Karna. The best in 25 years

KARNA

Year of foundation – 1997

City – Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukraine)

Language – Ukrainian

Genre – nu metal, alternative rock, ethno rock

Composition:

• Oleksiy Yarosh – vocals, rhythm guitar;
• Vladyslav Yarun – guitar, backing vocals;
• Pavlo Korsun – bass, backing vocals;
• Oleg Bilous – drums.

Former members:

• Alexey Shmanev – vocals;
• Maksym Maslak – bass;
• Anna Dobrydneva – backing vocals, keyboards;
• Viktor Vdovych (Goblin) – bass;
• Vladyslav Melnyk – vocals;
• Mykola Chervonetskyi – drums;
• Andriy Mikhailov – drums;
• Alexander Merkulov – rhythm guitar;
• Roman Grigoriv – rhythm guitar.

Band history

KARNA is a Ukrainian rock band formed in 1997 in Ivano-Frankivsk by vocalist Viktor Vdovich and his friend, guitarist Oleksandr Merkulov. They played several concerts as a duo. Soon the guitarist and co-founder left the band. The band was joined by Vladislav Yarun, Andriy Mykhaylov and Vladislav Melnyk.

Karna is a word that denoted a deity in pre-Christian beliefs. It personified a mourner for the fallen, and also symbolized punishment, sorrow and death on the battlefield. In Indian mythology, the name KARNA belongs to one of the most prominent heroes of the epic "Mahabharata" - a warrior of unsurpassed strength, the personification of honor and valor. It was this atmospheric concept that the members of the Frankivsk rock band chose for the name.

Initially, the performers defined their style as “Ukrainian alternative nu-metal”. Later, they departed from the generally accepted framework of the genre and began to use a unique definition – “Hutsul metal”. The new formulation emphasized the combination of a heavy sound with ethnic motifs of the Carpathians. The band took its first steps towards popularity and recognition in 2001. A series of bright performances took place on the stages of underground clubs.

The band confidently declared itself, conquering the legendary "Chervona Ruta". The number of fans of KARNA's work was growing rapidly. Inspired by the achievement, the musicians launched their own festival - "Rock-Explosion" in the same year. The event became significant for the Ukrainian rock scene and stimulated the further development of the band.

Creative path

The composition and style of KARNA's music continued to change. Active festival activity inspired the band to continue working on recording their first album. The tracks were created at a studio in Ivano-Frankivsk. At the same time, the musicians shot a video clip for the song "We Will Be Together". In 2003, KARNA's discographic debut, the album "Letimo", took place. The album included ten songs in the nu-metal genre. The release received positive reviews from critics and even the status of the best work of the year.

Then there was a performance at the Odessa festival "Pike Vests". The band shared the stage with the legendary band Vopli Vidoplyasov. VV soloist Oleg Skrypka expressed support for the Frankivsk musicians. And information about the band appeared on the official website of the rock legend, which became a significant event for the young band. The band's songs are taken into the rotation of the country's radio stations. KARNA's tracks are included in the charts. In 2011, the current line-up of the band disbanded. Two years later, KARNA resumed its activities with a new vocalist.

4 studio albums were released in 2024:

• "Let's Fly" (2003);
• KARNA (2010). The release impressed with its stylistic diversity. The songs intertwined themes of love and tenderness, social issues and reflections on the theme of war. A powerful, energetic sound was harmoniously combined with deep, meaningful lyrics that touched the listening audience. The combination of emotional sincerity and musical power brought the album wide recognition and success;
• “Hutsul Metal” (2017). A seven-year break made fans eagerly await the new album. The release was not only an important event for the band, but also cemented the creation of a unique musical direction – “Hutsul Metal”. KARNA continues to work in it today. The album loudly announced itself at concerts in Lviv, Kyiv and many other cities, finding a response in the hearts of fans of the genre. The new style, combining a heavy sound with Carpathian flavor, quickly gained popularity. “Hutsul Metal” broke into the top charts of iTunes and Google Play;
• "Hutsulization" (2024). The album combined both completely new compositions and hits already well known to listeners. Among them are "Mama Galicia", "Richard from the Mountains" and "I Beg You, Sir, to the Fir Tree", which were released in 2022, in the midst of a full-scale invasion.

The most famous singles:

• "I will wait";
• "Poltergeist";
• "Little";
• ARKAN;
• "Good evening";
• "Sailbreaker" and others.

Social activity

With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the band members, like many others, joined the resistance – each on their own front. Some patrolled the streets of Lviv, others joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Terro Defense. Someone focused on volunteering, delivering ammunition and other things needed at the front. Currently, among the defenders of Ukraine are many friends and listeners of the band members. Therefore, the band pays great attention to their support. Funds are allocated for the needs of the Defense Forces from KARNA live broadcasts. Meetings are announced on the band's pages on social networks.

Awards and honors:

• diploma of the finalists of the Chervona Ruta festival (2001);
• Grand Prix of the Taras Bulba Festival (2003).

Interesting facts about the band:

• If the band members could change anything in the Ukrainian music industry, they would ban chanson. At least, that's what the band's vocalist said in an interview;
• at KARNA live shows, fans don't just stand in the corner: there are always slams and energetic dances;
• Although the rock music genre is often about social issues, KARNA's repertoire includes many romantic compositions.