Transylvania (Top40 Charts/ Luna Amara Official Website) LUNA AMARĂ ("bitter moon") is one of the most successful alternative rock Romanian bands, formed in 2000 in the capital of Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca. From the beginning, Luna Amara was more than just a band, its members trying to create not only music, but also to be a constant reminder of the social and political issues present in day-to-day Romanian society. After communism fell in 1989 in the only violent uprising in the Eastern Bloc, the new politic left nearly as much to be desired as the old as the country tried to regroup.
While influenced by bands like Tool, Deftones, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Alice in Chains,
Pearl Jam and others, LUNA AMARA takes these references and adds a unique twist, combining elements such as trumpet solos, bone crushing heavy guitar riffs with melodic vocals and meaningful, politicised lyrics.
Constantly touring and active in the support of social causes, the band build a strong fanbase in the country, playing over 700 shows. As well as an aggressive touring schedule of their own, the band has been the opening act for huge international bands such as Ozzy Osbourne, Deftones, HIM, Rammstein, and
Iggy Pop in both Romania and Hungary.
Since 2004, the band has also released four albums, including the brand new record "Pietre in Alb."
Pushing what is expected from an "Eastern European" heavy rock band, the album is a step forward for the band, boasting a more polished sound, having been mixed by British producer Adam Whittaker and stepping sideways with regard to the band encouraging fans think for themselves rather than use the music as a distraction for their ills. While primarily sung in Romanian, the album has four tracks in English, and while you might not understand all of the lyrics, you will certainly FEEL them.
Vocalist Nick Fagadar explains:
"Luna Amara's "Pietre in Alb" is bitter in its poetry but lucid in its shouted manifesto of the times we're living in. From the paralysing fear of demise ("Pietre in Alb") to the raging lyrics of "In Gol", the listener should definitely feel the inner weight of these harsh and sometimes dark confessions. There are no easy themes or known paths for Luna Amara on this one. The band tried to put out the experiences of everyday life, personal beliefs and feelings into powerful songs with heavy riffs and interesting, out of the ordinary time signatures. It's a record that will disturb your cosy routine and crack the pale mirror of your comfort. It's about what we lost as a modern society but mostly lost as individuals. Consumerism ("Monkey Retail"), loneliness, the inner void ("Glow"), suicide ("Bathtub Glory"), excess and loss ("Are We Happy Now"), manipulation, suffocating doubt of religion and the misconceptions of "the many" thrown against the minority ("In Tine Tu","Oameni Noi","Toti La Fel") are the loud and clear headlines of Luna Amara's new record. So go ahead - read all about it! It's all about you and your world."
Listen on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/spaceray-music/03-in-gol-mix-2444
Luna Amara are:
Mihnea Blidariu - vocals, guitar, trumpet
Nick Fagadar - vocals & guitar
Razvan Ristea - drums
Sorin Moraru - bass
"Pietre in Alb" is available worldwide on all good digital stores now via A&A Records.
