Let the music by this global collaboration of sound and spirit crafted by one of the most innovative acts of the current Gothic and Symphonic Metal scene worldwide penetrate deep inside your soul.

Emerging as one of the most innovative acts of the current Gothic and Symphonic Metal scene worldwide, Minsk, Belarus-based Belle Morte returns with their highly anticipated sophomore album, titled Pearl Hunting, following up on their critically acclaimed 2021 debut Crime of Passion. Known for their dark, gothic edge and symphonic depth, the band formed of Belle Morte on vocals, Ilya Rogovoy and Ilya Petrashkevich on the guitars, Sergey Butovsky on bass, Maria Shumanskaya on keyboards, and Rostislav Golubnichiy on drums ventures into a bold new territory with their new album in collaboration with a lineup of fantastic, multi-talented guest musicians from across the globe. Recorded across continents, the album combines the majesty of Symphonic Metal with traditional sounds from countries as far-reaching as Mongolia, Japan, and Peru, blending Eastern, Celtic, and Latin influences into a transcendent fusion.

Featuring Hunt Max Kerner, Caterina Castiglioni, Yanina Yakshevich, and Ada Rusinkiewicz, each bringing forward the unique sounds of instruments like the Celtic bouzouki and the Germanic lyre, the title track Pearl Hunting is a gentle and soothing start to the album; and Tero Kalliomäki and his jouhikko join Belle Morte in Fallen Idol, a Symphonic Metal extravaganza where the guitars by Ilya Rogovoy and Ilya Petrashkevich exhale power and passion. In Exorcism we have guest Ulziisaikhan Khoroldamba armed with his Mongolian mornin khuur and throat singing (like what the guys from The HU offer in their creations), with Rostislav making sure there’s enough heaviness in the song thanks to his pounding drums; whereas featuring Lernik Khachatrian and his Armenian clarinet duduk, Belle Morte sounds absolutely passionate and melancholic on vocals for our total delight in Blame Me, followed by Wintersleep, featuring Ella Zlotos and Marta Masciola, providing Belle Morte with exactly what she needs to shine on vocals in this whimsical ballad, all boosted by Maria’s crying violin. And in Losing Faith we face the mesmerizing pan pipes, ocarina and quena by Carlos Carty, resulting in an enfolding folk tune where traditional sounds clash with heavy riffs.

Guest Maulana Malik Ibrahim blasts the unique sounds of the suling and gamelan in Black Waters, while Belle Morte and Sergey make a stunning vocal duet in another excellent metal ballad by the band; while Emma Spinelli and Rúben Monteiro bring the sounds of the lute and the hurdy-gurdy to the band’s core Symphonic and Gothic Metal in Willow, again presenting a striking fusion of melodic vocals, metallic guitars and hammering drums. Rúben Monteiro returns with the sounds of the saz baglama and oud in September, also featuring guest vocals by Ada Rusinkiewicz, offering us all more of Belle Morte’s charming yet penetrating vocals; and featuring Hisashi, Reigen Fujii and Souzan Kato, it’s east meets west in the rockin’ feast titled Jorōgumo, where once again Rostislav’s drums sound fierce, matching with the song’s harsh vociferations. Krew, featuring Yaroslav Dzhus, Alex Pilkevych, and Ada Rusinkiewicz, is a decent ballad in their mother tongue, albeit not as compelling as the rest of the album, while lastly we have the acoustic version of Exorcism, which feels like a special bonus track offered by Belle Morte, a beautiful rendition of one of the album’s best songs.

After all is said and done, Pearl Hunting showcases Belle Morte’s evolution into global musical storytelling while incorporating an impressive range of instruments, including the Belarusian duda, the Ukrainian sopilka, the Celtic bouzouki, and the Armenian duduk, alongside the Peruvian pan pipes, the Indonesian suling and gamelan, and the Japanese shamisen, koto, and shakuhachi. Each track offers its auditory landscape, pairing the intensity of Symphonic Metal with the haunting allure of the Trinity College harp or the guttural, earthy tones of the morin khuur. Hence, don’t forget to check what Belle Morte are up to on Facebook, Instagram, and VKontakte, to stream their music on YouTube and on Spotify, and to purchase the breathtaking Pearl Hunting by clicking HERE. Pearl Hunting is more than just a Symphonic Metal album, but a declaration of the beauty of all types of music, and how important music will always be to build a stunning connection between different people and their unique cultures.

Best moments of the album: Fallen Idol, Exorcism, Black Waters and September.

Worst moments of the album: Krew.

Released in 2025 WormHoleDeath

Track listing
1. Pearl Hunting 1:46
2. Fallen Idol 5:11
3. Exorcism 5:30
4. Blame Me 4:35
5. Wintersleep 5:18
6. Losing Faith 5:11
7. Black Waters 4:44
8. Willow 5:26
9. September 4:50
10. Jorōgumo 4:51
11. Krew 4:45
12. Exorcism (Acoustic version) 5:53

Band members
Belle Morte – vocals
Ilya Rogovoy – guitars
Ilya Petrashkevich – guitars
Sergey Butovsky – bass, backing vocals, vocals on “Fallen Idol”, “Black Waters”, “Jorōgumo” and “Krew”
Maria Shumanskaya – keyboards, violin on “Wintersleep”
Rostislav Golubnichiy – drums

Guest musicians
Max Kerner – Celtic bouzouki on “Pearl Hunting”
Caterina Castiglioni – Germanic lyre on “Pearl Hunting”
Yanina Yakshevich – Belarusian duda and Ukrainian sopilka on “Pearl Hunting”
Ada Rusinkiewicz – backing vocals on “Pearl Hunting”, “September” and “Krew”
Tero Kalliomäki – jouhikko on “Fallen Idol”
Ulziisaikhan Khoroldamba – Mongolian mornin khuur and throat singing on “Exorcism”
Lernik Khachatrian – Armenian duduk on “Blame Me”
Ella Zlotos – uilleann pipes, tin whistle and low whistle on “Wintersleep”
Marta Masciola – Trinity College harp replica on “Wintersleep”
Carlos Carty – pan pipes, ocarina and quena on “Losing Faith”
Maulana Malik Ibrahim – suling, gamelan and additional vocals on “Black Waters”
Emma Spinelli – lute on “Willow”
Rúben Monteiro – hurdy-gurdy on “Willow”, saz baglama and oud on “September”
Hisashi – koto on “Jorōgumo”
Reigen Fujii – shamisen on “Jorōgumo”
Souzan Kato – shakuhachi on “Jorōgumo”
Yaroslav Dzhus – bandura on “Krew”
Alex Pilkevych – backing vocals on “Krew”