Release Date: December 11th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Ember - Tracklisting
1.Waters 03:39
2.Dirt 02:57
3.Void 06:26
4.Tuman 04:43
5.Candle 04:25
Members
Oleg Chaykin - Everything
Review
Ember is the debut EP from Chaykin Oleg who uses his love of bands such as Mastodon, GOJIRA and Norma Jean as the main influence and creative reference for his debut EP. The songs vary in different styles with Oleg focusing upon a modern style of Doom, Sludge, Post-Metal, Metalcore and Stoner Metal. The EP moves along at a cracking pace with Oleg playing some mighty fine slabs of modern day Progressive Sludge/Stoner Metal especially on the excellent tracks of Waters, Void and Candle being my favourite aspects of the whole EP.
Oleg does try his hand at many different styles of Psych Metal along the way that does feel inspired by the classic Sludge/Stoner Metal era of Relapse Records which does add a massive cool sounding THROWBACK element into the mix. However, Oleg also excels with his vocals with a great style that makes his vocals quite easy to understand and even quite engaging along the way. The music is very fast-paced throughout with a subtle thuggish and thrash paced attitude dominating and controlling things behind the scenes.
Ember has been mixed and mastered by the legendary Sanford Parker known for working with bands such as YOB and EYEHATEGOD. So the record sounds superb from start to finish whilst maintaining a cool underground METAL vibe especially within the more psychedelic movements that appear on the latest stages of the EP.
Oleg does feel mostly inspired by the 2006 and 2009 era of Mastodon with some of the progressive sludge metal sounds that appear quite fittingly within the standout moments of the whole EP. Though, Oleg does inject his own great musical personality into the mix with his excellent musical skills and superb lyrics written for EMBER.
If you’re looking for an excellent “throwback” release to the classic years of the modern day Progressive Sludge/Stoner Metal scene then Oleg has all bases fully covered with this outstanding EP.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
LinkTree | BandCamp | Instagram
