
- Улетай (Fly Away)
- На той стороне (On the Other Side)
- Океан - море синее (Ocean - Blue Sea)
- Колыбельная (Lullaby)
If you’re a fan of bands like Suldusk, Sylvaine, Myrkur and such, you’ll find gold here. The opening track, “Oh not a cuckoo” is a beautiful blend of aggressiveness, beauty, and atmosphere. As stated by the artist herself, “The sound canvas is permeated with contrasts, striving to reconcile beauty and tenderness with madness and grief”, and all that is perfectly achieved right on the opening track.
The album itself follows this statement pretty well, mixing long, atmospheric passages with traditional black metal riffs and drums, lots of tremolo picking for us who love it, and blending her clean singing with very well mixed growls, screams, I dare say even some catchy bits and sections, which after one listen, stick with you in a very good way.
Conclusion
All songs direct you to where the artist wanted you to be: angry passages followed by traditional folk instrumentation, beautiful singing over chaotic riffs and drums, all very well mixed and organized. It’s not a wall of sound for the sake of being a wall of sound; the ideas are very clear, and it was sculpted to be exactly what she wanted.
BMZ Rating: 8/10
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