“I open the browser and think, “Theodor Who? Is he really a bastard?” Then I see, “Karelian Neofolk”. “He is a stoner, this dude Theodor”, I think.” – these are the first words of the review by Dimitris Mascelos from the Greek magazine RockWay. Spoiler: actually it’s a very good review. Next is its followed text. I open Youtube and want to do a little research about the history of this Russian band. I fall on the album “Oikoumene”, the sixth complete opus of this Karelians released in 2012, and I am standing fascinated. love at first hear!
French journalist Stephan Birlouez from Among the living magazine has written a positive review of our album Vetvi. In his opinion, the music of the Russian band Theodor Bastard “literally saves lives in these dark times of covid and depression.” The remastered album “Vetvi” will be released on double vinyl by Season of Mist this month. And we are looking forward to this event.
A new review of the reissue of Theodor Bastard’s album “Vetvi”, written by the Belgian journalist Luc Ghyselen from the “Musika” magazine:“Neo-folk these days: just think of Heilung, Wardruna, Myrkur and the like, who are very much appreciated in the music world, even by metal fans. At the same time the Russian collective Theodor Bastard has been operating in a similar musical path for almost 20 years. Fedor Svoloch, Yana Veva and Aleksey “Kusas” Kurasov – the founders of the group carried their art through the years. For many music lovers, this project became a discovery last year, when the album “Volch’ya Yagoda” was released, which was well received by the audience. Album “Vetvi” were originally released in 2015, but now have a second chance thanks to Season Of Mist, which will be able to provide the band with a well-deserved European breakthrough. Theodor Bastard’s sound fits perfectly into the definition of neo-folk. The musicians use sacred authentic folk instruments that create an exciting and piercing sound. They take the listener on a long journey to long-forgotten times or to places that we have heard only in legends. Of course, it is not always possible to guess about the theme of Russian lyrics, but this does not interfere at all, because the sound is ideally combined with the heavenly voice of Yana Veva and deeply touches the soul. It doesn’t matter if the arrangements go psychedelic or go for an almost shamanic, feeling-oriented tempo and rhythm, the beauty of her voice strikes again and again. Therefore, those who have neo-folk and ethnic music in their music collection cannot do without this reissue of “Vetvi”. Here is the original review: https://www.musika.be/2021/12/26/theodor-bastard-vetvi
The French magazine Soilchronicles has written an impressive review of our album Volch’ya Yagoda released by Season of Mist this year. For some reason, with quotations from Depardieu and Churchill about Russia. This is curious. But the European view of Russian music and our work in general is interesting. Link to original: https://www.soilchronicles.fr/chroniques/theodor-bastard-volchya-yagoda
