Parzival - "Casta" [2014]

Artist: Parzival

Title: Casta

Genre: Neoclassical, Martial Industrial

Country: Denmark / Russia / India

Release date: 2014

Track List: 

1. Kalachakra
2. Kurushektra Purana
3. Himagni Purana
4. Airyanem Vaejah Purana
5. Uttara Purana
6. Navadi Purana
7. Ayo Purana
8. Rudra Purana
9. Yavashtra Purana
10. Andra Purana
11. Regnabit

Parzival was founded in 1999 by Dmitry Bablevsky, who was a member (initially a drummer, then a vocalist known for his unusually low-pitched voice) of several rock bands in late USSR, one of which became popular enough that its members managed to move to Denmark in 1989. In 1992, Bablevsky started a new project called Stiff Miners, which played industrial techno in the vein of "Kapital"-era Laibach. After Stiff Miners have released two full-length albums, Bablevsky decided to abandon the futuristic industrial sound in favour of more medieval neoclassical music. Thus, Parzival was born.

I've read several quite disparaging reviews of early Parzival albums, according to which, the band started as a pretty poor clone of Laibach. However, this album is quite solid, and doesn't sound like plagiarism of Laibach at all. It's a concept work dedicated to the Hindu tradition and the Indian classical music, made with the help of guest musicians from India:

Vhernen - "Syberia" [2006]

Artist: Vhernen

Title: .S.Y.B.E.R.I.A.

Genre: Funeral Doom/Black Metal

Country: Denmark (Faroe Islands)
Year: 2006

Track List:

1. Syberia
2. Tundrha
3. Numb
4. Funeral Aurora

When there's a talk about metal from the Faroe Islands, most people can name only one band - Týr. However, this small island community has produced a few other good bands, one of which is Vhernen - an one-man project started in 2005 in Tórshavn. Surely this demo EP sounds raw, but I liked it better than the follow up full-length album. This release is one of few ones that absolutely deserve to be labelled as "depressive", and it's also woth noting that it was recorded using electric cello and orchestral harp (as well as the standard guitars). Very impressive for a debut.

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Horrorpops - "Horror Tunes" [2009]

Artist: Horrorpops

Title: Horror Tunes
Genre: Psychobilly
Country: Denmark
Release date: 2009

Track List:

1. Horrorbeach
2. Thelma & Louise
3. Miss Take
4. Walk Like a Zombie
5. Hitchcock Starlet
6. Ghouls
7. Kiss Kiss Kill Kill
8. Bring It On!
9. You vs. Me
10. Heading for the Disco
11. Julia
12. Who's Leading You Now
13. MissFit
14. Hit'n'Run
15. It's Been So Long
16. Psychobitches Outta Hell
17. Rebel Yell (Live)

One more band in the vein of Kitty In A Casket... and yes, they use female vocals too! The vocalist's voice is quite good, and reminds me of Deadline (see their album "Bring The House Down", which I've posted here about a month ago). The music is nice too, though a bit repetitive at times.

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