UMUR "Shades of Sorrow" is the second full-length studio album by Brazilian death metal act Crypta. The album was released through Napalm Records in August 2023. It´s the successor to "Echoes of the Soul" from June 2021. Although Crypta started out featuring Dutch guitarist Sonia Anubis (Cobra Spell, Burning Witches) in the ranks, Anubis left Crypta after recording "Echoes of the Soul" and she is replaced here by former touring guitarist Jéssica di Falchi, making Crypta an all female Brazilian band on "Shades of Sorrow".

If you didn´t know it you wouldn´t for one second notice that this is an all female act. There are zero clean vocals or angelic singing here, but instead snarling blackened screaming and death metal growling. Crypta are a well playing band and lead vocalist/bassist Fernanda Lira is powerful and convincing vocalist. The songwriting is powerful, effective, and often melodic death metal, which features very few surprises but is well composed and performed. "Shades of Sorrow" also features a clear, powerful, and detailed sound production which suits the material well, so upon conclusion it´s a good quality sophomore studio album from Crypta. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "Echoes of the Soul" is the debut full-length studio album by Brazilian/Dutch death metal act Crypta. The album was released through Napalm Records in June 2021. Crypta formed in 2019 after vocalist/bassist Fernanda Lira and drummer Luana Dametto split from Brazilion thrash metal act Nervosa. They soon recruited Brazilian guitarist Tainá Bergamaschi and Dutch guitarist Sonia Anubis (Cobra Spell, Burning Witches...etc.) to complete the quartet lineup. While gender shouldn´t matter and definitely isn´t a quality compass, it´s still notable to have an all female lineup in a death metal act, like the case is with Crypta.

Stylistically the material on "Echoes of the Soul" is death metal with black/thrash/speed metal leanings. Lira has a raw voice and alternate between death metal growling and a very high pitched screaming vocal style (both sound like they are recorded using a lot of effects). The music has an old school feel to it, which works well for the band and the tracks are well composed and generally catchy and memorable. The lead/harmony guitar work on the album is quite exquisite, and there are several incredibly well played and intriguing guitar moments throughout the album. The music is driven forward with death thrashy aggression and a high level of energy. It´s audible that these girls enjoy what they do, and are fully capable of delivering their vision with both passion and great conviction.

"Echoes of the Soul" features a powerful, raw, and detailed sound production, which suits the material perfectly. The material are well written and catchy too. It´s the kind of death metal/death-thrash, where you´re able to shout along to the songs after only a few spins. So upon conclusion "Echoes of the Soul" is a high quality debut album by Crypta. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.