Gnosis by Микрокульт

We expect warzones to be horrifying, but what about the eerie quiet that settles right behind the front lines? As the media turns its attention to the hardships of life in Ukraine, Микрокульт gives us a unique view into the situation on the ground in Russia. A constant stream of misinformation interspersed with occasional tragedy such as mass mobilizations represent the Russian experience of this horrific war, as the calm nature of life in the imperial core feels more and more uncomfortable given the pandemonium occurring just outside. Gnosis unpacks this eerie feeling, using prolonged, uncomfortable tones to set up a scene similar to the beginning of a horror movie. Then, as Микрокульт launches into the last track “Empyreum,” they peel back the safety blanket of the Russian border, finally revealing the reality that the Russian people are being sheltered from with a cacophony of chaotic noise. By pointing out the slight discomfort that seeps through Russia, Микрокульт elucidates the disconnected fear through which the Russian body politic makes decisions. Few sources leaving the new iron curtain adequately acquaint us with such experiences, so Gnosis exists as a rare, invaluable resource in our understanding of contemporary geopolitics.

-Michael