Usssy

Moscow band USSSY was formed in 2007 by a guitarist Artem Galkin and guitarist Pavel Eremeev, originally with their own take of noise-rock with elements of blues, techno and black-metal. Through the years 2011 to 2017, through 6 albums and 2 European tours,  they managed to perfect a style that is completely unique to the band.  By the third album “Ud”, Pavel moved to drums, and they began their exploration into Eastern musical influences, facilitated by a specially modified baritone guitar, in which were mounted additional quarter-tone frets, as is common in the Middle East. Compositions of Usssy have drawn comparisons with Turkish psychedelic music of the 60’s and 70’s, during the heyday of the “hippie silk route” when locals first became exposed to Western rock music and incorporated it into their traditional framework. Through sheer work and discovery, guitarist Galkin developed and personalized a style and technique that invoked this great tradition.  

Then in 2013, he left the band and and Pavel returned to guitar, assuming the reins with baritone guitar, and continuing down the road established through previous albums.In 2015, Pavel began rehearsing with a new drummer, Sergei Bolotin, and decided to restore the group with a new line-up. In 2018, Usssy released the album Voyage on Koolarrow Records, continuing band’s tradition of oriental noise rock.

Fall of 2020 marked the release the 2nd Koolarrow album, recorded in a new lineup, entitled “Po Krugu” which translates as “In A Circle”. It is noteworthy that Artem Galkin returned the fold to record a Kurdish tanbur part for one of the songs on the album.

On Oct 21, the band releases “Naghma”, a return to the classic line up, with Artem on guitar and Pavel on drums. This is a modern interpretation of pre-war Afghan melodies that retain the spirit of pre-Islamic gandhara. Inspiration comes from Artem’s recent journey throughout Thailand, Burma and India, with the intention of presenting a powerful Buddhist message of non-violence and peace for all living beings.

 

Band Links:

https://usssy.bandcamp.com

http://www.facebook.com/uSSSy.band

http://vk.com/usssymusic

 

Discography:

Usssy (2009) black metal techno blues
Oko (2010) epic oriental black noise rock
Ud (2011) courageous oriental noise rock
Karpet Birch (2012) cover lofi noiserock
Afghan Music House Party (2012) microtonal melancholic noise rock
Unsharp Mask (2013) microtonal melancholic noise rock
Voyage (2018) desert noise rock
Po Krugu (2020) diverse oriental noise rock
Naghma (2022) indo-iranian meditative feedback rock