[since I did promise to write a review once in a while for bands and / or projects and / or artists and / or labels and / or distributors (etc.) that I do adore (personally and / or musically), I will finish this one, although it’s an older one, being released about a year and a half ago. This one is, in the first place, for my dear friend Aleksey, this one is for Jane, this one is for Juha, Ilya and Evgeny, for me and for you too!]
For many years, the scene from Quebec, Canada, is blooming and shining (un)bright.
I have to admit that I did not know the band Wardra. However, this act from Moscow did release a full-length in 2017, an EP in 2018 and a split with Logos (defunct in the meantime) in 2020. But it never came my way. Wardra was formed as a duo in 2016 and evolved throughout the years into a ‘real’ band (nowadays a quartet). Original member W (Vladimir Snegotsky) was part of the Aethyr line-up too, and collaborates with Majestat.
Location: Singapore
Members: Andi (the talking that accompanies the dead into the Lahad = lead vocals) / Khairil (the emptiness upon excavation of Kubur = all guitars) / Edi (the embedding of the Nisan = drums & percussions)
Formed: 1991-1993 / 1999-now
Recorded: at Studio 47 by Nizam Aziz
Artwork: Armaada Art (Andreas Christanetoff)
Format: jewel-box CD with twelve-page booklet & digital
Edition: 1,000 copies
Location: Ukraine
Members (sort of anonymous): M. (guitars) / J. (drums) / V. (bass) / A. (vocals, synths)
Mix / recording studio: Forest Den Studio
Artwork: Hellcatfairy Art (logo: Paint-It-Black Design)
Type: jewel-box with eight-page booklet
Edition: 500 copies
Duration: 37:29 minutes
Genre: Second Wave Black Metal
[another ‘older’ recording which this review will deal with, so I’ll keep it short; yet this material is worth being promoted anyway]
Older release, shorter review (yet written with passion)
Country (for what it’s worth): Russian Federation
Members: WV (lead vocals, basses, guitars), Namiros (guitars), E.J.C. (drums, basses, backing vocals)
Music: WV & Namiros
Lyrics: WV
Mix & mastering: E.J.C.
Cover artwork: Taya Rostovtseva
Layout: Aleksey Korolyov
Design: WV
Despite more than two years of age, it still is more than interesting to focus on Pretium, until now being the sole official full-length release by Russian / Belarussian act Atra Haeresis. On this recording, the band consists of Alexey Veselov aka Fenrir, whom you might know from Bestial Deform or Ethir Anduin (bass), as well as Sergei Ambrazevich (vocals) and Alexander Antygin (guitars).
[another review for an ‘older’ release, but then again: what’s the problem???]
I used to follow the Russian formation Sterbefall during their earlier years. Weg Nach Nichtigkeit, Plattensee and even Die Lawine (an acoustic reinterpretation of the past) could surely caress my eardrums. Yet as from 2016, things turned into an ear-deafening silence.
Probably the most active Metal artist from Swiss (or at least one of the …) is Sergio Da Silva, especially known under his moniker Bornyhake. Enoid, Oculus, Borgne, Pure, My Death Belongs To You, Porifice; it’s just a small selection of acts he’s involved with, mostly as sole member. Besides, he’s active as guest / session / live musician for tens, probably hundreds, of other acts, and he runs some labels and distribution channels too.
