BIOGRAPHY
Kalevala (Russian: Калевала) is a Russian folk metal band. The name of the band is derived from the Finnish national epic. The group chose this name because lead vocalist Xenia Markevich has a Finnish background: both her parents are Finnish. Moreover, the band is inspired by ancient Finnish and Sami music, Finno-Ugric legends and contemporary Finnish music like Finntroll, Korpiklaani etc. After a concert in Penza at April, 15th 2007 with their band Nevid, singer Xenia and guitar player Nikita Andrianov decided to leave this band and start for themselves. Nikita had collected lots of folk matter, and they made a number of concepts, which they sent to friends hoping to start a new band with them. Together with keyboard player/ accordion player Alexandr Oleinikov, bassist Alexandr Schmel and drummer Mark Vasili who were recruited from other bands, they started Kalevala.
After their first demo in 2007 was well downloaded in the internet and got good reviews, they decided to have a concert at that same autumn, at October, 5th. Soon, more concerts followed, in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
In April 2008, the first album was presented: Kudel Belosnezhnogo L'na (Snow white flax hair). This album accelerated the success of the band: in summer 2008 they were present at several folk festivals. One year later, their second studio album appeared: Kukushkiny Djeti (young cuckoo) and one more year later, Vjed'ma (witch) appeared. In 2011, the group released a professional video clip: Son-Reka (Dream river).
In a 2011 interview Nikita told that they are thinking about an acoustic album, having the working name "Sami Sun".
Kalevala has until now only acted inside the former Soviet Union but their aspirations certainly go beyond those borders.
Actual band members: Xenia Markevich (singer), Nikita Andrianov (guitar), Alex Mitrofanov (bass -since March 2014), Denis Zolotov (drums - since July 2011).
