Album Review: Shibalba – Nekrologie Sinistrae- Orchestra Noise Opus II
Artist: Shibalba
Title: Nekrologie Sinistrae- Orchestra Noise Opus II
Label: Zazen Sounds & Cyclic Law
Release date: April 30th, 2025
Country: Greece/Sweden
Format reviewed: High-quality digital recording
Album Review: Shibalba – Nekrologie Sinistrae- Orchestra Noise Opus II via Zazen Sounds & Cyclic Law by Pegah
Shibalba is a Greek/Swedish ritual ambient collective formed in 2009 by Acherontas V. Priest and Aldra-Al-Melekh, both known for their involvement in black metal acts such as Acherontas and Nåstrond. Departing from their metal origins, Shibalba crafts meditative and trance-like soundscapes using a range of traditional and ceremonial instruments including Tibetan horns, singing bowls, bone-crafted trumpets, darbukas, and ritual bells. These elements are often made from organic materials like bones and skulls, enhancing the project’s deep connection to esoteric and shamanic practices. Their music serves as a vehicle for spiritual exploration, steeped in themes of mysticism and the occult. This sonic vision continues in their latest offering, “Nekrologie Sinistrae – Orchestral Noise Opus II”, released through two profound labels: “Zazen Sounds” and “Cyclic Law”.
The album begins with a powerful surge of bass drums and a spoken narration, setting the stage for what feels like the beginning of a dark ceremonial rite. It commands your attention, as though summoning the listener into sacred preparation. When the growling vocal cuts through the sonic veil, it ignites like fire. The drums then rise to dominance, and when the shouting erupts, it’s so intense it sends shivers down the spine. Throughout the track, the soundscape shifts constantly, never allowing a moment’s rest. A repeated phrase begins to loop, chanted with ritualistic intent, almost meditative at first. But as it continues, the tone darkens the words twist into screams, then dissolve into distant cries, like voices lost in the void. What begins as a mantra ends in madness, pulling the listener deeper into the soundscape. Then, “Sinistra Praxis II” opens with a deep, entrancing mantra—male voices chanting in unison, grounding the piece in a ceremonial atmosphere. A steady beat pulses beneath the surface, lending a sense of momentum, as if the ritual is now in motion. Then, a solitary male voice emerges, narrating like a priest or witness, his tone heavy with secrecy. As the story unfolds, the voices of a man and woman drift into the mix, as if we’re eavesdropping on a forbidden love hidden within the shadows of the ritual. The tension rises as the soundscape swells into something more orchestral and epic. Then a shouting in the distance, louder, more forceful as if their punishment is being announced.
“Sinistra Praxis III” marks a tonal shift, introducing more pronounced electronic textures. A repetitive mantra threads through the track, driven by a rhythm that draws clear influence from Eastern musical traditions. This section feels hypnotic and immersive. Midway through, the chanting gives way to a spoken narrative, guiding the listener into a more reflective phase. The energy gradually cools, as if the ritual is entering a moment of internalization. This decrescendo extends into the next piece, where the atmosphere feels lighter but remains charged with momentum. There’s movement in the textures a sense of preparation, like something significant is about to be unveiled. It feels transitional, as if ushering us into the next stage of the ceremonial cycle. Then comes “Sinistra Praxis V”, which immediately veers into mystery. The soundscape grows dense and spectral, populated by whispering voices and eerie echoes. It’s as though we’ve stepped beyond the veil into the realm of spirits or ancestral forces. The boundaries between physical and metaphysical blur here, creating a moment of haunting stillness.
“Sinistra Praxis VI” feels like the commencement of the ritual’s second phase. It begins without hesitation—a stark, commanding narrative voice launches the track, setting a solemn tone. Slowly, the dynamic rhythm returns, building tension like a heartbeat beneath sacred words. The voice grows more urgent, evolving into a fierce oration that edges toward delirium. When the scream erupts, it feels less like a cry for help and more like a summoning. Then, suddenly, the voice distorts and fades into silence, as if whatever was being called has finally arrived. Sinistra Praxis VII” carries forward the ominous weight of the previous track, maintaining the tension and shadowed ritual tone. But here, something new emerges a strange, otherworldly sound lurking beneath the layers. It’s difficult to place, like the cries or calls of unseen entities drawn to the rite. The soundscape becomes increasingly complex as new textures are added each layer twisting the atmosphere tighter. It’s the most sonically dense track so far, evoking the sense that the ritual has now drawn in forces beyond comprehension. The penultimate track brings in magical tones sounds that seem to echo from another world, distant yet shimmering. There’s a sense that the ritual is nearing its conclusion. Faint, disembodied voices, merging with otherworldly textures. It’s both transcendent and unsettling, a liminal moment where boundaries dissolve completely.
Finally, “Sinistra Praxis IX” draws the ceremony to a solemn close. The atmosphere turns cold, almost void-like. A gong rings out in the distance, followed by the low chant of a male voice. It feels as if a door between worlds is closing. The soundscape is sparse, reverent, and charged with finality. Under the cloak of darkness, beneath the gaze of a silent moon, the rite ends not with resolution, but with the lingering weight of something awakened. 8.5/10
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8.5/10 To Greatness and Glory!
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