IGNEA is a Ukrainian melodic metal band formed in Kyiv in 2013. The band mixes different heavy metal subgenres, the main of which are melodic death metal, symphonic metal, progressive metal, and oriental metal.

IGNEA
IGNEA in 2020
IGNEA in 2020
Background information
Also known asParallax (2013–2015)
OriginKyiv, Ukraine
Genres
Years active2013 (2013)–present
LabelsNapalm, independent
MembersHelle Bohdanova
Yevhenii Zhytniuk
Oleksandr Kamyshin
Dmytro Vinnichenko
Ivan Kholmohorov
Past membersMaxim Khmelevsky
Websiteignea.band

History

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In 2013, IGNEA started under the name Parallax and released debut EP titled Sputnik. In 2014, the band released a single Petrichor featuring guitar solo and bouzoukitara part by Yossi Sassi (ex- Orphaned Land).[1]

In 2015, the band changed its name to IGNEA and released a single Alga,[2] with a full symphonic orchestra. The video gathered millions of views on the band’s YouTube channel.

In 2017, IGNEA released The Sign of Faith, the first full-length album, and an animated video for the song Şeytanu Akbar dedicated against terrorism. Later, the band also published an official video for this song recorded at The Best Ukrainian Metal Act, the yearly national awards, where IGNEA was named one of the top three bands in the country.

 
Ignea vocalist Helle Bohdanova, live at a show in 2020

In 2018, the band released an animated video for How I Hate the Night[3] with references to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy original movie. After that, the band toured with the Danish death metal band Illdisposed in Europe.

In September 2018, IGNEA toured within the Female Metal Voices Tour 2018 headlined by Butcher Babies and Kobra and the Lotus.[4] and released a new single Queen Dies.[5]

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, IGNEA released its second full-length album The Realms of Fire and Death[6] was released in 2020. It was crowdfunded by the band's patrons at Patreon. The songs Disenchantment and Jinnslammer from this album were previously released as singles with official videos.

The Realms of Fire and Death got an award as the metal album of the year and IGNEA got the award as the best Ukrainian metal band of 2020 according to The Best Ukrainian Metal Act.

In 2021, together with symphonic death metal band ERSEDU, IGNEA self-released a concept split EP BESTIA[7] about the human nature of Slavic mythological creatures and the world’s duality.

In June 2021, IGNEA signed a worldwide deal with Napalm Records.[8]

In February 2022, IGNEA announced the third full-length concept album Dreams of Lands Unseen about Sofia Yablonska to be released on April 28, 2023.[9]

Band members

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  • Helle Bohdanova – vocals (2013–present)
  • Yevhenii Zhytniuk – keyboards (2013–present)
  • Oleksandr Kamyshin – bass (2013–present)
  • Dmytro Vinnichenko – guitar (2015–present)
  • Ivan Kholmohorov – drums (2015–present)

Discography

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Albums

  • The Sign of Faith (2017)
  • The Realms of Fire and Death (2020)
  • Dreams of Lands Unseen (2023)

EPs

  • Sputnik (2013)
  • BESTIA (2021) — split with ERSEDU

Singles

  • "Petrichor" (2014)
  • "Alga" (2015)
  • "Queen Dies" (2018)
  • "Disenchantment" (2020)
  • "Jinnslammer" (2020)
  • "Bosorkun" (2021)
  • "Mermaids" (2021)
  • "Nomad's Luck" (2023)
  • "Dunes" (2023)
  • "Incurable Disease" (2023)

References

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  1. ^ IGNEA. "About". IGNEA. Shopify. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  2. ^ "IGNEA “Alga” videoclip", Antichrist Magazine, Retrieved on 18 March 2016
  3. ^ "Ignea releases lyric video ahead of European tour", Noizr Zine, Retrieved on 4 April 2018
  4. ^ "Butcher Babies/Kobra And The Lotus: Female Metal Voices Tour 2018", Metal Goddesses, Retrieved on 8 June 2018
  5. ^ "Ukrainian Symphonic Prog Act IGNEA Fuse Middle Eastern Music With Metal On Queen Dies", Metal Injection, Retrieved on 20 September 2018
  6. ^ "IGNEA — The Realms of Fire and Death", The Prog Mind, Retrieved on 21 April 2021
  7. ^ "Das Musikvideo zu "Mermaids" von IGNEA", Metal.de, Retrieved on 14 September 2021
  8. ^ "Ignea signs to Napalm Records", Metal Goddesses, Retrieved on 23 June 2021
  9. ^ "Ukrainian metal upstarts IGNEA to release Dreams of Lands Unseen album in April; ”Nomad’s Luck” music video streaming", Brave Words, Retrieved on 15 February 2023
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