From the fog-draped streets of St. Petersburg comes Varhara, a post-metal/blackgaze collective that refuses to be confined—by genre, geography, or convention. Their new album, ‘The First Breath After’, out June 20th via Italian imprint These Hands Melt (Domhain, KLPS…), is more than a record—it’s a bold expression of emotional honesty, sonic depth, and borderless connection.
The first audio and video excerpts, “Burial” and ”Prazdnikv available below, set the tone with shimmering guitars, raw vocals, and sweeping crescendos. It’s a poignant meditation on grief, memory, and the passage of time—existing in a space where language dissolves and only feeling remains.
Originally a personal project between Igor (bass/vocals) and Ekaterina (guitar), Varhara has grown into a fully realized collective since its 2015 inception, shaped by shared experience and an unwavering desire to communicate something real. Their sound—fusing blackgaze, shoegaze, and post-hardcore—has been forged through years of live shows and evolution.
Varhara rejects the notion of artistic or national boundaries, so building on the acclaim of ‘Pustotsvet (Voidflower)’, their new album ‘The First Breath After’ delves deeper—each track a moment of clarity, a breath taken not in mourning, but in defiance. Paired with evocative visuals by filmmaker Olga Kann, Varhara crafts more than music; they create a space for raw, human connection.
For fans of Alcest, Deafheaven, Trna or Holy Fawn, ‘The First Breath After’ is a revelation—and a powerful reminder that the most resonant music transcends boundaries and speaks soul to soul.
…Tracklist…
- 01. The Pitch / Smola / Смола
- 02. Hurricane / Uragan/ Ураган
- 03. Spark / Iskra/ Искра
- 04. The First Breath After / Pervyj vzdoh posle / Первый вздох после
- 05. The Celebration / Prazdnik / Праздник
- 06. Burial / Burial/ Буриал
