Russian doom/death/sludge metal quartet Ил unleashed new full-length album »Мистерии« (Mysteries); out now via Звуки Карачуна / Raw Sun!

Moscow, Russia based doom/death/sludge metal quartet Ил stream their seventh full-length album, »Мистерии« (Mysteries), which was just released on April 10th, 2026 via Звуки Карачуна / Raw Sun.

Listen to »Мистерии« (Mysteries) on all streaming platforms!

Tracklist:
01. Грёзы (Dreams)
02. Солнцестояние (Solstice)
03. Порок (Vice)
04. Мистерии (Mysteries)
05. Зверь (The Beast)
06. Жатва (Harvest)
07. Культ (Cult)

Ил is a four-piece “witching metal” band from Moscow, Russia. In English, Ил means ooze, silt, the mud from the swamp. Or… Sludge.

The band was formed in the summer of 2013 by members of several collectives of the Moscow sludge/stoner doom scene. Initially, the chosen direction was sludge doom with an admixture of drone and noise, but later the band changed its sound to the side of doom metal. The lyrics of the collective are based on Slavic mythology, folk tales and occultism. In 2015 band was busy with live activities, and in the intervals between concerts worked on new material.

In September 2017, a new album »Нечисть« (Evil Spirits) was released, which, according to the participants, is currently the most developed both in terms of its musical component and concept. In 2019, Ил released an EP »Образ пустоты« (Void Shape), consisting of only two tracks, one of them based on the book by Pimen Karpov, published in 1913. In 2020, the band released their fifth album »Ересь« (Heresy), imbued with the spirit of Russian chthonic witchcraft. Their next album Именины (Name Day) was released in April 2023.

Live, Ил shared the stage with iconic bands in doom metal and sludge genres, including Acid King (USA), Suma (Sweden), Monarch! (France), Zaum (Canada), Conan (UK), Bong (UK). In 2018, the band performed their first shows in Eastern Europe (10 towns), in 2019 in UK (5 towns).

In 2026, Ил released their latest “witching metal” album called »Мистерии« (Mysteries) through Звуки Карачуна (CD/LP) and Raw Sun (cassette). Order HERE.

Recorded at Pentagram House Studio 2025.
Art by Vladimir Prokofiev

Ил is:
Vlad Stepanenko – Vocals, Guitar
Stanislav Kolkov – Guitar
Nikolay Timofeev – Bass
Sergey Vinogradov – Drums

Guest musicians:
Vocals by Irina Zybina (Грай)
Violin by Uliana Volkova (Pleurereme, Atomic Heart)

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well