Kartikeya is a Russian band we’ve mentioned quite often at this site (use the search box on this page and you’ll see what I mean). They’re very popular among those of us on the NCS staff, and they seem to be popular among our readers and other contributors, too (e.g., see Trollfiend’s list of the year’s best albums posted earlier today). They play an unusual (and unusually appealing) style of heavy-grooved melodic death metal that incorporates elements of traditional Indian music.
The leader of Kartikeya is a dude named Roman “Arsafes” Iskorostenskiy. Quite by accident, while doing some webernet research on Kartikeya for a forthcoming post, I learned that Arsafes is involved in other musical projects besides Kartikeya, and this morning I quickly checked them out.
One is a Russian pagan-metal band called Nevid (Невидь). Nevid have produced four full-length albums, the most of recent of which is 2011’s Agarta, and it appears that Arsafes has been the composer and guitarist for that band over the course of the last two albums. I’ve only listened to a couple of tracks from Agarta, but man is it good. There are some traditional pagan/folk instruments in the mix, but also some of those Meshuggah-esque, Kartikeya-style riffs and really catchy melodies. Nice, harsh, growly vocals, too.
Arsafes has also created a solo EP called A New Way of Creation that appeared in 2010. It includes an instrumental at the start, five original songs, and a cover of “Relentless” by Strapping Young Lad. I haven’t listened to the entire EP either, but what I’ve heard so far is also . . . aces. It’s a blast-furnace combo of progressive death metal with industrial overtones, sweeping melodies and Meshuggah-style hammering, and a mix of bestial death-metal roars and clean vocals. Reminiscent of SYL, Fear Factory, and the afore-mentioned Meshuggah, among other influences. There are some free download links to be found at this forum.
After the jump I’ve got sample songs from each of these two releases, both of which are quite different from each other — and different from Kartikeya, too.
NEVID
First, here’s a Nevid song from Agarta called “Elmorayak” (“Эльморайок”).
[audio:https://www.nocleansinging.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/06-Elmorayok.mp3|titles=Nevid – Elmorayok]There are 33 songs available for streaming from various Nevid albums at their ReverbNation page, and Agarta is available at iTunes and Amazon mp3.
ARSAFES PROJECT
I’m a sucker for Strapping Young Lad, so I listened to the “Relentless” cover first, and then I checked out the EP’s title track. I thought both were killer. Here they are:
“A New Way of Creation”
[audio:https://www.nocleansinging.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/06-A-New-Way-Of-Creation.mp3|titles=Arsafes – A New Way Of Creation]“Relentless”
[audio:https://www.nocleansinging.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/07-Relentless-SYL-Cover.mp3|titles=Arsafes – Relentless (SYL Cover)]UPDATE: To help spread the word about the Arsafes EP, just in case something happens to those download links provided in the forum I cited above, I contacted Arsafes and got his permission to provide our own download link. So here it is in a .zip file:
27 Responses to “ARSAFES”
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THIS IS RELEVANT TO MY FUCKING INTERESTS.
I thought it might be. I look forward to hearing what you think of Nevid.
One usually doesn’t pay much attention to side-projects, but these are well worth the time.
One thanks you, HappyTrollFeet.
Thank not your humble Troll, good sir, but our Gloryhole Leader Islander (did I get that right?). He is the one who has brought us this goodness.
I am loathe to correct typographical errors in our Comments, but you have made an egregious spelling error. The word is spelled G-L-O-R-I-O-U-S, not G-L-O-R-Y-H-O-L-E.
So close!
Oh crap… (>_> ) A major oversight and failure of mental functions on one’s part.
Also, “Gloryhole Leader”? Would that mean he owns a franchise of gloryholes? (o_o )
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
*ahem* That out of the way, 2 things:
1) I m getting an error (“no file found”) on the Nevid track upload above, is anyone else?
2) It appears the download links in provided in that forum have expired/been deleted. I know Kartikeya have previously been totally awesome bros about providing free downloads of their music. Do you think it’s possible for you to get in contact with Arsafes and see if his willing to re-up some of this material? Maybe thats a little too forward or rude (touching on that concumer driven selfish entitlment we discussed in Israeli’s previous rant) but I hope he would consider. If not, I am perfectly fine with a bandcamp purchase of whatever he’s selling.
THIS IS TOO AWESOME ROMAN ARSAFES IS RIGHT FOR THIS WORLD PEACE BE UNTO YOU AND NCS YOU MAGNIFICENT BROLYMPIANS!!!
No problem man. I will see if I can get in touch with him. Glad you enjoyed the music.
1. That Nevid track does seem to have the file missing.
2. The RapiShare link provided in the post works fine for me.
Sorry for the delay — I think I’ve fixed the Nevid track file now.
Thanks guys, both elements are working correctly. Now then, where was I….ah yes;
FFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Loving the Arsafes album so far. Thanks for the post!
You’re most welcome.
I contacted Arsafes and got his permission to help spread the word about his 2010 solo EP by hosting our own download of the EP, just in case anyone has any problems finding a download from the forum page I cited in the post. So, I’ve updated the post to provide our own link for the free download. Spread this shit around!
Like peanut butter and herpes! WORD.
Also ZOMG NEVID. Not to downplay Arsafes’ solo project, but holy crap on a steaming mound of bear eggs this is some awesome shit right here.
Do I sense an ALSO, WOLVES review gestating?
If it feels like the intestinal cramping you get just before a bout of projectile diarrhea, then yes, that is what you are sensing.
You know, I don’t feel quite that good. It’s more like that really bloated feeling that comes from a pastrami sandwich made with really fatty meat that’s been stewing in its own grease since the day before and a layer of hot peppers on top, with a pitcher of cheap beer that tastes like it was pissed out by a goat with diabetes.
A review would be so much more awesome than your projectile diarrhea…
Also, do you have any clue as to what the track numbers and the albums of the songs on the ReverbNation page are?
I think you can match up the songs on ReverbNation with the albums they’re from by visiting this page:
http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/discography.php?band_id=2975&bandname=Nevid
Dankon.
One also noticed these two bands listed under Arsafes’ Encyclopaedia Metallum Page:
Изморозь (Izmoroz) http://www.myspace.com/izmoroz
Крамола (Kramola) One couldn’t find a Myspace. [myspace.com/kramola appears to be a different band.] One found a few songs on Youtube though. [Search with “Крамола”]
Крамола seems to be a Black Metal (or Blackened Death Metal) band with Folk Metal influences.
Изморозь are a more straightforward Folk metal band from what one can make out.
It appears Arsafes has discovered the secret of living without sleep.
I just realized every time I speak to him he’s up at like 4 in the morning his time and he told me he only gets like, 4-5 hours of sleep on average LOL.
Oh Crap… What does the man do for a living?
haha music 😀