With Grabsuchtslieder, Swiss musician Iratus Proditor (of Chotzä) digs deep into the graves of Bernese history and pulls out a collection of songs that feel like they were written in a candlelit crypt. Szivilizs is his solo project, and this debut full-length is the perfect blend of dungeon synth ambiance, mid-paced black metal, and medieval melancholy — all delivered in a proudly lo-fi, DIY aesthetic that adds more charm than most slick productions ever could.

The album kicks off with “Mitternachtsmelancholie”, and from the first grimy chords and dusty synth lines, you’re transported to another time. Songs like “Ufem Wäg us Goud” and “Erbrächlächkeit” mix raw riffing with folk melodies and eerie clean vocals that sound like they’re echoing from the stone walls of a plague-ridden monastery. Between the heavier moments are synth-driven interludes that give the album its unique atmosphere — part black metal, part medieval bardcore, all wrapped in analog haze.

It’s not perfect, and that’s exactly the point. This is black metal that embraces imperfection — warped tones, loose tempos, rough transitions — all in service of vibe and story. There’s genuine heart here, and it shows through especially on tracks like “Hoffnungstrümmer”, a folky standout that manages to be both haunting and catchy.

If you dig bands like Paysage d’Hiver, Véhémence, Ungfell, or even the more obscure corners of medieval black ambient, Szivilizs will hit you right in the soul. This is not metal made for mass consumption — it’s a personal, dusty relic meant to be played on cold nights with incense burning and the past whispering through the walls.