Powerplant's Black Metal Pivot: Ukrainian Artist's New Album 'Bridge of Sacrifice'
Theo Zhykharyev, the Ukrainian artist operating under the moniker Powerplant, is embarking on a bold new musical journey with his upcoming album Bridge of Sacrifice. Since 2017, Zhykharyev has been crafting a diverse range of sounds from his London base, but this latest release marks a significant shift into the realm of black metal.
A Creative Evolution from Bedroom Beginnings
Powerplant began as a humble bedroom recording project shortly after Zhykharyev relocated from Ukraine to London for his studies. Over the years, he has explored various genres including fizzing electro-punk, dungeon synth, and treble-heavy hardcore. His creative output has often been accompanied by Dungeons & Dragons-inspired role-playing adventures, with visually striking DIY merchandise distributed through his Arcane Dynamics label.
Despite this already eclectic catalogue, Bridge of Sacrifice represents perhaps his most surprising departure yet. The album sees Zhykharyev's signature antic synth melodies and slashing garage-rock guitars now augmented by eerie screams and tinny drum-machine blastbeats that evoke the frost-bitten demos emerging from Norway in the early 1990s.
Blending Ferocity with Fun in Challenging Times
What makes this black metal pivot particularly compelling is the gleeful energy with which Zhykharyev approaches the genre. In the video for the title track, a trenchcoat-clad Zhykharyev plays a Flying V guitar in a creepy cellar setting, while Hall of Wolves features a squalling riff that sounds comically evil before breaking into a wonderfully camp, Cramps-worthy chorus.
In our current era of permanent anxiety, where hope often feels limited to choosing the least-worst outcome, Zhykharyev's commitment to fun, earnestness, and escapism through his fabulously odd music offers a welcome respite. This approach feels particularly poignant given his background; his 2023 track Beautiful Boy from the Grass EP lamented everything lost since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Through his music, Zhykharyev has found a powerful way to fight back against darkness.
This Week's Best New Tracks
Beyond Powerplant's exciting development, several other artists are making waves with fresh releases:
- Love Rarely – The Leeds band brings joyful energy to math rock with super-poppy emo-tinged songcraft and Courtney Levitt's distinctive scream-sung vocals.
- Fakemink – This highly-tipped UK underground MC swaggers through goth guitars and syncopated beats with impressive flow mastery.
- Tama Gucci – The NYC musician blends blown-out bass and industrial grime with surprisingly tender lyrical turns.
- Chris Forsyth's What Is Now – The Philadelphia guitarist explores 25 minutes of tingly, exploratory improv alongside double bassist John Moran and drummer Joey Sullivan.
- Sluice – Justin Morris offers wistful slowcore contemplation on building a stable life, referencing television characters for inspiration.
- Thundercat – Returns with ultra-dexterous jazz-funk basslines and lyrics about hopeless attraction in this grin-inducing track featuring Lil Yachty.
- Brown Horse – The Norwich band delivers fantastic country-rock in the vein of Neil Young or Kurt Vile with gorgeous, circuitous electric guitar work.
The musical landscape continues to evolve with artists like Powerplant pushing boundaries and exploring new creative territories, proving that innovation and passion remain alive in challenging times.
