Kshatriy - Kshatriy

The ancient warrior Kshatriy has been very productive during the past ten years releasing his epic creations with enviable frequency. Make no doubt about it, you will experience new atmospheric soundscapes really soon as the new album "Sunyata Research" is passing the latest stages of recording and mastering right now. But before it sees the light and reaches its faithful audience, this Russian fella decides to re-release his first studio material from 2005 through the well-known Zhelezobeton label. Initially it was issued as an extremely limited edition CD-r back in 2005 and spread between friends and collectors, but it was extracted from archives recently to receive new colors and meet the wide fan base accumulated during ten years of activity.

As you may remember, Kshatriy as ancient Indian caste of warriors and governors possessed not only a physical strength and intelligence but also a deep spiritual development. Only fables from those golden ages have survived until today, that's why I would like to express a special gratitude to Sergey who recreates diligently this spiritual connection through his astonishing music.

What is common for all Kshatriy releases is a cold and wide ambience that always fills my room with its chilly breath and this early material is not an exception as well. Sergey manipulates skillfully with the strings of my imagination and builds structures of universal scales. The elements of fractal textures are used ubiquitously, blossoming with myriads of colorful grains. The main drawing lines can be recognized quite easily whether it is a droning background hum like in "Part I" or a circling carousel with a light melody in "Part II" , but unlike many other albums of space ambient genre, there are a lot of things happening all over the place. Drops of water, drilling and clicking noises, working machinery sounds, dozens of special effects cover the music. But even when their density on each square millimeter of sound is quite high, Sergey doesn't forget about the balance and that it is easy to neglect hypnotism and meditative origin of the music which purpose is to uncover a spiritual side in each of us in the first place.

That's why "Part III" breaks the physical borders and allows this spirit to levitate somewhere high above, in celestial spheres, where Gods determine the fate of humans. A deep pulsating bass beat drives an epic ritualistic-like melody forming a unique acoustic space. Mythological and philosophical conception of the music is felt stronger than ever before at this point of albums? development. "Part IV" continues to stimulate the meditative side of Kshatriy with slower, but yet dark soundscapes. Waving windy effect draws pictures of immense caverns where ancient warriors secluded themselves to reunite with divine. The harmony is reached on the level of psycho-acoustics and subliminal processes allowing the deep connection between strength and spirituality which is so significant for the noble ancient caste.

I think that it is truly exiting to track evolution of favorite bands for many years, to feel reflections of changes in their lives inside their music. Do the old methods and techniques stay up-to-date in terms of time perspective? Does the pass that was chosen ten years ago truly reflect the message and the impulse of the concept behind it?

The first album from our Russian comrade has a short running time of 30 minutes only which is quite unusual for this genre, but it definitely shows the whole potential of the project which was revealed through his further records. It is a real pleasure to dim the lights, to light up few candles and let the music just carry me far-far away. My heart demands this sequel to continue its story, but before the release of the new opus, I have to be patient, very patient. Therefore, I push the play button and follow the steps of ancient warrior Kshatriy once again.
Oct 24 2014