Terratomorf emerged in 2013 from the seeds of the band Byzantium and recently stepped forward with their debut release, Ya Legenda, a richly promising and enjoyable heavy metal proposition. That previous band consisted of guitarist Sergei Gviniashvili, bassist Ivan Sel, drummer Alexander Dmitriev, and vocalist Ruslan Kaplun, and earned a strong reputation for their live performances and sound. Creative differences saw them splitting with Kaplun going one way and the other three forming Terratomorf. Ex- Barbarian frontman Nikita Salishchev was found to complete the new line-up with the quartet making their stage debut in June of last year. The departure of Sel saw Vladislav Balashov come in to the line-up as the band set to work on their first EP, a release certain to awaken keen attention.
Released at the end of January, Ya Legenda (I Am Legend) takes little time to make a very convincing persuasion on ears and emotions, its inventively sculpted blend of heavy metal and hard rock a temptation which in its strongest moments virulently ignites the imagination and in its less inventive times gives the passions a potently infectious time. From start to finish the album captivates with skill and accomplished individual prowess, and though maybe the tracks at times feel like they have something in reserve which could have been unleashed to even greater success, it is an introduction which breeds full satisfaction and an anticipation of greater things to come from the Moscow band.
The title track sets things in motion and instantly has attention wide awake with an opening of predatory riffs and crisply delivered beats. The vocals of Salishchev soon join the incitement, his tones clean but holding a snarl which adds potency to the Russian delivered lyrical narrative. The track itself is a thrilling mix of groove metal within a heavier metal rapaciousness, ripe melodies helping shape a sound which reminds of Finnish metallers Stam1na. It is an absorbing and scintillating start easily waking up a hunger for the band’s invention. The best track on the EP is arguably never equalled by any of the subsequent songs though they all make richly pleasing attempts.
From the additive might of the opener the band takes a more reserved and straight forward approach with Sudba. Featuring the guest vocals of Artur Berkut from Russian heavy metallers Aria, the track swings through the ears with a steady infectious groove aligned to similarly appealing riffs and melodic enterprise. Just as compellingly the bass provides a darker stomp to shadow and complement the great clean vocals, their swagger and smile matching the melody soaked heart of the track. Though not as dramatically gripping as the first song, it still offers a healthy temptation with its presence to invite at least one more play before moving on to investigate more.
Prizrachniy Mir steps forward next placing a dark velvety bassline around the ears before a sonic shimmer opens up a weave of guitar endeavour and vocal enticing. Providing another distinctly varied proposition within the release, the track has a heavier antagonistic feel to its breath and sound. Riffs and rhythms court an intensive weight in their delivery whilst the sonic invention of the guitar, especially in the excellent solo, adds more heat and acidity than previously found on the EP. A melodic aside within the growl of the song makes a great unexpected twist before the song returns to its earlier muscular and suasion.
That impressive diversity to the band’s debut continues with V Nebesa, the track also giving full rein to its sinews whilst encircling them with rich flames of heavy metal creativity. The virulent rumble of bass and drums never relinquishes a second of their intimidation across the song to ensnare and temper the melodic textures of the song but it works to the benefit of the end result, though this is one of those occasions where you feel the band is holding back a little in their invention, hints of more never realised.
The closing Gorod Dushi is a pleasing and attentive encounter to the needs of a metal fan but underwhelming in many ways to what has come before, its riffery and grooves unremarkable but enjoyable in the overall containment of the excellent release. It is very easy to recommend Ya Legenda to heavy and melodic metal fans and to suggest that Terratomorf is a band with very potent and rewarding horizons ahead, we certainly will be watching closely.
The Roads Of Life EP, from Russian band Full Throttle is a release which combines hard rock and heavy metal with other assisting flames, for an encounter which fires up the senses with ease, its high octane melodic fuel and forceful energy spilling over for an engaging and invigorating ride which would enhance any intensive road trip. It is a release which admittedly offers little new in barrier breaking but easily feeds any appetite for melodic metal bred by passion and invention.
Full Throttle was formed in 2004 in Kaluga and initially had a softer metal sound which with a change of personnel of the years evolved with a harder more aggressive breath. 2005 saw the band’s debut album Lie released to strong responses but was followed by a three year hiatus for the band from 2007 due to internal disagreements. The band returned in 2010 and soon was working towards a second album which due to difficulties was reduced to this EP and an impressive release it is too. Taking influences from the likes of Manowar, Nightwish, Metallica, Sonata Arctica as well as Russian bands Aria and Kipelov into its own invention, the three track release makes a powerful persuasion offering all the spices which could see the band find the widest awareness and with the band recently signing up with GlobMetal Promotions, it is hard not to feel that the band will soon be garnering strong interest and a wealth of eager new fans.
Full Throttle’s songs find seeds in the ideology of the biker’s movement: freedom, speed, the choice between life and death, not that we could tell as the songs are all sung in Russian, though not any issue of course. The opening title track revs up with sturdy riffs and crisp rhythms whilst keys and the melodic tease of the guitars enflame the air with sonic colour. It is an immediately appealing introduction which settles down into an energetic charge across the plane of the song with expressive winds from the keys and powerful female vocals astride a spine of heavy intensive riffing. Though lacking a groove or hook to make it strongly contagious the accomplished and fiery song has an infection about it which potently entices and recruits deep satisfaction. It is a richly pleasing and stylish cruise of intensity to start things off.
The following Crying Soul changes tact and stance of the release instantly, its emotive beauty and symphonic whispers an impacting elegance within the strong hungry melodic flames which skilfully shoot into the roof of the song. The keys are especially enchanting whilst the vocals have a bite to their again open beauty and harmonic grace, their presence epitomising the blend of light and intimidation seemingly prowling the track. It is a soulful and powerful song showing the diversity of the band and their adeptness at fusing gentle and vigorous embraces for one enriching confrontation.
The closing Night Fraternity is cored by the sound of bikes as they speed off into the horizon with the song gripping their tails with eager riffs and hungry rhythms. It is a simple but wholly effective attack which has a punk growl to its incessant drive and a metal aggression to its sinews. An excellent acidic groove makes its play mid song to complete the impressive temptation of what is the best song on the release.
When Full Throttle gets to make that second album there will be plenty eagerly waiting to climb on board with it thanks to the Roads Of Life EP, us for one.
Though still really an undiscovered area outside of its borders the metal scene in Russia has a wealth of diverse and exiting bands that are slowly coming to light. One of the best comes in the powerful and impressive shape of blackened death metallers Shturm. They have just released their new album Karmaruna, an album that rages and rampages with a defined craft and refined thought. Having strongly enjoyed the album and intrigued to find out more about the band we had the pleasure of having twin guitarists/vocalists Adar and Omut from the band tell us more about Shturm and their album.
Hello and welcome to The Ringmaster Review, many thanks for talking to us.
Would you first introduce the band and its members?
Adar & Omut: Hi! Thank you for your questions! Now “Shturm” is 3 persons: Adar (vocals, guitar), Omut (guitar, clean vocal) and Petreno (drums)
When and how did the band first start?
Adar: The group “Shturm” has appeared early in 2003. I and Sinner (bass, vocal) had organized it. At that time we were playing “war black metal” which can be heard on demo “Shape Of Chaos”. A year later the debut album “Fresh Christian Meat” had been recorded. It wasn’t only a black metal album, there was much more death metal. In 2009 label FONO Ltd. released our second album “Kalahia”. It was a blackened death work. Our image was reflecting the influence of black metal.
What were the influences that led you to getting into making music and those that inspire you now?
Adar: First we were influenced by such groups as Marduk, Immortal, Hipocrisy. Later we couldn’t avoid the influence of such monsters as Nile and Behemoth. Now the influence of these bands is very low. Listening to our album “Karmaruna” everyone can notice there the influence of different groups. So it’s difficult to say exactly who has influenced us during its creation.
Your music has evolved deeply between your demo Shape of Chaos and debut album Fresh Christian Meat in 2004 and your excellent new album Karmaruna. How would you describe the change and maturity that has emerged?
Adar: Really, I don’t know how to answer this question. As the years roll by everything turns out of itself. The childish maximalism concerning the views about life, music and fashion disappears. The music horizons broaden and you want to compose more interesting, distinctive music. Hereby “Karmaruna” appeared. The symbiosis of styles and views about life. We couldn’t allow us to make such a bold album before but now the time has come to break musical ranks and to experiment.
You started out as a brutal black metal based band really originally as you said earlier, what was the thought behind the band at the time?
Adar: That’s right. At that time we were 17 and we were only interested in protest against society, religion (especially Christianity), foundations, all these fops listening sugary pop music. We were like a bundle of nerves, drinking a lot, haggling. All this was reflected in our music – fast, raw, aggressive. It was a true black metal concerning all: views about life, texts, behaviour, attitude to people. We hated those who differed from us and we thought we were the strongest. We even had a song “Overpeople” which speaks for itself.
It seems that when you Omut, joined the band and struck up a strong understanding and combination with Adar that things really began for the band and the new defined shape and direction to your sound. Is that how it was?
Omut: After my appearance in the band much has changed as compared with previous course of things. But changes weren’t revolutionary. I and Adar, we were developing in the direction which was interesting for us, we were creating “Shturm” and we continue to do it. I think changes were gradual and logical.
So the change as much simply a natural evolution of the music as it was down to this reassessing of things then?
Omut: We always try to generate some unexpected, unpredictable decisions within the scope of our musical and lyrical ideas. That’s why the development of the band and of all that connected with it can be considered as planned (because all is often carefully planned) and spontaneous (because musical ideas for a new material are a great surprise even for us).
As mentioned Shturm started out as a black metal band and has evolved through death metal to an even more brutal form though without losing your skilled intricacies and creativity. Have you found you have lost a few fans from the evolution though obviously gained a great many more?
Adar: Oh, yes! Having broken through the ranks of death-black metal we have been subjected to criticism by our old fans. We were reproached for being pop and fashion oriented. But we don’t anger as it’s not true and we prove at our concerts that we are metal group as before but now we are not interested in playing only within the frames of several styles.
What was the metal scene like in Russia over the first few years and did it help or hinder your progress?
Omut: Metal scene of extreme genres in Russia has always been not impressive especially during the times of the formation of our group. It can be explained by the legacy of ban on this music made in The Soviet Union. While all the world was developing in the sphere of heavy music we had a sever ban on it in our motherland. At the early 2000 extreme metal scene represented an embryo under the influence of impressive bands from foreign countries. All this had a great influence on the lack of colouring and originality of Russian heavy metal. All the same we still loved such groups as Drama and Ragor. Russian heavy metal always makes us glad – Aria, Black Coffee, Master, Legion. We love this music and surely it has influenced on us.
It seems now that music from your homeland and surrounding countries is finding a wider market and attention, is that the case?
Omut: Of course, today there are more interesting Russian bands of different styles within the ranks of metal. Some of them are famous and needed abroad and it makes us glad.
You have had a few line-up changes over the years, how does that affect a band when it happens?
Adar: Line-up changes are always disagreeable. It turned out so that people have never left “Shturm” voluntary. We must dismiss them because of their futile approach to the work or we couldn’t simply find the common language. New people bring changes which are almost always good. I hope “Shturm” will have a stable, solid membership ready to compose for life and to do all for the band development.
You have just released your excellent new album Karmaruna as we mentioned, and your most creative release to date. What are you most proud of about it?
Omut: Maybe it’s a subjective judgment but we are proud of many traits and features of “Karmaruna”. The material was composed in unrepresentative atmosphere – we were discussing the finished riffs, ideas and drafts together and we were making the arrangements. That has had an influence on that the album turned out varied concerning style ranks. We are satisfied with both music and texts which gained our own specificity.
Tell us about the album title.
Omut: This is a symbiosis of two words that we wanted to call our next two albums after “Kalagia” – “Karma” and “Runa”. With the lapse of time we decided not to be in a hurry to release the double album and we created the material for “Karmaruna”. Karma is the law of cause and effect in which Buddhists trust. Runa in our interpretation is a sign, display. So, “Karmaruna” is this is how the fate or the karma of a being shows up in the world. In the form of rune signs can be recognized in trees, rain, love, war. According to the law of Karma the seeds of our past actions germinate in our current life and form it. So, as we understand it “Karmaruna” is the life, all around.
What does it offer that those still unaware of your music will find hard to resist?
Omut: I think people with different musical tastes in metal will be able to find something interesting for them in our album. So, the fans of heavy metal can enjoy melodics, the connoisseurs of black and death will like energy and speed. The sappiness of solos and the richness of drum parts make our music resemble to progressive metal. So, “Karmaruna” can be a very interesting for metalheads with different preferences. I’m too modest, aren’t I? 😉
How long has Karmaruna been in the making?
Adar: It took about half a year to compose the material for “Karmaruna”. It took much time to try different arrangements, riffs and words but it’s worth the effort.
Did the album come out exactly how you imagined it before going into the studio or did it change during the recording process to surprise you?
Adar: Coming at the studio we had a strict plan of actions, almost all the arrangements were recorded on demo that’s why we needed only to record it with better sound quality. So, there were few changes during the recording and all passed as we had planned it. But experimented recording the vocal and it turned out quite different from our plans.
How does the songwriting happen within the band?
Omut: The songs for “Kalagin” were composed discretely by Adar and me. After that they were united in album playlist with few changes. It was a different thing with “Karmaruna” the material was composed by Adar and me but it weren’t finished songs. Raw material was sifted through and saturated with unexpected arrangements by me, Petreno and Adar. Drums and arrangements (and some riffs) of Petreno who took a very active part in composition enriched a lot the sounding of the album.
Your songs and lyrics are often related to and refer too, quoting from your bio, “…the atmosphere of ethnic music, the heritage of Maya and the nations of Oceania, bearing the wisdom and grandeur of the old ones…” Can you elaborate on this?
Omut: This characteristic can be applied partially only to the material of “Kalagia”. The texts for this album represents our interpretations of legends, traditions and mystic cults of “Buddhist” Tibet. On the text side “Karmaruna” became more wide – most of songs speak not about something far and mystic (as before) but about something vital and close to each person. The base is our modest reasoning on the basis of the Buddhist philosophy. Besides the album reveals the themes of patriotism, our private feelings about everyday life.
What is it about the subject and themes that connect with you the most?
Omut: All about what we sing excite us to a considerable degree. The past of our nation, our private feelings, reasoning about happiness and suffering based on the covenant of Buddhist teachers. All this is important and impressive for us.
You have a reputation for powerful and memorable live shows I am told, this is always a special event you like to bring to your fans?
Omut: We try to push ourselves to the limit giving concerts. This is our way to express live our feelings and ideas born during our albums work. We try to make our show energetic and emotional. We had a different image before. Now we are disposed to the individuality and hope to surprise more those who give us much attention at out concerts.
Have you gigs lined-up to promote the album?
Adar: Yes, we plan concerts to promote “Karmaruna”. For the present it will be the concerts in Russia and CIS, but we hope to travel farther.
What is next for Shturm?
Adar: I think the future will be more interesting for us and for those who appreciate our previous work. Until we live “Shturm” lives. There will be new songs, concerts, clips. I hope we’ll visit England with concerts. Of course it’s not easy but it’s worth doing! We plan the release of a new clip for one of the songs of “Karmaruna”, the recording of EP which will contain one new song and some interesting compositions known by metalheads and connoisseurs of early “Shturm”. And of course the new album which creation has already begun.
Thank you for taking time to talk with us, very much appreciated.
Would you like to end with some words for your ever growing army of fans?
Adar & Omut: Thank you for your questions and your interest in “Shturm”! We wish every success and prosperity to your portal! We express our gratitude to those who like our music – thank you for being with us! Those who only begin to familiarize themselves with our music – welcome to our world, symbiosis of black, death, thrash, heavy and something else…I’ll be damned if I know!:)))
Follow “Shturm”, everything is just beginning. The most interesting is ahead!
