Top 50 Ukrainian albums of the decade

It is 2020 outside which means the new decade has begun, brand new 10 years in the Ukrainian music history. We are finally ready to sum up what the past decade brought and to name 50 Ukrainian releases which you would undoubtedly add to your playlist.

Obviously, it is very hard to come up with the method of choosing or certain criteria. Well, first of all, we’ve organized voting on our forum, in our chats, and also, we asked some experts to share their opinion with us. The last stage had the following demands to the release: album or EP of a Ukrainian underground musician(s), released during the period of 2010-2019. After this we collected the information and selected 50 releases. We followed two more criteria by ourselves – this should be really good-quality music and the one recognized by its listeners. Here comes the list.

All releases are put in the alphabet order. 

1914 — The Blind Leading the Blind (2018, death metal)

We hesitated which album exactly to choose for the top, but after all we picked the second full-format one as it is that album, which was on the Napalm Records label. Furthermore, even though the first LP of these Lviv musicians sounds of a good quality and interesting, the second one also embodies the continuation of its best elements and demonstrates the band’s evolving. The musical style of 1914 on this release is that notable mix of the heavy death metal riffs, low "fleshy" guitars, doom breakdowns, tight blacked rhythm section and chthonic vocals. Add the concept of WWI to it together with the glorious senseful lyrics and you’ll get one of the best metal albums of the decade. 

 

+\- — Emerald Island (2010, mathcore)

This band has been coming to its full-format release for 5 years, having survived numerous pleasant and unpleasant periods. The release was also recorded in the non-ordinary conditions but was totally worth it. "Emerald Island" may definitely be labeled the best one among the whole Ukrainian mathcore history. Here we have conception, virtuoso approach to the sound in general and the integrity this work has. So, if we gave the places to these top releases, this album could take one of the first.

 

5R6 — Islands (2015, progressive rock/progressive metal)

This album release was long-expected because after two Eps the listeners hoped so much to hear the full-format one. As it often happens when the result is better than the expectations, the positive emotions multiplicate and we get one more pretender for the "albums of the decade" list. "Islands" is remembered not only for its cover for which especial 3D model was projected, but also for its interesting riffs and arrangements, surprising but master changes in the songs evolving and original vocals. 

 

Заводь — Ягна (Zavodʹ (ed. Backwater) – Yagna) (2011, black metal)

Zavodʹ is a representative of the Kharkiv black-metal scene by the territory characteristic, but the fact is that the band always kept itself separate from the general mass of the local bands. The first band’s release saw the world in 2009, after what Zavodʹ regularly put out its material in the split or mini-album formats. And finally, in 2011 their first full-format album "Yagna" appears, by which musicians fully opened their potential. The album is fulfilled with angry fast songs, hit riffs and listens in one breath.

 

КАТ — Это случится с тобой (ed. Eng. – This Will Happen to You) (2019, rock)

We can enumerate the achievements of these Kharkiv habitants for a long time as well as we can dispute about their profound sound change (for the contrast, listen to their debut EP "Price To Pay" from 2014), but this last album exactly was regarded as the most sincere and true by many visitors of forum and not only them. Considering the fact that the sound change did not happen in a year but took some time, here we see the natural process of evolution, and this album is the crown of it, at least for the 2020. 

 

Теорія Ґвалту — Три Cтріли (ed. Eng. –Theory of Ruckus – Three Arrows) (2011, ska punk) 

When we talk about Ukrainian ska punk, the majority of music lovers starts thinking about Zhadan and the Dogs (Жадан і Собаки). Of course, this band has good releases, but as we are Neformat (non-format), we ought to dig deeper. So by our version, the most hit release of the underground in this niche for 10 years is "ТриCтріли" (Three Arrows) by the collective Теорія Ґвалту (Theory of Ruckus) from Khmelnytskyi. The future creators of Cios directed their power to another genre, meaning they’ve mixed the elements of folk-punk, ska, and reggae. About lyrics, well, they stay beyond the time, and it is still interesting to listen to their songs after 10 years passed. 

 

Тулим — НЕТРІпанина (Tulym – NETRIpanyna (ed. Eng. NObullshit) (2016, rap)

This Kyiv hip-hop band is important for its long-lasting old school sound and also notable for having tight connection with the Ukrainian hardcore scene. Their last full-format album "НЕТРІпанина"(NETRIpanyna, ed. eng. NObullshit) transmits the spirit of canonic boom-bap collectives, which is highly estimated among punks as well as among rappers. In short, it is the classic which is forever on time. 

 

Шелест Запахов — Экспедиция В Преисподнюю (ed. Eng. The Swish of Flavors – Expedition to the Underworld) (2013,  death metal)

The long-expected album of the Kyiv based formation showed the perfect example of evolution from deathcore, which was losing its positions so far, to the eternal classic of death-metal, somewhere seasoned with post-metal elements. The master-level symbiosis of these flows puts "Expedition to the Underworld" on the notable place in the Motherland underground hall of fame.

 

Agruss — Morok (2012, black metal)

This album is unique, first of all, by its appearance like from nowhere. The band did not perform a lot, has published some recordings from the rehearsals and then rapidly released 9-tracked full-format album of the highest quality. Two vocals, funeral tremolos, breakdowns, singalongs and some unbelievable combination of different genres – all this awaits us here. In spite of this eclectic, "Morok" has its integral sound which seems not to get old. Moreover, consider the concept (LP was released on the 26th anniversary of Chornobyl atomic station tragedy, and it narrates about death, ruins and emptying) and you won’t let this release out of your playlist. 

Backchat — Backchat (2019, metal / hardcore) 

A debut full-format album of Kyiv band Backchat was so much expected, that it has become the meme already. Although we were very careful with the releases from 2019 while selecting the best ones, as they are still fresh in our memories, choosing this album leaves no doubts. It is hit, considering both guitar parts and vocals. It sounds actual, despite there were 3 years between the moment of its recording and its release. At last, it justified all the long-term expectations and hopes, surrounding this work. This chapter is over now for Backchat, we should say worthily, so we are waiting for the new one. 

 

Bluesbreaker — Bluesbreaker (2014, hardcore)

Without any exaggeration, the legendary band, at least on the scene of the capital. At first, the guys played hardcore, but at their last EP "Palais Ideal" (2018) we’ve rather heard grunge. The band released a compilation (which is mistakenly considered to be the album), which contains all their previous mini-albums and, of course, all hits. As an exclusion, we’ve decided to add this compilation to our list. 

 

Bomg — Polynseeds (2013, stoner doom)

This album was proudly praised by Ihor Sydorenko on our website, and you know where he and his collective now are, so you can certainly trust this person’s taste. "Polynseeds" is the 65 minutes of the analogue sounding, non-trivial riffs and rather conceptual lyrics. All aforementioned can be classified as the canonic doom but without following the genre demands at the same time – why not to call this a secret of success?  

 

Cios — Cios (2014, streetpunk/oi!)

There is no doubt that Cios is the brightest street punk band of Ukraine for now. There are some albums in their discography and each one is special in its own way, that made it very hard to choose. This top, in result, included their eponymous album from 2014 in which the collective sings in three languages simultaneously – in Ukrainian, Russian and Polish. Though, the mix of languages is their distinguishing factor in general, as well as their social-acute or sad lyrics that narrate to the quite energetic music. In short, all is according to the genre canon. The big amount of hits can be considered the specialty of this album. 

 

Cold Comfort — Modern Crypts (2013, coldwave / post-punk)

If we set the goal to find the coolest Ukrainian post-punk (in the wide genre definition) band within 10 years period, then Cold Comfort (along with Seahorse and City of Me) from Vinnytsya is the perfect match. Their art is not one of those regular unsuccessful tries to become Буерак (Buerak), but is something really unique, on the edge of coldwave and post-punk. This album, which is a hit from the first to the last seconds, becomes even more interesting according to the fact that no one in Ukraine haven’t done something alike before or after Cold Comfort. Though, there were, for sure, some post-punk collectives we are proud of for their high-quality content. But it’s a pity, that there’s nothing new heard from the bands mentioned. 

 

Dan Stark — Dan Stark (2012, punk rock)

Dan Stark unexpectedly came into sight in 2011 with their debut demo, and without wasting the time also released the debut eponymous album. The combination of conceptual lyrics, which touched upon the topics of domestic tragedies, and the good song-writing payed off. The overflowed with the hits album got the band far – they’ve gathered the worthy attention from the Ukrainian hardcore punk scene. By the way, the main band’s hit "8 лет" ("8 years") is also from this album. 

 

Date Rape — Date Rape (2011, screamo)

One more legendary band, the departure of which brings its fans to tears. All their releases are worth attention, but the debut "Date Rape" is exactly the one that contains all band’s hits for which it is remembered. Even now the most music lovers recall this release in the memories for its teenage spirit, bright emotions. But these songs are also worth attention from the quality point of view as the musicians themselves noted that it is their first serious work.  

 

Dollores — Orphan (2012, screamo)

These musicians are considered emo-geniuses and the best Ukrainian screamo band with the female vocals. But for more fairness we should add there were not so many of bands alike, with the girls in the collectives of this genre. Still, Dollores pointed themselves out of other bands from that time by their guitar hooks which are well-remembered, by that aforementioned emotional and soulful vocals and, of course, by the general atmosphere of nostalgia, precious gigs and lost days. 

 

Drudkh — Борозна обірвалася (A Furrow Cut Short) (2015, black metal)

Such point of view exists that the best albums of Kharkiv-based Drudkh came out long before 2010, although the general level of the band is so high, that each of the albums is much awaited among band’s fans. Moreover, the collective has paved the path for lots of the bands that play something very similar and automatically get some recognition abroad. That is why it was hard to pick up one their album only, so we completely trusted the results of voting here. But we feel good about this choice as there is true non-stereotype Ukrainian identity emerges in "Борозна обірвалася" ("The Furrow Cut Short") album. 

 

Ethereal Riffian — Aeonian (2014, stoner doom)

Before the last LP "Legends" release, which is totally different by its sound and message, the ideological focus of this Kyiv band was on attracting more attention to the topics of the inner transformation and spiritual development as the ways of rescuing separate individuals or humankind in general. Those hypnotic stoner, maximal attention to the details and cosmic wisdom were the reason why Ethereal Riffian became so admired. About "Aeonian" – this is the work from which the exploring of band’s classical sound should begin. 

 

Foible Instinct — Age Of Machines (2013, grindcore)

Not each grindcore collective is able to record full-format album, especially within post-soviet terrain. The genre canons more tend to the splits format which is easier for the reasons of material preparation, and it sounds better in the result. Anyway, Kyiv-based Foible Instinct did it. Their album "Age Of Machines" is not a long-timing one, but it is quite enough for this genre. Talking about the material – it is perfectly done grindcore, the kind that is oriented on the old school classic. It is the indisputable evidence that Foible Instinct was one of the best collectives in the genre, if not the best at all.

 

Forever Wasted — Forever Wasted (2016, sludge)

It is the example of sludge in its almost pure form, not mixed with post-metal or stoner. And it is pure rage, suffering and decadence proposed to the listener instead of misanthropy. The one and the last album of Forever Wasted is totally in harmony with the band’s history and that’s why it became a kind of symbol of it, which lead the band to the tops of Ukrainian sludge for all decades. 

 

Gaz-66 Intrusion — Power without violence (2011, grindcore / powerviolence) 

One more artifact that comes to mind at first when you think about the genre. These Uzhhorod musicians cut short their activity long ago if to compare with some other members of the list and it is the reason the band feels to be a bit dusted. But their approach to the music and sound attracted the attention of an acknowledged American punk label 625 Thrashcore in the beginning of the decade. Thanks to this, the listed release and also band’s EP "Death Tomorrow" came out on vinyl. Also their split with Sidetracked was issued by the old and honored German label Regurgitated Semen Records. Such recognition is not so easy to achieve for Ukrainian collectives, to be mentioned.  

 

Homesick — Concreto Ergo Sum (2011, punk rock)

Homesick is the phenomenonal band which reminded it to the Ukrainian DIY punk scene that punks can actually play punk-rock. Some may consider this statement weird, but back then the Ukrainian scene was musically oriented mainly on hardcore in its different forms. The "Concreto Ergo Sum" album has become the fresh breath in the life of the scene. Angry quick punk-rock with the powerful energy and positively charged in lyrics was warmly accepted by many fans. The band itself got the status of cult on the scene of genre.

 

Jinjer — King Of Everything (2016, metal)

We did not include the releases of Jinjer in our last yearly top on purpose, but it would be completely wrong not to mention them in the releases-list of a decade. A successful combination of the talent and total dedication together with the discipline, and, of course, powerful live performances have made this Ukrainian collective the stars of a global scale. The best option is to unite all these components around the "King Of Everything" album which contains numerous hits and is well-remembered among listeners because of that. 

 

Kasu Weri — From Soil to Ashes EP (2017, sludge)

One more long-term creation which has been very much expected since 2008. Then, in the end of a previous decade, these Kyiv-based sludgers were considered a high hope of the Ukrainian scene, along with Mozergush, August 6, 1945 and Slow Ride Home. Long 8 years were needed for Kasu Weri to finally turn the results of their long-standing efforts into one little mini album. Yep, the fans were waiting for more and yep, they asked for the angrier darker side of Kasu Weri. But as they say the best is yet to come. Anyways, this monument of Kyiv "distorted"-scene deserves to be in this decade’s top. 

 

Knifeman — ÖZMEIN (2017, hardcore/metal)

The only representatives among a few, if not the only ones at all, of a modern metallic-hardcore in Ukraine. Started as a one-man-band, this project soon widened into a full-fledged membership. "ÖZMEIN" came out in 2017 and showed that Knifeman is in its perfect shape and releases the metallic hardcore of a high quality. This release exactly, along with the further concert activity, has confirmed the band’s status as of the most active scene representative.

 

Krobak — Little Victories (2013, post-rock)

Unlike many Ukrainian (and not only) bands, the Kyiv Krobak band was not satisfied with the post-rock simulacrum which once arose from Godspeed You! Black Emperor album. This band decided not to simplify all genre’s diversity till it becomes the predictable turn of duty by culminations and melancholic plunks behind the wall of reverberation. Obviously, this let the band point itself out of the rest of collectives. "Little Victories" is an untrivial and soulful record to which you come back and recommend it to the friends. Moreover, for the first time we hear Krobak as a quartet here, not a solo project of Ihor Sydorenko. Frankly speaking, the band Krobak became on this release was loved by a bigger number of fans. 

 

Leviathan — In search of soul (2010, hardcore)

The beginning of 10’s, the era of Myspace, 90’s sound is a trend on the hardcore-punk scene of Motherland. Leviathan differs from these sound-wave followers by their orientation on NYC collectives like Merauder, Cro-Mags and Leeway. "In search of soul" is 6 tracks full of rage metallic hardcore with the good guitar work, charismatic vocals and moody lyrics. It is worth mentioning, that the band was very high-powered on the live shows. Leviathan band has left two more mini albums afterwards, a lot of video files and minimum of information about itself. The members of it later played in such amazing projects as Kingpin, Rising and Temple of the Universe. We give our place in the top to the "In search of soul" release, as to the example of a successful debut that helped the band to loudly declare about its existence and simultaneously became the peak of its activity.

 

Maloi — Boys You Gotta Slow Down EP (2012, punk rock)

It was confusing to pick one definite release for this list, so the voting helped a lot. Because here, again, we have one of those legendary unique collectives of the Ukrainian scene about which we’ve written a lot already. The full-format album "Late Night Calls Inc." which came out 4 years after the debut EP received not less positive reaction. But the thing is that Kyiv pop-punk Maloi managed to make the listeners fall in love with their music from the first song of their first release. And it is not easy to do. So Maloi enters our top for its sincere emotions, the feeling of nostalgia, brand style and great music. 

 

Memorials — Кулуар (Сouloir) (2013, melodic hardcore)

There are the bands that may be called nation’s idols and Memorials is totally one of those. We hope you did not miss their mass singalongs from the Maiak (ed. Eng. - Lighthouse) festival performances, where it was almost impossible to hear the vocalist because of the crowds. Such love was called upon by wonderful lyrics of Zhenya, who didn’t stop writing the poems after a pause, also by perfect instrumental part, unbelievable laborious and worshipped design of each their release, especially talking about their "Кулуар" (ed. Eng. – Couloir) album. What only their sincere way of art presenting is worth! Unfortunately, after the forced moving from Crimea the band went on a hiatus, but we still hope they’ll come back.  

 

Mother Witch & Dead Water Ghosts — Ruins of Faith (2015, psychedelic doom)

There may be some certain periods outlined in the process of this band’s metamorphoses. And their most productive era is usually associated with this album exactly and, of course, with band’s vocalist Maria Teplyts’ka but the last fact is not in the focus right now. Mother Witch & Dead Water Ghosts made a big step forward by this album, that has made them the favorites of the public and the frequenters of different underground events. There are no releases alike on our terrains so we can only wait for what this band may cheer us up with. 

 

Octopus Kraft — Through A Thousand Woods (2016, post-metal)

High-quality post-metal and even in Ukrainian? It seems we don’t have much of such, only the music of Yurii Dubrovs’kyi may be counted. The brightest release of the aforementioned type is definitely "Through A Thousand Woods". This post-metal album is maybe not too radical or experimental, but it is still rather progressive and easy-to-digest. Those features exactly are its benefit, they make it unique. It is only the lack of live performances that did not let the band popularize its art enough.  

 

Oh, Deer! — Як Перестати Хвилюватися І Полюбити Війну (ed. Eng. – How to Stop Worrying and to Love the War) (2017, screamo)

The farewell to this Zhytomyr screamo band was not less emotional than to the Date Rape. Because it is the regular example of a collective that recorded such a bright album, which occupied the attention of the whole underground and even of a wider circle of listeners and finished its activity then. Oh, Deer! will be remembered mostly for their powerful lyrics, as the Memorials are, and their live performances. Their words were trusted, and it is a very important factor for any musicians’ popularity. That is why we can conclude the whole era has ended with the leaving of Oh, Deer!.  

 

Orpha — Orpha (2018, melodic hardcore)

Perhaps, one of the most enduring melodic hardcore collectives of Ukraine which was created in far 2010. They were on the road to their first full-format release for 8 years, having released 2 mini albums and changing their sound little by little. Their eponymous album is a mature work of the self-confident musicians. From the musical point of view, it sounds maximally balanced and virile. Talking about the emotional part, some tragic and melancholy is felt in it.

 

Reminded — Conflict (2015, hardcore)

Reminded is the collective which passed the path from being the perspective freshies to the status of one of the best hardcore bands in the capital. The band has been mastering its sound from release to release, demonstrating the permanent progress on the recordings done, and had a lively concert activity in Europe and Ukraine. The "Conflict" mini album saw the world in 2015 and contained 6 features only 2 of which reached the mark of 2 minutes. Anyways, this album delivered that energy of Reminded live performances. After this album, the band published three more tracks as the part of a split with the Russian Crude Buster. Unfortunately, there was nothing new from the band later. 

Sasha Boole — Survival Folk (2014 blues / country / folk)

There are not so many singer-songwriters in Ukraine, especially relatively popular and successful. So we have no doubt about this musician’s meaning for the scene. About the album choice, we give our preferences to his second full-format one. The first Sasha’s album "Vol.1" bought the listeners by its ironic and jesting country-folk songs in English and Ukrainian. But the second one opens the gloomy side of the artist. There come more instruments and the sound becomes more atmospheric and deeper. Even though his next LP "Golden Tooth" is not less worthy, the second one exactly stucks in mind for its musical part, also the cover is retentive. 

 

Sectorial — We Are the Titan's Rising Ashes (2015, blackened death metal)

Our voters either had no hesitation about choosing the best album of a metal band Sectorial from Boyarka town. "We Are the Titan's Rising Ashes" shows the great combination of the blacked death metal, ethnical motives and thought out Ukrainian-speaking lyrics. At the same time, the collective worked out its image well, that is why band’s clip and performances of this album’s period have strengthened the positive emotions from the music itself.   

 

Septa — Sounds Like Murder (2016, metal)

For some this album is the peak of Septa’s activity (especially with the background of the hard-to-digest BBTSOTKOTS), and for some, this release is a copy of Deftones. This way or another, the album is one of the most interesting records as by material, as by everything else that surrounded its promotional campaign. These Odessa-based musicians for the umpteenth time demonstrate the exemplary approach to the musical part as well as to the visual one. As the result, we have one of the best albums of 2016.

 

Slow Ride Home — The Great Southern Supercluster EP (2010, psychedelic rock/blues)

As some authoritative people say, this release is one of those which laid the foundation of a stoner doom niche on the Ukrainian scene and influenced all albums that were released in next 10 years. And it is one more situation when the band’s sound outstripped the time in which its activity took place. Their psychedelic rock balances on the blues base, touching the stoner-doom riffs, by this their first EP got the laudable feedback from the forum users which is not easy to achieve. That first record was not of a very high quality, so the mastered sound of Slow Ride Home has opened a bit later, on their mini album "The Great Southern Supercluster" that, by the way, became their last studio record. 

 

Somali Yacht Club — The Sun (2014, stoner)

One more case when the thoughts of edition were underpinned with the univocal voting results. This stoner band from Lviv expressed itself the best on the first full-format album "The Sun". The guys combined lots of different elements in here, non-standard decisions and sound experiments, they even found a place for the psychedelic dub which made the "Sightwaster" song an absolute hit. Their next LP "The Sea" still is the pleasant, soulful and harmonic music, but it couldn’t bit the debut work. 

 

Soom — Ніч на Полонині (ed. Eng. – Night within a Meadow) (2014, sludge)

The temptation to add "Джєбарс" ("Djebars") album to our top was big but it’s fair enough if we state that exactly the debut album became the quintessence of the whole previous band’s achievements. "Ніч на Полонині" lets you feel the mystic atmosphere of the Carpathians that is tightly interweaved into the sludge sound of this Kharkiv collective. Soom totally deserves being listed among the best decade albums, including its lyrics, supernatural molphar (ed. Ukr. – мольфар – Eng. Wizard) concept and authentic sound.

 

Stoned Jesus — Seven Thunders Roar (2012, stoner doom)

The mondial proudness of the Ukrainian stoner-doom. The evolution of this band’s sound and its global success imply us to praise Stoned Jesus, and we do. So, which of the albums demonstrates the history of the collective in last ten years the best? No place for hesitation here, it is definitely the "Seven Thunders Roar" that already became classic or event cult in some certain circles. This album carries the questionless millionth hit "I'm The Mountain". Some even call this album the most important one in the history of the whole Ukrainian underground for the last 10 years. All the rest releases of Stoned Jesus worth exploring, but if you aim to know the basis, we strongly recommend the listed one to begin. 

 

The Nietzsche — Finals. EP (2018, mathcore)

This mathcore band from Odessa is known for its astonishing clips and memes of the vocalist Evhen Tymchyk. But those things wouldn’t work if there was no such impressive musical part and quite a huge bite of the intellectual work. This is certainly a talented collective which already recorded a few EPs, and perhaps because of their drama about the possible end of activity their last album seems to be the best. Also, it was worth choosing only for its one superhit "Vasyl".

 

The Symbioz — Шлях поневірянь EP (ed. Eng. – The Way of Wandering) (2012 hardcore punk)

This Uzhhorod hardcore punk band received that many votes for a reason. There was the time when The Symbioz and many other bands mentioned here became the unique appearance on our scene and occupied the place they deserve on it. Drive, sincere expression, and socially acute moody lyrics – these characteristics may be applied to each track of this collective, but "Шлях поневірянь" became the peak of The Symbioz art. Moreover, it happened in hard times the musicians had. This EP is four songs, created on the edge of hardcore punk, metal and crust, every one is with its individual image and traditionally gloomy mood.

 

Totentanz — Edelweiss (2012, d-beat)

Totentanz were the representatives of a unique hardcore punk scene. And their "Edelweiss" is the hardest and the most "massive release of a poor Ukrainian crust scene. The squall of metallized guitars, the indistinct vocals with the delay on knock you down. The lyrics dedicated to the military theme add the especial charm to it. Unfortunately, the band managed to release only two more tracks after this record, which were a part of the split with Omega SS, until Totentanz were totally out of radars. 

 

Vin de Mia Trix — Palimpsest (2017, doom metal)

An unbelievably volumetric longplay "Palimpsests" came out on two labels simultaneously — on Hypnotic Dirge Records and on Cimmerian Shade Recordings as the double album. Though, the value of this release may be measured not only in the context of its duration but also by the idea of it. Stylistically this Kyiv quartet tried to play the atmospheric prog-rock, frequently through the prism of post rock and within the canonic doom (or even death-doom) metal. And it is all with the lamentable background of doom metal in Ukraine which cannot brag about its popularity. In short, it is a release that should be noted at each possible occasion. 

 

White Ward — Futility report (2017, post black metal)

Real battles surrounded a procedure of choosing the best release of Odessa-based White Ward. So, which of them is the worthiest to be called an album of the decade? Both were released on Debemur Morti Productions, both editions were greedily grabbed like the hot cakes. About music, well, they differ, but it doesn’t make it easier to decide which is better. The answer here is up to you, and we totally consider this band to be worth of recognition for its investment into the Ukrainian underground evolving.   

 

Wolverine Blues — Convict (2013, stoner)

If we talk about cult then we should add that video to our top from which the activity of Kyiv-based Wolverine Blues has once begun. That was a fresh sip for the Ukrainian stoner-doom scene. Perhaps, this collective could be as much successful at home, as it could be abroad if it did not disband. Their first and only album "Convict" appeared to be wholesome and unique, it is masterly recorded and still sounds very actual and mature.

 

Woundead — Woundead EP (2011, hardcore)

There were enough bands that played hardcore, but the Woundead exactly appealed to the New York school of genre back in 00’s-beginning of 10’s for the first time in Ukraine. The second thing they did was singing in the comprehensible language for the listener. Whatever they say about everyone understanding English, Ukrainian or Russian languages are totally different for audio perception. Obviously, because of that the forum users voted for Woundead multiple times and labeled it as the best Ukrainian hardcore band. The talent of the band’s members is also proved by their experience in the side projects – Maloi, Battle Axe Culture, Riot on the Radio. As you now know all that, it is only left to listen to them and enjoy

 

X-Box Murder — В круге первом EP (ed. Eng. – In the Circle First) (2014, blackened death metal)

The band from Kharkiv, a bed of black metal, could not ignore the fleur and gloomy notes of city’s main genre. Having gathered together, the musicians quickly collected their material to be released as demo-recording. But even then, they were 9 years apart from the listed here mini album, their second one. "В круге первом" may be called the apex of the collective’s activity, furthermore, it surpasses many foreign analogical releases of the genre. This mini album contains lots of hits, and a track "Вершина" ("The Top") should be mentioned separately. 

 

At last, we want to thank all those who participated in this list creation, all forum users and experts who voted, commented, and shared their opinion with us.

Translated by Elizaveta Dzhulay