(written by Islander)
We host lots of song, EP, and album premieres — one or two of them every weekday. One of my main tasks around here is to decide which premiere requests to accept, and then to introduce them.
I almost never agree to premiere music from a reissued record, mainly because I interpret “premiere” literally. If a piece of music has already been publicly available, then subsequently hosting it here is not a “premiere,” and by definition music that is being reissued has been heard before.
But for three reasons, I decided to make an exception today. First, this reissue is for a demo that was first released on tape in 1996, and no one else has re-released it since then. So although some members of the public have heard the demo, their number is undoubtedly dwarfed by those who’ve never heard it. Second, the demo has been remixed and remastered, so the public hasn’t actually heard it the way it sounds now.
And third, this demo is more than a historical artifact. As you’ll find out, it hasn’t lost its ability to sink the heart and haunt the mind despite the passing of nearly 30 years.
The Russian group who made the demo were founded in Rostov-on-Don in 1995 under the name Bleeding Summer, and although they soon changed their name to Different Seasons, Bleeding Summer was the name of the first and only recording the group ever released before splitting up.
The band’s lead vocalist Yuriy Serov explains the reissue, which will jointly become available in January through Satanath Records (Georgia) and Archaic Vengeance Records (USA):
“We wanted to create something special by revisiting the album to enhance its organic charm while preserving the essence and identity that listeners have come to love. This album is not just a celebration of our past, but also a bridge to future generations of fans and musicians who continue to carry on this genre of music.”
What is that genre? It can be classified as “atmospheric doom/death metal,” created under the influence of such bands as Tiamat, Amorphis, Type O Negative, and Theatre Of Tragedy.
What we have for you today is the remixed, remastered version of the song “Darkside.” The band’s five-person lineup included three vocalists, two of them men and the third a woman. In “Darkside“, wretched and well-rounded growls dominate.
In the music, shivering gothic organ melodies bring the chilling sorrow of the crypt and of cemetery stones eerily glowing in moonlight, but those melodies also elevate further, seeming to channel despair, while fuzzed guitars moan and erupt in fevers. The drumming stalks, but also bursts open in rapid fills and double-bass assaults.
And so the music is steeped in gloom, but also otherworldly and chilling, like the presence of dead spirits that haven’t found another home.
LINE-UP:
Yuriy Serov – vocals (lead)
Dmitriy Slobodenko – guitars, drums, bass
Warthan Atarov – keyboards, vocals (track 5)
Alexander Selivanov – vocals (backing)
Ekaterina Vasilchenko – vocals (female)
Bleeding Summer was originally recorded and mixed at Epos Studio (Rostov-on-Don) in September-October 1995. It was remixed and remastered at Art Noir Studio (Brooklyn) in September-October 2024.
Satanath and Archaic Vengeance will release the new version on January 11th, on a limited-edition CD with the enhanced sound quality, an exclusive bonus track, and updated artwork (it includes an 8-page booklet). For more info, check the links below.
Also below, we’re including a stream of Bleeding Summer‘s remastered title track, which includes somber, heart-aching singing by keyboardist Warthan Atarov in addition to the growls.
PRE-ORDER:
https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat383-different-seasons-bleeding-summer-re-release-2025
http://www.archaicvengeancerecords.com/
DIFFERENT SEASONS:
https://vk.com/club36006253
koldcell@yahoo.com
No Responses to “AN NCS PREMIERE: DIFFERENT SEASONS — “DARKSIDE””