After a relatively quiet 2025, SKYND have thrown an entire chapter at us, and we're no tveen halfway through 2026. Chapter VII: Red Winter sees the duo, comprised of vocalist and namesake SKYND and producer/multi-instrumentalist Father, choose Russia for their latest "Dark Place," exploring three of its most shocking and gruesome denizens and putting the stories to music. While I would maintain that SKYND have yet to put out an out and out bad song, the three tracks here might be their strongest and most accomplished ones to date.
Not bad for a gimmick "shock" band, eh?
"Andrei Chikatilo" is the first and slowest of the three, with the swaying groove and more electronic vibe that is typical of SKYND's output. As a first single for the cycle, it made the most sense, as it is most aligned with the band's modus operandi, and therefore is a good starting point for new fans. That said, SKYND's vocals, when unmodulated, are just as vibrant as they've ever been, while showing restraint when needed.
"Tamara Samsonova" has been stuck in my head from the first listen. The industrial edge is sharper here, with the verses pseudo-rapped. These two know how to make the alt-rock classic trope of "quiet verse, loud chorus" work, as shown on any of their previous work, but here it fires on all cylinders. If the first installment of the chapter was keeping things within their wheelhouse, this track is an evolution. It feels different and dynamic, and yet it still feels unequivocally SKYND.
"Mikhail Popkov," the third and final track, is firmly industrial metal, piggybacking off of the previous song seamlessly. It's haunting, pulsating, and unnerving, just as a good SKYND song tends to be. This is the horror-tinged metal that some so-called "theatrical" bands wish they could pull off. Plus, the pre-chorus of "Papa is a good man, is a good man" is begging for a chant-along when played live, burrowing into the skull and awakening others in the Skyndicate like sleeper agents.
Put simply, what appeared to be rest these last year and some odd months was actually SKYND and Father locking in, bringing three standout songs that make perhaps their most compelling EP yet. Thematic and surgical, the only complaint to be had is that it's too damn short, not even clocking in at ten minutes. That said, much like the killers written about in these songs, Chapter VII is in like a lion and out like a lamb, and hopefully it won't be long before SKYND strike again.
Chapter VII: Red Winter is available now.
