Origin: Russia
Location: Pskov, Pskov Oblast
Formed: 1997
Status: Split‑up
Genre: Ambient / Black Metal
Label: Independent
Themes: Satanism, Blasphemy
Sklep (Склеп), whose name translates to “crypt” or “burial vault,” was an underground ambient/black metal entity active in the late 1990s in Pskov. Emerging during a formative period for Russian raw and occult black metal, the project embraced a primitive, ritualistic aesthetic built on lo‑fi recording, cavernous ambience, and a fixation on blasphemous and satanic themes. Sklep operated as a collective rather than a traditional band, with a rotating lineup of musicians from the Pskov extreme metal underground—many of whom were also active in projects such as Black Wood, Чёрная Вдова, Molest, Teitanfyre, and others.
The earliest known release, Unknown Revelations Inspired by the Black Winter Solstice (1998), issued on cassette through Sklep Prod., established the project’s sonic identity: cold, minimalistic black metal interwoven with dark ambient passages, ritual synths, and distorted vocal invocations. This was followed by the demo Astral Unholy Madness (1998), a raw and chaotic recording that blended primitive riffing with eerie keyboard layers, capturing the unfiltered aggression and occult atmosphere characteristic of the Russian underground of the era.
In 1999, Sklep released Cerebralized, the last known demo and arguably the project’s most developed work. While still steeped in lo‑fi extremity, the material showed a clearer structure and a more deliberate fusion of ambient elements with black metal aggression. The vocals—shared among several members—shifted between harsh screams, ritual chants, and distorted spoken passages, enhancing the project’s occult and blasphemous aura. Despite its obscurity, Cerebralized has circulated among collectors of early Russian black metal as a document of the scene’s raw, experimental spirit.
Sklep’s activity appears to have ceased shortly after 1999, with members dispersing into other regional projects. Though short‑lived, the band remains a notable artifact of Russia’s early black metal underground—an unpolished, atmospheric, and deeply occult expression of the era’s DIY ethos.
Members past and current
Blackwoods Crawler – bass, guitars, drums
Diman “Mad Horse” – drums
Xaroc Suvroc – guitars
Black Jesus “Shadow” Fingerless – synths
Chelubey “Riteman” – synths, screams
Gorlum – vocals
Areval “Stormblast” (R.I.P.) – lead vocals
Creator of Shadows – vocals, drums
Past members
Taran “Nuclear” – guitars
B.A.D. the Clairvoyant – unknown role
Discography
Unknown Revelations Inspired by the Black Winter Solstice – Cassette, 1998
Astral Unholy Madness – Demo, 1998
Cerebralized – Demo, 1999