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SKYFORGER BAND PAGE
 SKYFORGER
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CURRENT NAME
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Skyforger | |
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FORMER NAMES
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- | |
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ORIGIN
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Rīga, Rīga District, Latvia | |
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STATUS
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Active | |
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FORMED IN
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1995 | |
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LABEL
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Folter Records | |
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GENRE
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Folk music; Metal | |
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STYLE
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- | |
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LYRICAL THEME
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- | |
| BAND ADDED | 2005-09-06, 00:00 | |
| LAST UPDATE | 2008-02-11, 06:15 | |
Biography | Band members | Discography | Shows | Forum
| Band biography |
1996
In the month of February, two new warriors joined our lines: guitarist RIHARD (formely a member of GUILLOTINE and SANCTIMONY) and GINTS LUNDBERG, who became the band's sound engineer and helps us thence in all kind of ways. All the summer and autumn, we worked on new material and took part in a lot of local gigs. At this time we finalized our concept of the band's musical style-we call it PAGAN/FOLK METAL, but we do not want to be bound by the limits of one style of metal.
1997
In March, the demo album "SEMIGALLS' WARCHANT" was recorded in studio PHOENYX in Riga. We published it in cassette format. The album tells of the brave Semigallians and the numerous battles that they fought against Christian invaders in the 12th - 13th centuries, and of the ancient Latvian pagan religion. We sent this demo to several record companies, and, at the end of the year, we already had a contract with the Dutch MASCOT RECORDS for 3 cd's. All through the year we took part in many local gigs.
1998
January to April, we worked on new songs and, in May, the new album "KAUJA PIE SAULES"(THE BATTLE OF SAULE) was finished, recorded in studio PHOENYX. The album elaborated upon the themes first presented in our demo tape. In summer, IMANT left our band and his place by the drums was taken by KARLIS from SANCTIMONY. Together with KARLIS, we took part in the first BALTIC THUNDER TOUR across Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. After the tour a new drummer joined us - EDGAR "MAZAIS", he plays in HERESIARH, too. In October, our debut CD "KAUJA PIE SAULES" is released; in November, we played in the DEATH COMES festival in Vilnius (Lithuania) and in a lot of local gigs, too.
1999 During the spring and summer, we were busy working on new songs. In April, at PHOENYX studio again, we began recording a new album, and RIHARD left the band.
2000
We continued as a trio and by January the work was done. The new album was titled "LATVIEŠU STRELNIEKI"/"LATVIAN RIFLEMEN". The poetry is based upon stories from World War I. In Fearuary, RIHARD returned. At that time , we got another new member -VALDIS "STRIŽA" BERZVADS, who helps us with management and in many other ways. Besides a lot of local gigs, in September, together with SANCTIMONY, we played in two gigs in Belarus (Minsk & Brest). In October, "LATVIAN RIFLEMEN" was released, and we took part in a support tour across Latvia with a Latvian death band BRUTE CHANT. All spring, summer and autumn we actively wrote songs for a new , third album.
2001 - 2002
Skyfogrer left "Mascotrecords" and worked on the new stuff of the third studio album Perkonkalve ("Thunderforge"). We played at lots of gigs around Baltic countries The band's new homepage www.skyforger.lv has been launched.
Through all these years, we have played not only metal, we have also practiced as a real folk band and have already taken part in some folk concerts playing true ancient Latvian folksongs. At this time our line up is:
PETER - vocals ,guitars, folk instruments, warrior voices;
RIHARD - guitars, backing vocals, folk instruments, warrior voices;
EDGAR "ZIRGS"- bass, backing vocals, folk instruments, warrior voices;
EDGAR "MAZAIS"- drums, percussions.
Making of "Sword Song" (2003):
We are not a professional folk group, we have started as enthusiasts and played only for ourselves. Ordinary we are known as folk/metal band and that is our real way of music. We recorded this album urged by friends and fans and also because of our love to Latvian history, culture and folklore.
Most of the songs you can hear here are taken from the repertoire of well-known local folk groups and some are the new versions of the songs from our previous albums. Our passion is ancient war and mythological songs and that is what you can hear on this album.
This record has been released with support of the Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia.
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8.5 / 10 Read our review here | ||
8 / 10 Read our review here | ||
8.5 / 10 Read our review here | ||
8 / 10 Read our review here | ||
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