Svetlana
Through The Wall Of Drone (Demo) 2004 None
This demo is far more primitive than Svetlana's later releases. Instead of generating a dark atmopshere for the tracks, they focus on the loud and pure guitar sound. I was told by the band themselves that they didn't think much of this demo and the previous one. In fact they disliked it so much that they didn't want me to review it. But while they think it's utter garbage, I actually found it to be really good. I like raw and harsh drone. And what I liked the most was the hissing double growls. They sound truly venomous. But the clips of spoken words could have been left out. It's so different from the other releases that it's no guarantee that those who like their later releases will like this one. Instead I would reccomend it to those who would like to hear a crueler version of Sunn O))). This might explain why the band doesn't like this demo as I know that neither of the bandmembers like Sunn O))). If this had been the first material that I had heard from Svetlana, I would have expected the band to go in a different direction than what they have. But I'm glad they did as while this is certainly good music, it still fails to live up to the standard that they have set later.	1. Through The Wall Of Drone 2. Doomsayer Approx. 22 minutes
Reviewed by: Arnstein H. Pettersen
Thrombosis (Demo) 2004 None
The name of the band would suggest that we're dealing with a Russian gothic metal/rock outfit, but that's hardly the case. In reality the band is from Sweden and plays low, rumbling drone. The story behind the name itself is rather uncomplicated; the band named themselves after Svetlana Alliluyeva, Josef Stalin's daughter. Why? Well, as one of the bandmembers state, they simply found it in a book and thought that it was a good name. As for the music, Svetlana is clearly Sunn O))) influenced. On the other hand there are also plenty of things in the music that would suggest links to more sick and extreme music. Where Sunn O))) focuses on the loud and heavy, Svetlana goes for a much darker and obscure sound. In fact, volume is probably the least you should expect on this demo. I guess you could say that this demo, 'Thrombosis', has a lot in common with the quieter funeral doom bands. There are no vocals, but the general aura is rather pale and depressive. Just what you could expect from a funeral doom release. In any case, this would appeal predominantly to fans of darker drone or bleak ambient funeral doom bands. So even though the music might lie closest to Sunn O))), the hopeless feeling in the music makes it just a suitable for fans of those other genres.	1. Thrombosis 2. Caligula Approx. 22 minutes
Reviewed by: Arnstein H. Pettersen
Homicidia (Demo) 2004 None
The Swedish dark doom/droners return again. Sunn O))) riffage mixed with dark ambient and aggressive, yet slow growls, makes for a grim scene. The extent of the growls is the most notable change from 'Thrombosis', their previous demo, but the music has grown a tad more powerful as well. Not to mention that this demo is double the running time. I know there's a lot of people out there who consider Svetlana to be a "SunnO)))-clone". I would definitely disagree. The riffage has a lot of clear similarities, but the atmosphere of the music is very different. Whereas SunnO))) focus on the thick and slightly laid back riffage, Svetlana focus their attention on crushing, powerful chords of negative energy. I'll agree with those who say that some kinds of drone do begin to sound samey after a while. Sadly Svetlana is that way inclined on this demo because the riffage is very similar all the way through. On the other hand the vocals do create a difference to the music, and keep it from becoming utterly boring. Honestly I'm not a drone person although I do enjoy drone from time to time, so the real droners might think more highly of it than I do. And I don't think it's half bad.	1. Et In Arcadia Ego... 2. A Sudden Wave of Chaos 3. ...And Then He Died 4. Inside the Astral Coffin 5. Beseech of Youth Approx. 33 minutes
Reviewed by: Arnstein H. Pettersen
Apparent Victory Of Satan (Demo) 2004 None
This demo sets in the new direction that will develop further in Svetlana's following releases. Though the music is still primarily doom/drone, quite a few psychadelic ambient elements have been added. The music has also become far more experimental than their previous releases. The aura of the music isn't as dark as before, though the occasional growled vocals still remain. You would think that the Sunn O))) influences would be able to float more freely, but that is only the case in the drone parts. It's not uncommon to hear industrial samples during the ambient sections. This includes the explanation of the demo title. 'Apparent Victory Of Satan' is a very notable name. It takes a little bit of pondering before one understands it. No, the band is not satanic. This is a reflection on our society. The awful way that we humans treat eachother, the corruption and hatred that we teach through our action. Surely Satan must have been victorious when the world has ended up like this. The most remarkable of all the clips is the intro of 'Ut Ur Mörkret' (translated: "Out Of The Darkness"). This is a discussion between an, apparently British, servant of Satan and the devil himself. It's rather hard to understand what the devil says as he's speaking in tongues, but a part of the discussion is about the brilliance of using the Bible as their tool. Indeed it has been used to create wars all over the world so it's a really interesting thought. The new elements in the music shouldn't prevent those who enjoyed the previous demos from liking this one. Fans of Sunn O))) should also try it out. Also for your convenience, NOTHingness Records has re-released both this demo and 'Homicidia' on one 74 minute long release.	1. Unborn To Blindness 2. Pwcca (Futility Of Life) 3. Suffocation 4. Ut Ur Mörkret Approx. 41 minutes
Reviewed by: Arnstein H. Pettersen