Kroda Explained

Kroda
Origin:	Dnipro, Ukraine
Genre:	Black metal, pagan metal, Ambient
Years Active:	–present
Label:	Purity Through Fire^[1]

Kroda (Ukrainian: Крода) is a Ukrainian pagan metal band formed in 2003 in Dnipro. The band's primary lyrical themes are heathenism, history, nature, traditionalism and anti-Christianity. Their sixth full-length album was released on May 1, 2015.^{[2] [3]} The band has been labeled as a National Socialist black metal band due to the Holocaust denial expressed in its lyrics and its connections to neo-Nazism.^{[4] [5]}

History

The band was formed by two musicians, Eisenslav and Viterzgir, in March 2003. The name of the band was taken from the Old East Slavic language and means "The fire of burial bonfire". According to legend, when the bodies of the warriors burned, their souls were carried away with the smoke to the Heavenly Palaces of the Gods. The smoke was a kind of a guide to the Rod.^[6]

In May 2004, Kroda released their debut full-length album Поплач мені, річко... (Cry To Me, River...) on Stellar Winter Records.

Their second album До небокраю життя... (Towards The Firmaments Verge Of Life...) was recorded from January to April 2005, and was released on 20 July the same year.^[7] In 2012 it was remastered and reissued on Purity Through Fire Records in Germany.

In August 2007, Kroda made their first live performance at the Ukrainian metal music festival "Svarohovo Kolo II", which was held in Sevastopol.^[8] On December 22, the band participates in the "Kolovorot Fest" in Kharkiv.^[9]

Members

Current line-up

• Eisenslav – vocals, bass (2003–present)
• One of Thorns – bass (2014–present)
• Rungvar – drums (2014–present)
• Clin – keyboards (2014–present)
• Olgerd – keyboards (2011–present)

Past members

• Viterzgir – guitars, bass, folk instruments, keyboards (2003–2010)
• Khladogard – guitars (2014–2015)

Live musicians

• Beralb – bass (2007–2014)
• AlgizTyr – drums (2007–2008)
• Yurii Krupiak – guitars (2007)
• Serejen – guitars (electric and acoustic) (2007–2010)
• Jotunhammer – sopilka (2007)
• Tur – drums (2008–2010)
• Olgerd – keyboards (2008–2010)

Discography

Studio albums

• Поплач мені, річко... (2004)
• До небокраю життя... (2005)
• Похорон сонця (Fimbulvinter) (2007)
• Fünf Jahre Kulturkampf (2009)
• Schwarzpfad (2011)
• GinnungaGap GinnungaGaldr GinnungaKaos (2015)
• Навій Схрон (Navij Skhron) (2015)^[10]
• Selbstwelt (2018)^[11]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Purity Through Fire - Artists . Purity Through Fire . 6 June 2015 . 8 June 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150608190710/http://www.purity-through-fire.com/sites/artists . dead .
2. Web site: GinnungaGap GinnungaGaldr GinnungaKaos . . 14 May 2015 . 18 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518093821/https://kroda.bandcamp.com/album/ginnungagap-ginnungagaldr-ginnungakaos . dead .
3. Web site: A review of Ginnungagap-Ginnungagaldr-Ginnungakaos . nocleansinging.com . 15 April 2015 . 23 May 2015.
4. Web site: When the gods hear the call: the conservative-revolutionary potential of Black Metal Art. Semenyaka. Olena. January 3, 2013. Politosophia. July 13, 2016.
5. Web site: Glasgow metal festival organiser denies bands on bill have links with neo-nazis. Learmonth. Andrew. March 4, 2020. The Herald. en. 2020-04-08.
6. Ukrainian Extreme metal magazine "Atmosfear". Issue No.4.
7. Web site: Kroda - До Небокраю Життя... (Towards The Firmaments Verge Of Life..) . MetalStorm.net . 23 May 2015.
8. Web site: Folk Metal фестиваль "СВАРОГОВО КОЛО II" . Crimean musical portal . ru . 17 May 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150723003944/http://jopamusic.crimea.ua/node/86 . 23 July 2015 .
9. Web site: Kolovorot Fest 2007 . Kroda.com.ua . 17 May 2015.
10. Web site: KRODA: Навій Схрон (NAVIJ SKHRON) . www.nocleansinging.com . 31 October 2015. 6 December 2015.
11. Web site: KRODA: Selbstwelt . www.bandcamp.com . 2 April 2018 . 28 May 2018 . 29 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180529130110/https://kroda.bandcamp.com/album/selbstwelt . dead .