I only had time for a short review today, but I still wanted to make sure that I could share Russia's Seven Sins with you all. The symphonic black metal collective has been recommended for bands such as Dimmu Borgir, Anorexia Nervosa, and Carach Angren. Due Diaboli Et Apocalypse is a conceptual journey "through the dark and obscure side of the Middle Ages in Eastern Europe and Asia" and follows-up the band’s debut album Одержимый насилием released in 2012.
Though maybe not quite as polished as some of the acts above, which is no fault of theirs considering that their access to resources is almost certainly not even close to the same at this level of their career, they make up for it with a differentiated sound. The symphonic additions have a much more Middle Eastern vibe, which also carries through on the guitar riffs. There are clearly a number of influences at play from neoclassical and rock soloing to more region-specific flair. The lyrics are also all in Russian, which some may consider a detractor but I always prefer a band convey themselves in their native tongue.
If you like really dramatic-sounding music heavy on the synths and with huge, epic guitars then you will love Seven Sins. This album, despite not having the budget of their peers, manages to utilize every second to its maximum potential. It sounds gigantic in nature; fit for a stadium performance with all of the fancy lighting and set pieces. The folkier compositions also bring about comparisons to groups like Equilibrium and Ensiferum at times. A few highlights to start with: "Peregrinus," "Mors Atra" (those female opera vocals!) and "Preasumptio Reatum."