Negură Bunget

Negură Bunget
Background information
Origin Timișoara, Romania
Genres Black metal, ambient black metal, folk metal, progressive metal
Years active 1994 (1994)–present
Labels Bestial Records, Code666, Negura Music, Lupus Lounge/Prophecy Productions
Associated acts Makrothumia, Wiccan Rede, Dordeduh, Din Brad
Website negurabunget.com/
Members Negru

Negură Bunget is a black metal band from Timișoara, Romania whose atmospheric sound incorporates elements of progressive metal and Romanian folk music.

Biography

Negură Bunget originally formed at the end of 1994 under the name Wiccan Rede, as a duo of Negru (Gabriel Mafa) on drums and Hupogrammos Disciple (Edmond Karban) on guitars, vocals, and keyboards. Both musicians had previously been members of Makrothumia. Wiccan Rede released one demo, 1995's From Transilvanian Forests, before changing their name to Negură Bunget. In a 2004 interview, Negru explained the symbolism of the name:

“ Negură Bunget is a black fog coming from a deep dark dense forest. The name tries to picture somehow the kind of atmosphere, both musical and spiritual we'd want to create through our music. It has also an esoteric nature, standing for the inexpressible parts of our ideology. The two words are also from the Tracic substrate of the Romanian language (the oldest one, containing about 90 words) as the interest for our local history and spirituality is something of crucial importance and meaning for us as a band.[1] ”

The band's debut album, Zîrnindu-să, was released in 1996. In 1997, guitarist Sol Faur (Cristian Popescu) joined the group. As a trio, they released a demo, several EPs and three more full-length albums - Măiastru Sfetnic, 'N Crugu Bradului and OM.

The success of Măiastru Sfetnic (2000) secured the band a three-album contact with the Code666 label. Reaching a wider audience, they undertook their first European tours.

N Crugu Bradului (2002) included four songs spanning a total of nearly an hour. The band described the album as:

“ The 4th Negură Bunget phase… the principles of 4 (four). The natural form of the Universe to manifest itself (the 4 seasons, the 4 phases of the moon, the 4 moments of the day, the 4 winds, the 4 cardinal points, the 4 elements…). The principle of 4 is a form that needs to be activated, through the consciousness (the awakening of the conscience) moving towards contemplation, standing for the initiation though mystery.[2] ”

In 2006, Negură Bunget released OM, garnering significant attention from the extreme music press; for example, it was ranked as the second best album of 2006 by the writers of the British Terrorizer Magazine.

Drummer Negru began a side project, Din Brad (meaning "from the fir tree"), in 2008.,[3] although their first (and to date, only) album Dor was not released until 2012.

In 2009, Negură Bunget splintered due to unreconcilable disagreements between the three members. Both Hupogrammos and Sol Faur left and formed Dordeduh, while drummer Negru continued under the name of Negură Bunget with an array of new lineups.

The band's first new album since the lineup change, 2010's Vîrstele Pămîntului, was also released in a limited special edition version. Each of the 555 copies, handmade to order, consisted of a handcrafted, roped wooden box with a burned finish containing an undisclosed amount of genuine soil from Transylvania, a poster, pin and deluxe digipack edition of the CD itself.[4]

Also in 2010, the band released Măiestrit, a newly rerecorded version of Măiastru Sfetnic. They released an EP, Poarta De Dincolo,[5] in 2011, as well as Focul Viu, a live DVD and album recorded and filmed in Bucharest in January 2008 with the classic trio lineup and backing musicians.

Negru reshuffled the band's lineup completely again in 2013.[6] He explained the band's structural arrangement thusly:

“ At the very core there are some musicians who will be involved in all the projects of the band. To this we’ll add another layer of musicians who will join us just for special events and studio projects. This more flexible approach will allow us to increase the use of authentic traditional instruments adding new elements and to explore new musical territories, both live and in studio.[7] ”

The band issued a two-song 7" single, Gînd A-prins, in 2013.

Negură Bunget's sixth studio album, Tău, was announced in 2013 as the first part of a planned "Transilvanian Trilogy".[8][9] It was released on February 27, 2015 by Lupus Lounge.

Negru is also the chief editor of the Central European ideological magazine Negura Music.[10]

Band members

Current lineup

Former members

Former live members

Timeline

Discography

Albums

Singles and EPs

Demos

Live

Box sets

References

  1. ↑ "'Negură Bunget'". Maelstrom Zine. maelstrom.nu/ezine. 2004-08-09. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  2. ↑ "'Negură Bunget'". Negură Bunget Official Website. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  3. ↑ http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/negura-bunget-drummer-launches-din-brad/ Din Brad
  4. ↑ "NEGURA BUNGET "Virstele Pamintului" EARTHBOX Ltd". Aural WebStore. 2010-02-25. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  5. ↑ "Blabbermouth.Net - Negura Bunget Working On New Mini-Cd". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  6. ↑ "Negură Bunget - History". Negurabunget.com. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  7. ↑ "'Lineup'". Metalfan. metalfan.ro.
  8. ↑ "Negură Bunget - New Album Update". Metal Storm. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  9. ↑ http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=83914 Metal Underground
  10. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/neguramagazine Negura Music
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