Written by Eirik Jacobsen, Imhotep webzine
Friday, 26 May 2006
Imhotep Rating: 8/10
Urskumug is certainly an interesting listening.
The Latvians have captured the monotony of Darkthrone and mixed it with the pompous productions of Dimmu Borgir. Imagine A Blaze In The Northern Sky and Transilvanian Hunger having the sound quality of Enthrone Darkness Triumphant- then youre one step closer to Am Nodr!
Further more mix Fenrizs drumming with the tribal maestro from Brazil. Just check out 2012 and the title track Am Nodr and youll find traces of Igor Cavaleras creativity. The former track also reminds me of Sepultura by its simplistic Andreas Kisser sound-alike guitar solos.
Vocally Urskumug is fairly close to Nocturno Culto just with a Latvian accent occasionally visiting the infamous death metal cellar. By adding harps, synthetics and samples youve entered the underworld of Urskumug.
A5 3-pannel digipack
Filmed by 4 Lithuanian National TV operators and mixed by Žydrius "Hydra" from one of the famoust Lithuanian black metal band of early 90-ies Meressin - this means PRO QUALITY PRODUCT! language - lithuanian, english / picture - 4:3 / audio - dolby digital / duration - 67 minutes
with
KOVARNIS - historical warriors club - Lithuania
VARINGIS - historical warriors club - Lithuania
VILKI - folk - Latvia
AUĻI - folk - Latvia
ŽALVARINIS - folk rock - Lithuania
URSKUMUG - tribal black metal - Latvia
THARAPHITA - pagan metal - Estonia
OBTEST - pagan metal - Lithuania
ANCIENT RITES - Belgium
ALTAJA - fire show - Lithuania
NAHASH - occult black metal - Lithuania
Price worldwide (p+p included) - 14 eur per copy!!! (please contact via beverina@gmail.com for payment details)
(First orders will be shipped with A5 oversized festival postcard, magnetic business-card and 3 stickers.
URSKUMUG (former RAVEN) came to be in 2001, when the twosome of Krauklis (guitar/voice) and Slayorda (keys) was joined by Maero (guitar). Ever since, the sound of the band evolved towards a rapid and atmospheric black metal hailstorm with an intention to avoid live drums, relying on the impeccable soul of the drummachine instead.
In 2002 the band chose its current name, which represents the primordial mythago and the earliest stage of the so-called human mould, depicted as a bear/boar-like half-animal, half-human creature in a cycle of mythopoetical fiction novels, authored by the English zoologist Robert Holdstock. During its first years of pre-conceived existence URSKUMUG tried out a number of other musicians, however none met the conditions vital to remain with the band.
Late 2002 saw the bands first live appearances and rehearsal/studio recordings. The song When Water Becomes Ice was featured on the then only Latvian metal compilation CD, and in August 2003 URSKUMUG entered the infamous studio Phoenix in Riga to record their first full-length album P--reja (Passage). The self-released demo-cd received an excellent response and estabilished URSKUMUG among the elite of Latvian metal bands.
The next 2 years passed by playing shows, working on songs and looking out for the missing links in the chain. The long search was rewarded in the beginning of 2005, when Kriwix (ex-Moonveil) is unearthed as a permanent bassist for URSKUMUG. Later this year the band is abandoned by its long-term member Slayorda, whose replacement is soon found in Draake, former keyman of the Latvian dragon metal legends Heresiarh. Another blink of an eye later URSKUMUG accept a deal with the Lithuanian label Ledo Takas Records and head for the studio again. The result of this cooperation is Am Nodr [The Other Side] CD - the industrial-tinged tribal black metal cycle representing a young seeker's spiritual journey through the deathside of the collective subconscious and verbally exploring the subjects of Shamanism, Time and the Shadow.
However shortly after the release of Am Nodr both Draake and Kriwix decide to cease their membership with URSKUMUG and Krauklis with Maero are left alone again. Nevertheless it takes only half a year to find a new, full line-up for the band and at last, in the beginning of 2007, the band is comissioned with 3 new musicians - Balrogh on drums (known from the Latvian gothic/industrial rock band Ex Anim--, the thrash metal oldies Huskvarn, and a couple more) together with the bass player Ilze from the same band, and Mythago - the goddess of keyboards.
Discography:
Compilations
Melna Piektdiena 5 CD [2003, Gothic Productions]
Wood Brothers CD [2005, Elegy Records] available here: Tonal Two CDr [2005, Ixtlan Industries]
Albums
Pareja CDr [2003, self-released] available here: Am Nodr CD [2006, Ledo Takas Records] available here; ;
reviews: Urskumug/Medievil split CD-r [2006, real black/silver digipack, ltd to 22 pcs] available here: Passover digi-CD [2007, Russian edition of "Pareja", Haarbn Productions, division of Metalism Records] available here:
"Am Nodr" album is also available from following labels/ditribution services worldwide:
CHRISTHUNT - ger, DEATH SOLUTION - pol, DRAKKAR - fra, EASTSIDE - pol,
EPIDEMIE - cze, EYE/DZIUPLA - pol, FOLTER - ger, HEXENREICH - est, INVICTUS - irl, METALISM - rus, NAILBOARD - est, NYKTA - gre, PARAGON - usa,
RED STREAM - usa, SOLDATS INCONNUS - fra, SOLITUDE - rus,
SUFFERING JESUS - can, SUPERNAL - eng, TEMPLE OF DARKNESS - spa,
THE BASAR - ger, UNDERGROUND RESISTANCE - ser
coming next:
new album...
Contact:
band official
beverina@gmail.com
management in Russia and teritory of CIS
DRAUG MANAGEMENT
draugmanagement@yahoo.com
+7-910-382-70-53 (Ulybin Dmitry)
Infernal Hails and thanks for the support Keep alive the Fucking Underground Metal Flame and the Expansion of Darkness. Greetings from North Africa. Barbaros.
In the first three months of production I have sold 22 Persona Series Cassettes. These albums are completely original 45 minute recordings, named after the purchaser who also retains full rights to further production of, and broadcast of the release. Each Persona Tape comes with 2 hand drawn mini posters, and a hand drawn cover. This is the most unique and exciting release you will ever own, order yours now for $10 (domestic shipping included, international shipping determined by distance) while I still feel like making them! Thanks for your time, and thanks for letting me advertise on this site :)
Hi! We are an Aggrotech/Orgasmik band from Montreal, Canada ! Thanks for the Add and the Support! Come and visit our Myspace for further news and informations!
Salut! Merci pour l'Ajout et le Support! Venez visiter notre Myspace pour des nouvelles et des informations ulterieures!
Hello! I was not able to write you a message - it does not work. So I wanted do ask you if you are interested in a interview for my magazine. Just write me a message and leave your eMail.
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