The cradle of Smaga horde is rooted back to 2000 when vocalist of progressive thrash metal band Rude Rites (Tyumen) – Sylvan – made a decision to leave that band due to certain mismatches in musical creative perceptions, as it was impossible to incarnate his own creative aspirations. After leaving the band Sylvan started to search another way to embody musical ideas.

Rude Rites (live 2000)

Sylvan took vocals and guitar upon himself and got Skramas to play bass, as he was not involved in any project by that time.

At the end of winter 2000 they began to work on material for the songs. First compositions were written in that time, and some part of them has its renewal in Smaga's creations. Horde was known as Cernunn. The conception has come to antichristianity, refusal of established religions, but invoked heathen Weltanschauung, personal visions and inward experiences of mystical and occult nature; so that had a reflection in lyrics (particularly in "My Last Existence..." song). Musically band headed mainly for harsh and violent black metal, although there were some folklore tunes and tendencies.

Afterwards, Sylvan's brother – Krokodile (drums) – left the band named above, and Rude Rites has been put to an end whereupon. Then Krokodile joined Cernunn, playing in Molot Vedim at the same time. Having this line-up the band performed live on Tyumen stage in autumn 2001 with Molot Vedim and Utburd.

Cernunn (live 2001)

Cernunn recorded 9 tracks demo-album "The Void" in summer 2002. All instruments and vocals were recorded in "home-made" conditions with improvised means. The sound quality of the record was poor, but nevertheless such was the beginning. Demo was spreaded among friends for the most part.

After demo recording the band kept on writing the material. Shortly after it was decided to get second guitarist, since arrangements and guitar parts became more complex. New guitarist was Isus (Navius in Cernunn) from Neftejugansk city.

Since line-up extended, the band began rehearsals, and played live with some other hordes in December 2003 on "Metal Storm Fest" devoted to opening of "Hangar 18", Tyumen club. Cernunn was warmly met by metalheads there.

Musicians, inspired with success, resolved to have more live gigs and in the beginning of 2004 performed live in "Hangar 18" again.

By that time Krokodile met some problems with health, and he was unable to back himself to normal for a long time. Ultimately, he left the band for the vague spell, because tendon injury was growing progressively worse and he could not perform as good as before. Later Krokodile continued musical activity in his own project Gangrena as guitarist.

In 2005 Ozmir, sessional guitarist of some local band, joined the band and replaced Navius. But due to lack of drummers on local metal scene who is capable to bear rapid and complex material, Cernunn had to hold up any action. Quest had no result, thus the band had been put to an end, so to speak. Skramas put off his instrument, and Sylvan found Vspolokh, another project, but now under name Vel.

By the end of 2005 Vel longing for keeping earlier ground of Cernunn took decision to extend the attained things and revived the band, but named Smaga by now. He used some of Cernunn songs, finishing the arrangements and all instrumental parts, rewrote (actually, wrote anew in Russian) all lyrics, and created a few new songs. For now the art of Smaga stylistically is not pure black metal as earlier, but black pagan metal with lyrics appropriated.

A year later Smaga began its work in home Lykantropia Studio. Vel recorded bass, drums were programmed. Thus, 4 songs were recorded. Processing and mixing were finished in May 2007.

In summer Smaga received a proposal from Dark Moon Productions, Finnish underground label. Label offered to release recorded material in MCD format at 1000 copies. Contract was signed soon, and musicians started to make an artwork for upcoming CD. Most of the works were done by autumn, and album named "My Lands" was sent to manufacture, being mastered in Finnish Dreamhouse Studio beforehand.

New band member, Div (bass), joined Smaga closer to winter.

At the moment musicians keep working on new music art.

30.01.08 – is official date of MCD "My Lands" release.

Now the band has a complete line-up, that lets the band to perform live actively.

Smaga (Roman, Vel, Ozmir, Div)

 

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Current line-up:

Vel – guitar, vocals
Ozmir – guitar
Div – bass
Roman - drums