Born in the darkness of Ada (translates like „Hell“, „island in a river“ or „lake“, depends on the slavic language), the independent Serbian black metal project Praznina is undoubtedly a phenomenon in the underground scene and is among the Balkan representatives who stand out for their primalness and sharpness, being distinctful with its meaningful lyrics and esoteric-nihilistic ideas unfolded through music.
The first appearance of the project was in 2022 with the EP record  „Podsvesno mrtav“, which aroused great interest among true connoisseurs of the genre precisely with the specific fiery and nihilistic atmosphere that reminiscents of the music of black metal representatives like Mgła, but at the same time contains the unique aggressive and peculiar handwriting of Praznina, which the Balkans definitely need in recent years. Personally, I am proud of this project, and from my first encounter with his music, I was mesmerized by the fact that all the work on what I hear is the work of only one person. Multi-component and full of passion, Praznina’s tunes carry real and unadulterated emotion, delivered in a masterful way, combining both a classic approach to black metal making with cold cutting tremolo picking and frenzied vocals, as well as some black’ n’roll motifs and use of a second layer of higher-pitched guitars. In short – Deimos (the artist behind Praznina)  knows very well what he does and how to do it, and he does it uncompromisingly, with powerful authentic spark.
Praznina’s debut full-length album, „Čovek koji nije“, is an absolute confirmation of the words above. Crashing waves and a sweeping clean guitar melody greet the ear in the opening void ritual  „Hodočašća“, soon joined by Deimos’ strikingly powerful vocals, surrounded by atmospheric cold guitars and smooth mesmerizing drums. And the message is more than haunting. A call to consecration into the fire, to discovering  of the true nature of man and desires of the heart, breaking the chains  and succumbing into the liberating power of truth, a call for  return into the roots of ancient knowledge.

„Pokidaj povez,razbij okov,
prepusti se vatri i uzmi njen dar,
tvoj instink je mač, tvoja volja – čista,
kada svojom lepotom zablista.
Probudi se! Oči otvori!“
Što pulsira tajno u srcu tvom!

With each successive track, Praznina beckons deeper and deeper into its ferocious atmosphere that completely envelops the mind and manifest after manifest, amidst the powerful waves of riffs, you don’t even realize the moment you’re  falling into a trance-like state – just like a true ritual dictates. The intense atmosphere, the weight of the words and the beautifully performed instruments accompany the album throughout its  whole duration and conquer the senses and the mind.
Introspective and philosophical, „Čovek koji nije“ is one of those albums that you won’t come across every day, and is  a unique work that carries a transformative and pure, primal energy. Just the kind that the best black metal records have. Free of pretensions and unnecessary experiments, with devastatingly direct and aggressive attacks, the album takes full control within 44 minutes, awakening in you a fire you may not even know you need.
Dedicated to the primordial emptiness and the power of knowledge, the desire for destruction of  everything false and unnecessary in man („Glasnici lašinjeg svetnog poredka, iskopaćemo oko lažnog svedita, isčupaćemo jezik licemera“), imbued with esoteric power, the album is telling a different story about the cycle of life and death, the deceptive nature of the world and the material, and not only. All this – presented through a fierce black metal sound and a high level of artistic frankness, from which an impenetrable darkness emanates, engulfed in all consuming black flames…

„On je svevideća spoznaja i slepi mrak,
njegov glas dimenzije ruši i izopačuje dan.“

Score:10/10

Band: Praznina
Album: „Čovek koji nije“
Release Date: October 28th, 2023
Label: Independent!

Listen | Purchase | Follow : https://bit.ly/47Mu6xu(digital), https://bit.ly/3uBSJi3 (CD & Merch).