NEWS: Iskra

NEWS:

Iskra

Ruins

Southern Lord

Release: 1 July 2016

Iskra is a black metal band from Canada. The band is known for its advocacy of anarchy and the mixing of crust and black metal. This particular recording features a sound that is very close to traditional black metal, with very little of the sloppiness associated with punk rock. In other words, it's a tight recording of black metal with lyrics supportive of left radical/anarchist ideas.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION: Blistering anarchist black metal unit, ISKRA, has teamed up with Southern Lord for the CD release of their latest LP, Ruins. Approaching the most fearsome of all genres from a foundation in filthy metallic crust, ISKRA has skillfully created an old school orthodox epic that their extensive back catalog has always been working towards, and in Ruins is executed in sublime, scathing style. The Canadian collective, almost two decades into their journey as ISKRA, stands out as staunch advocates of anarchism, and reject all forms of oppressive mainstream ideologies such as communism, fascism and democracy. To underline this, they coined their unification of extreme punk anger and black metal sonics “anarchist metal,” separating themselves from other acts deemed as “extreme” or “radical” but lacking conviction or real menace. It is certainly evident in their vitriolic offensives that they mean business, but most impressive is the sharp, refined songcraft that makes Ruins a compelling black metal record regardless of your political (dis)orientation. The constantly shifting tremolo riffs and blasting drums are some of the most devastating and aggressive you will hear, and fans of Absu and early Immortal will find plenty to enjoy - ISKRA exerts overwhelming levels of energy and brutality in Ruins, outpacing and outwitting the vast majority.

ISKRA has toured across scores of countries with countless acts operating in various subsects of underground punk and metal, and have built up a fearsome international reputation, demonstrated by their heavy patch presence on the battle jackets of the true. A wealth of DIY and independent label releases trails behind them, with numerous albums, splits and demos all available to download for free from their website in accordance with their principles.

Southern Lord will issue ISKRA‘sRuins on digipak CD including a twenty-page booklet with lyrics and liner notes on July 1st. ISKRA also proudly announces the Anarchy Attack... Canadian Destruction (Storming the Atlantic) Summer Tour of Canada, their first major tour of Canada since 2004. This tour will mark the band's first coast to coast tour of the country and includes five days in the maritime provinces. The tour also features appearances at the legendary Spider Fest (formerly Spider Acres) in Meyersburg, Ontario and Evil Fest in Sainte-Angele-de-Merici, Quebec.

(This tour is going on right now. --Ed.)

OFFICIAL BIO: ISKRA officially began in November of 2002. The vision of the band: to mix DIY crust punk music, and politics, with European, and Scandinavian metal. ISKRA is one of the few bands to do so and thus coined their own genre BLACKENED CRUST, meaning a mix of English style crust and Scandinavian black metal. More recently the band has re-defined their music as simply ANARCHIST METAL, another genre created by the band in order to transform general impressions found in, and what is commonly referred to as, "extreme" music. Although the founding of such genres seems antithetical to the band's anarchist stance, one must keep in mind that they wish to separate themselves from mainstream and status quo descriptions, as well as expand ideas regarding music.

Although lyrics are varied, the band has always more-or-less adhered to an anarchist point of view. Anarchism here meaning a total criticism of power, the control of power and knowledge, the possibility of transformation from present states to one of a decentralized existence, the destruction of government as we know it, complete dismantling of capitalism, suspicion of fixed systems in general. The band is quick to point out that they are not aligned with any one stream of anarchist thought, preferring an open interpretation, collectively speaking. Anyone interested in the varied forms of anarchism are invited to explore the links provided on this site. Again, it is important to note, and imperative to understand, that anarchism is not one idea but a varied complex dependent upon local conditions and interests. Thus a definition of anarchism is not possible, it remains as a practise against authoritarian structures. Over the past twelve years has ISKRA has released numerous recordings, and have performed hundreds of concerts and festivals in over forty countries.

www.facebook.com/officialiskra