The artist of the week: Crimson Crown (Russia)
Emerging from the frozen heart of Moscow’s underground metal scene, Crimson Crown is a powerful force in the next wave of melodic black metal. Conceived in 2024 by multi-instrumentalist Nick Kholodov, also known as Ovfrost, the project was born as a raw and violent counterpart to his acclaimed atmospheric solo endeavor, Malist. Where Malist channeled melancholy and introspection, Crimson Crown is the sound of confrontation—sharper, heavier, and fueled by warlike rebellion.
This project is not simply an artistic detour. Crimson Crown is a fully-formed vision, representing Ovfrost’s desire to explore the rhythmic and more primal aspects of black metal. With influences ranging from Scandinavian second-wave titans to groove-heavy death and thrash elements, the band fuses precision with ferocity, melody with destruction, and ritual with revolution.
From the name itself—Crimson Crown, a symbol of power achieved through bloodshed—there is a deep sense of purpose. This is black metal not as genre worship, but as a vessel for storytelling, defiance, and spiritual fire.
To bring the vision to life, Ovfrost enlisted drummer Vladimir Udarnov, known in the underground by the moniker Blastbeatology. With years of experience behind the kit, Udarnov brings relentless energy and discipline to the band’s sound. His playing is not only fast and aggressive—it’s martial, dynamic, and deeply rooted in the pulse of extreme metal’s most savage traditions.
The album’s sonic weight was forged under the hand of producer Artem Kazakov, who ensured the final mix retained its raw aggression while elevating clarity and power. The result is a record that sounds massive and unrestrained, honoring black metal’s raw aesthetic without sacrificing modern production standards.
The visual identity of Crimson Crown is no afterthought. Designed by Milena Kress (logo) and Inersys32 (album cover), the band’s imagery is steeped in apocalyptic symbols, ancient geometry, and martial iconography. It evokes forgotten empires, forbidden rituals, and the sacred decay of crowns soaked in centuries of blood.
On May 9, 2025, Crimson Crown released its debut album, Vae Victis, through Satanath Records (Georgia) and More Hate Productions (Russia). Latin for “Woe to the Vanquished,” the title sets the tone for a devastating and defiant nine-track journey through inner torment, religious tyranny, and historical collapse. This is not just a black metal album—it’s a manifesto of revolt.
From the blistering opener King to the war-torn finale The Long War, each song presents a different chapter of destruction and awakening. Tracks like Burn the Chains with Unholy Fire and Hymn of the Infidel channel raw rage against spiritual imprisonment, while Spirit of Hate and For the Fallen explore the emotional cost of resistance. The record is both personal and mythic—an invocation of rebellion through melody and fire.
Musically, Vae Victis stands at the crossroads of tradition and evolution. The band draws influence from legends like Immortal, Dissection, Lord Belial, Rotting Christ, and Marduk, but infuses those roots with groove-oriented rhythms and melodic solos that feel uniquely modern. Instead of drowning in chaos, Crimson Crown sculpts it—shaping aggressive passages into a cohesive, cinematic experience. The production doesn’t sanitize the intensity; it magnifies it.
Lyrically, the album delves into themes of spiritual betrayal, war, disillusionment, anti-religious liberation, and mythologized history. But Crimson Crown doesn’t rely on cliché satanic posturing—instead, it challenges organized religion and blind faith through poetic and visceral narratives. Each verse is a blade, each chorus a hammer. The result is a work that feels as philosophical as it is violent.
Reception to Vae Victis has been swift and enthusiastic in the global underground. Reviewers across Europe and South America have praised the band’s ability to channel traditional black metal fury while offering something fresh, structured, and narratively powerful.
As of now, Crimson Crown continues to expand its reach, building a following through digital platforms and physical distribution. The band maintains a presence on Bandcamp, Instagram, and Facebook, where they share updates, visual art, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into their process. Future releases are already in the works, promising an even deeper descent into their unique vision of blackened sound.
Crimson Crown is not just a band—it’s an uprising. Fueled by history, sharpened by rage, and bound to no god or master, it stands as a monolith of uncompromising expression in an increasingly diluted world. This is black metal with memory, with melody, and with teeth.
