Crimson Crown | Vae Victis | Satanath Records

Release Date: May 9, 2025

Format: CD

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Russian Federation

Crimson Crown is the creation of Russian musician Nick Kholodov, better known as Ovfrost from Malist. His new project turns its gaze toward the raw and melodic sides of black metal, channeling the fury and grandeur of the Scandinavian wave from the 90s and early 2000s. Backed by drummer Vladimir Udarnov (Blastbeatology) and a few guest contributors, Ovfrost shapes “Vae Victis” into a vision of ancient wars, lost faith, and human cruelty. The album arrives through a collaboration between Satanath Records and More Hate Productions, with artwork by Milena Kress that visually matches its martial and grim atmosphere.

“Vae Victis” strikes directly from the old black metal heart,  icy riffs, relentless drumming, and harsh, echoing vocals dominate the landscape. The guitars have that frostbitten tone reminiscent of the Norwegian classics, but they’re built around strong rhythmic patterns that keep the listener anchored in the chaos. There’s a melodic thread weaving through the violence, giving moments of dark grandeur without softening the aggression. The production is clear enough to give space to the layers of guitars and bass, while still preserving that raw edge essential to the genre’s bite.

The songs balance ferocity and melody with natural precision. “King” and “The Pyre Of Being” strike early with galloping riffs and grim authority, while “Spirit Of Hate” brings longer, more sinister progressions. The title track “Vae Victis” embodies the album’s message of defeat and power intertwined, and “For the Fallen” introduces haunting clean vocals that give a solemn contrast to the constant warfare of sound. The later tracks, “Dealers In Malice” and “Burn The Chains With Unholy Fire,” keep the intensity high, hammering through fast rhythms and violent tremolo lines. By the time “The Long War” closes the album, the world Crimson Crown has built feels scorched, exhausted, and victorious in its ruin.

Ovfrost’s solo vision stands firm, melodic, violent, and unyielding. The album captures the essence of traditional black metal but delivers it with a strong personal mark. The songwriting remains consistent throughout, built on atmosphere and energy rather than technical exhibition. “Vae Victis” sounds like a declaration of strength and devotion to the cold spirit of black metal, executed with focus and precision. “Vae Victis” is a confident and vivid debut from Crimson Crown, an album that rises from the ashes of old battles with grit, melody, and an iron will. It doesn’t need grand gestures or experimentation to make its statement; its power lies in its directness and unwavering devotion to the craft.

Score: 7.8

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