This Russian Folk/ Pagan Metal act from Tatarstan's second-biggest town Naberezhnyye Chelny (which from 1982 to 1988 was named Brezjnev!) was apparently already formed in 2005, more specifically on July 3rd of that year, although under a different monicker, which also changed over time (from Raven Blood to Vorog) before ending up its current bandname (which is Russian for “bird's cry”) in Feb. of 2007!
Originally, the band didn't even come out of the rehearsal room, and a first gig was played only in May 2006, as a support to Russian Folk Metal acts Alkonost and Svarga. Further concerts would remain but occasional, yet of relatively high profile. Dec. 2006 saw the band playing at the Folk/ Brutal Metal Fest, (alongside Rossomahaar and Alkonost, among others), in November 2007 the band played support to Moskow's Arkona (who were presenting their new album). At that same show Grai did a presentation of its debut 4-track EP Oi Istoka (translates as 'From The Source'), which they'd recorded between February and August. They returned to the studio between February and June of 2008 to record a first full-length entitled Polyn' – Trava (translation: 'The Sagebrush'), which was released through Moscow-based Russian label VOLH Records. To promote the album, some concerts were organized in support of already popular bands like Alkonost, Svarga, Arkona, and Rossomahaar. The release in September of 2009 was also followed by the departure of two of the band's members, and the entry of current bassist/ grunt vocalist Yuri “Sadist” Bedusenko. The role of second female singer was also relegated to the band's flutist/ violinist Alija Latypova.
The band started recording its sophomore album O Zemle Rodnoi ('Our Native Land') in the fall of 2009, hiring the services of Irina Zybina (whom had already sang on Arkona's albums as a guest) as third female singer. What with her voice going together just beautifully with the band's material (the new album was to be cheerful and stirring...it was also a conceptual one), she would end up being recruited into the band, which did not falter from being in the studio to play some important gigs (among which, surprise?, one with Arkona) during that period nevertheless! The album was eventually released through Sound Age Productions in September 2011. Then, “Lady Fortuna” set herself alongside the band, as the album was picked up by Dutch label Vic Records (y-ah...the same as, you know, above), who re-issued the album on the European market in late Nov. 2012. Meanwhile, in Russia, the band's original singer (and also keyboard player) left, for whatever reason, returning the line-up to a fivesome (at least, that's what I can gather from watching first the videos made available at the band's facebook page (www.) facebook.com/GRAI.folkRussia, and the most recent photo posted there.
As for this very album which Vic Records now releases, I'm not sure what to think of it. What's the problem? Well, the fact that the info sheet mentions Warmot The Bitter Grass (cannot find the Russian lettering on my PC, you know) as the band's “Debut album finally available outside Russia”...which is in clear contradiction to the story made available at the band's facebook page, right!? The thing is, that the videos posted also include Irina, and although I cannot be absolutely certain, I am for about 95% convinced to recognize her voice on this album as well (I mean, there's just too many similarities in both the occasional spoken word parts and the more ethereal singing, you know). So, until proven wrong, I shall consider this the third album by this rather fine Folk/ Pagan Metal band! Check the above mentioned facebook page to make up your own mind about them!