Alkonost (band)
Alkonost is a Russian epic folk metal band formed in Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan, Russia in 1995.
Popularity
The band is best known amongst heavy metal fans in their native country of the Russian Federation. However, their music has been discussed and shared on the internet, particularly on Usenet, and they have found new audiences in the Nordic countries and United Kingdom. Signed to Metalism Records, their albums are available with English titles, although the songs themselves are predominantly sung in Russian. In 2007, for the first time, the band was able to perform outside of Russia, touring Ukraine, Belarus, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, where they were warmly received.History
1996–1999
Andrey Losev, a bass guitarist who had previously performed in Mourning Beads, Molestation, and Canonis, founded the band Alkonost in August 1996.2000–2004
On January 26, 2000, the band presented their debut full-length album, “Songs of the Eternal Oak”, which was released on audio cassettes in May by the Latvian label Beverina Productions and the German Ketzer Records. After that Alkonost played some shows, including “Death Panorama 9” and a festival in Ulyanovsk. However, due to numerous technical problems, the band had to stop playing live since October 2000. On July 31, 2002, through the efforts of Beverina Productions and Ketzer Records, the Alkonost CD was released, consisting of an album “Songs of the Eternal Oak”, a demo “Spirit Tending to Revolt”, as well as two video clips.2005–2007
In 2005, the band toured a lot. However, at the same time, Alkonost was overtaken by problems - the planned album “Mezhmirie” did not come out, and the band's manager D. V. Tyunev had resigned. After these events, the band began to record the upcoming album “Pout' Neproydenny” . Thus, in 2006, their new label, Metalism Records, issued both albums, the old “Between the Worlds” and the new “The Path We've Never Made”.After finishing the tour, the band prepared to record new songs, simultaneously re-recording their debut album “Songs of the Eternal Oak” with Russian lyrics. In 2007, Alkonost played the shows together with Master, as well as with Znich at the folk metal music festival in Minsk.
2008–2009
In 2008, the band went on tour in Russia and in April 2009 - in Europe, where it performed at Ragnarok fest, held in Germany from April 17 to 18.2010–2013
In 2010, the new album “Na Kryliakh Zova” was released by the German label “Einheit Produktionen”. Alexey Solovyov left the band. Alkonost focused on recording the next studio album, occasionally giving single performances in Russia and Ukraine.In 2011–2012, Almira Fatkhullina, Alyona Pelevina, Anton Chepigin and session bassist/vocalist Vladimir Pavlik left the band. In 2012, Ksenia Pobuzhanskaya and Maxim Shtanke joined the band, and with this updated line-up Alkonost returned to active touring. In 2012, the band continued touring and participated in such large-scale events as: Moto-Maloyaroslavets, Invasion, Fire Fest festivals and Carpathian Alliance Metal Festival. Then Alkonost went on a short tour around the cities of Ukraine.
2013–2015
2013 was marked by the release of a new album “Skazki Stranstviy” and a big tour to support it. In 2015, Maxim Shtanke and Dmitry Sokolov left the band. They were temporarily replaced by Vitold "Vitold" Buznayev and Danila Pereladov.2016–present
In the early summer of 2016, Latvian label Beverina reissued Alkonost's album “Kamennogo Serdtsa Krov'” on a vinyl. In 2016, Rustem Shagitov joined the band as a bass guitarist and Pavel Kosolapov took the place of guitarist-vocalist.On March 17, 2017, Alkonost had signed a three-year contract with Sleasly Rider Records label to release the album “Pesni Beloy Lilii” on a CD for distribution in Europe. On April 1, 2018, Internet edition of the single “Listopad” was released. End of February 2020 - March 2020. Alkonost did a Ural-Siberian tour from Ufa to Krasnoyarsk with session musicians: Ravil Nizametdinov - drums, Pavel Kosolapov - guitar. On November 13, 2020, the album "Alkonost - Piano version" was released. On January 21, 2021, the ninth full-length album "Vedomye Vetrom" is released.
Members
Current members
- Andrey "Elk" Losev – guitar, music
- Ksenia Pobuzhanskaya – vocals
- Pavel Kosolapov – guitar, vocals
- Vadim Grozov – bass
Live musicians
- Dmitriy Bortsov – drums
Former members
- Alexey "Alex Nightbird" Solovyov – bass, vocals
- Alexey Polkhovskyi – guitar
- Sergey "Coocker" Medvedev – guitar
- Vladimir "VL" Lushin – drums
- Almira Fatkhullina – keyboards
- Anton Chepigin – drums
- Alyona Pasynkova – vocals
- Dmitry Sokolov – guitar
- Max "Pain" Shtanke – bass, vocals, guitar
- Anastasiya Ryabova – drums
- Rustem Shagitov – bass, guitar
Former live members
- Irina Zybina – vocals
- Vladimir Pavlik – bass, vocals
- Vitold Buznaev – bass
- Danila "Skorb" Pereladov – guitar
- Dmitry "Fin" Fiskin – drums
- Roman "Dolbezhnik" Davidenko – drums
- Andrey Ischenko – drums
- Andrey "Panterich" Panteleev – guitar, vocals
- Ilya Rakitin – drums
- Stepan "Beast" Maratkanov – guitar, vocals
- Mark Kirichenko – drums
- Riyaz Khafizov – drums
- Anton "Chekhov" Simonov – bass, vocals
- Ravil Nizametdinov – drums
Discography
Studio albums
Songs of Eternal Oak Between the Worlds Межмирье Путь Непройденный Каменного Сердца Кровь Песни Вечного Древа На Крыльях Зова Сказки Странствий Песни Белой Лилии Октаграмма Piano Version- ''Ведомые Ветром''
Compilation albums
Alkonost- ''Full Discography''
Demos and EPs
Shadows of Timeless Shadows of Glory Spirit Tending to Revolt Неведомые земли Memories Русалка- ''Тропа K Bесне''
DVDs
У стен Арконы- ''Live in Moscow''