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*Artists updated on 2 March, 2022
**Information true as of 25 February, 2022
Ukraine has come under attack by Russian military forces. The tension that has been building for months finally bubbled over into a full-scale invasion. This fact, in spite of repeated reassurances from Vladimir Putin that there was no such plan to invade.
Misinformation has since prevailed. The Kremlin has now dubbed the invasion a “peacekeeping mission” for the cause of “denazification” from the capital Kiev and to prevent an “ongoing genocide” comitted at the hands of the Ukrainian government. This narrative is rejected by the international community who (aside from the Chinas and North Koreas of the world) unanimously support the democratically elected Ukrainian government, led by former comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Since the Russian invasion, Ukraine, a country of 44 million people, has descended into chaos. Europe is now sitting on the precipice of a humanitarian crisis as thousands (or millions) of Ukrainians flee West into the bordering European Union nations of Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania. For civilians who stay, the Ukrainian government is now providing them with weapons to assist in the push against Russian forces.
The situation has been developing quickly, but even in this short period of time, different methods of support for both the resistance against Russian forces, and the Ukrainian people have appeared. Bitcoin donations to the Ukrainian army have soared, and a liberal refugee policy led by Poland have been just some of the ways support has been shown.
But what can I, a humble follower of the underground music scene, actually do to help these people? The answer: Support Ukrainian artists on Bandcamp.
The idea here is this – if you like what you see, hear, or read, you go and you buy their music for whatever you can afford.
The money you spend will go directly to artists, which you may take some comfort in knowing. However, if donating to charity is more your style, please donate to Razom For Ukraine. A link to their Linktree is below which contains around a dozen donation options and causes.
As for the music itself, Ukraine has a lot of metal bands (especially black metal), but also a number of drone, experimental and ambient artists were uncovered. This list will be updated periodically, so if you see this and feel any artists should be added to the list, please add this as a comment to the social media posts.
svrm
Starting with a black metal band. svrm (all lowercase) make shredding black metal that taps into both atmospheric and post-black metal. Not unlike Deafheaven, and with impressive artwork.
Zirkular Dion
The artwork here was a huge selling point. This is some pretty energetic goth club styled industrial EBM which is pretty fun. Think a sweaty German club in the late 80s. Front 242 would be proud.
Soom
A band that wears many faces, but is ultimately defined by its heaviest. Long interludes and ambient passages are merely cushions for the lo-fi noise sludge that this group does best.
Akhernar
A highlight thus far – drone, dark ambient, dungeon synth with a sprinkling of abrasion and a heavy helping of female vocals to float through it all. Pleasing experimental music from what seems to be a solo female project with big ideas and a pretty solid delivery. For people who’d prefer not to conduct their rituals in silence.
The COW
Freak out – this one’s a little on the psychedelic side. Drugs references and riffs are the name of the game for this Kyiv based stoner band.
Stoned Jesus
One of the bigger names on this here list. Stoned Jesus do little to alleviate the drug themes and deliver their signature brand of fuzzed-out stoner doom.
Follow Stoned Jesus on Facebook
Follow Stoned Jesus on Instagram
Follow Stoned Jesus on Twitter
Somali Yacht Club
Another bigger name, feel the ocean breeze through your hair with this slow and atmospheric doom music. Merch galore happening on their BandCamp page.
Follow Somali Yacht Club on Facebook
1914
Where Fear And Weapons Meet! I think this band can see into the future. The cryptic band name and evocative album title says it all – shredding riffs, blast beats, and blackened vocals in one big triumphant package.
White Ward
More metal \m/ White Ward take the avant-garde path of black of black metal. Icy riffs, a whole lot of different instruments including keys and brass, and a well-executed atmosphere.
Follow White Ward on Instagram
Straytones
Psychedelic & garag-ey. More than anyone else on this list, this group are writing songs. Dreamy, and probably fit for a rather wide audience.
Follow Straytones on Instagram
Ezkaton
Depressive black metal that is ripe for the times. Unholy and dark with underlying keys, soul consuming shrieks and cries. Razor sharp and atmospheric.
Black Light District
A new release! Released only two weeks ago, Black Light District’s album, Black Light District II, takes a synth driven approach to its version of goth focused post-punk. An obvious nod to Coil’s album of the same name, and featuring a cover of classic Christian Death track, Spiritual Cramp.
Follow Black Light District on Facebook
Këkht Aräkh
I’d seen Këkht Aräkh’s The Pale Swordsman around, and read a review in Exhale The Ash Issue 2 (a Poland-based DiY metal zine – follow the link to follow Exhale The Ash on Instagram). A sombre yet powerful take on the genre.
Follow Këkht Aräkh on Instagram.
Follow Këkht Aräkh on Facebook.
Celophys
Heavy sludge / doom metal from a city called Cherkasy. Slow stuff with an interesting focus on prehistoric animals and strange creatures.
Bezmir
This doesn’t fuck about. Self described as “cosmic black metal”, give it a listen and chuck them a few bucks to find out why.
Severoth
Atmospheric black metal. Pretty tight and professional.
Raventale
Ukraine’s appetite for black metal is strong. Raventale slow things down with an emphasis on atmosphere and an impressive vocal performance.
Sidus Atrum
From the Bandcamp page: “Sidus Atrum is a one-woman blackened death doom project from Ukraine“. Highs, lows, growls and whispers – well worthy of your support!
Follow Sidus Atrum on Facebook.
Apostate
This jovial bunch of lads do an epic death metal / doom metal hybrid. Cheers fellas.
Nug
Post-metal vibes for the Aaron Turner generation.
Odradek Room
More metal with a doom metal / death metal edge. Painted minds and painted album covers!
Follow Odradek Room on Facebook.
Embrace Of Silence
Taking a neo-classical approach to doom in the footsteps of My Dying Bride. Impressive growls and a depressive streak.
Follow Embrace Of Silence on Facebook.
Follow Embrace Of Silence on Twitter.
Selma
By their own admission: “sludgy polyphonic post-metal with saxophone.” Plenty going on with this band.
DakhaBrakha
A recommendation from Denmark, and not an easy one to classify. A whole range of instrumentation, a little bit choral, and including tense build-ups and acapellas.
anthéne & Simon McCorry
Bringing some ambience to the list, this project from Kyiv creates layers of drone from both synthetic and classical means. Lots of experimentation with sounds combined with a mature approach to their discipline.
Follow anthéne & Simon McCorry on Facebook
пуща
Post-black metal with atmosphere, great vocals, and a female lead.
Mauser
Energetic crossover and live favourites from Lviv.
Bluesbreaker
Another act leaning more to the punk end of the spectrum.
Follow Bluesbreaker on Facebook.
Kat
A tip-off from from those in the know. The next big thing.
Ginger Snap5
Bubblegum industrial pop for those still listening to The Matrix soundtrack.
Follow Ginger Snap5 on Instagram.
Follow Ginger Snap5 on Facebook.
This webpage isn’t going to hold many more embeds. Further suggestions can be found in the comments 🙏
Reminder*
The purpose of this article is to gain support for those who need it in Ukraine. Please buy this music and/or donate to the charity Razom For Ukraine if you can.
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Some other industrial / goth Ukrainian bands…
https://gingersnap5.bandcamp.com/
https://na-hag.bandcamp.com/album/fragments-of-human
https://rinal78.bandcamp.com/album/opinionated
https://bodymusick.bandcamp.com/album/contract-ep
https://synthematik.bandcamp.com/track/mind-assault
https://darkpage.bandcamp.com/album/the-nightchild-shadows-of-the-time
https://tescogermany.bandcamp.com/track/ebola-disco-flies-for-friends
https://madessence.bandcamp.com/album/rehumanization
https://rroo.bandcamp.com/album/deviation
https://bugscrawlingoutofpeople.bandcamp.com/album/strange-days
https://alesaparanoid.bandcamp.com/
Thank you!