Грай
Полынь-трава
Soundage Productions
Grai is a folk metal band formed on the ashes of Raven Blood and Vorog in Russia. It`s their 2009 debut album sung by 2 female vocalists with fantastic sense of melodies and nice, clean voices that occasionally go metal. I do not speak Russian but from the sing of early birds :) I know that lyrics are about Slavic culture, paganism and nature. Throughout the album they are backed by death metal vocals and I have to write that those are quite unnecessary in their music because they already sound good enough metal without growls, roars etc. This is the only element in their music I would not vote for the future as something to do...
Both music and lyrics are strongly influenced by beliefs, and themes of native culture of Russia. Their folk is such wonderful entity as exceptionally great are their flutes that give me that sense of dreamy, very colorful world of their music universe. And the second reasons are vocals, very joyful and charm. They do it either way, even with choirs, melo-declamations and not once, you can sense that pagan background of the country in both music and vocals. Keyboards are another factor to create better essence for the music. They incorporate all instruments in the band almost as good as a wizard when uses his white magic...
There`s so much going on in songs that they keep metal side of the band (guitars, bass, drums) as simply as possible. They make sure this album is easy to approach which they are gifted to do. I ensure you, they enlightened almost every moment and song on this album. Grai reminds you about proud of their (you can as good think of yours) ancestors, music they have left for us and being passed from generations to generations.
Soundage Productions also released this version of the album with extra tracks, including their EP from 2007 called Ot Istoka so you can actually enjoy Grai and folk metal for long time with my recommendations.
Original tracklist:
01. Встретим лето, встретим лето красное
02. Ветры
03. Выйду в поле
04. Песня о печали и о подвиге
05. Пьянь-гулянь
06. Скорбь и Память
07. Зима
08. Берёза
09. Волга-река и Леля-девица
English translation
1. Meet the Summer, Red Summer
2. The Winds
3. I'll Go on Meadow
4. Song About Sorrow and Deed
5. The Revel
6. Grief and Memory
7. Winter
8. The Birch
9. Volga-river and Lelya-Maid
Bonus tracks:
10. Береза (новая версия 2014)
11. Годы предсказаний (Alkonost cover 2012)
От истока (2007) EP
12. Береза
13. Исток
14. Ветры
15. Зима
Line-up:
Rimma Voroniya - vocal, choir
Darya Rodonitsa - vocal, growling, screaming, choir, narration
Aliya Leta - flute
Yefim - keybords
Andrey Charovrat - bass
Ruzel - rhythm, solo, acoustic guitars
Both music and lyrics are strongly influenced by beliefs, and themes of native culture of Russia. Their folk is such wonderful entity as exceptionally great are their flutes that give me that sense of dreamy, very colorful world of their music universe. And the second reasons are vocals, very joyful and charm. They do it either way, even with choirs, melo-declamations and not once, you can sense that pagan background of the country in both music and vocals. Keyboards are another factor to create better essence for the music. They incorporate all instruments in the band almost as good as a wizard when uses his white magic...
There`s so much going on in songs that they keep metal side of the band (guitars, bass, drums) as simply as possible. They make sure this album is easy to approach which they are gifted to do. I ensure you, they enlightened almost every moment and song on this album. Grai reminds you about proud of their (you can as good think of yours) ancestors, music they have left for us and being passed from generations to generations.
Soundage Productions also released this version of the album with extra tracks, including their EP from 2007 called Ot Istoka so you can actually enjoy Grai and folk metal for long time with my recommendations.
Original tracklist:
01. Встретим лето, встретим лето красное
02. Ветры
03. Выйду в поле
04. Песня о печали и о подвиге
05. Пьянь-гулянь
06. Скорбь и Память
07. Зима
08. Берёза
09. Волга-река и Леля-девица
English translation
1. Meet the Summer, Red Summer
2. The Winds
3. I'll Go on Meadow
4. Song About Sorrow and Deed
5. The Revel
6. Grief and Memory
7. Winter
8. The Birch
9. Volga-river and Lelya-Maid
Bonus tracks:
10. Береза (новая версия 2014)
11. Годы предсказаний (Alkonost cover 2012)
От истока (2007) EP
12. Береза
13. Исток
14. Ветры
15. Зима
Line-up:
Rimma Voroniya - vocal, choir
Darya Rodonitsa - vocal, growling, screaming, choir, narration
Aliya Leta - flute
Yefim - keybords
Andrey Charovrat - bass
Ruzel - rhythm, solo, acoustic guitars
Грай
О Земле Родной
Voluspa Records
The band took their time and recorded this album in approx. 7-8 months period time to finally release it in 2011. They have made few slight changes to sound of Grai. The way they tuned their heavy, speed guitar sound is more distinctive. Folk and metal are much better integrated this time around. I have to keep remind you about best things they have which are really beautiful female vocals, very melodic and energetic. The flutes are really the folklore of their music and I absolutely highlight the importance of it. Also, Grai uses harp, violin parts less but timing it in music very good.
I still stick to my opinion that they do need extreme and relevant vocals to proof themselves metal. But I have to give them that it is done much better than on their previous album. They growl it, sing it and what`s important, they mean it.
Look at the front cover of the album. This band gives you perspectives of bright world; make me dream that I fly on the back of the Eagle. They sing about ordinary things: forests, people, nature, seasons and optimism of being alive. Sometimes I do not need words to understand that because waves of music itself have it all. I eventually realize that it is not always a real world they like to deal with but band like Grai that sounds so convenient, so metal and folk, is just wonderful to hear with all surprises they hide on this album. Grai lets me forget about what`s right or wrong in a world in general . If this album does not inspire you to imagine better things while you listen to their music, you do not deserve this band.
ORIGINAL TRACKLIST
1. Pesn o Zemle Rodnoi
2. Pshenychnaya
3. Zimnyaya Skazka
4. Vesna
5. Sred Lesov
6. Leshak
7. Ukhodi Dalëko, Gore
8. Plach o Dolyushke
9. Voin Khrabryi, Yasnyi Sokol
10. Vstavai s Kolen
Bonustrack
11. V obyatiyakh Mary
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1. The Song About Native Land
2. The Wheathen Song
3. Winter Tale
4. Spring
5. Within the Forests
6. Leshak
7. Leave Us, Sorrow
8. Lament About the Lot
9. Brave Warrior
10. Get Up Your Knees
Bonustrack
11. In the Arms of Mara
I still stick to my opinion that they do need extreme and relevant vocals to proof themselves metal. But I have to give them that it is done much better than on their previous album. They growl it, sing it and what`s important, they mean it.
Look at the front cover of the album. This band gives you perspectives of bright world; make me dream that I fly on the back of the Eagle. They sing about ordinary things: forests, people, nature, seasons and optimism of being alive. Sometimes I do not need words to understand that because waves of music itself have it all. I eventually realize that it is not always a real world they like to deal with but band like Grai that sounds so convenient, so metal and folk, is just wonderful to hear with all surprises they hide on this album. Grai lets me forget about what`s right or wrong in a world in general . If this album does not inspire you to imagine better things while you listen to their music, you do not deserve this band.
ORIGINAL TRACKLIST
1. Pesn o Zemle Rodnoi
2. Pshenychnaya
3. Zimnyaya Skazka
4. Vesna
5. Sred Lesov
6. Leshak
7. Ukhodi Dalëko, Gore
8. Plach o Dolyushke
9. Voin Khrabryi, Yasnyi Sokol
10. Vstavai s Kolen
Bonustrack
11. V obyatiyakh Mary
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1. The Song About Native Land
2. The Wheathen Song
3. Winter Tale
4. Spring
5. Within the Forests
6. Leshak
7. Leave Us, Sorrow
8. Lament About the Lot
9. Brave Warrior
10. Get Up Your Knees
Bonustrack
11. In the Arms of Mara
Грай
Млада
Noizgate Records
Another thing I like about this band, they are not repetitive when comes to the sound. Every album has different final production to it. Mlada seems to have most prominent and representative sound for the band they have ever achieved. Music and the sound grow with the band simultaneously and it is so good to hear them to being capable to keep their music identity over the years and still moving forward.
Everybody in the band has a space in music and you can switch your attention from nicely tracked bass parts to always top performed flutes and from just lovely melodic vocals to very constructive guitars leads. Of course, all additional instruments like in previous albums are fantastic, brings more and more depth and shining profundity of colors to the music with each and every song. It`s like a plain a rose next to another that grows a garden and garden that grows a forest and so on until you see a beautiful folklore of their music...
With lyrics this time, they go much funnier and humorous. It`s really amusing reading all those stories which are sung with different variations and vocal modulations. They really know how to use words to make you part of their music,myths and everything else.
This album is irresistible if you are in music like that and I mean metal and folk that all together is in great and natural symbiosis in Grai.
Line-up:
Irina Zybina (vocals)
Ruzel “Ruzveld“ (guitar)
Aliya “Leta“ (flutes, bag-pipes, vocals)
Yuri Bedusenko (bass, growls, kaljuka, jew’s harp)
Andrey Smirnov (drums)
+special guests.
Tracklist:
01. Борода (Beard)
02. Крепкая охота (Hunt)
03. Млада (Mlada)
04. Обнимая бурю (Hugging The Storm)
05. Сенокос (Hay Harvest)
06. Вернись (Get Back)
07. Посею горе (I Will Sow My Sorrow)
08. Крепость (Fortress)
09. Outro
10. В объятиях мары (In The Arms Of Mara) [bonus]
11. Язь (Yaz') [bonus]
All reviews written by Slawek Migacz
Added:26.10.2017
Everybody in the band has a space in music and you can switch your attention from nicely tracked bass parts to always top performed flutes and from just lovely melodic vocals to very constructive guitars leads. Of course, all additional instruments like in previous albums are fantastic, brings more and more depth and shining profundity of colors to the music with each and every song. It`s like a plain a rose next to another that grows a garden and garden that grows a forest and so on until you see a beautiful folklore of their music...
With lyrics this time, they go much funnier and humorous. It`s really amusing reading all those stories which are sung with different variations and vocal modulations. They really know how to use words to make you part of their music,myths and everything else.
This album is irresistible if you are in music like that and I mean metal and folk that all together is in great and natural symbiosis in Grai.
Line-up:
Irina Zybina (vocals)
Ruzel “Ruzveld“ (guitar)
Aliya “Leta“ (flutes, bag-pipes, vocals)
Yuri Bedusenko (bass, growls, kaljuka, jew’s harp)
Andrey Smirnov (drums)
+special guests.
Tracklist:
01. Борода (Beard)
02. Крепкая охота (Hunt)
03. Млада (Mlada)
04. Обнимая бурю (Hugging The Storm)
05. Сенокос (Hay Harvest)
06. Вернись (Get Back)
07. Посею горе (I Will Sow My Sorrow)
08. Крепость (Fortress)
09. Outro
10. В объятиях мары (In The Arms Of Mara) [bonus]
11. Язь (Yaz') [bonus]
All reviews written by Slawek Migacz
Added:26.10.2017
Grai Bandcamp
Grai Facebook
Grai VKontakte
Grai Website
Soundage Productions Website
Voluspa Records Website
Noizgate Records Website
Grai Facebook
Grai VKontakte
Grai Website
Soundage Productions Website
Voluspa Records Website
Noizgate Records Website