Dymna Lotva – The Land under the Black Wings: Blood (Зямля Пад Чорнымі Крыламі: Кроў) – Album & Vinyl Review
- L7
- Mar 2
- 5 min read
A Must-See at Dark Easter Metal Meeting 2025
With Dark Easter Metal Meeting approaching on April 19–20, excitement is building. The lineup is packed with outstanding bands, and I have no doubt that even the ones I haven’t discovered yet will deliver something special.
But there's one name that stands out for me: Dymna Lotva. Ever since I discovered them last year, I’ve been waiting for the chance to see them live. This Belarusian band brings something truly unique to my playlists, and today we’ll take a deep dive into their latest album, The Land under the Black Wings: Blood—a release that is as haunting as it is powerful.
And as if that weren’t enough, there’s another exciting reason to look forward to the festival: their side project, Hangover in Minsk, will be playing their first-ever live show!
From Exile to Expression
Forced to flee Belarus due to political persecution, the duo—Jauhien Charkasau and Katsiaryna "Nokt Aeon" Mankevich—transforms grief, history, and defiance into their art.
Their deeply emotional and rebellious music crafts a sound that feels haunting, immersive, and unmistakably their own.This album works best when experienced in full, from start to finish. The band guides you through waves of emotions, keeping you locked in—like watching a film that unfolds scene by scene.
But unlike some concept albums that demand full immersion, many of these songs also stand on their own, delivering their full weight even when played individually. I’ve added several tracks to my playlists, and they still hold their intensity and emotional depth when separated from the complete journey.
The Voice That Transcends Reality
From the very first note, it’s clear that each sound feels deliberate, pulling you deeper into its atmosphere. The band’s composition and presence are already exceptional, but let’s be honest—there’s one element that elevates it beyond everything else: Katsiaryna "Nokt Aeon" Mankevich.
Her voice isn’t just an instrument; it’s the raw expression of every emotion the music creates.The instruments build the scenery, guiding you through dark landscapes where you can almost see and feel what’s about to unfold. But her voice? That’s the human soul inside the music. It’s like a direct transmission of instinct, fear, sorrow, and rage—like swapping souls with someone who has lived through the horrors the album portrays.
Some moments feel almost too real, especially when listened to with headphones.
Historical Connections – Come and See & the Khatyn Massacre
A potential barrier for some listeners could be the Belarusian lyrics—but music like this transcends language. Even if you don’t understand a single word, the emotions are impossible to miss. And fun fact: I actually spent some time learning a bit of Belarusian a few years ago—a beautiful language, by the way! While I’m far from fluent, it makes me appreciate this album even more.
But to truly grasp the depth of this album, some historical references are impossible to ignore:The first track, "Ідзі і глядзі" (Come and See), directly references the 1985 Soviet war film Come and See—one of the most harrowing films ever made.
The movie follows Flyora, a young boy caught in the Nazi invasion of Belarus, as he witnesses unspeakable atrocities. The film’s horror is not in what it shows, but in what it makes you feel—a slow descent into terror, grief, and helplessness. It is directly tied to the Khatyn Massacre, where Nazi forces burned an entire Belarusian village alive—one of countless war crimes committed on Belarusian soil.
🎬 If you’ve seen the film, and then listen to this album, you can’t escape the connection. It’s like reliving those emotions through sound—the same suffocating despair, the same crushing inevitability of death and destruction.This is more than music—it’s a haunting reflection of a past that must not be forgotten.
The Album – A Descent into Tragedy and Resistance
This album is a carefully crafted descent into loss, suffering, and survival. From the start, "Ідзі і глядзі" (Come and See) sets the tone, pulling the listener into a bleak and war-torn landscape.The journey continues with tracks like "Смерць цалуе ў вочы" (Death Kisses Your Eyes) and "Папялішча" (Ashes), which paint vivid images of inevitable loss and destruction.
The album doesn’t just dwell on despair, though. "Лютасць" (Cruelty) shifts from mourning to pure rage, capturing the thirst for vengeance, while "Nacht Hexen" (Night Witches) pays tribute to the Soviet female pilots who struck fear into Nazi forces.
Closing with "Кроў" (Blood), this is one of the less striking tracks for me, but I appreciate its placement. By keeping the album’s most devastating moments in the middle, the band ensures that the journey doesn’t end in complete despair.
🔥 Top 3 Tracks That Left the Biggest Impact
💀 "Пахаваны жыўцом" (Buried Alive): A song that crushes you with its hopelessness. "Ты адзін" (You are alone) makes it feel suffocating, like the walls are closing in. The plea "Stop me!" towards the end only adds to the desperation.
🔥 "Пекла" (Hell): The Most Devastating. You can hear a girl talking about cucumbers and watering them with her own tears, which expresses the immense sadness within her.
A boy then describes how the snow does not melt on the corpses but does on him, which I interpret as his realization that the dead feel nothing—only the living still suffer.
But it’s the mother’s voice that delivers one of the most gut-wrenching lines of the album:
"Why did you wear your new shoes?
Your little feet…
They will burn for so long."
🩸 "Яма" (The Pit): Opening with archival audio of a real massacre survivor, this track is one of the most brutally direct on the album. The lyrics describe crawling over corpses, stepping on the dead just to survive—a horrifying image that makes this song almost unbearable to process.
Vinyl Review – A Stunning Edition
🎵 Two Editions Available:
Classic Black Vinyl
Striking White/Red Vinyl
Both editions come in gatefold packaging, featuring an insert, released by Prophecy Productions.
🎧 Sound Quality – A Deep, Immersive Mix
We tested the black vinyl, and the sound is exceptional. The saxophone parts resonate beautifully, filling the room with a deep sense of sorrow, but beyond that, the album’s mix balances raw intensity with clarity.
💰 What About the Price?
With €40–€60 price tags, it’s understandable that some might hesitate. But for those already captivated by this album, it’s one of those editions where every detail feels worth it.
Final Thoughts – Why This Album Deserves a Spot in Your Collection
🔥 In a world that sometimes feels cold and distant, Dymna Lotva delivers an album that forces you to feel something.
This isn’t just a great record—it’s a historical and emotional experience. And decades from now, when I look at this vinyl in my collection, I’ll remember not just the music but the time we are living in, the struggles of the band, and the world that shaped this album.
🔥 Support the band, support their work, and if you appreciate the effort that goes into creating high-quality vinyl editions like this, support those who make them possible.
Can’t wait to see them live. 🤘⚪️🔴⚪️
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