SMAGA - official website - REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS

SMAGA "My Lands"

The past years there has been a lot of black and pagan metal coming from Russia: it comes in all varieties, from very dark to very merry and from a quality below zero to some top acts. Smaga is a new act, and has the potential to become one of the absolute top acts: this MCD “My Lands” is their debut, and I think an album is imminent judging this MCD.

The band plays a kind of viking black metal, somewhere near Galar, and mix of influences of Bathory , Taake and Graveland without sounding like any of these bands in particular: somewhere in between that area, and that is not a bad spot to be categorized I would say.

The riffs are harsh, and vocalist Velemudr spits outs the lyrics in Russian, thus adding to the music a more Slavonic aspect: a good thing.

Okay, the riffs sound familiar, but the execution is beyond any doubt and the album has the right feeling, whether it concerns the opening epic song ‘The Prophetic’ (a bit like Czech Heiden, just more straight forward), the fast (yet not hyperfast) 'Perun's Arrows', the versatile and more pagan epistle ‘Into the forest far beyond the Rainbow’ or the Bathory inspired epic closing title track.

The songs are balanced out very well, and also the drums have been programmed at this MCD, it doesn’t disturb as they are programmed as real drums and not in overdrive or with any other unnatural drum aspect: it was just that the band did not have a drummer at that moment...

Those who like epic grim black/ viking metal should most certainly check out this Smaga: I know I will. After the release of this MCD the band has completed its line-up and I must say that I can’t wait for more material. In the meanwhile I have to do it with this very good MCD, a well succeeded debut! Now I understand what they mean by Siberian cold!

Published at Vampire-Magazine.com
Original reviewer: Neithan, 15.04.2008

Web-source: www.vampire-magazine.com

Review from Chronicles of Chaos (27.04.08)

Interview for Miasma Magazine #2/2008

Protecting the pagan traditions

Russian black metal band Smaga released their debut MCD at the end of the year by Dark Moon Productions which is run by Tommi Hakonen, who is also known for his role as an editor in Miasma magazine. The rich scene of the eastern neighbour has not got too much attention in our magazine, so I decided to contact guitarist / vocalist Velemudr.
Q: Could you first give a brief, freeform introduction of yourself and the band to our readers? Also, what does the name of the band mean?
A: Hails! I am guitarist and vocalist of Smaga, the band with roots sprouted in the marshy swamps and gloomy forests of Ural, or rather, in the small town of Tugulym. To be honest, if I say Smaga is purely Tugulym band, it would not be correct. The rest of the musicians (guitarist Ozmir, bassist Div and drummer Yar) don't live here, but in Tyumen, city of the neighbourhood. Despite this, Smaga is still from Tugulym by origin. Furthermore, here is the very place where music is born, the music that is the incarnation of our band, and I owe my inspirations to the places here particularly. That's why I focus attention on it. As for the band name, it is enough to say that this old Slavonic word means fire, especially the fire set at Kupala night, on summer solstice. This word could be found often in some ancient Slavonic incantations. On the whole, it has also more profundity, yet within personal perceptions.
Before the birth of Smaga Velemudr played in band called Cernunn, which only released one demo.
Q: Before Smaga, there was Cernunn. What can you tell me about this band? How would you describe the evolution between these different incarnations, and how would you compare the music of Smaga to that of Cernunn?
A: Yes, Cernunn was some time ago, and it's the cradle of Smaga exactly. I can't say certainly that the art of these two bands is equal. The one of Cernunn was more aggressive and high speed. Such kind of material is presented on demo "The Void", with poor sound quality and performance. On the other hand, it's hard for me to mark a distinct difference. The point is that I am one of the Cernunn and Smaga founders, so it's not easy to disengage myself from it. Besides, the most part of Cernunn material has crossed to that of Smaga, even if in perfected form. Guitar parts and arrangements became more complex and well developed, particularly when Ozmir joined the band. In other words, Smaga is Cernunn reincarnated, the art of which got more mature.
Composing help from forest spirits
Q: You've recently released your debut MCD, called My Lands. Are you satisfied with the music that is presented on this release? In retrospect, what, if anything would you like to improve?
A: Even if it were possible to change something in this album, we'd let all remain as is. We have embodied the things in a complete scope as we'd like them to be, and we've made everything in our best. I am totally satisfied with the work done, both musically and in artwork as well.
Q: I quite liked the compositions on My Lands, but i find that the sound could be a lot stronger with live drums. Was the choice to use a drum machine on the MCD made out of practical necessity (not finding a suitable drummer, recording time and budget restrictions or such) or for some other reason? Are you planning to use live drums in the future?
A: Naturally, the sound could be much richer with live drums. But there really wasn't any possibility to find a suitable drummer by that time. We didn't wish to wait for that, as we would simply waste time a lot. There weren't any budget or recording time restrictions, because Lykantropia Studio is our own homestudio. Concerning drummer, we finally got him, and he learns his parts at present. It's too early to plan any gigs, due to the fact that drummer has not reached required skill yet. Hopefully, everything will be fortunate and Smaga will start live performances.
Q: The composition of the opening song The Prophetic is credited to "unknown forest spirits". What do you mean by this? Is it based on an old folk tune or something like that?
A: My words could seem strange in a way, but saying "unknown forest spirits" I mean this namely. Here is the story in short. Once in 2002 I was in forest and enjoyed the night silence lying on the weeds. One fine moment I heard some sounds suddenly as though coming from all sides. Those sounds reminded me of female voices, but they weren't human. A bit later they took the shape of a melody, and, enchanted, I strained my ears to hear that bewitching song. I have experienced a shock in a sense, so to speak. Well, the tune of that unknown song later underlied "The Prophetic" song. I do not know actually the origin of those voices, so I have put it into words in a such way as written.
Q: Also, the lyrics to the song Into the Forest Far Beyond the Rainbow are written by someone called Koshun. Who is Koshun, and what made you decide to use his lyrics?
A: Koshun is my old friend and associate. He has written much poetry, but really that one seemed for me very suitable for the music of the song. One day we met, and he showed me the verse. The lyrics for the song were not written by that time yet, moreover, the substance of his lyrical theme has touched me on the raw for some reason, that's why I decided to use his lyrics.
Q: My Lands was released through the small Finnish label Dark Moon Productions. How did you come in contact with Tommi? Are you satisfied with his work?
A: In Summer 2007 I got an e-mail from Tommi. He made a worthwhile proposal for Smaga, and we accepted it with no doubt. Despite Dark Moon Productions being a small underground label, his part of the work was accomplished extremely well. I could even say his label is better than some other large European labels, concerning realization quality. From the beginning we entered into very trusting relations, and I haven't any doubts that he does all the work with responsibility. And what is more, I would like to regard Tommi as my friend, not just as a "business mate". As for your question, friends never let down. That's it.
Rise and defy of Slavonic black metal
Smaga is a part of Heathen Circle organization. I ask Velemudr to tell more about this group.
Q: You are affiliated with a group called the Heathen Circle. What can you tell me about this organization?
A: Heathen Circle is an organization which unites bands, labels, zines and individuals who share interest in defending heathen heritage, no matter what tradition the culture belongs to, such as Nordic, Slavonic, Celtic and others. You can know more by visiting the Heathen Circe website. The activities of the Circle are aimed to fight against those who wish to bury our glorious past. In our case we bring our message through music, through our art. In this way we bring our propaganda about importance of our native traditions and heritage. Thus, we joined Heathen Circle, and such is our means of opposition.
From the land as big as Russia should be found many promising and not so well-known bands, so I ask Velemudr to recommend some.
Q: Some Russian black/pagan metal bands (such as Temnozor, Old Wainds, the bands of the Blazebirth Hall circle etc.) have already attained some sort of cult following abroad. Do you have any lesser known Russian bands to recommend to our readers? How is the scene in your hometown?
A: Well, it's not easy to tell at one stroke. There are enough bands deserving of listeners. Well-known for me band which I could recommend: Kob' - shaman black metal, it's very interesting and original project from our region. Also, three our Ural bands are of interest: The True Nihilist, performing depressive black metal; Laubwald, NS black metal; and one man band Wolf's Source, athmospheric black metal in vein of Deathspell Omega. And I could mark out Vspolokh, raw pagan black metal. Not necessary to mention some other well-known bands, as they are widely known without my presentations. Concerning local scene in our hometown, I have nothing to tell about, just because there isn't any scene actually. There's one more band in Tugulym in addition Smaga. It is Vspolokh, my second band. Speaking about cities of the neighbourhood, Tyumen for instance, I can say that the scene there does not stand out for amount nor seriousness. Ural bands mentioned above are the only worthy of respect and known black metal hordes yet at the moment. Nothing is left more to name. Also, I wish to note that Cernunn was the first and sole local black metal band some time ago in my opinion. It may be assumed that Smaga has the same status till now side by side with Vspolokh, in Tyumen suburbs at least.
Q: Continuing from the last question, how do you find the state of the Russian scene overall? What makes Russian pagan and black metal unique?
A: I can speak with absolute confidence that the strenght of Russian scene has grown recently, more bands were born performing serious and powerful music, and certainly they are noticed. Many bands have already got a repute not only in Russia, but in Europe and the rest of the world as well. Nowadays Russian (and Slavonic on a broader scale) metal scene can be considered as one of the leading ones in black metal genre, especially pagan and NSBM. It's a fact that more labels producing BM are appeared in our countries, and more and more European and American labels show their interest in our hordes. There is no saying about the things making Russian pagan and black metal unique, particularly because I am a part of it myself. The art of our bands becomes more sincere and ripe, for certain reason musicians put into their art much more soul than ever before. Such expressiveness can not go unnoticed. Once something like that took place within Scandinavian BM, although on little other tide. Today it is an actual thing in Slavonic countries on the whole. I'm sure our hordes shall leave behind present pagan and black metal leaders in two or three years, and even eclipse Scandinavian scene which was very powerful in the old days. The process has begun by now, since we have quite enough forerunners to incept the dawn of Slavonic pagan BM.
Against the current state of affairs
Q: Nationalist ideologies seem to be very prevalent in the Russian black metal scene (Not necessarily a new thing, since even some old Russian heavy metal bands, such as Korrozia Metalla endorsed NS ideology.) Why do you find this to be the case? Just a primitive reaction to the years under communist rule, or something else entirely?
A: It's wrong to call rapid growth of nationalism as some reaction to former communist regime. It is exactly a reaction to the present state of affairs in society to the mournful situation in our countries and so-called "national" policy of current government. Today we can see impudent and almost uninhibited expansion of unasked aliens from Caucasia and China, and also from some other third world states. As a matter of fact, they all parasitize on us. The major part of criminality comes from them for certain. Also, there's a constant threat from Asia. Add the intrusion of dubious values started anew from world religions, which seek support and mutually beneficial cooperation with the state for well-known reasons. The whole of that is setting utterly strained conditions, so conscious individuals feel it and understand that it will result in outburst sooner or later. It's a matter of time only. I think nationalistic opinions in society will reach some critical moment very soon. Our objective is to hasten this moment, and we do our best to give a chance for more people as possible to inspire with idea for essential necessity of awakening of national self-consciousness. There's a Russian proverb: "don't trouble until trouble troubles you." And now, the moment of awakening has already come.
Q: The artwork on your MCD features a swastika, and your lyrics seem to deal with national romantic themes a lot. Would i be correct in assuming that Smaga is an NS band? What kind of ideas do you wish to communicate with your music?
A: Mainly, I've given the answer concerning ideas. In my opinion, national consciousness gives a lot to any nation. During long ages they have tried to destroy, distort and pervert it by means of all kinds. These attempts brought a lot of sad results. Most modern people have materially-minded values and utilitarian attitude to everything. Cultural values are lost for the most part, but the rest often seems to have "clown" taste. I can't suppose the revival of national spirit without perception of wide wisdom of heathen tradition. Our music ought to send such message. Concerning swastika used in artwork I can say that this symbol "as is" doesn't show the band belongs to NS. Swastika has a long and wonderful history and it's wrong to think that it can be used by NSBM bands only. Of course, I undestand that there are some stereotypes regarding swastika, but in our album's artwork I expressed the sacral meaning of this symbol. Veda. To sum it up, Smaga is not an NS band in the usual understanding. I am a nationalist, but the art of our band has an advert to another side of paganism.
Q: What are your plans for the future, concerning Smaga? Are you planning new recordings, concerts etc.?
A: Of course, we are planning all of that. The most part of material for the next album is already finished. We would like to start recording at the end of this year, but we do not want to hurry. In any way, we'll come to the work quite responsible and earnestly. Concerning live performances, I've told it earlier. In fact we have a great hunger to perform live, and we look forward to this.
At the end of this interview, Velemudr sends regards to the readers of Miasma magazine.
Our art is our feelings, our emotions and our thoughts. Let your mind be filled with wisdom and sense, and your blood with rage and strenght. Hopefully, the music of Smaga will touch your souls with its sparkles. The fire shall burst with the new power! Revival is coming!
Published in Miasma Magazine #2/2008
Interview by Juri Puumala
Source: click here to see scan-images of page 1 and page 2