With their incredible talent for storytelling and already impressive recognition as a band-to-watch, Ukrainian upstarts IGNEA are ready to share their highly-anticipated, thrilling next adventure! Mixing heavy riffs and epic lyricism with symphonic, electronic and ethnic folk elements, the melodic metal five-piece will release their new concept album, Dreams of Lands Unseen, on April 28, 2023 via Napalm Records.
IGNEA continues their sonic sojourn after previously impressing international metal fanbases with tracks like “Jinnslammer”, “Alga” and “Disenchantment”, boasting a noteworthy number of views on YouTube alone and recently receiving honors at the Best Ukrainian Metal Act Awards.
The 10-track concept album, Dreams of Lands Unseen, reflects the life of Ukrainian photographer and documentarian Sofia Yablonska, known for traveling to very 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. Sonically, IGNEA creates a captivating masterpiece which resembles, thanks in part to diverse genre-influences, an epic soundtrack-like experience. Producing, mixing and mastering was helmed by Max Morton (Jinjer, Morton) whilst Dmitry Kim managed engineering and drum production.
“Dunes” kicks off with the rough screams of highly-gifted singer Helle Bohdanova, standing in contrast to the song’s feathery, dreamy melodies. A perfect picture of the endless Sahara is conjured when hard-hitting riffs combine effortlessly with far-eastern melodies. The track is followed by “Daleki Obriyi” - only one of two songs on the album sung in Ukrainian language, honoring their 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 catchy 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 gleeful 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.
Despite the ongoing tensions in Ukraine causing immense challenges with their album production, IGNEA were never discouraged while creating the cinematic concept album Dreams of Lands Unseen. They firmly stand strong and proudly present their multifaceted voyage - inviting the listener to follow them into new worlds!
Side A:
01 Téoura / 02 Dunes / 03 Camera Obscura / 04 Distant Horizons / 05 To No One I Owe / 06 Incurable Disease
Side B:
07 Nomad's Luck / 08 The Golden Shell / 09 Opiumist (feat. Tuomas Saukkonen) / 10 Zénith
