Powerplant,the solitary project of Ukraine-born, London-based Theo Zhykharyev, is distinguished by giddy bass, sizzling synths and melancholic vocal hooks. On Bridge Of Sacrifice, Powerplant’s second album, Zhykharyev rebrands and reinvents the band as a gothic beast. His voice takes centre stage with resolute and dramatic singing, dialled in after years of touring.The familiar Gary Numanesque synths and giddy basslines of earlier works are elaborated with orchestral strings, grand piano and heavenly choirs. Heavy, full drums replace vintage drum machine samples. The musical pallet is further expanded with moving cello from Hani Hooper, adding a grotesque cherry on top of this musical cake.

The production has also received a major upgrade. The album was mixed and mastered by Stanley Gravett (Idles, Horrors, High Vis) in the heart of Hackney at Holy Mountain Studios. As a result of self-recording, Powerplant’s early releases had a nostalgic lo-fi warmth, smooth and blurry around the edges. It has since grown up into a professionally assembled effort, maturing alongside Zhykharyev’s songwriting, singing and playing. Powerplant’s rich atmospheric qualities comes from the textural layering, which receive more ground to shine on, by virtue of Gravett’s precise finishing techniques. Black metal has never sounded this crisp and pronounced.

The album opens with the ravenous title track, which foreshadows what’s to come on this rollercoaster of a reord. Quick guitars and percussion stabs crack the lock off gates and the song is released with its energy. Zhykharyev howls and growls in a dramatic, almost theatrical performance, switching between two drastically opposing voices, like characters. The urgent, marching verses are sung in a guttural black metal voice, delivered from depths of a dungeon. This demonic voice weaves a lure to the title bridge, urging you to come and give a dear part of yourself in an exchange for an object of desire. In this romantic Faustian tale, the choruses are wept as if atop an old medieval tower with one’s hands raised to the skies, as they shine light on the mortal perspectives and motives for dealing with the evil one and the commitments to achieve desired goals — “I’ll give my head for you, I want those fantasies come true…”

This new album is full of highlights, as well as twists and turns. Each of the 11 tracks has its own unique aspect, theme and sound. It boldly steps out of the preconceived sonic aesthetics of the moniker, exploring niche corners of music in a more pop foundation. It offers space to mosh, to reflect, to laugh and to dance in a whirlwind of themes and emotions centered round a gothic aesthetic. It feels like Halloween never truly ended, and today is October 164th.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLP8KBMl4aM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGD_qL7_PxA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5F04Uj9a-Q