04/05/2010 22:29

Skyforger

Skyforger: 'Kurbads'

Latvia's pagan metal band Skyforger's new opus will be released soon. 'Kurbads' offers the typical Skyforger fusion of various metal styles, like old school thrash and heavy metal as well as Latvian folk music, all rounded up with the trademark Skyforger sound!

The whole artwork was created by Skyforger's guitarist Martins and is connected to the story of 'Kurbads'. Kurbads is the name of a legendary hero from Latvian fairytales of old. He was born magically from the white mare, grew up very fast and was unimaginably strong.

Comments lead vocalist and guitarist Peter: "The tale of Kurbads is a collection of stories and legends recorded near the end of the 19th century by folk enthusiasts. Usually, they were short or medium in length and had many variations. The main theme found in all of them, however, is that of a man who fights against mythical evil forces and, by defeating them, becomes a hero. I think that the tale of Kurbads is interesting because it uncovers many things from Latvia's past, not just historical facts of course, but aspects of daily life and people's ways of thinking who lived in ancient times. Baltic cultural heritage is mostly unknown to Europe and even more so to the rest of the world. So we wanted to reveal some parts of it, and also show that, in Baltic literature, there are great legends and tales just as those about Cuchulainn, Nibelungs, Kalevala, King Arthur and the knights of the round table, and more!"

Skyforger's new album 'Kurbads' will be released as a limited 6-panel-Digipak on the 23rd/ 26th of April 2010 via Metal Blade Records in Europe and on the 11th of May 2010 in the U.S.

(source: Metal Blade Records)