Taras Bul’ba is an Italian progressive rock group that manages to put together a strong individual presence after four creative commons licensed albums. Progressive rock may be a slightly misleading term as the band borrows heavily from metal, goth and death metal, often drowning the listener in screams and distorted guitar. Yet when you least expect it, they can throw in some hauntingly beautiful refrains. This ability gives them a distinctly individual sound that will interest any fan of the harder edges of rock.

Secrets Chimiques is their latest and most realized album. The tendency to mix the overwhelming with the sublime is evident with the first track, “Cranioterapia”. But all tracks have a coherent unity making this a good introduction to this interesting group. I have a habit of pairing music with books that I think need a good soundtrack. This album kept me thinking of Dante’s Inferno. Take that however you may.

Incisione is another fine album and have the same intense but atmospheric tendencies. I especially like “Miyuki” with its lightning fast guitar work and machine gun drumming. The following “Hari” is also riveting and has a nice guitar solo that reminds me of a metal version of Santana. This album stays more in the fast paced genre of metal but “Imothep” just manages to slow down the pace nicely. It’s a very nice effort as is the entire album.

There are two older self-titled albums released in 2000 and 2002. They both sound like earlier efforts in which an individual style is still developing. However they have a good solid sound. The 2002 album get a slightly higher nod from me if only because the initial track is named after the incredible Tor Johnson and it features campy dialogue from Ed Wood’s Bride of The Monster.

All four albums can be found on Tara’s Bul’ba’s Jamendo page or be downloaded on the individual album page from the links below. They are available in VBR MP3 format.

Download
Secrets Chimiques
Incisiones
Taras Bul’ba (2002)
Taras Bul’ba (2000)