Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Uran Bator - "Butsalgah" [2013]

Artist: Uran Bator
Title: Butsalgah
Genre: EBM, Ethno-Industrial, Breakbeat
Country: Russia
Year: 2013

Track List:
  1. Maadai Kara
  2. Kargyraa
  3. Khookhoo Namjil
  4. Jelmeigen Sagal
  5. Ooskus Uul
  6. Valambay
  7. Barbannadyr
  8. Bool
  9. Chokyr At
One more Asian-themed album, but this time it's not metal. Uran Bator is a new side project of IVAN[Ъ]MAN (also known for Стройбат), influenced by both industrial/EBM and Mongolian/Tuvan/Folk music. If I'm not mistaken, all the lyrics on "Butsalgah" are in Tuvan, and they tell a story set in the alternative universe where the ancient Mongol Empire is armed by nuclear weapons. The idea is very interesting, but "Butsalgah" isn't without its flaws: the cover art looks cheap, and I didn't particularly like the "industrial" component of Uran Bator's music. However, I still think it's one of the most original and innovative releases of 2013.

Darkestrah - "Manas" [2013]

Artist: Darkestrah
Title: Manas
Genre: Black/Pagan Metal
Country: Germany/Kyrgyzstan
Year: 2013

Track List:
  1. Манас-мститель
  2. Память (Старик)
  3. Победа
  4. Кыргызстан
  5. Манас-батыр
Darkestrah are probably the one and only well-known Kyrgyz metal band, and here's their most recent release, titled "Manas". Personally I prefer their early stuff which they recorded before relocation to Germany - because as of now, their music seems to be more influenced by bands like Drudkh, and therefore lost much of its "exoticism". All the lyrics on "Manas" are in Russian (unlike their earlier albums with lyrics in English). Anyway, if you're interested in Asian black/pagan metal, this album is worth checking out - although Darkestrah aren't as "unorthodox" as Tengger Cavalry, for example.