 Style: Progressive / Folk Metal
Year of birth: 1997
Country: Russia
Views: 3226. Updated: 10 February, 2005 by Project Moderators
Biography of BandOn 6-th of September 1997 the fate stuck badly the Yaroslavl-based Viking Doom Metal band SCALD – the vocalist and leader
of the band namely Agyl (Maxim Andrianov) passed away. The Rest of the band (Harald – guitars, Karry – guitars, Velingor –
bass and Ottar – drums) decided that SCALD must end it’s existence. Then and there were taken the decision to create
another band which musical style must differ SCALD's one. TUMULUS ("A Burial Mound".) – that wasn't only the name of one
of the tracks on SCALD's only released album "Will Of The Gods Is Great Power", but also a memory of Agyl (the lines "…
The tumulus is symbol of eternal sorrow…" symbolize this).
Till the end of 1997 TUMULUS experiment with different kinds of Metal, and also with different vocal types. Gradually,
basic theme in the music becomes elements of slav folk music (under the influence of Russian bands such as SEDMAYA VODA,
RAZNOTRAVIE, KALINOV MOST and INNA JELANNAYA ("Vodorosly" album)), and also "progressive" concept of the compositions-
tempo changes, more complex song structures- under the influence of Progressive Metal as FATES WARNING and DREAM THEATER,
and on other hand Art (Progressive) Rock as MIKE OLDFIELD, YES, PINK FLOYD, the early GENESIS. Great influence on TUMULUS
gave also THE 3rd AND THE MORTAL (early stuff), AMORPHIS ("Elegy" album times) and BATHORY.
The band calls its’ style as Art Progressive Folk Metal.
The difference between TUMULUS and the most so-called "Pagan Metal" bands, that use in their lyrics before all themes
about the pagan gods, heroic battles and fight against Christianity is big. TUMULUS sings about the Slavonic pagan magic:
rites, ritual chants, bewitchment, the perception of the woods, rivers and soil as living creatures, also of the so-called
"vertical" world (the one inhabited with ghosts) and the inner life of a man, having the pagan within himself. Great
influence on the lyrics of TUMULUS gave the poetry of the so-called "Silver Century" - V. KHLEBNIKOV, K. BALYMONT,
N.ZABOLOCKY and so on, and also DMITRY REVYAKIN (KALINOV MOST) and INGA ZAPOROZHEC - poetess, vocalist and leader of the
Yaroslavl-based DOM MEDICHI.
During the writing of the lyrics TUMULUS began actively to use ethnographical literature (basically about the
northwestern regions of Russia). Big part of TUMULUS's lyrics are old Slavonic enchantment formulas.
At the end of the year permanent members of TUMULUS becomes Kuchma – vocals and Vigdis – keyboards. The first live
appearance of TUMULUS is on 21-st of December 1997 at the Yaroslavl based club "U Mosta".
At the beginning of the summer 1998, the guitarist Karry leaves TUMULUS and the band continues playing with five members
only.
In the first half of 1999 at Nickolay Checkmassov's "Check Sound" studio in Yaroslavl is recorded the first demo "Krada"
where is recorded unreleased at this time material. As a guest back vocalist is Ilya "Judas" Kasatkin from the Progressive
Power Metal band MILLENNIUM (now Santerno).
At this period another guitarist joins TUMULUS, his name is Igreny, and until that he has played in STREMNIE LYUDI (which
style was a mix between Russian rock, alternative and punk) and also had his own Neoclassical Metal project. For a period
of time TUMULUS plays live as a six-pack, but soon the guitarist Harald leaves the band.
TUMULUS are again a five-piece and in August, the same year, the band plays on the international underground festival
"The Other Side" in Bulgaria, in the city of Primorsko (at the shores of Black Sea), and also played a gig in a club in
Plowdiv. The drummer, Ottar, couldn't go with them due to some problems at work, so they took for a session drummer
Alexandr Nikitin, the leader of the Yaroslavian Gothic/Ambient band TANQUAM.
In the autumn of 1999 Velingor and Vigdis record the track "The Thread" (with ambient influences) at the home studio "DVA
SHURUPA" (which is owned by Andrey Zolotarev), whom also does some acoustics and backing vocals, plus does some
arrangements.
TUMULUS take decision to record a demo "Vo Luzeh" under the guidance of Andrey Zolotarev. The demo was recorded during
2000 and beared an experimental character ("The Thread" composition was included). Except the main TUMULUS musical styles
inhere were included some trance, trance, techno and ambient elements aswell. Nevermind later was decided that such
elements will not be included later.
During the record-session guest appearance made Maria Chirkova (violin) from the Folk Metal band ARUNKULTA (now Folk Rock
band ROSY), Vika Samoznaeva (vocals) from MORNING CHILD, and Natalia "Lilith" Volkova (keyboards) from the Sympho Black
Metal band MARTIAL ART. At this time Vigdis leaves TUMULUS. Her place is, in the beginning, reserved for Maria Chirkova,
but later is given to Natalia "Lilith" Volkova ( in TUMULUS under the name "Vechernica").
In 2001 Vechernica leaves TUMULUS and Vigdis returns.
During the autumn the drummer Ottar leaves the band and his place is taken by Kurbat from the Doom Metal band AUTODAFE.
In 2003 TUMULUS decide to finally record a quality album "Winter Wood", which should consist of new tracks, aswell as
ssome old tracks with better arrangements. It’s decided that the album will be recorded at Roman Voronov's "Mega Bite"
studio. Due to some technical problems the record takes far too long time, and on the top a part of the recorded material
is lost. After long conflicts the band leaves Igreny (whom became a member of ROSY). His place is taken by Zus Obmorokh
from METAL EMPIRE.
For the completion the album, the mixing and the mastering, in 2003 TUMULUS again enter "Check Sound" studios. This time
for the tracks "Yavir" and "Resnoty Sonty…" the vocals are recorded by one of the best Russian Folk female singers Marina
Sokolova from SEDMAYA VODA. In May the same year, the band played again in Bulgaria (with the help of Anton "St.Ruck"
("Wroth Emitter")), where played on the "Sounds from the Undercroft – Witch's Night" festival in Sofia.
TUMULUS leaves the guitarist Zus Obmorokh, and is decided that no new members will be included, so, Kurbat leaves the
drums and becomes a guitarist while his place is taken again by Ottar.
In the beginning of 2004 the work on "Winter Wood" is completed and in the spring of the same year TUMULUS for a first
time plays in Romania - in the Bucharest's "Club A", and after that again in Bulgaria in the Sofia's club "O!Shipka".
Now TUMULUS work upon their new album "Sredokresie". |
Members of Tumulus
Current Members:
Kuchma. In Band at: 1997 - . Role: Vocals, Flute
Velingor. In Band at: 1997 - . Role: Bass
Kurbat. In Band at: 2001 - . Role: Guitars, Drums
Vigdis. In Band at: 1997 - . Role: Keyboards
Ottar. In Band at: 1997 - . Role: Drums
Past Members:
Karry. Period: 1997 - 1998. Role: Guitars
Side projects: Scald, Emerald Night
Harald. Period: 1997 - 1999. Role: Guitars
Side projects: Scald
Vechernica (Lilith). Period: 2000 - 2001. Role: Keyboards
Side projects: Martial Art
Igreny. Period: 1999 - 2002. Role: Guitars
Side projects:
Zus Obmorokh. Period: 2002 - 2003. Role: Guitars
Side projects: Metal Empire |
DiscographyDemo: Krada (1999) Tracklist.
Lineup: Kuchma - Vocals, Harald - Guitars, Velingor - Bass, Backing Vocals, Vigdis - Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Ottar - Drums, Percussion
Demo: Vo Luzeh (2000) Tracklist.
Lineup: Kuchma - Vocals, Igreny - Guitars, Velingor - Bass, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Vigdis - Keyboards, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Ottar - Drums, Percusiion
CD: Winter Wood (2004) Tracklist.
Lineup: Kuchma - Vocals, Flute, Igreny - Guitars, Balalayka, Velingor - Bass, Buben, Percussion, Backing Vocals, Vocals, Vigdis - Keyboards, Vocals, Kurbat - Drums, Marina Sokolova - Female Vocals
Comment: Marina is on "??i?" and "??????? ?????...". |
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