Originating in Kyrgyzstan, now based to Germany, Darkestrah fuse metal traditions from both sides of the Ural Mountains. Their female vocalist has a limited but articulate rasp; divers folk instrumentation and acoustic passages are a little quiet but well integrated; keyboards lend a subtle grandeur to the many instrumental passages. Though hampered by a somewhat thin production and occasionally spotty bass kick work--the LP's middle half embodies everything good about the genre. Unfortunately, the title track is lackluster and deficient in memorable riffs while 'Kara-Oy' (18 minutes) builds a merely good monument up from a great foundation.