Ukrainian metal band Ignea takes listeners into cinematic worlds with its new single “Dunes.” The song is from the band’s new concept album, “Dreams of Lands Unseen,” out April 28, 2023, via Napalm Records (pre-order here).
With “Dunes,”, Ignea dives into the sweltering realms of the Sahara Desert, as far-eastern melodies merge with hard-hitting riffs. The idea behind this composition was to compare the Sahara to the Carpathian Mountains, so the eastern vibe of the music is paired with traditional Ukrainan melodies and language, which pays tribute to Sofia Yablonska’s roots and adventures.
“We continue telling the story of the amazing Ukrainian travel writer and photographer Sofia Yablonska who lived in the XX century. “Dunes” is inspired by her adventure to the Sahara Desert,” vocalist Helle Bohdanova said. “On this dangerous journey, Sofia’s driver fainted from the intense heat, so she had to take charge of driving and also fix the overheated engine herself. Their troubles didn’t end there, as they also had to escape from hostile locals who tried to shoot them.
“Our song describes how Sofia saw a mirage, so common in the desert. In our version, instead of imagining palm trees and an oasis, she saw the chilly Carpathian mountains with pine trees and rainfalls …”
Yablonska was known for traveling to distant corners of the world while documenting the lives of tribes and natives, which was especially dangerous and uncommon for a woman of her time.
Producing, mixing and mastering was helmed by Max Morton (Jinjer, Morton), while Dmitry Kim managed engineering and drum production.
The track “Daleki Obriyi” is only one of two songs on the album sung in Ukrainian language, honoring the band’s home country and mother tongue. Implying distant horizons, the album’s subject, Sofia, is now far away from modern human civilization. Brutal death metal rhythms and shouts crash together with synth passages, representing the beauty of the islands. Ready to move on, Sofia sails to the next country—spending so much time on the water, it becomes her “Incurable Disease.” Carried away by the synth sounds of the sea and turbulent, pounding waves, it creates an extraordinary voyage. Songs like “The Golden Shell” and “Opiumist”—the latter featuring Finnish vocalist Tuomas Saukkonen of Wolfheart—are an ode to Yablonska’s experiences she gathered in Chinese culture. Cheery eastern melodies and brutal growls create the atmosphere of a heavy trip. On “Nomad’s Luck,” restless guitar riffs mixed with powerful deep shouts create an ominous sound—a symbol of the constant questioning of one’s lifetime.
“Dreams of Lands Unseen” track list:
- Téoura
- Dunes
- Camera Obscura
- Далекі Обрії
- To No One I Owe
- Incurable Disease
- Nomad’s Luck
- The Golden Shell
- Opiumist feat. Tuomas Saukkonen
- Zénith
“Dreams of Lands Unseen” is available in the following formats:
- LP Gatefold Vinyl Creamy
- CD 6-page Digisleeve
- Bundle T-Shirt + CD
- Digital Album
“Dreams of Lands Unseen” is Ignea’s third full-length, following “The Realms of Fire and Death” in 2020 and “The Sign of Faith” in 2017.
Leave a Reply