Today, Purity Through Fire announces September 22nd as the international release date for a special album from Bergrizen, Orathania, on digipack CD format.
For 15 years now, Bergrizen have been standard-bearers for the new wave of Ukrainian black metal which honors the old. The work of one Myrd’raal, Bergrizen have released five studio albums and even a live album, nearly all of which have been released in some manner by Purity Through Fire.
Now, some six years since that last studio album, Bergrizen prepare a unique full-length as a precursor to their next album. Titled Orathania, the record marks a new approach to creation for the band. Otherworldly to the max, Bergrizen‘s approach here is largely based on alternately stirring/soothing ambient with a touch of dark folk and fierce-yet-fleeting moments of black metal. Almost entirely instrumental with some blackened ululations, Orathania inhabits its own world and wholly transports the listener into this magical realm; it will take you on a journey through picturesque landscapes and ancient spirits, as every song represents the ethnocultural regions of Ukraine – the album title itself, actually, means the poetic name of Ukraine. The music was composed by the band’s drummer, except for some of the tracks that were taken from the archive of traditional Ukrainian music; Myrd’raal together with the guest musicians Olgerd (Kroda) and Ogrim (ex-Bergrizen guitarist, Wolftomb) also contributed to the album’s creation.
While we wait for the next regular Bergrizen album to be released by Purity Through Fire, it should be noted that Orathania is more than just a stopgap recording: it is dedicated to their motherland Ukraine and the whole Ukrainian nation, which is unprecedently fighting for freedom.
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Tavria Grace + River Ros’ Rocks” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Bergrizen’s Orathania
1. To the Coasts of Bessarabia
2. River Ros Rocks
3.1. Bukovina Landscapes
3.2. Carpathian Shield of Galicia
3.3. On the Way to Khust
4. Tavria Grace
5. Siveria Magic
6. The Winds of the Mines
7. Khortytsia the Heart of Power
8. Spring in Podil
9. Sloboda Ukraine in Winter
10.Polissya Forests and Volhynia Swamps
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