Belarusian duo Dymna Lotva unleashed a fierce battle cry for freedom with their new non-album track "Live!" (Жыві!) and the accompanying video. The duo was first forced to flee their native homeland Belarus from political persecution by the dictator Lukashenka. Shortly afterwards vocalist Nokt Aeon also had to leave her Ukrainian exile when the Russian bombs began to fall with Putin's continuing invasion.
This track and video are a tribute to those brave men and women risking their lives in the fight for freedom. In the words of the band: "This is a song for our homeland and those who are ready to defend her and fight for her freedom", Dymna Lotva write. "Now they are defending her honor by helping Ukraine fight against the invaders."
The first half of the video includes a solemn oath sworn by the Kastus Kalinoŭski Regiment, which is a military formation within the Armed Forces of Ukraine that consists of Belarusian volunteers. The Regiment took its name in honour of Kastus Kalinoŭski, the head of the national liberation uprising of 1863-1864 in the Belarusian-Lithuanian lands of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against Russian domination. He is seen by many of his compatriots as a national hero of Belarus.
The mission statement of the Kalinoŭski Regiment is: "Liberation of Belarus through the liberation of Ukraine."
Dymna Lotva has many reasons to carry the torch of rebellion. The duo had to flee their native Belarus due to political persecution and attempts by the Lukashenka dictatorship to censure and suppress their art.
Dymna Lotva continues to sing songs filled with grief and pain. The Belarusians have beautifully and powerfully enhanced their very personal style. With a solid base in black metal, but also taking many elements from doom as well as traditional music, the duo has moved beyond the post-black metal tag and created melancholic, haunting melodies that bear their unmistakable trademark and result in a unique emotional sound.
Their latest full-length, the exceptional The Land Under The Black Wings: Blood (Зямля Пад Чорнымі Крыламі: Кроў), was released in August 2023 via Prophecy Productions. Link
j:dead has dropped the sixth track, "Over The Years", from his ambitious 12 singles in 12 months campaign. The single is a deeply personal reflection on reconnecting with a past love...
French gothic/doom ensemble Angellore return on 15 May with their fourth full‑length, Nocturnes, set for release through Ardua Music. Alongside the announcement, the band has unveiled...
Balduvian Bears have revealed "Hill (Past Dream)" — one of their most personal and heartbreaking tracks to date, a melancholic post‑punk ballad wrapped in soft synths and shattered...
Portland post‑doom collective Burial Clouds will release their new full‑length, Burn Holy, on 22 May. Burial Clouds' music exists in a constant tension between beauty and rage, crushing...
"It's my kind of duty to provoke people and to make sure they feel something — to dance, cry, do whatever they feel. I do motivate them, because that's my purpose." - Chris Corner
"We were outsiders, and nobody knew what the fuck was going on. We just listened to this extreme music that nobody else liked, and that made us very strong..." - Mikael Stanne
"The speech that they hate is my speech, but my speech is not a hate speech. What can you do? You can just mirror/reflect them - hopefully, they will see how grotesque..." - Dero Goi
"We're really into oxymorons and that sort of thing. Years and years ago, we came up with this idea—well, we didn't invent it, but we called it "happy sad"." - Matt James
