Urskumug

URSKUMUG (former RAVEN) came to be in 2001, when the twosome of Krauklis (guitar/voice) and Slayorda (keys) was joined by Maero (guitar). Ever since, the sound of the band has evolved towards rapid and atmospheric black metal hailstorm with an intention to avoid live drums, relying on the impeccable soul of the drummachine instead. In 2002 the band chose its current name, which represents the primordial mythago and the earliest stage of the so-called human mould a character, depicted as a bear/boar-like half-animal, half-human creature in a cycle of mythopoetical fantasy fiction novels, written by the English author Robert Holdstock. During its first years of pre-conceived existence URSKUMUG tried out a number of other musicians, however none met the conditions vital to remain with the band. Late 2002 saw the bands first live appearances and rehearsal/studio recordings. The song When Water Becomes Ice was featured in the only Latvian metal compilation CD and in August 2003 URSKUMUG entered the infamous studio Phoenix in Riga to record its first full-length album Preja (Passage). The self-released demo-cd received an excellent response and estabilished URSKUMUG among the most wanted metal bands in Latvia. The next 2 years go by playing shows, working on songs and looking out for the missing links in the chain. The long search is rewarded in the beginning of 2005, when Kriviks (ex-Moonveil) is finally unearthed a permanent bassist for URSKUMUG. Unfortunately, in Autumn the band is abandoned by its long-term member Slayorda, whose replacement is soon found in Draake, former keyman of the Latvian dragon metal legends Heresiarh. Another blink of an eye later URSKUMUG accept a deal with the Lithuanian label Ledo Takas Records and head for the studio again. The result of this operation is Am Nodr [The Other Side] a tribal black metal cycle, representing a seekers inner spiritual journey and exploring the subjects of Shamanism, Time and the Shadow.

Line-up summer 2006:

Krauklis : vocals, guitar, bass, drum programming 

Maero : guitar, bass, drum programming