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A Goth Band’s Journey From Screams to Whispers
Before its members went into exile, IC3PEAK was one of the most notorious musical acts in Russia. Now, it’s pivoting to a more gentle sound.
When IC3PEAK released its last album, “Kiss of Death,” the record had all the characteristics that had made the band into a boogeyman in Russia and led authorities to try and shut down its shows: death-obsessed lyrics, anti-state provocations and bloodcurdling screams.
But on the Russian duo’s new album, “Coming Home,” released Friday, the vibe has drastically changed. The harsh electro and heavy metal sounds are largely gone. Instead the band’s vocalist, Nastya Kreslina, gently coos and whispers over melodic indie rock.
Kreslina said that there was a simple explanation for the shift: “Everything in our lives has changed.”
Three years ago, Kreslina left Moscow just days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ever since, Kreslina and her bandmate, Nikolay Kostylev, have been coping with the emotional and creative fallout of the conflict.
Kreslina said she used to scream so that Russian listeners would notice her. Now, she said, a quiet voice felt like the only way to get “noticed among all the screaming.”
