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Ic3peak’s Evolution: From Screams to Whispers

Ic3peak’s Evolution: From Screams to Whispers

The Russian Band’s Shift to a More Gentle Sound After Exile

Ic3peak, once known for its notorious, death-obsessed lyrics, anti-state provocations, and bloodcurdling screams, has undergone a dramatic transformation since its members went into exile. The Russian duo’s previous album, Kiss of Death, earned them a reputation as one of the most controversial musical acts in Russia, with authorities attempting to shut down their shows. But with the release of their new album, Coming Home, the band has pivoted to a gentler, more melodic sound.

Gone are the harsh electro and heavy metal influences, replaced by a softer, indie rock vibe where vocalist Nastya Kreslina now coos and whispers, moving away from the aggressive style that defined their earlier work.

Kreslina, who left Moscow just days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, said the change in tone is deeply tied to her emotional and creative journey since then. She explained that, in her early years, she used screams to make her voice heard in Russia’s crowded music scene. Now, however, a quieter voice feels more fitting—“a way to get noticed among all the screaming,” she explained.

Since leaving Russia, Kreslina has lived in various cities, including Paris, Los Angeles, Istanbul, and Turin, Italy, while her bandmate, Nikolay Kostylev, settled in Berlin. Despite having an apartment in Riga, Latvia, Kreslina still hasn’t found a place that feels like home. “I haven’t found a place that gives a feeling of home,” she shared.

Exiled Russian musicians like Kreslina and Kostylev often face challenges in rebuilding their careers abroad. Detached from their domestic fanbase and sometimes labeled as traitors by their government, many find themselves performing in small venues for fellow émigrés. But despite these challenges, Coming Home signals a new, quieter chapter in Ic3peak’s journey.

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