Holy Blood

Infobox musical artist
Name = Holy Blood


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Origin = Kiev, Ukraine
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Genre = Folk metal Unblack metal
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Years_active = 1999 - Present
Label = Bombworks Records
Associated_acts = Evroklidon
URL = http://www.holyblood.org.ua/
Current_members = Fedor Buzilevich (vocals, guitar, blockflute) Sergei Nagorny (guitar) Alexei Andrushenko (bass) Dmitry Titorenko (drums) Vladislav Malitskiy (keyboards)
Past_members = Vera Knyazyova (keyboards, 2001 – 2005) Alexei Furman (guitar, 2001 – 2002) Artyom Stupak (guitar, 2002 – 2003) Eugen Tsesarev (bass, 2001 – 2003) Vyacheslav Kirishun (flute, Ukrainian bagpipe 2005 – 2006)
Notable_instruments = Blockflute, bagpipe

Holy Blood is a folk metal band from Kiev, Ukraine, formed in 1999. The band is notable for being one of the few Christian bands in its genre, and the fact that they are the most successful group on its label Bombworks Records, [Morrow, Matt, (2006-01-18) [http://thewhippingpost.tripod.com/bombworksrecordsinterview.htm Bombworks Records interview] ,"David: Without a question, Holy Blood has been our top seller. Waves Are Dancing has been the best seller, but The Wanderer has certainly been no slouch.", The Whipping Post, retrieved 2007-10-20.] and the band has been noted world wide despite being an underground group. Holy Blood has released two albums, "The Wanderer" and "Waves are Dancing", the latter being their most successful album by far, and a third album titled "The Patriot" is was released in Summer 2008. All their lyrics are sung in Ukrainian.

History

Holy Blood was formed in October 1999 and their music leaned towards hardcore punk style. The band consisted of guitarist-vocalist Fedor Buzilevich, drummer Dmitry Titorenko, and bassist Michail Rodionov. Previously, they played in a band called Voice of Cryeth in which Buzilevich played bass, Titorenko handled keyboard, and Rodionov was the guitarist.

In 2000, the band changed their style to death-grind. A year later in 2001 the band was joined by former Revival lead guitarist Alexei Furman, female keyboardist Vera Knyazeva and former Maranatha member Eugen Tsesarev replaced Radionov as a bassist. Rodionov became a rhythm guitarist. After the line up change, Holy Blood changed their style to melodic death metal and began to record the first studio album.

Fedor and Vera were married in August 2001. In 2002 a local small metal label called Core Zone released the first album "The Wanderer". In the middle 2002, the guitarist Alexei Furman left the band and was replaced by former Maranatha member Artyom Stupak . Holy Blood changed their style to folk death-black metal style and Buzilevich incorporated blockflute.

Rodionov left the band in 2003 and was replaced by former Celestial Call member Sergei Nagorny. Artyom Stupak focused on his own project, unblack metal duo Evroklidon, and eventually Buzilevich became the rhythm guitarist. Sergei Nagorny became a lead guitarist. Buzlilevich and Rodionov recorded a death-grind studio project under the name Requital and released the album "Retribution for Sin". It included previously unreleased songs of Holy Blood.

In December 2003 bass-guitarist Eugene Tsesarev left the band and was replaced by Alexei Andrushenko (Axxent). In the March 2004, Holy Blood was featured on a compilation of Ukrainian Christian metal bands called "Total Armageddon".

In April 18, 2004, the band shot their first music video called "The Spring". During the same month the band launched its website and afterwards their popularity increased notably outside their native country,Morrow, Matt, [http://thewhippingpost.tripod.com/holybloodthewanderer/ Holy Blood - The Wanderer] , The Whipping Post, retrieved (2007-10-20)] and started writing third album. later that year, Holy Blood caught the interest of Texas-based records label Bombworks Records. The band signed a record deal with the label which released "The Wanderer" to available in many different countries. In October band playd concerts in Belarus and participated Hear My Call Tour.

In 2005, Bombworks Records released Holy Blood's second album titled "Waves are Dancing", and it was also released by young Russian label called Musica Production. In July 2, the keyboardist Vera Knyazeva left the band and was replaced by former Gefsad member Vladislav Malitsky. In October, the band was joined by Vyacheslav Kirishun who plays ethnic instruments such as bagpipe and flute.

In June, 2006, Vyacheslav has left the band. 2006 year was successful concert year for the band. Holy Blood played in different cities of Ukraine and also played in Moldova and notable foreign festivals such as Elements of Rock in Switzerland and Maata Näkyvissä in Finland. In 1 December, Jmak Agency shot a professional music video for the self-titled song from the third album "The Patriot", released in early July 2008, and the Russian label Musica Production re-released the first album "The Wanderer" with new artwork. The band is currently going through some line-up changes and is working on the fourth full-length album.

Music

Holy Blood plays folk metal with death and black metal elements. Their music is characterized by elements based on Ukrainian folk traditions and Celtic music. They incorporate notable ethnic instruments such as blockflute and bagpipe. The vocals are high-pitched shrieking but also incorporates folk choirs. The band is influenced by groups such as Ensiferum and Finntroll. "The Wanderer" has been compared to melodic black metal groups such as Dissection but is said to be more modern in sound and style. "The Wanderer" is also said to contain more variety and complex songwriting than "Waves Are Dancing" does. [Taylor, [http://guitar6.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=444 Holy Blood - The Wanderer] , Guitar6, retrieved 2007-10-20)] "Waves are Dancing" embraced more folk oriented direction as majority of the songs incorporate flute and bagpipe. [Taylor, [http://guitar6.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=442 Holy Blood - Waves are Dancing] , Guitar6, retrieved 2007-10-20)] Several songs incorporate guitar solos keyboards and folk choirs. [Morrow, Matt, [http://thewhippingpost.tripod.com/holybloodwavesaredancing/ Holy Blood - Waves are Dancing] , 2006, The Whipping Post, retrieved 2007-10-20] Holy blood's lyrical themes tend to revolve around their Christian faith, heaven, and God.

Line-up

Current members

* Fedor Buzilevich - Vocals, Guitar
* Sergei Nagorny - Guitar
* Alexei "Axxent" Andrushenko - Bass
* Dmitry Titorenko - Drums
* Vladislav Malitskiy - Keyboards

Former Members

* Artyom Stupak - Guitar
* Eugen Cesarev - Bass
* Mihail Rodionov - Guitar
* Vera Knyazyova - Keyboard

= Discography =

tudio albums

*"The Wanderer" (2002)
*"Waves are Dancing" (2005)
*"The Patriot" (2008)

Compilations

*"Total Armageddon" (2004)

References

Notes

External links

* [http://www.holyblood.org.ua/ Official website]
* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=20333 Holy Blood] at Metal-Archives
*MySpace|holybloodband|Holy Blood