[Review] TRIA PRIMA - ‘Three Primes of Alchemy’ EP
Band: Tria Prima.
Release: Three Primes of Alchemy
Release Date: 12/01/2025
Label: Unsigned/Independent
Country: Ukraine
Author: Dean
TRIA PRIMA (UA) - THREE PRIMES OF ALCHEMY EP
When Brady suggested that I review an act from Ukraine that included ex-members of Drudkh I was expecting atmospheric Black Metal. That’s not what I got. Prepare to be assaulted with axes (or guitars).
Three Primes of Alchemy opens with theatrical ambient sounds of a witch, mumbling incantations as she stirs a bubbling cauldron. But wait - there’s more: the old hag starts cackling. As she does, the bass ramps up a chugging intro, souped up with heavy open chords, slow epic drumming akin to Nightwish or Fleshgod Apocalypse, a chanting spooky choir and, the best bit, the minor chords on the ghoulish organ.
Solo gritty guitar riffing then ensues, followed by six strokes of the ride cymbal, and we’re into an old-school stomping Death Metal overture of slap, slap, slap, chug, chug, chug, for the verse. Now you are headbanging along until we switch back into the more symphonic verse. The vocals are strained, rough growls in English and very much compliment the Death Metal vibe. Arpeggio distorted lead-guitar kicks in after the second verse, and your Death back patch gets a dust off! Love it, love it, these guys are great!
Tria Prima are:
Ruslan Hyrsiuta - Vocals, guitars, keyboards
Serhii D.D. Bondar: Bass, backing vocals and keyboards
Yury Sinitsky: Drums
Well, after doing a bit of digging, I found that only Sinitsky played drums for Drudkh. But yes, there’s a link. That’s probably where all resemblances stop.
’Solar Sulfur’ is the first track, and indeed the first of the alchemical elements themed in this three track EP, and it showcases wonderfully what Tria Prima are capable of.
A jumpy guitar-riff sliding down the semitones, meandering bass-line, and big hits from the kit on the upbeats. Those vampiric organs ascend out of the shadows and you're into the second of the alchemical elements: ‘Philosopher’s Mercury’.
A threatening scream and growl from Ruslan and the guitar riff is absolutely ballsy, as Sinitsky starts double-kicking the bass drum. The rhythm guitar and bass melody shines throughout this track. Ruslan’s vocals are coarse, reminiscent of David Vincent of Morbid Angel. The verse has a thrashy OSDM feel; the chorus doubles down on this with the lead and rhythm guitars repeating the melody from the intro as Ruslan growls into the mic: “Philosophers mer-cu-ry!
When Ruslan fires up the solo lead, I’m getting retro-80’s vibes. There’s even a nice outro from the chorus to the verse, which has a bit of a funky tip of the hat to the late 80’s early 90’s.
The third of the alchemical elements: ‘Witchcraft Salt’ is thrashy and symphonic - the lead shredding would give Eddie Van Halen a run for his money. This is a belter of a track, with a nasty, sinister, thumping bass-line courtesy of Bondar. This is fast and furious thrash until the 5-minute mark, when the lead guitar peels out. You then get this eerie backdrop of sustained minor chords. Then at 5:30, the synthesised organ plays out to close the track, rounding off what has been an intricate incantation/fusion of these devastating alchemical elements.
Now, depending on what platform you are listening to, Tria Prima also offers a little sweetener with a cover of Asphyx’s ‘Deathhammer’. No arty-farty reinventing - just fast and furious, like the original. It becomes very obvious that these Dutch legends are a well-respected influence for the lads in Tria Prima. “This is True Death Metal, ya Bastards…”
Tria Prima. For fans of true Death Metal with some weird alchemical components thrown in. Variety is the spice of life, and I’m enjoying it.
For links to Tria Prima’s official site, social media, a full-EP stream of Three Primes of Alchemy and more - you can access these via our recent Heavy News article featuring the artist, right here.
Be sure to pay these death metallurgists some homage however you can, and support the international music scene. Slava Ukraini!