#60: Grai (Грай)
This band from the Russian Federation executes their folk and metal fusion like no other.
Background Info (Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives):
Country of origin: Russia
Location: Naberezhnye Chelny, Republic of Tatarstan
Status: Active
Formed in: 2007
Genre: Pagan/Folk Metal
Themes: Nature, Slavic folklore
Current label: Noizgate Records
Years active: 2005–2006 (as Raven Blood), 2006–2007 (as Ворог), 2007-present
While other Russian bands are recognizable through their exhilarating and grinding riffs and blast beats (Ruyan), coupled with shattering growls (Arkona), Grai emphasizes groove more extensively which are nonetheless devastatingly heavy especially the later albums.
Folk melodies and rhythms are also always a consistent feature in most if not all of the songs. They also have a permanent flutist/bagpiper, contributing to the conspicuousness of their overall sound’s folk side. Aside from the winds, they also feature jaw harps frequently, and they seem to have had a violinist at one point (In the Arms of Mara, 2014).
Favorite Albums:
- Mlada / Млада (2014)
- Nenen / Пепел (2017)
Favorite Songs:
- Song Of Dead Water / Песня мертвой воды (Nenen)
- Hugging the storm / Обнимая Бурю (Mlada)
- Beard / Борода (Mlada)
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