Tvangeste
| Tvangeste | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia (as of 2005 based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada) |
| Genres | Symphonic black metal |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Valgarder, Worldchaos Production, Regiomontum Productions |
| Associated acts | Dis Pater, Bleeding Sky, Candle in the Dark, Bright Ophidia, Dominium, Arafel, Romowe Rikoito |
| Members |
Mikhail Chirva Naturelle Chirva |
| Past members |
Edgar Klaus Nikolay Kazmin Asmodey Julia Vano Mayorov Viktoria Kulbachnaya Max Naumov |
Tvangeste is a Russian/Canadian symphonic black metal duo composed of Mikhail "Miron" Chirva and his wife Naturelle.
The band's name comes from Twangste (also spelled as Tuwangste, Tvankste or Twankste), a small Old Prussian settlement whose name means "Oak Forest"[1] roughly located at what is now the territory of the city of Kaliningrad (known as Königsberg up to 1946) that was seized in 1255 by the Teutonic Knights. In the site of the settlement, the now-demolished Königsberg Castle was built. (The House of Soviets now stands on the former site of the castle.)[2]
Biography
Tvangeste was formed in 1996 in Kaliningrad, Russia, and its line-up at the time consisted of Miron Chirva, Edgar, Nikolay "Kok" Kazmin (of Candle in the Dark) and Klaus. However, in the following year, Edgar and Klaus left the band and were replaced by Asmodey and Julia. In 1998 they released two demo singles, Thinking... (that would be later re-worked and included in their debut album) and Blood Dreams. Asmodey and Julia would leave shortly after, being replaced by Viktoria Kulbachnaya (from Dis Pater, Romowe Rikoito and Bleeding Sky) and Vano Mayorov (also from Dis Pater).
With this line-up, Tvangeste released their debut full-length in 2000, Damnation of Regiomontum, via now-defunct Norwegian record label Valgarder.
In 2001, Miron's then-girlfriend Naturelle (both would marry in 2005) joined the band, and in the following year their second studio album, Firestorm, was released, via the also now-defunct Japanese label Worldchaos Production. Poland-oriund Bright Ophidia and Dominium drummer Cezary Mielko worked as a session member on this album. In 2003, Max Naumov joined the band, and Tvangeste became a quintet.
In 2005, Miron and Naturelle moved to Niagara Falls, in Canada, while the three remaining members decided to stay in Russia. Miron also provided vocals for Israeli black metal band Arafel's second studio album, Second Strike: Through the Flame of the Ages.
Since 2006 Miron and Naturelle are working on Tvangeste's third studio album. Tentatively titled Satori, it is scheduled to be released in 2013, via their own independent record label, Regiomontum Productions.
Tvangeste's song "Birth of the Hero" was featured in the soundtrack of the 2009 video game Brütal Legend.
In February 2013, Miron appeared in Attention! Black Metal!, a Hungarian documentary that focuses on symphonic black metal bands.
Discography
Demo tapes
- Thinking... (1998)
- Blood Dreams (1998)
Studio albums
- Damnation of Regiomontum (2000)
- Firestorm (2002)
Band members
Current members
- Mikhail "Miron" Chirva (Михаил "Мирон" Чирва) — vocals, guitars, orchestral arrangements (1996–)
- Naturelle Chirva (Натюрель Чирва) — keyboards, vocals, orchestral arrangements (2001–)
Former members
- Edgar (Эдгар) — guitars (1996–1998)
- Klaus (Клаус) — guitars (1996–1997)
- Nikolay "Kok" Kazmin (Николай "Кок" Казьмин) — guitars (1996–2005)
- Asmodey (Асмодей) — drums (1997–1998)
- Julia (Юлия) — keyboards (1997–1998)
- Viktoria Kulbachnaya (Виктория Кульбачная) — keyboards (1998–2005)
- Vano Mayorov (Вано Майоров) — bass, guitar (1998–2005)
- Max Naumov (Макс Наумов) — bass (2003–2005)
Session members
- Cezary Mielko — drums (2002)
References
External links
- Official website
- Tvangeste on Facebook
- Tvangeste on Myspace
- Tvangeste on Twitter
- Regiomontum Productions' official website