KARNA

• Founded – 1997
• City – Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukraine)
• Language – Ukrainian
• Genre – nu metal, alternative rock, ethno-rock

Line-up:

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

Former members:

• Oleksii Shmaniov – vocals;
• Maksym Maslak – bass;
• Anna Dobrydnieva – backing vocals, keyboards;
• Viktor Vdovych (Goblin) – bass;
• Vladyslav Melnyk – vocals;
• Mykola Chervonetskyi – drums;
• Andrii Mykhailov – drums;
• Oleksandr Merkulov – rhythm guitar;
• Roman Hryhoriv – rhythm guitar.

History of the Band

KARNA is a Ukrainian rock band founded in 1997 in Ivano-Frankivsk by vocalist Viktor Vdovych and his friend, guitarist Oleksandr Merkulov. The two initially performed as a duo, playing several concerts together. Soon afterward, the guitarist and co-founder left the band. He was replaced by Vladyslav Yarun, Andrii Mykhailov, and Vladyslav Melnyk, who joined the line-up.

Karna is a word that referred to a deity in pre-Christian beliefs. It represented the mourner of fallen warriors and symbolized punishment, grief, and death on the battlefield. In Indian mythology, Karna is one of the greatest heroes of the epic «Mahabharata» - a warrior of unmatched strength and an embodiment of honor and valor. The members of the Ivano-Frankivsk rock band chose this evocative concept as their name.

Initially, the musicians described their style as «Ukrainian alternative nu metal». Later, they moved beyond conventional genre boundaries and introduced their own term - «Hutsul metal». The new definition emphasized the fusion of heavy music with the ethnic motifs of the Carpathians. The band's first major step toward popularity and recognition came in 2001, when they performed a series of energetic concerts at underground clubs.

The band made a strong impression by conquering the legendary «Chervona Ruta» festival. KARNA's fan base grew rapidly. Inspired by this success, the musicians launched their own festival later that year - «Rock Explosion». The event became a significant milestone for the Ukrainian rock scene and further accelerated the band's development.

Creative Journey

KARNA's line-up and musical style continued to evolve. Their active participation in festivals inspired the band to begin recording their first album. The tracks were created at a recording studio in Ivano-Frankivsk. At the same time, the musicians filmed a music video for the song «We Will Be Together». In 2003, KARNA released their debut album «We're Flying». The record featured ten nu metal tracks. It received positive reviews from critics and was even recognized as the best album of the year.

The band later performed at the Odesa festival «Piqué Vests». They shared the stage with the legendary band Vopli Vidopliasova. VV frontman Oleh Skrypka publicly expressed his support for the musicians from Ivano-Frankivsk. Information about KARNA also appeared on the legendary band's official website, becoming an important milestone for the young group. Their songs entered the playlists of Ukrainian radio stations, while KARNA's tracks reached the country's music charts. In 2011, the band's existing line-up disbanded. Two years later, KARNA resumed its activities with a new vocalist.

As of 2024, the band has released four studio albums:

• «We're Flying» (2003);
• KARNA (2010). The release impressed listeners with its stylistic diversity. Its songs intertwined themes of love and tenderness with social issues and reflections on war. Powerful, energetic sound blended harmoniously with deep, meaningful lyrics that resonated with audiences. This combination of emotional sincerity and musical strength brought the album widespread acclaim and success;
• «Hutsul Metal» (2017). A seven-year break left fans eagerly anticipating a new album. The release became not only an important event for the band but also firmly established the unique musical style known as «Hutsul metal». KARNA continues to develop this direction today. The album made a powerful statement during concerts in Lviv, Kyiv, and many other cities, resonating deeply with fans of the genre. The new style, combining heavy music with Carpathian flavor, quickly gained popularity. «Hutsul Metal» reached the top charts on iTunes and Google Play;
• «Hutsulization» (2024). The album brought together both brand-new songs and fan-favorite hits. Among them were «Mother Halychyna», «Richard from the Mountains», and «Welcome to the Spruce», all of which were first released in 2022 during the height of the full-scale invasion.

Most famous singles:

• «I'll Be Waiting»;
• «Poltergeist»;
• «Little One»;
• ARKAN;
• «Good Evening»;
• «Windbreaker» and others.

Social Activity

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the members of the band, like many other Ukrainians, joined the resistance - each in their own way. Some patrolled the streets of Lviv, others joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine or the Territorial Defense Forces. Some focused on volunteer work, delivering ammunition and other essential supplies to the front. Today, many of the band's friends and listeners are serving as defenders of Ukraine, so supporting them has become one of KARNA's priorities. Part of the proceeds from the band's live performances is donated to the needs of the Defense Forces, while fundraising campaigns are regularly announced on the band's social media pages.

Awards and Recognition:

• Finalist Diploma at the «Chervona Ruta» Festival (2001);
• Grand Prix of the «Taras Bulba» Festival (2003).

Interesting Facts About the Band:

• if the band members could change one thing about the Ukrainian music industry, they would ban chanson. At least, that is the opinion expressed by the band's vocalist in one of his interviews;
• at KARNA's live shows, fans never just stand in the corner - there is always mosh-pitting and energetic dancing;
• although rock music often focuses on social issues, KARNA's repertoire also includes many romantic songs.